Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 06:35:33 +0000 From: "***Cloud 9***" Subject: RS: (Fwd) Paper Clay Tips and Techs #1 11/19/97 Forwarded message: From: Self To: rubberstampers@crafts.dm.net Subject: Paper Clay Tips and Techs #1 11/19/97 Reply-to: cloud9@execpc.com Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 07:19:13 Well, I finally took out that Paper Clay package that was sitting in my fridge for the past year and played around. I'm quite pleased with the results. Here's what I did: I grabbed a wad of the clay and added a few drops of acrylic paint (coral) and *mashed* it up all together. The clay turned into a beautiful coral color with a few streaks of white clay that didn't take the paint. I rolled out the clay to the desired thickness and stamped an image with black Color Box ink. I then cut a square around my stamped image (making a pin) with one of my Friskar scissor. I baked it for 20 minutes in the oven (250 degrees) let it cool and colored with colored penicils. Wow! It turned out great! The last thing I did was seal it and glued on a pin back. If only I did this before the last convention... Hugs, StampnRN - ----------------------------------------- I took a little class in this and learned a few things. Last week I actually made some pins, and loved the results. Have to make more, so I can stand to give them away! I did the usual roll out and stamp, let dry, and color routine. Did bunny, bird, cat, and flower pins. You can make a perfect circle pin by pressing a wine goblet, etc., into the clay around your stamp. We were taught: to air-dry the pieces overnight or longer, turning the pieces over in the middle of the time so the back dries, too. to sand off the edges with sandpaper, after it dries, for a smooth finish. to color the edges, too, with a marking pen, to make the pin look more finished. to use a lacquer spray, not an acrylic one, to seal, as the acrylic yellows it. Spray the pieces inside a cardboard box, out of doors, for best results. To add a couple of drops of water to the left-over clay and store it in the package, inside a plastic bag, in the refrigerator. I found that I had to spray and dry, spray and dry FOUR times to get my pins really shiny. You can make lots and lots of pins from one package of paper clay-- it really goes a loooong way. Marilyn WifeyGirl1@aol.com - ---------------------------------- Posted by: StampnRN Well, I finally took out that Paper Clay package that was sitting in my fridge for the past year and played around. I'm quite pleased with the results. Here's what I did: I grabbed a wad of the clay and added a few drops of acrylic paint (coral) and *mashed* it up all together. The clay turned into a beautiful coral color with a few streaks of white clay that didn't take the paint. I rolled out the clay to the desired thickness and stamped an image with black Color Box ink. I then cut a square around my stamped image (making a pin) with one of my Friskar scissor. I baked it for 20 minutes in the oven (250 degrees) let it cool and colored with colored penicils. Wow! It turned out great! The last thing I did was seal it and glued on a pin back. If only I did this before the last convention... - -------------------------------------- Posted by Bonne B. I've tried using PaperClay for pins and was pleased how they turned out. The way I made them: Roll out paperclay with rolling pin (just like you're making sugar cookies!) until it's about 1/8 or 1/4 inch depending on your preference (I like it thin). Stamp your image with pigment ink and press into clay LIGHTLY. Using an exacto knife, cut around image and let dry overnight. Color with markers (I use tombow or marvey's) and accent with prisma if desired. Attach pinback with glue and spray with a basic sealer. I like attaching these to my cards as an additional gift. I've also made button covers from paperclay. You can get alot of items from one package but remember to seal up unused portions really tight. On a closing note: Have you tried making pins out of balsa wood? I prefer it because it's faster and you can watercolor since it's on cardstock glued to wood. Have fun and hope this helps. I would be interestedin hearing from others about pin making - I'm new to this! - ------------------------------------------------------ Posted by: Unknown I could have put a description in my earlier note, couldn't I? I'm learning to be more specific..:) PaperClay is the name of a art medium that's a combination of pottery and paper pulp. I buy the "Creative PaperClay" which I found at the local Ben Franklin Crafts and Michaels. The contents mention volcanic ash, talc, starch and wood pulp. It feels like a clay compound with a fine grit to it. The neat thing I like about it is you can get quite alot of pins out of an 8oz package. I still have 1/2 pkg left (sealed tightly of course)! Also, when it drys, it is very lightweight. - --------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- You know that "unmentionable company" fellow stampers have been discussing? Well, I noticed one of the tips was to make just an impression in the clay, without ink. you let it dry (they suggested 15 minutes in a low-heat oven) and then color with acrylics. I'm sure there's many ways this can be used...I've also used this for accents to my cards. Email me if you have any more questions - I'll be glad to try to help! Hugs and happy stamping! - -------------------------------------- Teresa - I use PaperClay to make pins, also. I have found it for sale in both stamping stores, and at Michael's (8 oz - $4.50). I have not seen it at Wal-Marts. It is very simple to use. It comes ready to use from the package. I cut a couple inches off the block, place it on waxed paper, knead it a few times to make it a bit more shapable, flatten it out 1/8 - - 1/4 inch thick (I use the wood mount from one of my largest stamps to do this), ink my stamp with pigment ink, then press the stamp into the PaperClay. I can usually make several impressions on each "batch" I roll out. When you are satisfied with the image, cut away the excess PaperClay. Place image on a cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Bake images for 15 minutes, then flip them over and bake another 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow them to cool. Images may now be painted, then a couple coats of spray acrylic (on both sides) finishes the job. Other things you can do: add some acrylic paint to the clay before you stamp, to color the basic clay; use one of your big stamps (too big for a pin), then cut out the parts that make cute pin-sized images; use very small images to make earrings; instead of painting with acrylics, add color with colored pencils. I called their 1-800 number and spoke to a gentleman there who gave me a lot of good tips (like coloring the basic clay and be sure to flip the images mid-baking time). When I asked him if I could use a rolling pin, he did not recommend this. He said it was too difficult to end up with a consistent thickness. You can allow the clay to air dry, too, but it takes several days, and the images must be flipped every so often so that they dry evenly without warping -- baking is a lot easier. There is a PaperClay web site: http://www.paperclay.com/ Be sure to keep any unused Paperclayr in a air-tight bag for future use. If it should become a little dry as you're working with it, or in the bag, you can knead a few drops of water back into it to make it fresh again. - --------------------------------------------------------------- --------- Creative Paperclayr Rubber stamps ColorBoxr Pigment Stamp Ink Wax Paper Or A Plastic Sandwich Bag Scissors, Cookie Cutter Or An X-ACTOr Knife Acrylic Paints And A Paintbrush Spray Lacquer 1. Flatten Paperclayr between two sheets of waxed paper or a dissected plastic sandwich bag with the wooden back of a large rubber stamp until it is about a 1/4" thick. 2. Load your rubber stamp with pigment ink and gently stamp on the flattened Paperclayr. 3. Cut the stamped image out of the Paperclayr with scissors, cookie cutter or knife. 4. Let your pieces dry a day or so or put them in the oven for about 40 minutes at 250 degrees. Be sure to turn them over after they are half dry so both sides can dry evenly. 5. Paint as desired. 7. After the paint dries, spray with lacquer. To make button covers or pins, glue the hardware on the back of the stamped Paperclayr pieces after the laquer has dried. Jewerly findings, beads, etc. can be pressed into Paperclayr while it is still moist and will generally hold after the Paperclayr dries. To create a reverse image, stamp firmly into Paperclayr without using ink. Let the Paperclayr dry and gently sponge on paint. Watercolor stamp ink will tend to run after stamping in moist Paperclayr and leave a blurry image. - -------------------------------- 1. Prepare Paperclayr by rolling it out or flattening it to about 1/4" thick. Make sure the surface is level so that you get a good even stamp. Flattening with the back of a very large wooden stamp works well for acheiving a perfectly flat surface. 2. Rolling out Paperclayr on plastic wrap or waxed paper makes it easier to handle Paperclayr. 3. Pigment inks such as Yasutomo's ColorCubes or Yasutomo's FabricMates fabric markers work best for stamping in Paperclayr . Water color inks will tend to bleed and leave a blurry image. 4. After rolling out the Paperclayr load stamp with ink and stamp into the moist Paperclayr. 5. To cut out the stamped images from the flattened Paperclayr you can use scissors and cut it like you would paper. Also you may want to try turning a drinking glass upside down and using it like a cookie cutter to cut perfect circles. 6. Another method for cutting shapes out of the flattened Paperclayr is to use a toothpick and trace around the stamped image pressing the toothpick in at a 45 degree angle. 7. Any rough edges can be smoothed with your finger and a drop of water. 8. Leave the stamped Paperclayr figures out to air dry hard for a day or so. If you're in a hurry you may put the Paperclayr figures into your kitchen oven at 250 degrees for 15 minutes or until dry. 9. After the Paperclayr has dried you can use fabric markers or any other paint to color in the outline of the stamped image if you wish. 10. You can use embossing powder with Paperclayr by stamping on to a pre-dried piece. Dry Paperclayr is similar to wood. When the stamped figures are completely dry you can spray on a coat of lacquer to seal and protect them. Clear fingernail polish can also be brushed on to finish the pieces. Be sure to keep any unused Paperclayr in a air-tight bag for future use. If it should become a little dry as you're working with it, or in the bag, you can knead a few drops of water back into it to make it fresh again. If Paperclayr should stick to your stamp just rinse it off with water. After the lacquer or fingernail polish has dried you can glue earring posts or pin backs on the back of the pieces to create your own unique and waerable stamp art! Don't be afraid to experiment with Paperclayr and most of all have fun!