beginner
polymer clay
Add a lustrous finish to translucent color blends to give polymer clay the look of glass.
by Nancy Pollack
olorful slices of extruded clay can be layered on any bead shape to add pattern
and visual interest. By including slices of translucent clay, these patterns achieve
Cmore visual depth. For a subtle effect, combine closely related colors; for more
contrast, mix complementary colors. You can find inspiration by looking at the color
palettes and patterns in lampworked glass.
To make colorful clay slices like the ones in this project, a hand-crank pasta machine
and a clay extruder are well worth the investment. Instead of using the large, trigger-
style extruder shown with the project, you can purchase a smaller, twist-action version.
Bull s-eye-patterned beads are
buffed and sealed to mimic
lampworked glass.
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opaque clay alcohol-based ink
1 2 3
well
conditioned
Using a pasta machine to condition
clay is an efficient and effective
method for making pliable sheets of
clay that are free from air bubbles.
Follow the steps below for easy clay
conditioning.
4
" Roll the clay into a ball, flatten it, and
roll it into a snake. Fold the snake in
half, and twist it.
of ink to a translucent sheet [2], and
" Flatten the twist into a slab, and run it through the
then allow it to dry before running it
pasta machine on the thickest setting.
through the pasta machine to
" Fold the sheet of clay in half, and run it through the
achieve a solid translucent color.
pasta machine again, fold-side first. Continue to fold and
run the clay through the pasta machine at progressively
Prepare the colored translucent
thinner settings for approximately ten passes.
sheets. Cut each colored translu-
" After you ve conditioned a color, clean the pasta
cent sheet into two or three equal-
machine s rollers by running a folded baby wipe or
sized sheets. Then, run the sheets
paper towel through the machine. This step
removes excess clay stuck to the rollers and
through the pasta machine, using
prevents unwanted color contamination.
various settings to make them
Another way to minimize color contamination
various thicknesses.
is to condition the light colors first and then
progress to darker colors.
[3] Cut clay disks. Select a circle
cutter with a diameter that is slightly
translucent clay in half, and set smaller than the diameter of the clay
one half aside to use in steps 3 and extruder s barrel. Using the circle
7. Cut the remaining half-sheet into cutter, cut disks from the opaque
Condition the polymer clay. four equal-sized sheets. and colored translucent sheets, the
Separately condition each clay color, reserved translucent half-sheet, and
starting with the translucent and [1 2] Make colored translucent the white sheet.
progressing to the white, the pearl, sheets. To color translucent sheets
and the opaque colors. For tips on so that they complement your [4] Stack the disks to create a
using a pasta machine to condition opaque colors, add a small amount variegated pattern. Stack the disks,
clay, see  Well Conditioned, above. of opaque clay to one of the starting with a white disk. Randomly
Set the sheet of pearl aside. translucent sheets [1], and run it add a few opaque and colored
through the pasta machine. translucent disks, and end with a
Divide the translucent clay. Use a You can also add color with translucent disk. Repeat until you ve
tissue blade to cut the sheet of alcohol-based inks. Add a few drops used all the disks.
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[5] Extrude the stack. Insert the remaining translucent clay through [10] Make a hole in the bead, and
stack into the barrel of a clay the pasta machine on the second bake it. With one hand, place the
extruder. Extrude the clay according thinnest setting, and then layer the tip of a needle tool against the bead
to the manufacturer s instructions. translucent clay over the bead [7]. where you want to make a hole.
This will create a compressed rope Trim the excess translucent clay, and Place the index finger of your other
that reveals bull s-eye patterns when smooth the edges. hand where you estimate the needle
it s cut crosswise. tool will poke through the clay [10].
[8] Cut the extruded clay. Use a Use a twisting motion with as little
Form a bead with scrap clay. Roll tissue blade to cut the extruded clay pressure as possible to push the
some scrap clay into a ball that is into approximately ½-in. (13mm) needle tool through the clay. Once
approximately 3D 8 in. (9.5mm) smaller pieces to reveal the bull s-eye the tip of the needle tool pokes a
in diameter than the diameter you ve patterns. Using a tissue blade, cut tiny hole through the bead, stop
chosen for the finished bead. very thin slices from the pieces. pushing, and gently remove the tool.
Insert the needle tool into the tiny
[6 7] Cover the bead with pearl [9] Add the bull s-eye slices to the exit hole, and gently twist the needle
and translucent clay. Run the bead, and shape it. Arrange a few tool through the bead. Remove the
conditioned pearl clay through the of the slices on the bead, and roll the tool, and bake the bead according to
pasta machine on the third thinnest bead smooth [9]. Continue to add the clay manufacturer s instructions.
setting. Wrap the pearl clay around slices until you have a pattern you
the bead [6], trim the excess pearl like. Smooth the bead and roll it into
clay, and smooth the edges. Run the a ball or any other shape.
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11 12
materials
% Polymer clay: % Sealer: water-based
% 4 oz. (112g), translucent polyurethane
% 2 oz. (56g), white % Bamboo skewer
% 2 oz. (56g), pearl % Flat-tip paintbrush
% 2 oz. (56g) each, three
opaque colors *Dedicated to nonfood use.
% Alcohol-based inks (optional)
Suppliers
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tools & supplies
% Jacquard Pińata Colors,
% Pasta machine*
alcohol-based inks (Sax Arts &
% Nonstick work surface
Crafts, 800.558.6696, saxarts
[11] Sand the bead. Using 320-grit
% Baby wipes or paper towels
.com)
wet/dry sandpaper, sand the bead
% Tissue blade
% Clay extruder and tools
under water. Further refine the
% Circle cutter
(polymerclayexpress.com),
surface by using progressively finer
% Clay extruder
Makin s clay extruder
grits of sandpaper. % Needle tool
(theclaystore.com)
% Oven*
% Varathane Diamond Wood
% Sandpaper, wet/dry: 320, 400,
[12 13] Buff the bead. Use a soft
finish (local hardware stores or
600 grit
cloth to buff the bead by hand. Or, flecto.com)
% Finishing items (choose from):
use a buffing machine with a
% Soft cloth
Contact Nancy Pollack through
stitched cloth buff [12]. Another
% Buffing machine and
her Web site at npolyclay.home
option is to use a Dremel tool or flex
stitched cloth buff
.comcast.net.
shaft with a buff on a screw mandrel
% Dremel tool or flex shaft
attachment. Regardless of the
with buffing attachment
method you use, use light pressure
for a short amount of time to
prevent the clay from being
overheated or damaged. The buffed
bead will have a slight sheen [13].
Seal the bead. Adding a coat or
two of water-based polyurethane
sealer to the bead will give it a shiny,
glasslike surface. Place the bead on a
bamboo skewer, and use a flat-tip
paintbrush to apply a coat of sealer.
Allow the sealer to dry completely,
and then add a second coat.
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Process photos by Nancy Pollack.