Tools for polymer clay with your own hands

Textures for polymer clay with their own hands

When working with polymer clay, we often lack the purchase of textures. If you look carefully around you, you will find quite a few items that will help you create texture. This corrugated paper, lace, self-tapping, candy liners. Today we will try to make textures for polymer clay with our own hands.

Jeanne Vadimovna Vasilyeva

When working with polymer clay, we often do not have enough purchased textures. If you look carefully around you, you will find quite a few items that will help you create texture. This corrugated paper, lace, self-tapping screws, chocolate candy liners. Today we will try to make textures for polymer clay with our own hands.

You can use leftover clay of different colors, thus disposing of them in a texture sheet. Roll out the polymer clay on a pasta machine (not too thin). Put the printed out drawing on your face.

You can transfer the drawing using tracing paper. Or you can take a thin ballpoint pen and draw the entire pattern. You have a sketch of the drawing on polymer clay? Now squeeze the polymer clay through the extruder. Use three tips. from the thinnest hole to the middle one.

Take the thickest thread in your hand and put it on the outline of the pattern. Use fine threads to make the fine details of the pattern. Try to do everything very carefully, without hurrying. It took the author 3 hours to make a texture for polymer clay! True and she did not make a small sheet.

And another lesson on how to make a texture for polymer clay

On the drawing, printed on a printer, apply a 3D outline.

Roll out the polymer clay to a thickness of 3 or 4.

Apply the texture on the polymer clay. We roll it up with a roller.

Carefully remove the texture from the polymer clay. Done!

Then use as desired. You can cut it into separate pieces, tint it with acrylic.

Another way to make a texture for polymer clay. Everything seems to be clear here.

This is how the texture will look like from an ordinary braid.

I hope the lesson will be useful to you. Try and find “your” textures for polymer clay

Advantages and disadvantages of polymer clay

Depending on the application of clay, its certain properties can be both advantages and disadvantages. Each designer in his experience explores the characteristics of different types of polymer clay, selecting for certain tasks suitable materials.

The advantages of baked clay include:

• an even surface after baking;
• easy to paint or remove paint;
• durability;
• color fastness;
• the possibility of creating fine details.

The shape of this clay product cannot be corrected after baking. Modelling should take place on a clean space and with gloves, as clay quickly absorbs fine debris.

Self-curing clay has its advantages:

• The product can be adjusted over a long period of time;
• The curing process is self-regulating;
• the surface is easy to clean;
• if necessary, the plastic can be softened with water.

Clay of this type is not suitable for making small elements. Self-curing clay crafts often need to correct flaws and may slightly change their color.

What can be molded from polymer clay

How to model with polymer clay for beginners you can learn from special master classes on handmade by experienced needlewomen. Type of clay is chosen depending on its application.

Polymer clay is used for making:

Plastic modeling allows you to create something individual, with a little effort and imagination. Toys and decorations made from polymer clay always look unusual and attract attention. You can also make any decorative object or figurine that will fit into the interior and create a special atmosphere.

How to begin modeling?

In this short article I would like to answer all who want to join such a fascinating hobby as figure sculpting. All written below is not objective and is only my personal opinion, based on humble experience.All written for the most part is only true for modeling figures like mine. About molding berries, animals, dolls, jewelry, I know much less, so I will touch these areas of creativity carefully.

“Hi, saw your work and wanted to try to sculpt something myself, where would I start?”. probably one of the most frequently asked questions, let’s try to understand it. What do people do sculpting for? What materials are needed at the initial stage? What tools? What to read and how to learn to model correctly? all this. very voluminous questions, each of which deserves a separate article. Here I would like to make a brief review, without going into details. Get comfortable, let’s go 🙂

And indeed, what can motivate a person to do a hobby like modeling?? Let’s break down the most common motivations for people who ask my advice:

“I’m just bored, I want to make something.”. A rather dubious statement, but very common. Modeling. Not an activity you can entertain yourself with, much less for a beginner. because in order to get any kind of convincing results. It’s a lot of work and time to sculpt.

“I want a figure but do not want / can not spend on it n-money, better mold” or “If you want it done well. do it yourself”. In our business, that approach doesn’t always work. And all because for each beautiful figure, are hours, days, months and sometimes years of hard work, a HUGE amount of consumed materials (and money on them), for which you have to pay many times more than the figure. According to the manual or a video tutorial, you can, for example, fix the socket or faucet, saving on services, but in modeling, this approach does not work.

“I used to model/finish art when I was a kid. school. I want to make figurines and earn money on it without much effort and without leaving home. And who doesn’t want to? The only problem is that in order to make money on modeling long and hard work, and the payoff is much less than in many other activities. It will take more than one year before your occupation modeling will begin to pay at least supplies (and maybe not begin).

“I want to try myself in something new, maybe get carried away and find a very interesting hobby.”. Alas, this is the approach I rarely get written to, but, for the most part, it is to help such people that this article is dedicated. Modeling and / or painting figures, if it is carried away. A great way to leisure and boundless field for self-improvement.

And now let us sum up a little: Modeling. very fascinating and, at the same time, not easy. It is not for everyone, but if it catches on, it is likely to last forever. Perhaps this article will be the starting point for your journey into this wonderful world. At the initial stage, our goals will be:

Now that we have set the goals, let’s have a quick overview of everything you need at the beginning.

In other words. the wood to which we’re going to fasten our figure. Modeling by weight. very uncomfortable and extremely unpleasant task, so the stand for our creation should be thought of immediately.

The most important element of any work. framework, serves as a base for the subsequent set of mass. As a skeleton in our body. The skeleton should serve as a support and backing for the entire piece. It is better to choose not a very hard wire, so that at any time you can make adjustments without squeezing everything that we have molded. Aluminum clay (1.5-2mm) will do just fine.

What we will use to create our masterpiece. There are a lot of different materials on the market, each with its own characteristics and such a great variety is worthy of a separate article, but in our case, I would recommend to begin with sculpting clay (and maybe even stop at it). Similar in properties to ordinary polymer clay, except that it can not be baked (hardened). But it is unlikely that from the first work you will create a masterpiece that you want to keep. Of the advantages. the price, plasticine costs about 10 (!) times cheaper than polymer clay.

Another big topic, we’ll leave its detailed analysis for the future. In a nutshell. Get whatever is available at your local craft store. If you continue studying. Dokupy more (and perhaps even make it yourself, for your own needs). Of my first set I still use a couple of tools, so they probably will not be redundant with you.

How to work with polymer clay

Polymer clay (aka plastic or thermoplastic) is a very decorative material, which feels like plasticine, and externally also similar to it. Only it has more elasticity and less sticking to the hands. Plastic has long been popular with artists, designers, and DIY enthusiasts.

The basis of this material is polyvinylchloride. When exposed to high temperatures, it hardens, and the products resemble plastic or ceramic.

What’s Made of Thermoplastic

This material is used to make beautiful decorations, souvenirs, objects of interior decor, Christmas decorations, handmade dolls.

The unique properties of thermoplastic allow the finest details of the sculpture to be expressed with precision, imitating a variety of textures. Thermoplastic works last a long time.

Is Plastic Toxic?

Since it is not a natural material, it is not recommended for children under 8 years of age. There are also a few rules for its use in this regard:

When baking clay products for older children, parents should be present.

When burning plastic, you should ventilate the room, and when baking, turn on the hood.

After finishing baking, the oven should be cleaned.

All utensils and tools that have come into contact with the clay should no longer be used for food!

After baking, the material is no longer toxic.

Tools for modeling with plastic

For the product to turn out beautiful and neat, it is necessary to properly prepare for the work. For this you will need:

A smooth and hard surface that does not absorb polymer clay

special knife, very sharp and thin. With it you will divide pieces of plastic into parts and trace the details

a special acrylic roller, rolling pin, or other cylindrical object (but not plastic: plastic often dissolves plastic) for rolling out the clay layers

For sculpting you need non-molding stacks

toothpicks. for rolling up the slices of the clay sausages and making the holes

Cutters, which you will use to cut out identical parts. these are such shaped cutters, similar to cookie cutters

Readily available materials: crochet needles, accessories, pins, foil, etc. needlework paraphernalia

How to make clay malleable?

To make the thermoplastic material pliable it is enough to just knead it with warm hands, with cold hands it needs to knead for a longer time. Keep in mind that if it is kneaded badly, bubbles will appear on it when baked, and then it will most likely crumble.

How to decrease or increase the plasticity of clay?

Soften plastic with creams, petroleum jelly, heating, etc. ways. But the easiest way is to use a special plasticizer (for example, Moldmaker). Also hard plastic can be simply mixed with soft plastic.

If, on the other hand, the clay should stick to your hands, you need to mix it up with a piece drier. If suitable dry clay is not available, put it on white paper for 2 hours. When the paper becomes greasy, it means that the excess plasticizer has come out of the clay.

Plastic can also become too tacky after reacting with paint. It is already impossible to correct the situation.

There are different colors and properties of thermoplastic (hard, soft, matte or glossy). To get the desired result, different types of plastic are mixed.

Thermoplastics of different colors mix very well. To obtain clay of a certain shade, you need to mix the basic colors in the necessary proportions (pick up from the color mixing table).

Only clays with different baking temperatures should not be mixed, as this leads to underbaking and brittleness or overbaking and darkening.

How to bake thermoplastic?

For baking products is quite suitable conventional oven. The temperature for this is specified in the instructions for your particular piece of clay, from which the product is made. Normally, the temperature range is between 110 ° C and 130 ° C. Do not exceed the temperature quoted in the instructions, t.к. The plastic releases toxins when burned.

It is difficult not to leave handprints on the surface. That is why the product is polished in the final step. This is done after baking, under running water or, if necessary, in a basin with a soap solution with a waterproof sandpaper. Significant irregularities are removed by sandpaper 20. Fingerprints, various scratches removes 00. The smallest irregularities are smoothed by 00 or 000. After the fine sanding, the product can be varnished or rubbed on a linen cloth (denim, corduroy).

How to store thermoplastic?

The plastic does not cure in the air, but dries perfectly, t.к. The plasticizer that makes it plastic evaporates. Therefore, the printed package should always be sealed tightly. If the factory packaging is very damaged, wrap the rest of the plastic in cling film. With it, the clay will not react.

When the temperature changes in the room, as well as during prolonged storage pieces of plastic can stick together, so different colors need individual packaging.

Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. When exposed to extreme cold or heat, the plastic dries out or hardens.

What kind of varnish to coat thermoplastic?

There are special varnishes for clay. Only take nail polish as well as acrylic polish, as some of them dissolve the plastic. At first it may appear to be dry, but over time it becomes sticky, collecting all the dust. Practically tested building varnishes such as Tikkurila Parketti Assa or Tikkurila Unica Super can be used. Synteko Pro 20,45,90.

How to model with polymer clay

For creativity with polymer clay, no special skills are needed, because the mass is similar to plasticine. In the hands it becomes soft and pliable, ready to create any crafts. For the product to be beautiful, with durability, choose a quality material for creativity. There are many types of polymer clay: Sculpey, Cernit, Viva Pardo, Deco (Japanese), Kato Policlay, Sonnet, Pro, Flower (sold in kits) and others. Most ornaments are created from clay Decoclay and Fimo.

Tools

Tools for polymer clay can be purchased at any store for creativity and needlework. Some items can be replaced by improvised materials, but without some special tools can’t do without. Before starting work, you need to prepare for the process. You will need:

• Working surface of glass or plastic of large size.
• PVA glue. It is useful for connecting the parts of thermoplastic with each other.
• Sharp knives, can be clerical.
• Sandpaper for roughness removal.
• A piece of suede cloth, which gives a shine to the finished product.
• Toothpicks, rolling pin.
• Cutters. special molds for cutting out figures.
• Extruder, rolling pin.

Molding Techniques

There are several popular techniques that are used in creating crafts from different types of plastic:

• Smooth transition. The method consists in mixing of two different colors.
• Sausage (sape, cane, millefiori). Several layers of different polymer clay are joined together, and then the mass is rolled.
• “Kaleidoscope. Multilayered, in the technique of kaleidoscope the pattern turns out symmetrical, multicolored.
• Watercolor. The technique of a smooth transition of color in modeling.
• Filigree. Complicated, requires professional skills, patience.
• Salt technique. Salt is used in molding to add texture to the creation.
• Mika-shift. Creates a 3D effect.
• Mokume Gane. It consists of layering several layers of plastic clay of different colors.

Gluing parts

Some pieces must be glued together after baking, in order to avoid damages during the baking process. Use liquid or gel glue for this purpose, it is better, if it is fast action and will set in 15-20 seconds. In this way you have the possibility of fitting the pieces as close as possible to each other. Do not apply the glue in strips, so as not to drip, but do it in single drops.

Baking

This process requires the observance of certain conditions. The most important thing is to stick to the baking temperature, which is indicated on the package by the manufacturer. If you do not adhere to this temperature, the product may fail to bake, or it may become discolored. It is better to bake the mass in the oven on a ceramic tile or on an ordinary tray, covered with parchment paper. Small pieces should be poked with a toothpick, placed on a foil ball, so they bake better. Place flat pieces on a flat surface.

Complex crafts can be baked in several stages, for example, if they are made in the technique of “filigree”. Each step takes a certain amount of time (from 1 to 15 minutes), and the total duration of the process can take up to half an hour. Remember also that in raw form the material is not toxic, but in heat treatment, it emits an unpleasant, noxious smell. Observe safety: air the room, remove food from the kitchen, wash the oven after firing.

Varnishing

Finished products are coated with a special lacquer, which gives them a finished look. There are lacquers matte and glossy, you need to choose based on the desired effect of your handicraft. Many plastic manufacturers also make lacquers, so you can buy products of the same brand. It has a composition that will not fade over time and will not stick to your hands. Some craftswomen varnish their creations with water-based wood polishes. The main thing is that they do not contain latex, which is incompatible with thermoplastic.

Paint can be applied with a brush, but it is better to “put” the product on a toothpick and dip it in the liquid as a whole, twisting it around its axis. In this way the substance will be evenly distributed, the excess amount will drain off. Then a toothpick with a handcraft is inserted into a piece of Styrofoam (or other material) and left to dry. If after a while a drop of varnish forms at the bottom, it must be carefully removed. Cover the crafts with several layers, drying each of them a certain amount of time (indicated on the package), sometimes this time is several hours.

Safety precautions

Working with any material, even food, has its own safety rules. If you decide to mold from plastic, observe the following precautions:

• Always wash your hands with soap and water after mowing, or better yet, wear rubber gloves.
• Do not burn the mass in the oven where you cook. If there is no other and you have to do it, wash the oven thoroughly and ventilate well.
• Observe the temperature mode of baking, and if the material burns, be sure to ventilate the room and wash the oven.

Polymer clay handicrafts

After preparing all the necessary materials, tools, you can start creating different masterpieces. Review a few simple sculpting tutorials and start with the basics, moving on to complex crafts with the acquisition of certain skills. Over time, this fascinating hobby can grow into a small business, bringing a good regular income.

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Polymer clay crafts for beginners

For those who have basic knowledge and are starting to work with plastic for the first time, a simple master class on modeling from polymer clay a magnet for the fridge will help:

• Stock up: self-hardening polymer clay in pink, yellow, white, green, lettuce colors, soft magnet, acrylic paints, glue, scissors, toothpick, beads.
• Roll small balls of yellow, white, pink polymer clay, shape a drop of them, cut the thick edge with scissors into 4-5 pieces.
• Flatten them, give relief with a toothpick. You will have the flowers.
• Form the droplets of material in green shades, flatten them, make veins with a toothpick. These will be the leaves.
• Let’s make the buds: We press stripes on the drop of white color, imitating unopened petals. Wrap the bottom of the blank with a piece of green mass.
• Paint the magnet with a paint of a suitable shade and glue the workpieces on it, creating a composition. Supplement it with decorative beads. Allow it to dry completely.

New Year’s Eve crafts

An excellent New Year’s gift will be a magic ball made at home from polymer clay:

• Prepare: a small transparent spice jar with a twist-off lid, plastic (white, black, red, pink, beige), glitter, glitter, glycerin, vodka, pin, glue.
• Roll 2 white balls of different sizes, put them on a pin (thin wire) to make a snowman.
• Make hollows for eyes, insert 2 black balls there. Insert the carrot out of the red plastic in the hole for the nose. Draw a smile.
• Roll 4 white balls, 2 flatten on one side to make legs. From the rest, make elongated droplets. these are the hands. Assemble the snowman.
• Roll out two long thin sausages from the beige, pink polymer clay. Twist them in a flagellum. Make them into a hat for the snowman. In the same way make a candy in the form of a hook (use a red, white mass), put it in your hand. Bake.
• Put the lid of the can inside the waterproof glue, put the snowman in the center and sprinkle the sequins around.
• Pour various medium sized glitters into jar, pour 1 tbsp. л. Glycerin and vodka, add water, taking into account that the snowman should still fit.
• Cream the lid threads, screw on, let dry. Shake it, invert it.

Decorations

As a decoration, try making an uncomplicated “crochet” arm bracelet that mimics real yarn:

• You will need: bracelet base, plastic of desired color, liquid gel plastic, extruder, knife.
• Place the plastic into the extruder, squeeze out. Take 2 strips, twist into a bundle. Do the same with the other two strips, twisting them in the other direction.
• Gel the surface of the warp, apply the first strand, cut off the necessary length. Then place the second strand as close as possible to the first, cut it off.
• You will have an imitation knit. Repeat until the whole bracelet is knit. Do the same on the inside (optional). Bake it.

Toys

Molding toys with thermoplastic is a great way to spend quality time with your kids. Try making a turtle like this:

• Stock baked polymer mass (blue, light green, pink), a brush and 2 small black beads.
• Use blue color to make 4 big blobs to make the feet.
• From a piece of lettuce plastic form a template in the form of a bell with a recess inside. this is the future shell.
• Place the legs side by side, wide side down, put the shell on top. Hand brush, holding it vertically, make a recess in front of the future turtle. a place for the head.
• Shape the head blank: roll a blue plastic ball and a cylinder, connect them. You should have a head on the neck. Attach it to the torso.
• Roll pink balls, flatten, glue to the shell. the spots. Make eyes out of beads. Bake the turtle.

Flowers

On this clear step by step master class sculpture flowers from polymer clay is easy and simple:

• Prepare the following materials: white and blue thermoplastic, toothpick, 2 white beads, a knife.
• Make 2 balls of different colors, combine them, knead them until you achieve a marble pattern.
• Divide the resulting ball in half, and mold each half into a flat plate with 1 elongated edge.
• Roll each into a paper seed cube so that the stretched edge is at the top. Pinch it, and spread the free edges as if the flower is opening. Bake, glue a bead in the middle.
• If you make a hole in the middle with a toothpick before firing, you can then insert hardware and form earrings out of the flowers.

Children’s crafts

Children are very fond of cartoons, so they will be interested in the process of creating popular characters from polymer clay. Let’s mold Krosh from the Smeshariki:

Review. Tools for polymer clay

When working with polymer clay, we often have to come up with our own tools and devices to work. Who among us has not used a lipstick case as a cutter? Today on the blog. Polymer clay tools and some tips.

Zhanna Vadimovna Vasilyeva

When working with polymer clay, we often have to come up with our own tools and devices for work. Who among us has not used a lipstick case as a cutter?? Today on the blog. Polymer clay tools and some useful tips. We continue a topic started here.

So, on the blog http://www.Melobeau.blogspot.co.il I read that the author of the blog before working with polymer clay, lubricates the fingertips with olive oil. A few drops of oil prevent dry hands, which is inevitable when working with polymer clay. It is convenient to smooth out the irregularities on the product with the fingers and less fingerprints appear. You should check it out!

Melody, author of the above blog, uses bearing balls as a tool. Glued balls of different diameters on sushi sticks and got a tool! Epoxy glue was used as the glue. Thank you, Melody!

Kate’s blog http://katersacres.com options for using an embossing dryer. For making wings or other flat parts. between two (or more) pieces of wire, apply a liquid gel Fimo or Scalpi and heat with an embossing dryer. To create complex items of several elements, you can heat individual parts with a hair dryer, so they do not lose their shape. To quickly join two polymer clay elements. Apply some polymer clay gel to the pieces. Press the parts and heat with a hair dryer.

It’s a wonderful thing called A spice chopper, will allow you to cut strips of equal width from a sheet of polymer clay. You can order online from the Chinese or on eBay. We probably have some in our stores, too.

If you don’t have a round cutter, and you need one right away, you can make one of these things. You will need a threaded rod to make. Ask your spouse, he knows what it is! Also a flat piece of metal or a polymer clay blade.

Dentist tool also useful in the household of the polymer. Buy a new one. expensive. Once saw a large quantity at the Udelnaya (flea market). Sold a very nice grandmother, but I then did not need it.

Have you looked into vegetable peelers? Turns out they can also be used as a tool to cut layers of clay. I can’t vouch for the result, but the “firms” are already trading. For 20 dollars apiece.

For slicing thin layers of cane and mokume gane, the daredevil hands came up with this tool. Made of plexiglass. If you figure it out, you can figure out how it’s done. The set below costs 80.

Embossing paper stencils, which can be used by rolling them through a paste-machine. Can they be replaced by something? I think a nice plastic backing with texture would work fine. Or buy them at a scrapbooking store. I looked on the internet at the products of the Canadian company Cuttlebug. Here are the lessons on how to use their products. Ask what polymer clay tools have to do? As an option to use a paste-machine!

Pros and cons of homemade clay

Products from homemade clay almost no different from products from purchased clay. It has quite a few pros:

products from it dry from 30 minutes to 24 hours, depending on the size of the product;

The ingredients for preparation are not very expensive and are available in almost every home;

The finished crafts can be painted with acrylic or gouache paints;

The prepared clay can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for quite a long time;

Products turn out neat and keep their shape well;

The finished products are strong and can be stored in dry rooms for a long time.

not all glue is suitable for the preparation of polymer clay;

the result may not always meet expectations;

You can spoil the dishes during cooking.

Polymer clay, prepared at home, is ideal for creative activities with children or creating small amateur crafts. But if you want to engage in professional jewelry making, it is better to use purchased polymer clay. It has a convenient consistency and it turns out more accurate handicrafts.

On our website we offer clay Fimo. One of the most popular and high quality plastic.

Popular beading techniques, from primitive to complex

Beading. Needlework, which is available to all without special training. With the help of different techniques can be weaved and pretty bracelet-fringe and exclusive necklace to the evening dress. To about.

Beadwork in recent years has become especially popular. This can be explained by the fact that against the background of industrial products, created by copying, painstaking hand embroidery, made by.

What to do if the polymer clay crumbles

Polymer clay is akin to plasticine. It is also capable of taking various shapes because of its soft texture and malleability. After firing it becomes similar to stone, but unlike.

Polymer clay: tools for beginners and ways to save money

Hi! After about a million years, finally writing the promised nine subscribers post about the tools, today. for the polymer clay.

Myself I started back in school, with a couple of briquettes of domestic clay and toothpicks, and reached some peaks in terms of kolhozing equipment from nothing. In principle, to try this will be enough, but it is better not to stray into economy and immediately buy a small set of normal tools. Because on a crank will be obtained crooked, you will be upset, and eventually will take away all interest (I hint that I had so).

The first thing you will need is the clay itself. I will talk about bakeable, there are also self-curing, but on this profile there are much more experienced guys. I use Cernit and Fimo Professional, they have different properties, softness, color palettes. But the same requirements for baking, and for maximum strength both brands recommend baking at 125-130 Celsius. No more. no way, they will melt and burn.

To start it’s better to take a set of basic colors black and white, CraftClay, Lapsi, artifact. at the beginning it does not matter, you can take any inexpensive brand. The main thing is to read carefully the information on the packaging, especially the expiration date and temperature rating.

Where to save money: you won’t have much to gain on a couple of briquettes, unless you look for small craft stores in your town (they may be a little cheaper than the hypermarkets) or wait for a discount (which is unlikely, but it happens). The big difference appears when you need kilograms, and then you definitely need to look for online stores, preferably specialized. Even taking shipping into account, it will be much more profitable and convenient.

For the frugal ones you can scour the needleworker’s flea markets, sometimes they sell leftovers for a penny, but usually they are taken away at once.

Stacks. That’s what you’ll be working out the details with. At first, a “needle” and a pair of “weights” (these ones with balls) will suffice.

Where to save money: China. Minus: time, plus: almost all tools are 3 times cheaper there. Look at the reviews and you’ll be fine. Don’t get tools for sculptors and ceramists, they are too big. (Dental can do it, but usually an airplane wing is cheaper). Don’t get the wood tools, they don’t compare in smoothness to the metal ones. Don’t get that thick stack on the edge on the right, it’s heavy and clumsy.

For quite lowcost, you can replace the stack-needle with the largest sewing needle, from the remnants of clay or failed blanks to make a convenient anatomical handle. Likewise molded stack-peg. a toothpick and two balls of clay, the top of the balls are covered with cyanoacrylate glue (in 25 seconds from the nearest shop is good) or epoxy (luhuri option), we get a perfectly smooth and hard surface.

Knives and blades. Make-up knife a la scalpel. is simply a must-have. It was the most profitable 100 I’ve ever spent in my life. The flat blade is needed in order to separate the workpiece from the surface, because it is not only useless, but also downright harmful to try to peel it off with your hands and pull it.

Where to save money: for not too fine works the blade from a penknife or even a bit of it is good. We do the handle in the already known way.

Needle-nose pliers and long-nose pliers. The first ones are mainly needed for beautiful bending of loops and all sorts of wires, and you can do without them at first. You can’t do without the second one. Always pay attention to presence or absence of knurling on the working surface of the tool. The spring mechanism between the handles is not important, spiral-plates. as long as it holds and springs well.

Where to save money: Chinese tools from the photo are around 150 apiece, and for their money they are just great. Even cheaper? Please don’t. In the beginning I used construction pliers from fix-price, wrapped with plaster, so as not to scratch the hardware. This is hell and Hiroshima. No precision, no durability.

Fittings. In order, from top to bottom, from left to right: connecting rings, pendant beads (with laces and/or chains attached to them), bead pins, screw pins, earring pins, and earring stoppers. In the photo the most simple and reliable options in stainless steel. There are costume jewelry alloys in different colors, they’re mostly cheaper, but they shed and kind of can be irritating. There are more expensive author’s accessories made of brass and bronze, and so-called “deluxe class” with gilding, but that is not what we talk about today.

Where to Save: Again, China, but be careful. Buy from trusted sellers, look for sales, coupons, and discounts. And be prepared to spend most of your budget on this item and beyond in your search for the perfect fit.

Pastels and colorants in general. If you have bought a set of colored clay, you can do without this item for now. But you still have to go back to it, because without tinting the clay looks dull and flat. Relief, light shade, shades are applied either with pastels before curing, or paints after. Flat synthetic and manicure brushes will work well for this. By the way, manicure pigments, glitter, and iridescent wax on clay look just gorgeous.