How To: Polymer Clay Handles for Metal Design Stamps
Published On: 01-31-2012 10:10pm
Comments: 2 - Hits: 463
Who hates metal design stamps? I did! Ever since I got my new design stamps for metal, I hated them. Reason being their shanks are cylindrical, making them very slippery and hard to stay put when hit by a hammer. So I only got to use them several times and most of them was a waste of time and resources. I kept thinking i wish their shanks were rectangular prism like my cheap alphabet metal stamps. What a waste of $30 for dust bunny breaders, I thought!
Not until a few days ago I was inspired to cover the stamps with Polymer Clay and it worked great! I never had the chance to work with this medium before, although I'd always wanted to. So about last week I discovered that my mother-in-law kept some polymer clay in the kids' fun box. I saw the kids (niece and nephews) were making things with them and asked their Anya (grandma) to bake their creations in the oven. I played with them a little and liked it and got this a-ha moment on the next few tries.
How I did it:
1. I kneaded the clay until it soften and smoothen as instructed on the wrapper.
2. I rolled it thin with a pencil (no professional tools here), about 2mm (1/16 in) and cut as needed.
3. I covered the shank of the design stamp leaving only the top (and of course the designs) uncovered for hammering purpose.
4. I pressed it against the table to make rectangle prism shape. Becareful not to press it too far down. Also make sure the design at the bottom is aligned well with the rectangle the way you'd hold it comfortably when hammering.
5. I made some easy spiral design and cut it with a box cutter and press the designs onto my unbaked polymer shank and smoothen it up with my fingers to blend the design with the shank.
6. I Put them in the oven and baked for 10-15 minutes as instructed.
So Voila! Here are my three polymer clay covered design stamps, now work perfectly and easy to handle! Thumbs up for Polymer Clay!
Not until a few days ago I was inspired to cover the stamps with Polymer Clay and it worked great! I never had the chance to work with this medium before, although I'd always wanted to. So about last week I discovered that my mother-in-law kept some polymer clay in the kids' fun box. I saw the kids (niece and nephews) were making things with them and asked their Anya (grandma) to bake their creations in the oven. I played with them a little and liked it and got this a-ha moment on the next few tries.
How I did it:
1. I kneaded the clay until it soften and smoothen as instructed on the wrapper.
2. I rolled it thin with a pencil (no professional tools here), about 2mm (1/16 in) and cut as needed.
3. I covered the shank of the design stamp leaving only the top (and of course the designs) uncovered for hammering purpose.
4. I pressed it against the table to make rectangle prism shape. Becareful not to press it too far down. Also make sure the design at the bottom is aligned well with the rectangle the way you'd hold it comfortably when hammering.
5. I made some easy spiral design and cut it with a box cutter and press the designs onto my unbaked polymer shank and smoothen it up with my fingers to blend the design with the shank.
6. I Put them in the oven and baked for 10-15 minutes as instructed.
So Voila! Here are my three polymer clay covered design stamps, now work perfectly and easy to handle! Thumbs up for Polymer Clay!
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By popnicute on 03/10/2012 @ 11:04pm
Yes, I put the metal inside the oven too. Just let it air cool after you're done baking to avoid cracks.