Fire Mountain Fix: Applying Foils to Rounded Polymer Clay

Presented by Lisa Pavelka, Award-Winning Artist, Author and Instructor,
Exclusively from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®
G85H

Award-winning artist Lisa Pavelka is here with a Fire Mountain Fix that explains--step by step--how to apply craft foils to rounded polymer clay shapes for use as decorative borders in jewelry projects and more.

: : : Materials : : :

  • Stamps and molds
  • Mold, Lisa Pavelka, polyresin, silver, 4-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 1/3 inches with textured elegance border
STEP 1
Condition black clay well by hand-kneading or running through a polymer clay roller until soft and pliable. Continue to pass the sheet of conditioned clay through the polymer clay roller on the thinnest setting then place it on a nonstick surface. Trim the sheet of clay to the desired size.

Apply magenta foil to the sheet of clay.

Note: Refer to Lisa Pavelka's ''How to Make Foiled Polymer Clay Shapes'' how-to video to learn how to add foil to clay.
STEP 2
Create a snake of clay for a core to wrap the foiled clay around.

Tip: Since the core will not be visible in the design, this is a great opportunity to use scrap clay. Especially the ones that aren't so pretty.
STEP 3
Slide a clay cutter back and forth underneath the sheet of clay to remove from the working surface. Place the clay strip face-down into a desired cavity of a border mold.

Note: The foil acts like a release agent so there is no need to apply one.

Put your clay snake over the top of the sheet of clay then press down working towards the edges, creating a textured design on the foil.
STEP 4
Turn the border mold perpendicular to the workspace. With a clay cutter slightly bowed, slice the excess clay from the center to one end. Repeat on the opposite side of the mold.

Gently use the ends of the clay to lift the clay from the cavity, working from the ends to the center without tearing or stretching.

Tip: Use a tool to help gently lift the clay out from the cavity, if needed.
STEP 5
Remove the clay mold from the workspace then glide your fingers over the edges of the foil to hide the raggedy edges from sight.

Apply Poly Bonder™ adhesive to the edges of a previously baked (or raw) project then gently position the round foiled clay over the adhesive. Let dry.

Have a question regarding this project? Email Customer Service.

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