Making Molds for Polymer Clay, A Leaf and Candle Holder

Polymer clay is a modeling clay that can be formed by hand or in these examples molded with molds. Polymer clay is well suited making art pieces and craft projects because the polymer clay is hardened in the oven to make reasonably sturdy finished parts. These “how to” tutorials demonstrate methods of forming the clay into unique shapes using molds, and we are using the ImPRESSive Re-usable Molding Putty.

The polymer clay mold making video below demonstrates the methods for making a mold and then forming the polymer clay into the shape of a leaf. The mold picks up the details in the leaf. The polymer clay push mold can be re-used or re-shaped after it has been used for the leaf. 

The second video demonstrates the methods to mold and cast a wood piece into polymer clay. This candle holder is untreated wood. This mold was made using the polymer clay push mold used in the first video. The Putty was also melted down to make the soy wax candle of the lightbulb.

For More Information Visit: 

www.ComposiMold.com

www.Facebook.com/ComposiMold

www.YouTube.com/ComposiMold 

FAST Polymer Clay Push Mold Window Art

The sun has been shining and the creative juices are flowing! 

Here in Maine the craft show circuit gets rolling when the weather starts to warm. I made multiple polymer clay casts in my ComposiMold and dedicated this project to all my fellow crafters. This project is meant to demonstrate just how quickly you can bulk up your inventory. I made 6 push mold casts in under 10 minutes. The baking and the actual beading takes some more time too but the star clay pendant is the easiest part to make on these fun window, sun porch, or garden decorations.

Supplies:

20 oz. of ComposiMold-LT or PowerMold 

(PowerMold is stiffer and recommened for the Push Mold Technique.)

Polymer Clay (I used Sculpey brand)

Mold Release

Bubble Buster

A decal of your choice to use as your master part

An Oven and metal baking pan to bake the clay

Miscellaneous beads and wire

1. Prepare your master part by securing it the the bottom of a heat safe mold box. I used hot glue to ensure my piece wouldn't float and chose a tupperware lid that was deep enough as my mold box. (You can also use tin foil as a mold box and create any shape you want.) As a precaution I also sprayed my master part with a shellac because it is made of a wood. I didn't want any trapped air in the decal to escape into my mold and cause bubbles. 

2. Melt the ComposiMold or PowerMold in the microwave or double boiler as per product instructions. 

3. Spray your master part with mold release and then with Bubble Buster. I used a silicone Mold Release which is one of my favorites for non-food items. The Bubble Buster can be applied right over the top of the Mold Release. 

4. Pour your melted ComposiMold or PowerMold into the lowest surface of the mold box and let it rise up over the master part. This will lift and carry away any bubbles that may be in the melted ComposiMold or PowerMold. 

5. Let the mold solidify back to it's original consistency. 

6. Remove your master part and clean up any rough edges with a sharp exacto blade. 

7. Work the polymer clay in your hands until it is soft and pliable. This may take some elbow grease as it comes out of the package fairly hard. 

8. When I preform the push-mold technique I sometimes roll a ball in my hands and then press the ball into the mold, pushing the ball flat and into the edges as I go. I may also start with a shape that's similar to the final casted shape. In this case I would make a pancake and lay it into the mold. Then I would add pressure to be sure it was filling all the details. 

(In a more complex shape you would want to be sure that the deepest crevices where filled with clay first. This will ensure that the final cast reflects all the details of your mold.)

9. Bend the mold away from your newly pressed cast and let the cast simply fall out of the mold. Try not to warp the cast by forcing it out or bending the mold too much. Take your time on this step and you will have less clean up once the cast is completely de-molded. 

10. Use a toothpick or similar tool to poke a hole through the clay casting. You will thread your wire through this hole when you create your hanging art pieces later. 

11. Repeat as many times as you wish. The ComposiMold or PowerMold molds hold up very well to push molding. You can make dozens of casts this way and you don't need any mold release to make them. 

12. Bake your clay per product instructions. The Sculpey brand recommends 15 minutes at 275F per each 1/8" of clay. 15 minutes was perfect for these thin pieces. 

13. After the clay has cooled you can begin assembling your hanging ornament. I've used a 20gauge wire to create a loop that the rest of my decoration can be attached to. Use beads that you have laying around or you can make your own beads with Sculpey either by hand or in a another push mold. 

 

 

IDEA: This particular shape lends itself to another cool possibility. You could use your exacto knife to cut the smaller flower in the center of the design and use it as it's own pendant. Poke 2 holes in this one at the top and bottom and "string" it into your design a little further up from the large pendant. 

 I hope this gives you all some ideas about how to use ComposiMold and PowerMold to make multiple art pieces that WILL sell at summer craft shows in your state. Work efficiently with a push mold technique like this one and the profits will speak for themselves. ~Michelle

For More Information visit: www.ComposiMold.com www.Facebook.com/ComposiMold www.YouTube.com/ComposiMold order at www.ComposiTherm.com

Polymer Clay Master for Rapid Protoyping using ComposiMold

Here it is, the video you've been waiting for...

This video will show you how you too can create your own original master part with polymer clay. You can then use this master to make a ComposiMold mold for rapid prototyping using the push mold technique!

 Happy Mold-Making~Michelle

For More Information visit: www.ComposiMold.com www.Facebook.com/ComposiMold www.YouTube.com/ComposiMold order at www.ComposiTherm.com

ComposiMold for Clay Push Molds

You can buy pre-made molds for clay push molds anywhere, but with ComposiMold you can make your own. Use an existing found object to create a mold or even sculpt your own master object and then make a mold of it. You'll be creating duplicates of your sculpture in no time for much less than the cost of buying a mold every time you want a new piece!

Push molds are a simple and effective way of making 3-D objects super fast and easy. For example, buttons can be pushed into a mold in seconds flat using most types of polymer clays or doughy casting materials.

 



PowerMold: If you use the stiffer Sculpey or FIMO type clays, we recommend using the PowerMold Mold Making Material as it has more stiffness. PowerMold is perfect for this type of application.



The Key to Successful Push Mold Castings in a ComposiMold or PowerMold Mold:
The key to great push molds in a ComposiMold or PowerMold mold is to choose or create a master object that is fairly simple in shape. Be sure that your master object doesn't have any undercuts or holes in the shape. Think of a push mold as a negative space for you to press your casting material into picking up the details of the original shape.



1. Experiment to learn whether a mold release is necessary for your particular casting material.

2. Soften your casting material per product instructions. Often this means working it in your hands until it has warmed slightly and becomes doughy in texture.

3. Apply Mold Release if you found that it helped your casting release from the mold.

4. Press your casting material into your mold. Be sure to press into the lowest points of the negative space first. This will ensure that the casting material picks up all the details of the mold.

5. Carefully remove your casting from the mold. This can be done by turning your mold upside down and letting it fall out. (You may have to slightly bend your mold away from the casting to release it.)

6. If your clay distorts when you pull it out of the mold, refrigerate the mold and clay. This will make the clay harder and firmer allowing you to pull it out of the mold more effectively with less distortion.

For More Information visit: www.ComposiMold.com www.Facebook.com/ComposiMold www.YouTube.com/ComposiMold order at www.ComposiTherm.com