April Issue of Polymer Cafe!

What shall I try first?

After a hectic week, it was a nice treat to open up my mailbox and see the April issue of “Polymer Cafe.” My first reaction upon perusing the cover was “cool!”

The Lantern Beads by Sophia Lenz are bold, colorful, and definitely have that “WOW!” factor. I read through the instructions, and feel confident that while it may take some practice to make them as sharp and stunning as Sophia’s beads, the article was clear and would lead to a successful project.

Sharon “Harry” Solly shares a painted mica technique originated by her guild mate Mary Lee Forsythe. This is one of those sweet and simple techniques that can be adjusted for a whole variety of looks. (And it’s shiny and sparkly, which are two of my favorite adjectives in conjuction with polymer clay!) I especially enjoyed the examples of this technique from the Blue Ridge Polymer Clay Guild in Asheville, North Carolina shown in the Reader’s Gallery. (The “home guild” of the author)

This issue also features lots of cool work submitted for the Mixed Media Challenge, a charming story about “nudging” your creativity by Christie Friesen, profiles about the President and Executive Director of the IPCA (International Polymer Clay Association,) and a touching and inspiring farewell from the former editor of “Polymer Cafe,” Connie Donaldson.

This issue seemed to be a bit heavy on jewelry projects, although techniques can always be used in other ways. With jewelry remaining a very popular item to make with polymer clay, there may be a lack of non-jewelry project submissions.

[tags]polymer cafe review, polymer clay magazine, april issue[/tags]

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How To Make An Air Dry Clay Paint Palette With…

There are some craft projects that feel like they belong on a rainy afternoon kitchen table, and this Milk Mache Molding Compound is exactly one of them. It is part craft, part science experiment, and part “wait… did we just turn milk into something solid?”

This clever little project from CraftBits shows you how to make a simple homemade molding compound using just milk and vinegar. The idea is wonderfully old-school: when the vinegar reacts with the milk, it separates into curds and liquid, leaving you with a soft mixture that can be pressed, shaped, and dried into a hard, stone-like material.

It’s a lovely one to try with kids, especially if you enjoy hands-on STEM-style crafts that do not require a trolley full of supplies. You can use the finished compound to make small charms, beads, ornaments, rustic tags, or simple molded shapes. Just keep the pieces small and thin, as this is not really the sort of compound you would use for large sculptures or anything that needs to be perfectly smooth.

What I like most about this project is how accessible it is. Most of us already have milk, vinegar, a bowl, and paper towel in the kitchen, which makes it a brilliant last-minute craft activity. It also has that slightly magical quality children love — one minute it is liquid, the next it is turning into a moldable material.

A couple of tips before you try it: use whole milk if you can, as it tends to give a better result than skim or semi-skimmed milk. White vinegar is also the best choice, as darker vinegars may affect the colour and texture. And don’t rush the draining stage. If the mixture is too wet, it will be soggy and hard to shape; if it is too dry, it may crumble.

This would be a fun companion activity for our other kids craft ideas, especially if you are looking for something simple, inexpensive, and a little bit educational. It also fits nicely with home crafts and handmade gift embellishments if you want to turn your dried shapes into tags or decorations.

Would I call this a polished, professional clay substitute? No. Would I call it a wonderfully curious, messy, memorable craft experiment? Absolutely.

If you enjoy homemade craft supplies, kitchen-table experiments, or easy projects that make children ask “how did that happen?”, this Milk Mache Molding Compound is well worth a try.

You can find the full project instructions here: Milk Mache Molding Compound

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