Polymer Clay

Fimo and clay tips and tutorials

Meet CDowdle Designs

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1. So, introduce yourself to us!

So here I am!

My name is Cindy Dowdle-Schoen. My company name is CDowdle Designs and my blog name is Purple Froggie Clay Stuff.
I have been doing polymer clay for a year now. I have an Artfire shop and a Flickr Page. I also have a Facebook page. (links listed below)

2. Why do you work with polymer clay? & 3. Do you have a favourite technique to use?

I really like sculpting with clay, the ability to mold and shape and manipulate the clay into the shape that I want. It’s very relaxing to me. I can spend hours working on something and never get tired of it.

There really isn’t much of a theme that appears over and over, other than I really think that secretly I like green, because I got to looking at all my work the other day, there is quite a bit of green. HA! And here I thought my favorite color was purple.

CDowdle Designs on ArtFire
On Facebook
On Flickr
Cindy’s blog

Sorry for the lack of posties this week! I’ve been enjoying a few days off at my mom’s place which is way out of town. I thought I had scheduled entries for the whole duration but it turns out… no, I hadn’t. I’m back and posting! Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and is looking forward to a new and clayful year.

Next Polymer Clay Idea:

Comments

  1. Hi, My name is Missy, and I am becoming a Suzie Homemaker-aholic! I have turned into something/someone else when it comes to crafts and homemade items. Several people and events have influenced me recently in different positive ways. I have joined Operation Write Home to make cards for our deployed troops to send home to loved ones. My most recent endeavors involve bath salts and sugar scrubs as gifts. I am also currently making scarves. Rosaries and jewelry are also in my repertoire. For the recent holidays, my family has enjoyed homemade bread, homemade pecan pie (hubby and I picked the pecans for it), and other homemade goodies. Sigh…in a few days I go back to work, so will have to wait for Mardi Gras holidays to evolve back into S.H. I really HAVE to give her (Suzie Homemaker) a Cajun name.

Have you read?

How To Make A Milk Mache Molding Compound

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