Polymer Clay

Fimo and clay tips and tutorials

Experiment with Base Colors

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Color theory at work: when you place a color next to something, it will look different.  Simple, but helpful to know!  The next time you are creating beads or objects using molds and paint, try these nifty little tricks:

Compliments – to make a color appear duller or muted, paint it’s complimentary hue on top.  Like my green base with pink hues painted for this sea urchin.  It adds depth to the bead compared to the example below that is a pink base with pink paint.  Complimentary colors are opposite of each other on the color wheel, like red & green, teal & copper, purple & gold, etc.  Funny contradiction: If you paint these colors next to each or let more of the color below show through, the colors will appear more intense.

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Analogous Colors - These are colors right next to each other on a color wheel.  Try painting orange on top of red or yellow to brighten up the colors for a little extra pop.  A color wheel is a handy little tool to add to your clay supplies, you can pick one up at your local arts & crafts store.

You can completely change the look of your beads by experimenting with different base colors.  Remember to have fun and experiment.

[tags]polymer clay, arts & crafts, color theory, molds[/tags]

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Comments

  3. I agree with Kim! These new beads are wonderful. I like that phrase… organic shabby chic. Catchy!

    Good advice on the base colors. A lot of people don’t realize what a big difference the background color has on the foreground color. I do it by instinct but I’ll start using my color wheel more often now!

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