Polymer Clay

Fimo and clay tips and tutorials

Meet DesertRubble

by

1.Introduce yourself!

My name is Lynn Reno and I grew up in rural Indiana but have lived in Mesa, AZ for most of my adult life. Along with polymer clay, my other current hobbies are to bring birds and butterflies to our yard and selective breeding of lovebirds. One of my favorite past hobbies was scroll sawing and that’s something I look forward to having time for again.

2. Why do you work in polymer clay?

I used to do some decorative concrete work and I had my first taste of working with a moldable/sculptable medium from that, but concrete is so, so messy. I was taking a break from it when I felt a strong pull toward polymer clay. At that point I had never touched the stuff and had no idea what cool things were being made with it. It didn’t take much web surfing for me to know I had to get some. What I know now is that polymer clay has endless possibilities, it can be anything and everything you want it to be, I think polymer clay is awesome!

3. Is there a recurring theme in your work?

Industrial/Steampunk! I love adding things to polymer clay and I love those mica powders, put them together and polymer clay takes on a whole new feel. I can’t tell you how many times I hear from people that they thought a piece of mine was metal…I even worry sometimes that a customer might be disappointed when they get their piece and realize it isn’t. I hope my work and style continue to evolve but I don’t doubt these will continue to be a part of it.

Shop – http://www.artfire.com/users/DesertRubble
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/lynnsdesertrubble
Blog – http://lynnsdesertrubble.blogspot.com/

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Comments

  1. I think Lynn’s polymer clay art is fantastic.
    She creates beautiful works of art. I wish her great success in her arts.

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