Polymer Clay

Fimo and clay tips and tutorials

Polymer clay, on the side please.

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That’s the way it is for a lot of polymer clay artists. Those of us with some type of physical illness or limitation know exactly what I mean by say by saying “on the side please”. I can personally say that it’s not because we don’t want to clay. It’s due to , say the pain, or grogginess, lol. You know, the put the milk in the cupboard and not the fridge. You really wouldn’t understand unless you’ve been there.Hmmm…..you might understand, not fully tho. Well, I’m trying to get my ducks in out of the fog and start bringing some fun around here, I don’t think you come here just to see eye candy. You expect some opinions and smart aleck comments RIGHT ? ? Oh yeah, there’s gonna be…. prizes :):):):) There are also some other changes happening around here in the blog. But, I’m not sure i can elaborate on those details yet.

So, I’m going to take a couple, maybe three days off to pull everything together, But I hope you can understand, life certainly can put you down for the count on some occasions. I’ve had new meds added to the growing list and they don’t want to play nicely. It’s just a gotta get used to them thing. Well, lets hope the fight ends favorably, MY favor, that is !

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Comments

  2. Wendy, I was wondering what the heck happened to you! I’m so sorry you’re ill but glad you’re on the upswing; I hope the new meds help, not only so you can get back into the PC but back into everything else that had to sit to the side while you weren’t feeling quite right (yep, it’s something I *do* understand).

    Looking forward to your full, smart-alecky return :),

    Mary Kaye

  3. Thanks Ladies ! I appreciate the warm thoughts more than you know. What would I do without online “friends”. They’re the best ones, they aren’t at your home all the time, lol!!!!

    **Oh, and I am also glad you guys like my smarty pants attitude 🙂

    I’ll be back Monday, ready and raring to go !

  4. Hi Wendy,

    I totally understand. I started “claying” about 8 years ago, but have done next to nothing the last couple years. My heart was in it, but my body wasn’t. I suffer from back and joint pain, due to arthritis, and actually had to have major back surgery this summer. So, I know. I so hope to get back to it very soon. I really miss it.

    I hope you are able to get back into the swing of things, too!

    Hugs,
    Shannon

  5. Oh Shannon! That’s tough. I hope the best for you and that you have someone with you there. It’s tough to be at a hospital without a loved one.

    Bless you and I hope you have a speedy recovery.

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