Crafts and decorations made of clay. Clay crafts

Clay modeling is a wonderful way to relax, get away from everyday problems and improve your life by letting creativity into it. This material is malleable, plastic and pleasant to human hands. It can be made from a large number of a variety of things - toys, jewelry and decorative crafts. Finished products will wonderfully decorate the interior and can be wonderful gifts for any holiday.

What is polymer clay

Modeling can be done with both natural and artificial material. To date, it is the latter that is increasingly used, which, when necessary conditions hardens very quickly and becomes hard. Plastic, thermoplastic and cernite are its other names.

Beginners need to know that this material is divided into two types. The first seizes only when roasted in the oven, and the other at room temperature. Before you start work, you need to decide on the mass - it will be purchased or made by yourself. Who does not want to spend money on acquiring a ready-made composition can cook it at home, for this you will need:

• 1 glass of PVA glue;
• 2 tbsp. l. lemon juice;
• 1 cup corn starch;
• non-greasy baby cream;
• 1 st. l. vaseline;
• spoon for kneading;
• Bowl;
• film.

From these components, approximately 350 grams of mass can be obtained. The manufacturing technique is very simple: vaseline, PVA and starch are mixed in a bowl, then lemon juice is added. Next, the container is sent for 30 seconds to the microwave at maximum power. The surface of the table is smeared with cream, a warm mixture is spread on it, after which everything is kneaded for 5 minutes. The result should be a plastic and elastic material, completely ready for work.

Tools

Polymer clay modeling for beginners and masters cannot do without special tools:

• Burlap - since the mass does not stick to this material, it is necessary for the manufacture of figures and stripes.
• Rolling pins - must be of polished and hard wood to obtain plates.
• Bars - come in a variety of volumes, are also needed for plastics.
• Spatulas - necessary for cutting, adding material and smoothing surfaces. Sold with blades of different sizes from 2 to 3.5 cm, and sometimes more.
• The mixing attachment is an electrical mechanism that combines different mixtures perfectly.
• Stacks - most often made from wood, but they can also be plastic, needed for self made.
• The potter's wheel is a very important clay sculpting tool that can be useful for any craft, especially for symmetrical pots.

materials

In order for the work to be pleasant, certain components are required, without which you can not do:

• Plastic - you can cook yourself or buy in a store. Before you get down to business, the mass must be warmed up well with your hands. It should resemble plasticine.
• Surface. Clay modeling cannot take place without a quality workplace, since not all parts of the product can be rolled out in the palms of your hands. Often you need a smooth and even base - a special glass board or A4 sheet.
• Gloves. Most craftswomen do not use them in their work in order to better feel the material. But if you want to make a product of high quality and cleanliness, you can’t do without them.
• Napkin. Sometimes there are marks on the surface, tools and hands. Mostly damp cloths are used for cleaning. This will help maintain order and not spoil the mass of the remnants of old work.

Clay modeling for children

Creating even the simplest sculptures with kids is a creative process. For them, a spherical lump may appear as an orange, a ball, an apple, and a bent clay column as a bagel or a ring. While working, the child experiences aesthetic pleasure and pleasure from the volume, plasticity and forms that are obtained as a result. This allows you to develop mental activity, artistic taste and many other qualities.

Creating figurines is one of the most favorite activities for children, in which fine motor skills improve, diligence, self-confidence and independence are brought up. So why wouldn't it be clay? Modeling a toy is useful and very interesting, since you can play with the result in the future. The development of creative imagination and fantasy, which is facilitated by such an activity, will have a beneficial effect on the baby and help him in the future.

Grinding

After finishing work, you need to remove all the bumps. For this, coarse sandpaper numbered 180 or 200 is used. Next, a smaller grit is selected, and the product is brought to the ideal. At the end, it is processed with the smallest types - 2000 or 2500. The longer the work takes, the smoother the surface will be in the end. This is done so that the figurine shines even without the use of other materials. At the end, the product is processed with a denim or woolen cloth.

Varnishing

The fired product is often subjected to such a coating, it gives strength and shine. Lacquer is applied as many times as required to obtain the desired result. A new layer should be painted only after the previous one has completely dried. It is superimposed thinly, otherwise the composition will simply merge, and an unaesthetic appearance will appear. After the modeling of clay is completed and the product is completely dry, you can use a special alcohol or acrylic varnish. To cover a flat figure, one side is first painted, and after complete drying, the other is processed.

If the product has a round shape, for example, it is a bead, then stringing it on a wooden skewer or knitting needle is perfect for this. It is very important that the coated objects do not come into contact with each other.

Master class on making roses

These flowers look very elegant and realistic. Despite the filigree, even a beginner can make this beauty:

• 6 small balls are rolled from blue plastic, each of which is then flattened in the palm of your hand. This will be the petals. The outer side is made thinner, and the inner side is thicker.

• Then one of the blanks is twisted.
• Fingerprints and palm prints remain on each of the leaves. In fact, this will only add realism to the texture.
• Clay modeling continues, and it is necessary to wrap the prepared core with the next petal. In this case, all elements should be overlapped and arranged in a spiral. Each fragment is pressed against the base of the previous one.
• Then the figure is squeezed to get a thin leg.
• After you need to start bending the edges of the petals. For greater showiness, creases characteristic of fresh flowers are made.
• Using a special tool, the leg is cut off to the very base.

Thanks to such master classes, clay modeling for beginners will be very interesting and completely uncomplicated.

Modeling is considered interesting, but at the same time a simple matter with which you can create a variety of gizmos.

Such products are great for original interior design, presented as surprises for various holidays.

How exactly to work with the material intended for modeling and what kind of crafts can you create with your own hands from polymer clay?

For beginners

So, polymer clay is a synthetic material that resembles plasticine in properties, but hardens. This material is called plastic, or cernit, as well as thermoplastic.

Beginners who plan to make clay crafts should know that this material can be of several types - one has the properties to harden exclusively during the baking process, the other does not require firing.

Before choosing clay crafts, you need to decide on the material used.

What is required for modeling

During modeling, improvised materials are used in order to facilitate the working process with clay as much as possible and contribute to giving it the required shape.

For those starting out with DIY clay crafts, there is no need to purchase many tools, as many of them may not be required.

For work you will need:

• special surface for work;
• knife, as well as a razor blade;
• toothpicks to create holes;
• cylindrical rolling pins;
• cutters;
• gloves, and wipes.

How to sculpt?

After complete solidification, the clay resembles gypsum, which is why the product is processed in a special way. Under the influence of high temperature conditions, the baked material resembles plastic.

Clay is sold in a specialized store. It is preferable to start creating crafts for kids made from clay with buds, as well as jewelry.

Flowers

To create a rose, a ball is initially made, which is shaped in the form of a drop - this is the core of the bud. After that, you should roll up a couple of balls, and then flatten them to turn into petals.

Alternately, they need to wrap the core to create a beautiful bud. Leave the first few petals in a straightened position, while bending the extreme ones.

Bijouterie

crafts from polymer clay- original decorations that are easy to make with your own hands, even in the absence of modeling experience. Each beginner can make a bracelet, a ring using a simple technique.

To begin with, it is advisable to choose a simple product, for example, create beads. For these purposes, it is necessary to roll out the clay, cutting out squares of the same size for rolling into small balls. Thus, the beads will be the same size. After that, holes are made in the beads with a needle.

Master class for children

Modeling allows kids not only to know what surrounds them, but also contributes to the active development of finger motor skills.

room for creativity in this case unlimited, however, when choosing a master class for making clay crafts, it is preferable to start with elementary forms. For example, you can fashion food for your favorite dolls or animals with your child.

Note!

Food

It is not difficult for a baby to fashion any fruits or vegetables. Visually show the baby how to create a veined apple leaf with a needle, give required view pear.

Gradually master the modeling methods, given that kids always strive to achieve a positive result faster. In order to interest the crumbs in modeling, explain in advance that crafts are created gradually.

Beasts

In order to create animals with the help of modeling, it is advisable to use a variety of pictures with a schematic representation of animals.

Focusing on them, it is easy to choose a craft for future modeling and it is easier to figure out how to give the elements the required shape.

For very small animals, large pieces of fabric can be used, while large figures should be created according to the hollow element method using special molds. To complete the nose, as well as the eyes, use beads.

Note!

Clay products

How to prepare polymer clay for further modeling?

Before starting the working process, the clay should be thoroughly kneaded to give it plasticity.

When using red or white clay, when heated, it is necessary to maintain the required temperature regime, which reaches 110 degrees, since at high temperature conditions the clay often loses its created shape and changes in color. To verify this, look at the photo of clay crafts on the resource.

Can you make your own baked clay? It is possible, however, to create it, you will need to find natural clay. High Quality, which should be burned as competently as possible without equipment.

Therefore, it is possible to produce this material on your own only through trial and error.

Note!

Photo of clay crafts

Sculpting not only trains children's motor skills well, it can also become a hobby for adults. You can sculpt from cold porcelain, plasticine and polymer clay. The latter is especially popular in the manufacture of flowers, small figurines and other accessories. The recipes below will help you with the question of how to make clay for modeling yourself.

How to make polymer clay at home

From a material called polymer clay or plastic, you can create the most unexpected elements. It is often taken as the basis for jewelry, fashioning bracelets, rings, headbands, or brooches. All these decorations will shimmer with bright colors that you choose to sculpt. Jewelery around the neck looks especially beautiful - these are pendants, necklaces or just beads. In second place is the dishes, which are decorated with polymer clay with their own hands. Glasses, mugs, teapots or spoons - they can decorate your table for months.

You can make toys in the form of hinged dolls completely from polymer clay or mold a small utensil set for them: modeling it will be especially interesting for a child. Today, skilled craftswomen make everything that their imagination has enough of this material - from key rings to a bouquet of flowers, while there are already many recipes according to which polymer clay is prepared by hand. If you buy it in a store, then polyvinyl chloride and liquid additives are found in the composition, i.e. plasticizers. For self-manufacturing starch, glue with glycerin and soda are taken as the basis.

Polymer clay for modeling potato starch

The first DIY polymer clay recipe is based on potato starch. Often corn is used instead. The only difference is that the appearance of their potato starch products turns out to be a little grayish. If corn was used for crafts, then they look whiter. For the recipe itself, you will need the following ingredients:

• petroleum jelly or hand cream - 1 tsp;
• baby oil - 2 tsp;
• PVA glue - 100 g;
• lemon juice - 2 tbsp. l.;
• potato starch - 100 g.

To work, you need an enamel pan. Fill it with about 1 liter of water, put on fire. While the liquid boils, follow the instructions below:

1. Take disposable cups. Pour glue into one of them, pour starch into the other.
2. Send glue to another enameled container. Add butter with cream and lemon juice there, mix well.
3. Next, heat the mixture over a saucepan of water, i.e. in a water bath. Just don't do it too long or the clay will overheat and become tight.
4. After that, add starch to all the ingredients. With such small proportions, you can do it all at once, and not gradually.
5. Stir vigorously so that the mass does not stick to the bottom of the container.
6. Lumps will begin to appear in the mixture, it will become like cottage cheese, and then turn into a lump. large sizes. At this point, remove the container from the water bath.
7. Grease your hands with cream, start kneading the mass.
8. Roll up the clay, giving it the shape of a ball, cover with a layer of cream and wrap with a film so that air does not get inside. So the material should ripen for about 12 hours.

Recipe from glue and glycerin

The following instruction involves the addition of glycerin at one of the stages of work. This substance helps to avoid cracking of finished products. For such a recipe, you will need materials in the following proportions:

• PVA glue - 2 tbsp. l;
• cold water - 1 tbsp.;
• glycerin - 10-15 drops;
• potato or corn starch - 1 tbsp.

To prepare polymer clay according to this recipe, go through the following steps:

1. Arm yourself with a heavy bottomed saucepan. Mix the glue and half of the water there.
2. Cook the mixture over low heat for about 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly.
3. Take a separate container, where you combine the remaining water and starch.
4. Send the starch mixture to a saucepan with water and glue, drop glycerin there, then mix thoroughly.
5. Turn off the heat, leave the pot for a while to cool.
6. Place the clay on a table sprinkled with starch.
7. Knead the dough. It will be sufficient if it becomes pliable and its surface is smooth.
8. Form a ball out of clay, as shown in the photo. Then wrap with cling film, send to the refrigerator shelf for a couple of days.

DIY self-hardening polymer clay

According to the latest recipe, you can prepare self-hardening clay. For this option, you will need the following materials and tools:

• baking soda - 2 tbsp.;
• water - 0.25 st.;
• corn starch - 1 tbsp.;
• spatula for kneading dough;
• wax paper for baking;
• non-stick saucepan.

Self-hardening polymer clay is prepared according to the following instructions:

1. Combine all of the above ingredients in a saucepan.
2. Heat it on fire, stirring constantly. When the mixture is a little dispersed, drip a couple of drops of any fragrant oil, such as cinnamon. So the finished raw material will have a pleasant smell.
3. Keep the mass on fire until bubbles appear and a large lump forms from it. All this time, do not forget to stir, scraping the mixture from the bottom.
4. When you see that the mass began to resemble mashed potatoes, turn off the heat.
5. Dump the contents of the pan into another container lined with waxed baking paper.
6. While the "dough" is cooling, grease your hands with a fat cream.
7. Knead the mass into one large lump. Keep it in an airtight container so the edges don't dry out.
8. The raw material is already ready for molding. Roll out thin layers from it, cut out any figures with molds, make patterns on them with a toothpick, and then dry them in air or a battery.

Video: master class for beginners

Photo of beautiful products made from polymer clay

The ability to work with clay is a very fashionable hobby today. And the most enthusiastic amateurs have all the prospects to grow into real masters. It's great when your favorite business also turns into a source of income that allows you to live comfortably. Which is quite real quality products from clay (figurines, toys, whistles, panels, dolls, jewelry) are not cheap. Each of them is unique, inimitable, it is not a stamp that came down from the factory container. Ceramics always gives the interior style and charm. Because the work of masters are in demand.

But before you become a master, you need to start somewhere. And for starters - of course, from the simplest. From what is easy to understand and repeat, doing modeling from scratch and without a teacher.

We bring to your attention a consistent instruction for working with clay for beginners.

from Evgenia Afonasenko, teacher of the DPI class of the State Educational Institution "Mogilev School of Arts" No. 6 (Belarus).

How to choose clay

1. Purchased clay for modeling.

For beginners, it is better to purchase clay in special art stores. It is sold already prepared for work. It is found in small packages up to half a kilogram. And also in professional packaging of 15-25 kg, which will cost much less.

When buying, you should pay attention to the fact that the clay is sealed in vacuum packaging. The fact is that in production it is kneaded by special mechanisms in such a way that air bubbles do not get into the composition. This is very important: the presence of such bubbles in the texture of the finished product will contribute to its fragility. Vacuum packaging in this case will serve as a guarantee of the quality of the purchased material.

2. Natural clay.

Clay can also be taken from the natural environment - dig up in the garden (if there are places of shallow occurrence), on the steep bank of the river. But such clay is not yet suitable for work: it contains a lot of coarse impurities, due to which, having dried, the material will crumble.

To clear the clay from them, it must be transferred to a bucket, pour warm water mix well and leave overnight. By morning, all the heavy things will settle to the bottom. The greasy top layer must be removed from the surface of the water, drained well, air-dried to the desired consistency, kneading occasionally, and stored until use.

Storage rules

• Clay should not lose moisture. To do this, it must be wrapped with a damp cloth and placed in a plastic bag.
• The ideal place for storage is a refrigerator shelf or (if there is a lot of clay) a cool dark basement.
• Periodically, the clay must be opened and ventilated so that it does not become moldy.

Improvised materials for modeling

• metal string. It is great for separating from a large piece of clay the part that will be needed for work. The string should be of medium thickness: thin, it is easy to injure your hands.
• Special knife for separating small pieces of material. It is best to take the blade from the old kitchen knife and in the area of ​​​​the handle wrap it with insulating tape.
  Do not take a blade from stationery knives(for cutting paper) or construction. Their blades will quickly rust when working with clay. In addition, they are too thin and therefore too sharp - they are easy to cut themselves.
  Do not use plastic knives. Their blades do not make a sharp, even cut, but seem to push through the clay. The knife must be well sharpened.
• wooden boards different sizes, on which you have to roll out pieces of clay.
• wooden rolling pin for rolling.
• Rough textured fabrics, with embossed patterns that would be well printed on clay when it was rolled out on such a fabric.
• Can be purchased sculpting stack set.

• all sorts of office trivia. Simply: the trash that we usually throw away when we put things in order in our desks: caps from felt-tip pens, used refills from ballpoint pens, caps from tubes of glue and other little things. The surface of some of these seemingly unnecessary things can leave very interesting imprints on the clay when pressed. Even sticks from popsicles and lollipops will go into action!
• Household sponge, which is usually used in the kitchen for washing dishes. To make it more convenient to work with, the sponge should be cut into 4 parts.

Smoothing out bumps with a damp sponge

Clay work firing

It is known that finished work will need to be fired. And it comes to readiness at a firing temperature of 850-900 degrees. It is in this temperature range that clay turns into ceramics.

handle high temperatures only a well-dried product is allowed, otherwise, if it is wet, it can explode in the oven.

It follows from this that neither ovens for home gas and electric stoves, nor microwave ovens are suitable for this purpose.

But even here there is a way out, if you really want to engage in this type of creativity. Good, modern technologies allow you to offer a wide variety of products. In this case, you should simply buy clay in the store that does not require firing.

Artisan firing

This is another alternative to being able to work with clay without having a muffle furnace at your disposal. You can try to burn clay at home - in a fire. The temperature of the fire in it rises to an average of 750 degrees. In order for clay to turn into ceramics (and the ideal temperature for this is 850-900 degrees), it will have to be kept in a fire longer than in a muffle furnace, and at the same time constantly maintain heat.

You should dig a shallow hole in the ground, put a figurine in it, put a fire on top and keep it burning for at least 8-10 hours. The longer it is fired, the stronger and better the product will be.

Finished product quality

It is easy to identify it by the sound made when tapping on the burnt figurine. If the sound is sonorous - everything went well, if it is deaf - there was little time for firing.

Techniques for decorating finished clay products

In principle, the finished work can not be painted or covered with anything. Clay itself looks dignified and rich.
On the contrary, a clay product can be easily spoiled and depreciated by inept painting. If you cover a large surface of the figurine with paint, it will look like an ordinary plastic doll that has come down from a factory container, which will significantly reduce the artistic value of the work.

There is Golden Rule when applying paint to clay products: it (regardless of which one) needs to cover only individual fragments. And the painted surface should occupy no more than 5-7% of the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe figure.

Colors are desirable to use shades close to "clay" - straw, brown, muted red, brick, etc.

If you plan to use any other materials when decorating, natural ones should be preferred. For example, it is better to make a doll's hair from natural linen hemp.

Coloring

Can be used to color clay acrylic paints or gouache.

• Acrylic paints preferred. After drying, they do not need to be fixed in any way.
• Gouache cheaper, it is easier for children to work with. However, this paint is water-soluble, if it gets wet, it will spread. In addition, it gets dirty when you have to take the painted surface with your hands. After the gouache has dried, it is recommended (for fixing) to cover it with PVA glue.

The most efficient way to process ready product special acrylic varnish from a sprayer. Car paints of various shades close to the color of clay are also used for this purpose.

Milking (milk roasting)

This technique was used by our ancestors. And by the way, only our ancestors! Nowhere on other continents, in other countries, the milking technique was not used.

Ceramics were processed in milk not only to make the pots and bowls look more attractive, but also for a practical effect. The fact is that tiny voids remain in the burnt clay, into which air and moisture then enter. They are slowly destroying the product from the inside. Milk seals voids, covers the product with a dense film.

Operating procedure

1. The product must be dipped into milk as a whole. It is better, of course, to use a natural cow, but a store-bought product is also suitable. Important to remember:

• the fat content of milk should be no more than 2.5%;
• milk made from dry concentrate is not suitable for roasting.

2. In milk, the product should be kept from 2-3 minutes to 7-10, but not longer. The less you bathe, the thinner the protective film will be. But if overexposed, during firing, the coating runs the risk of peeling off the clay.

If you add a little sugar to milk, after firing the product will acquire a nice reddish tint.

3. Before firing, the work must be dried. Otherwise, the coating will crack and peel off.

4. It is better to burn in a muffle furnace at a temperature of 300-40 degrees. But, in extreme cases, a conventional oven in a gas or electric stove at the highest possible temperature (usually 260-280 degrees) is also suitable. Ceramics does not like sudden changes in temperature during processing, therefore it is better to put the product in a cold oven. For the same reason, you should not plow open the oven (oven) wide open during firing, just open it a little in order to be able to monitor the progress of the process. The firing time is several hours, it all depends on the desired color of the clay surface in the end. The longer you keep it, the darker it will be: up to rich chocolate.

Not worth buying earthenware, which is planned to be used for food purposes, from unfamiliar masters. Among them there are also unscrupulous, who classical technique milking is imitated ... by smearing with shoe polish. The figurine is polished with it, then rubbed with a dry cloth, a darker color remains only in the recesses and folds. The unknowing person outward signs does not immediately determine how exactly the dishes were decorated. But after, for example, milk is poured into it, it will be easy to determine by the dirty-colored liquid formed on its surface and by the characteristic chemical smell.

If this happens, do not discard the product. Take it to a reliable craftsman to process it in the milking technique for real and then fire it. Then the dishes can be safely used to store food.

Smoke (blackening)

This is also a rather ancient way of decorating clay products. After treatment with it, in addition to water resistance, the dishes receive another amazing property: they become a dark gray metallic color. At a time when metal plates, cups, tableware were a sign of luxury and wealth, and not everyone could afford to buy one, blackened ceramics imitated it.

Professionals use the most various methods blackening. They are quite complex, time-consuming, and without experience and sufficient skills it is not easy to repeat them.

For an experiment in artisanal conditions ( just not in the apartment, it will smoke too much!) you can try smoking in pine or spruce sawdust.

The burnt product must be taken out of the oven with tongs and lowered into a metal container with dry small sawdust of coniferous trees. Pour more sawdust on top and cover tightly with a metal lid. Leave for a few hours.

Way risky: often products crack due to temperature differences.

Wiping technique (folk economy option)

The burnt clay product can be wiped with a soft sponge abundantly moistened with brown gouache. In the corners, joints, in the folds, the paint will “get stuck”, giving the work style.

A similar effect can be achieved by dipping a clay figurine in water solution organic fertilizer - peat oxidate (proportions for dilution in water 1: 1).

It must be remembered that the last two ways in no case should not be decorated clay products, which are then planned to be used for food purposes(Pour drinks into them, lay food.)

After the above treatments, re-firing is not required.

Written by Lily Lee.

And in addition to general rules work with clay Evgenia Afonasenko prepared 4 master classes for modeling interesting handicrafts for our readers.

Clay crafts are a hobby that has not gone out of fashion for many centuries. To get started, it is enough to purchase ordinary white or gray dry clay in the nearest art store. By consistency, this material is close to plasticine, but it is stronger.

The finished figurine must be allowed to dry, and then burned. Process step by step manufacturing do-it-yourself crafts at home can be hampered by the lack of the necessary kiln for firing.

But this problem is solvable in a simple way- to bring the product to readiness, you can put it in a tin can and heat it over a fire.

Technology is constantly advancing, and now polymer clay is gaining popularity among fans of this hobby. It is easier to use than its natural counterpart due to the fact that it easily hardens in the open air, bakes in the oven, and some brands even harden when boiled in water for several minutes.

It is possible to make a lot of different original polymer clay crafts, the main thing is to have a little time and inspiration left.

How to make a beautiful clay craft? First you need to stock up on consumables and arrange a workspace.

polymer clay brands

On the modern market there are many companies offering polymer clay. All of them differ in color scheme, variety of possibilities, baking time and other small distinguishing features. Having tried several of them, you will definitely choose the best option.

The most common are:

"Tsvetika" is a budget domestic option. He will please with the price, but will disappoint with the limited color range, the lack of special effects. After baking, the products are treated with care, they become fragile.

FIMO is the most common foreign company offering a wide range of colors that, after heat treatment, completely retain their original appearance. Due to the variety of types - suitable for any technique.

"Premo" - a very soft, pliable type, ideal for forming sausages, the structure resembles wax.

"Cernit" - even the illustration on the packaging, clearly indicates that it is ideal for sculpting structures and dolls. In addition, she can well imitate natural stones, perfectly sculpt and warm up.

To create a unique and original doll, it is better to watch a clay crafts master class in order to correctly form all the details and not waste the material in vain.

When the necessary pieces of clay are available, you need to organize workplace and get creative.

Workplace

You can form figures on any horizontal surface, except for the kitchen table, so as not to harm your health. In addition, you should stock up on a sharp knife, varnish, rolling pin, toothpicks, sandpaper and distinguishable decorative accessories - buttons, paper clips, accessories.

It will be convenient to roll out the clay with a rolling pin, make small holes with a toothpick, for example, for beads, and the skin is simply irreplaceable - it erases fingerprints from the surface.

If too hard clay is available, a plasticizer may be used. Just a few peas are needed to make a whole pack of clay elastic. In the absence of - perhaps, replace it with petroleum jelly or a greasy cream.

There are special paste machines that roll out the fabric quickly, while creating unusual smooth transitions of shades if you use several colors. The same effect can be achieved with a regular rolling pin, but the process will be much more time consuming.

Clay strawberries - the easiest task for beginners

The simplest clay crafts for beginners are the creation of elements for subsequent products - sausages. To do this, you need to roll up several sausages of different colors and wrap them with a layer of the third shade.

If the sausages do not come out the same in length, they can be easily cut with a knife. Next, cut the resulting whole strip into pieces with the same object. If at the same time white, red and pink colors were used, you can create strawberries.

To get a figure that fully resembles a berry, wrap a large white piece in a thin pink, and place the resulting sausages around the edges. Then wrap the finished product with a thick layer of red polymer clay and your product is ready.

Polymer clay flower

It’s easier than ever to make a flower, which in the future will serve as the basis for a more complex composition. It can also be used to decorate a hairpin, bracelet or decorate another item.

You should choose a specific color for the base, and roll a pear-shaped blank out of it. With the help of a clerical knife, make two cuts crosswise on the thick side and fashion the petals out of them.

Insert a small ball of a different color into the middle, which will serve as an inflorescence. If the workpiece will be used as a decor, you need to immediately pierce it with a toothpick, so that you can string it on a thread.

There are many different ideas and instructions for making crafts that can be found in thematic brochures or on the pages of Internet resources.

Professionals can, by combining various details, create more complex compositions based on the examples shown in the photo of clay crafts or using their imagination.

clay vase

To make a magnificent vase that will become a real decoration of the house, you need to use some kind of blank. For example, take a plastic bottle. Its surface is carefully covered with clay, folds and irregularities are well straightened.

Further, circles pre-cut from sausages are pressed into the surface - one-color or multi-color. It is possible to use sliced ​​purchased sausages, they already come with patterns and whole drawings, for example, in the form of orange or lemon slices.

The remains of the first material that have arisen after the indentation of the decor are removed so that the surface is as even as possible. It is better not to use more than three or four colors, otherwise the vase will not look harmonious. When the structure dries, the vase is ready for use.

Clay ladybug

Any complex idea consists of small details and parts. To mold a ladybug, it is enough to connect two rolled flattened balls, while leaving a few recesses on the back for the wings.

To form wings, several thinnest plates are rolled out. In addition, clay can be supplemented with beads or buttons, which will serve as circles on the back of an insect or wire - from which a mustache will be obtained.

According to specially designed step by step diagrams, you can easily sculpt cartoon characters or animals, create whole bouquets of different colors that are indistinguishable from real ones. You can decorate dishes with clay, having previously fashioned individual parts or assemble a full-fledged necklace.

Keychains and buttons

To get souvenirs of this type, you need blanks: either the surviving parts from old key chains, or new rivets to which clay decor can be attached. The main thing in this matter is to find a beautiful stencil.

Having rolled out the clay, you need to squeeze out the desired shape from it with molds - an asterisk, a circle, a bell. Next, use a stencil to give the surface a pattern on both sides and do not forget to make a hole for fastening in the upper part of the keychain.

With buttons, the technology is similar, only at the end it is necessary to make several holes. The clay needs to be varnished after drying - then the products will be shiny and more presentable.

conclusions

Inconspicuous pieces of multi-colored clay in the hands of a creative talented person can turn into real masterpieces. Even if you do not have spatial thinking, you can safely use the instructions and master classes to create products.

With each new job, You will want more variety of accessories, add-ons, powders, glitters and other consumables.

Having spent time, but at the same time getting pleasure from work, you can create a unique and inimitable handmade product, suitable for a souvenir, an attachment to a gift, or simply able to decorate an apartment.

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