Decor of mug with polymer clay. Master Class

Polymer clay was invented relatively recently. Masters know about such material for no more than half a century. To date, sculpting from it is a very popular hobby for amateurs and a professional occupation for experienced designers.

To buy polymer clay a couple of years ago was very problematic. Residents of various cities of Russia ordered it from the capital or from other countries. Now such plasticity is offered practically by all art salons or shops for needlework, where it lies next to yarn for knitting, usual for us colors and floss. From this amazing material you can make many interesting crafts. This is not only souvenirs, but also a huge number of other things that will decorate our lives. You can also decorate the mug with polymer clay, the master class of which is described in this article.

Principle of operation

Today, polymer clay is one of the most common materials used for needlework. Masters are attracted by its elasticity and nontoxicity. In addition, the crafts obtained from such material look fantastic.

Have you decided to decorate the mugs with polymer clay yourself? Then you should learn how to work with this material. Half of the success of your event will depend on the correct choice of polymer. It should be borne in mind that for the decoration of mugs and other utensils, one can apply conventional self-hardening clay. However, this material freezes in air after a certain time, which is not enough for beginners, in order to give the product the necessary shape.

What is the best buy, in order to make the decor of the mug with polymer clay? The material can be any variety. The main thing is to study the instruction and learn the rules of handling it.

Stamps of polymer clay

Today, art salons and handicraft shops offer their customers a variety of types of material. Which one to buy in order to decorate the mug with polymer clay? Consider the brands of this material in more detail:

1. The domestic producer offers Petersburg plastic called "Tsvetik". This is the cheapest option, but working with it is somewhat difficult. The products of the brand "Tsvetik" are quite solid and branded. However, a person who has patience and skill can make beautiful things from them.
2. In order to decorate the mug with polymer clay, you can buy the material of the German manufacturer "Cernit" (Cernit). For someone, it may seem, on the contrary, too soft in the work. However, many masters are attracted by the quality and color spectrum of this plastic.
3. The most popular in our country is the "Fimo" brand. It is produced by the German company Eberhard Fabe. There are several varieties of this polymer. So, "Fimo Classic" is more solid. The brand "Fimo Soft" is soft and easily kneading. Both types of material are available in a wide range of colors. The manufacturer offers a polymer clay with sparkles, transparent, and also luminous in the ultraviolet. All these types are perfect for those who decided to decorate the mug with polymer clay.
4. Some masters use material brought from America. This polymer clay of two brands - "Kato" and "Skalpy." In Russian stores it is not offered, but those who could buy it, you need to be ready for a sufficiently strong smell of material, similar to the smell of Soviet gouache. By its other qualities, this polymer is similar to other brands.
5. A whole line of polymer is offered by Poliform Products. But this material is chosen, as a rule, by sculptors.

In addition to solid, all of the above companies produce liquid plastic, which is a gel. It is a viscous transparent material that solidifies after the temperature treatment. The decor of mugs and spoons with polymer clay can be performed with a gel, the possibilities of which are also unlimited.

Before you buy this amazing material, you should choose a product that will be decorated. Based on its color, you need to decide on the tone of the plastic. Let there be two or three for the beginning. Among them there should be a bar of white color, which can be diluted with more saturated colors.

Lacquer

If you perform the decoration of a mug with polymer clay, how to make the finished item the most attractive? To do this, it should be varnished. This will give the cup a gloss and a great expressiveness of the flowers. In addition, lacquer is needed to strengthen the strength of the thing. In addition, he fixes on it a toning paint.

What are the varnishes for plastic clay? The manufacturer offers a matte, semi-matt and glossy coating material. Such varnishes are sold in construction stores. What can I do to make the mug with a polymer clay decor look the most attractive? Experienced masters advise to purchase acrylic water-soluble varnishes having a polyurethane base. Such material is practically devoid of smell, quickly dries and easily washed off with a brush. Within a day, a mug with a polymer clay decor covered with such a varnish will become resistant to mechanical damage and to moisture.

Those who are engaged in such work for the first time, it is worth remembering that before applying the lacquer surface should be washed with a dishwashing detergent or degrease alcohol, and the process of coating is best done with a synthetic brush.

Working surface

How to prepare for modeling of polymer clay? To work with this material you need the most smooth surface. It can be glass or ceramic tiles, as well as a simple sheet of white paper. The main condition for such a surface is the absence of pores into which plastic can be eaten.

Knives

A block of polymer clay should be cut into pieces of the required size. To do this, the master who performs the decor of the mug with polymer clay (see photo below) will need knives.

They should be sharp enough. This will not deform the product during the cutting. To perform the decor of the mug, you can use a regular clerical knife or blade.

Skins and stacks

These tools do not need to be purchased in art salons. Stacks when working with plastic can be knitting needles or toothpicks.

In order to roll out the plastic, many fans take a glass bottle. Suitable for these purposes and other improvised material, which may be, for example, a bottle of hairspray or deodorant.

Gloves

After thermal processing of polymer clay, the fingerprints of the master can remain on it. In order for the product to be neat and do not spend too much time polishing it, you need to wear latex gloves. You can buy them at any pharmacy. Sometimes they are not very convenient for modeling, but they often improve the quality of the work done.

Gloves should be selected according to the size of the hand. After all, the denser the latex is attached to the fingers, the more convenient it is for the master to decorate the mug.

Other

What other materials will be needed to carry out the intended work? In general, in order to make a thing of thermoplastic, you can use:

• Special forms (boats), with which the figures are easily cut out;
• Special syringe (extruder), equipped with various nozzles;
• Paste-machine;
• Texture sheets;
• Powder, etc.

However, all this can be bought, after you understand that sculpting products made of polymer clay is your vocation.

What you need a beginner

As a rule, decorate the mug with a polymer clay girl. The master class for conducting such works begins with an explanation of what newcomers in this matter should prepare:

• The mug itself;
• A nail polish remover or wiper;
• Polymeric baked clay;
• A wooden skewer or toothpick;
• Clean wet cloth;
• Adhesive epoxy-angel;
• stationery knife;
• Varnish for plastic clay.

Preparatory stage

So, you decided to decorate the mug with polymer clay. How to do this work with your own hands? First you should take some boring mug, which should become bright and original.

It should be laid on the surface in such a way as to work as conveniently as possible. For this, for example, a baby blanket can be used.

Beginning of work

If your idea is to decorate the mugs with polymer clay, how to do this job? For the beginning, the piece of plastic that you need is cut off. Then it should be well kneaded. Only in this case the clay will become soft and plastic. To improve the working properties of the material, a special tool can be used. It is called a plasticizer. Experienced needlewomen are advised to purchase Moldmaker products. A few peas of this product are enough to soften a whole pack of clay. Alternative materials can serve as petroleum jelly or creams. Suitable for softening and warming up procedure.

It happens that clay, especially fresh, clings very strongly to the hands. In such cases, experienced craftsmen mix it with a harder brand or leave it on a piece of paper for several hours. However, it should be borne in mind that the material in which the paint has already fallen, all the above manipulations will not help.

It is very important that no air bubbles remain in the clay. In the future it will ruin your product. When heated, the air will expand, which will prick the plastic.

After this, you should take a cotton swab and, moistening it in the liquid to remove the varnish or in the wiper, wipe the surface of the mug. After that, we make an applique on it.

Baking

A mug with an application made of polymer clay should not be afraid of water, fade and lose its original appearance over time. To preserve all these qualities, the product must undergo thermal treatment. Which device is suitable for this? For baking polymer clay using a gas or electric oven, as well as an electric mini-oven. Microwave for this purpose will not work. The hardening of polymer clay occurs only when exposed to high temperatures. The principle of heating food in a microwave oven is to create waves. However, exceptions to the rules are possible here. Some models of modern microwaves are equipped with a function that allows you to set the desired baking temperature. If such an opportunity exists, then clay can be placed in this household appliance.

What else should I consider when the decor of the mug is made with polymer clay? MK (master class) assumes precise tracking of the temperature indicated on the clay pack. Its excess will cause the material to start burning and release toxic substances. Typically, this temperature is between 110 and 130 degrees. That is why the master will be very comfortable if the oven he uses has a built-in thermometer. The clay is not baked for long. Duration of solidification applied to the mug application - ten minutes.

End of the process

After heat treatment, the mug should be removed from the oven. From it you need to carefully separate the baked applique. Next we need epoxy adhesive. It is made independently, adhering to all the requirements of the instruction. A thin layer of glue should be applied to the back side of the completed application, as well as to a mug, which is again wiped with a nail polish remover or a windscreen wiper. After that, the appliqué tightly presses against the mug and then keeps very well on it.

The next stage of work will require a matte or glossy varnish. They cover the ready-made applique. The varnish will protect the surface of the product from damage.

How does the application work? The cup so made can be washed safely. But do not put it in the dishwasher or apply to the décor abrasive.