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Introduction to
Liquid Polymer Clay
By Ann and Karen Mitchell
 Throughout the year, Karen and I retail our line of handcrafted jewelry at many arts and crafts shows. Whenever we are at a show, we display our book on the booth counter. Often, customers glancing at the book will say, “I’ve heard of polymer clay, but what is liquid polymer clay and what do you do with it?” Liquid polymer clay is an exciting new medium that can add dimension and unique effects that were not previously possible using only solid polymer clay. In this article, we’ll give you a brief overview of liquid polymer clay and its basic applications.
About liquid clay
Explained simply, liquid polymer clay is a liquid form of polymer clay. It is currently available in the United States under four brand names: Translucent Liquid Sculpey from Polyform Products; Fimo Decorating Gel from Eberhard Faber; Kato Liquid Polyclay from Van Aken; and Liquid Polyglow from Puffinalia. We’ve tested all the brands, and like the solid polymer clays, each has attributes that make it better suited to one technique or another. Since Translucent Liquid Sculpey was the first brand on the market, we developed all of our techniques with it, and we still find it to be the most versatile of the brands.
Liquid polymer clay is a viscous, somewhat sticky medium. Since it is liquid, it requires no conditioning. If left out in a loosely covered polymer-compatible container, Liquid Sculpey will thicken, but it can be thinned with Sculpey Clay Softener. (Kato Liquid Polyclay does not require thinning.)
In addition to many adhesive and construction applications, all the liquid clays can be tinted easily with mica pigment powder or oil paint and used for embellishment. Other suggestions for inclusions that add both color and texture are: glitter, metal powders, embossing powders, metallic leaf flakes, mica flakes, sand, and dried leaves and flowers.
Liquid clay should be stored in its original container. Tinted batches can be stored in metal, glass, or flexible plastic containers (not hard plastic). We usually bake our projects that use liquid clay or a combination of liquid and solid clay for 15 to 20 minutes at 265-275 degrees Fahrenheit. You should follow the manufacturers’ baking directions for the brand you are using.
Basic applications
First, liquid polymer clay has several valuable adhesive properties when baked. It can be used to bond polymer clay elements together, raw clay to raw or baked clay or baked clay to baked clay. It is also excellent for creating a professional look when adding jewelry findings to clay pieces.
When adding raw or baked polymer clay elements to previously-baked beads or jewelry elements, you may need to construct a foil armature to support the pieces so they can’t shift while baking. Once the liquid clay has cured between the solid clay elements, the bond will be very strong.
 Attaching metal findings
- To attach a pin back to a baked clay brooch, squeeze a narrow line of liquid polymer clay the length of your pin back on the back of the baked, cooled polymer clay pin (photo 1).
- Open the pin back and set it on the stripe of liquid clay. Make sure the pin opens in the direction that you want.
- Roll a small sheet of clay to a 1/16-in. (1.5mm) thickness (#4 setting on an Atlas pasta machine). Trim to a rectangle 3/8-in. (1cm) wide and slightly shorter than the length of the pin back (photo 2). Spread a thin coat of liquid clay on one side .
- Center the rectangle over the pin back, liquid clay side down, and press it gently onto the clay pin. The pin back is now enclosed between baked and unbaked clay (photo 3). If you wish, you can blend the edges of the unbaked clay (photo 4).
 
- Bake the piece again, pin side up, for 15 minutes at 275 degrees (F). Allow it to cool.
Earring Posts
You can also use this technique to attach earring posts. For each earring, cut a 1/16-in.-thick disk slightly larger than the metal pad on the earring post. Put a dot of liquid clay on the back of the baked clay and set the post pad onto it (photo 5). Poke a hole in the center of a clay disk, spread liquid clay on one side of the disk, and slip it onto the post, liquid clay side down (photo 6). Bake the earrings, posts up, for 15 minutes at 275 degrees (F) and allow them to cool.
 
Note: If you plan to varnish either a pin or a pair of earrings, it is best to attach the pin back or posts and bake before applying the varnish.
Reinforcing embedded elements
Liquid polymer clay can also be used to einforce loops and wire elements that are embedded in solid clay.
- Place a dot of liquid clay on the twisted wire end of a loop. Insert the loop into an unbaked solid clay piece and place another dot of liquid clay where the loop meets the clay (photo 7).
- Bake the clay piece according to the manufacturer’s directions.
About the Authors
 Ann & Karen Mitchell are sisters and partners in AnKara Designs, a mixed-media jewelry and crafts design business they started in January 1991. They are self-taught in both jewelry and polymer clay, which has allowed them to develop an original, feminine style. Their work has appeared in numerous magazines including Expression, Bead&Button, Jewelry Crafts, and PolymerCafe. They are regular guests on The Carol Duvall Show on HGTV and DIY Jewelry Making with Jackie Guerra on the DIY Network. Their work has also appeared in feature films, television, theatrical productions, and museum exhibitions. These experiences led them to write their first book, Liquid Polymer Clay: Fabulous New Techniques for Making Jewelry and Home Accents (Krause Publications, 2003). This is the first comprehensive text to focus on liquid polymer clay (see the Bead Bugle review). One thing leads to another, and they continue to write about their passion for jewelry and clay. That’s how they wound up here as featured columnists on BeadBugle.Com.
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