[Tutorial / Tips] Using Embossing Folders as Texture Plates for Polymer Clay

I have accumulated quite a number of tools in my craft room and I organized them depending on whether it's for papercrafting, cardmaking, jewelry making, or for polymer clay projects.  

The photo below shows some of my embossing folders from Sizzix and cuttlebug (I have smaller dies too from Vintaj) that I use in making my cards.  It occurred to me that I can use it for texture for bigger projects (duh)!

Embossing Folders:  Sizzix and Cuttlebug

Many polymer clay artists use stamps, get a negative image of it, cure accordingly and use it for their polymer clay project.  Well, I want to cut a few steps, save a little time and money.  I used Prmeo clay - it holds the texture pretty well.

Acrylic stamp from Inkadinkado

Embossing folders have 2 sides:  positive - with the raised design and negative - raised background.  I cut 2 circles - 1 thick and 1 medium thickness polymer clay and pressed it against the negative side of the folder (I sprinkled a little constarch as release).  The clay was then cured according to the manufacturers' instructions.

The photo below shows how well defined the stamped embossed images are.  These can now be used as texture plates for pendants, mokume gane technique, etc.

You can also use different materials to make all kinds of texture sheets... explore and have fun!

Have a wonderful day!

♥  michelle  ♥

[Mini craft room] Catching up...

Oh my, it's July!

I spent this weekend organizing my stuff and arranging my new, temporary craft corner.  It's been crazy moving from another State but it's all good.  I still have a lot of bins filled with beads and findings somewhere down there but for now, I'm happy to have everything most of the things that I need at hand. 

I love that there's a lot of natural light.

Next on my list of things to do was to do an inventory of my materials and tools. 

Guess ho many polymer clays are in this photo - a lot!   

I love the different colors even if I tend to use more black and white than anything else.

Lastly, I found this Amaco Tri Bead roller that I bought back in July 2011 but decided to try it out.

It was weird that the pieces didn't fit and slide as smooth as I thought it would.  I followed the directions to the letter and even watched several  videos on how to use it but it was just too tight to roll against each other.  

I'm wondering if this is just a factory defect or if I have to just slide or sand it down to make it fit and slide easily.... calling Amaco.. HELP!

I have a lot of projects lined up.

For now, I am just glad that I was able to blog again.

Have a wonderful week, friends!

♥  Michelle  ♥