How To Get MORE Out Of Your Polymer Clay Molds - Friday Findings

[@jasminehealey9405]

Very helpful video Sandy, thank you! I actually just figured something out the other day which I found to be very helpful. I was using liquid clay in silicone molds but it wasn't translucent, I used the gold liquid sculpey, pearl & silver. I really like them but they're so thick sometimes that when I've used them in molds in the past the pieces always came out with little holes from air bubbles. I was frustrated & gave up for awhile, until I had an idea. I added a little bit of liquid clay into mold, then added a few small drops of clay softener on top of liquid clay, then added more liquid clay (but not quite filling the mold yet). I then used a silicone shaping tool (so I didn't scratch/damage the mold) to gently but thoroughly mix them together, making sure to get some of the clay softener/liquid clay combo all over the bottom of the mold (where all the texture & details are, which is of course where the air bubbles create their unsightly holes & gaps). Once it was all mixed & I felt confident that the mixture was covering the whole bottom very well, i added a bit more liquid clay to completely fill the mold (if you're feeling bold you can attempt to very gently mix it in w/ the rest of it in the mold, but i didn't do that on all of my pieces so I didn't have many problems w/ it overflowing. I allowed the filled molds to sit on my desk for about 1/2 an hour w/ the hope that any potentially trapped air bubbles might rise to the surface, and then cured. And you know what? Out of the 7 molded pieces I made that day, NONE of them had ANY air bubbles! The clay softener seemed to lower the viscosity or something of the liquid clay enough to minimize, well to actually prevent, air bubbles.. I couldn't believe it! Just wanted to share that info. Thanks again for the video!

[@SandyHuntress]

Great tip, thanks! 😀👍💕

[@sarajhodges3357]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TUTORIAL...I AM GOING TO GIVE POLYMER CLAY SCULPTING A TRY!

[@SandyHuntress]

You are very welcome for the tutorial, Sara. I’m glad you’re so excited that you are shouting about it! 😀

[@Tilly850]

Instead of trying to pull the clay from the mold I have found it works to put a tile on the filled mold...I use a 4x4 clear glass one often because I can peek on the other side. I put it against the filled mold and press it so the clay sticks. With the molded clay stuck to the tile you can carefully pull the mold off, leaving the detailed molded piece intact on the tile. Then it's easy to remove it from the tile with the blade. Of course with a deeper one like the cat, and a flexible mold that isn't needed, but it helps me a lot with tiny or thin pieces.

[@SandyHuntress]

Excellent idea, thanks! 👍😀

[@redshoesgirl]

the art doll face molds looks SO cool, but you are SO right, impossible to find. well, there is one in italy. :-)

[@redshoesgirl]

i fill complex molds with tiny balls of clay into the recesses making sure to push and smooth as i go. seems to work ok.

[@beverleybee1309]

I found mine at Joann's for about $10. I found a lot of discontinued items there a few months ago. Bought most of them. I am currently working on converting a mini Bundt pan into something I can use for polymer clay molds. I used a variation of the jello jiggler recipe for step one. Waited for over a month for the molds to dry completely, (I live in a very humid place). Next will be the silicone putty. Oh, btw, the jello stuff also shrinks, so they'll be even smaller than the mini's.😁 I would be willing to bake the faces for you and send them.

[@SandyHuntress]

Hi Beverly, thank you, but some one else already has offered to send copies for me. Clever idea to use gelatin to make a mold!

[@beverleybee1309]

You're welcome. And thank you. I though of the gelatin after trying some other stuff which weren't quite as smooth. I wanted to keep the pan for food, so I had to be a bit more creative about what I used to make the molds out of.

[@squirrelcottage4052]

My next experiment is to freeze my raw clay and the grate it into fines with a cheese grater. I'll take the resulting crumbles and lay the most powdery into the details of the mold first, then toss the rest in to fill. Pressing firmly to bond the polymers as it warms until I can get it to release for baking. If I can't get it out, I'll put it back in the freezer and try again. I will discover if I need a "base coat" of liquid clay first, and maybe another coat on the top to fully capture the details and bind the clay shavings. What do you think? ~~~^..^

[@squirrelcottage4052]

This idea is totally inspired by your video, thanks for getting my gears spinning! ^..^~~~

[@eveninglakegems9410]

Where can I buy a face mold? I've been looking everywhere. They don't make them anymore. 😢

[@ramonatemple786]

Sorry they don't make this any longer I wonder if you sent sculpey a message if they would consider remanufacturing?

[@Umculii]

Hi.. I want to know about the clay , I generally use polymer clay but I want to know about the perfect clay mixture

[@SandyHuntress]

I’m not sure I know what you mean by “perfect clay mixture.” There are several brands and types of clay, each with its own qualities. For excellent information about polymer, you should check out this website: thebluebottletree.com/category/info-materials-tools/

[@ramonatemple786]

I found one more tip that is helpful as I was using my squishy molds add a stack of fun foam or mousepads for support when pushing the clay into the mold I hope this helps someone??

[@SandyHuntress]

That sounds like an awesome idea, Ramona! Thanks for sharing. 👍😀

[@judywall7528]

Check out polymer clay tutor videos. She has the face mold your looking in her video about unfolding silicone molds

[@SandyHuntress]

🙂

[@beadbrighty]

Hi I have that mold.

[@SandyHuntress]

Are you interested in selling it? I really miss mine!

[@GrannysWanderingSpirit]

Hi Sandy. Really helpful video. Thanks! Went looking for something I saw recently, because I think they might be good for making your own doll face molds. Try entering part of this on Amazon. I use the .ca site, but it's probably on .com as well. 10pcs Soft Plastic Toy Practice Makeup Doll Head 1/6 White Double-fold Eyelid DIY Heads for BJD Make Up

[@GrannysWanderingSpirit]

The only thing is, I couldn't tell whether there were different faces or whether they were all the same.

[@ramonatemple786]

I might have the face mold I will look tonight.

[@Zozohanful]

I have the faces mould... and guess what? I’m in Australia! LOL!

[@SandyHuntress]

😀

[@Toltecgrl]

I bet if everybody sent sculpey a message on social media, they would start making them again.

[@SandyHuntress]

Eh, probably not. Companies usually have sound business reasons for continuing/discontinuing products.

[@nicolepickavance9369]

I have it and will send it to u if u still need it? : )

[@nicolepickavance9369]

I’m in canada so way less shipping! : )

[@SandyHuntress]

Thank you, Nicole, it’s very kind of you to offer! I already have everything I need, though. 🙂

[@stimpsonkayleigh257]

@@nicolepickavance9369 would you be willing to sell the mold? I'm in California.

[@chrisolmsted5079]

Temu has face molds

[@SandyHuntress]

Thanks for the info. 🙂

[@julieteer1549]

Sculpey have face Push moulds

[@carolquick3979]

I have that mold. I’ll mold all of the pieces & send them to you. You don’t need to pay me. It won’t be very expensive just to mail them in a padded envelope. Do you have a mailing address on your blog? If you have the push mold called Alphabet Tiles, I found out you can’t use these types of molds for resin. I ruined the letter “c”. If you have that mold & can make me the letter C, we can trade. If you don’t that’s fine. 😀

[@SandyHuntress]

Hi Carol, thank you, but some one else already has offered to send copies for me. I’ll keep an eye out for Alphabet Tiles mold!