Make modeling clay yourself - instructions & ideas for cold porcelain

• Cold porcelain: What is it "> Making cold porcelain itself - instructions
• Tinker with DIY modeling clay
  • storage
  • Tips
• Modeling clay - ideas
  • pendant

Modeling compound lends itself to a variety of applications. From crafting with the kids to the creation of landscapes in model making to works of art. Cold porcelain is ideal for these purposes as it becomes airborne and does not need to be fired after modeling. With which methods you make modeling clay yourself, you can find out here.

Are you looking for methods to make modeling clay yourself? There are numerous "recipes" for specially made modeling clay, which work just as well as those that can be bought in the craft shop or the Internet. In doing so, you make some use of ingredients in the household, which keep the acquisition costs very low.

The cold porcelain can be easily used by children and painted after drying. Depending on the idea used, the surface is different, because some allow a smooth, while others allow a slightly rougher surface. That's the advantage of this: you can try several and see which one is right for you.

Cold porcelain: What is it?

If you are looking for modeling clay yourself, but have never heard of cold porcelain, you are in the right place. This is a modeling clay that is not fired after molding and can easily dry out in the air . That would not be possible with normal ceramics. For this reason, this porcelain form is ideal for teaching children how to model or if you do not want to burn your creations. In addition, they can be dyed with food colors or painted after drying. The mass is based on glue and starch, which has led to a variety of different recipes.

However, the mass has some disadvantages:

• dries quickly
• not waterproof

You will notice already during the kneading that this modeling clay dries quickly. In other words, you have to hurry or knead constantly so that the mass does not dry out too quickly. After the mass has dried completely, which can last for several days, it must no longer be in contact with water, even if you have chosen a variant that has been mixed with water. For this reason, this modeling clay is only for decorative purposes, while proper porcelain can be used in the kitchen. You should note that.

Tip: Do not be surprised at the behavior of the mass during drying, because the result may be slightly different than expected. On the one hand, the mass loses between six and ten percent in mass when drying and on the other, food colors can turn out darker.

Make cold porcelain yourself - instructions

You need this:

• wood glue
• white acrylic paint
• Kukident adhesive powder
• food starch
• bowl
• hand mixer
• gauge

How to proceed:

Step 1: Put 125 milliliters of wood glue in the bowl.
Step 2: Add 70 grams of cornstarch.
Step 3: Add one teaspoon of white acrylic paint to the previous ingredients.
Step 4: Mix well with the blender.
Step 5: Sprinkle a heaped teaspoon of Kukident over the other ingredients.

Note: The dimensions refer to the powder of Jacobi Decor GmbH. If you decide on a different product, you may have to experiment a bit with the right amount. For CMC, there are different adhesive strengths.

Step 6: Continue mixing until you get a slightly crumbly but firm mass.
Step 7: Knead with your hands until a homogeneous, soft mass is formed.

Tip: rub your hands in between with a touch of cornstarch. This facilitates the act and beautifies the result.

Step 8: Put the modeling clay in a freezer bag, seal it airtight and let it rest for about twelve hours at room temperature.

Note: Over time, the ingredients combine.

The cold porcelain is finished as a practical and versatile modeling material. You can start to make pretty accessories right away. If you do not want to use it first, you should wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in an airtight box. So it stays in good shape.

Tinker with DIY modeling clay

If you do something with modeling clay yourself, there are numerous methods to adapt it to your own ideas. The modeling itself is the basis for your artwork and the design ideas facilitate the implementation of your own creative impressions.

Paint

Paint modeling clay is possible with a variety of colors. Despite the sensitivity to water, water colors are just as usable as acrylic, food and pastel colors, ie chalks. You can either massage the colors directly into the still modelable dimensions or apply them thinly after drying.

alembic

A combustion flask is ideal for processing the dried mass. With this you can proceed very carefully and incorporate your own dedications, images, logos or patterns. Only you have to work extremely carefully here, because the tip can penetrate quickly through the cold porcelain. For this reason, the application is recommended especially on thicker components of the artwork.

outdo

If you want to make small decoration pieces of modeling clay yourself, you can use cookie cutters for molding or for impressing patterns. Just be a little careful not to destroy existing shapes. You can also cut out molds and join the punched out pieces, for example to recreate rose petals.

"Prints"

You can print on the cold porcelain. For example, take a net of sturdy threads or plastic and press it to dry on the surface. This creates an extremely accurate pattern, which can even be combined with other patterns in this way.

light

Depending on how skilled you are in the field of electronics, you can even equip your creations with small LEDs. For example, when designing a character, LEDs are great for the eyes or nose (for example, a reindeer).

storage

Once your artwork and decorations have dried out of the modeling clay, they must be stored properly. Since cold porcelain reacts sensitively to moisture, you must treat it accordingly for storage. Particularly important here is a protective layer of clear lacquer that you apply thinly to the artwork. This protects the sensitive material from the following environmental effects.

• high humidity
• humid weather (for example when windows are open)
• Droplets of spray bottles
• Steam (for example, from kettles or pots nearby)

Depending on how good you are with a brush, it is advisable to use liquid clearcoat or a spray-on variant. Clear coat for spraying is particularly easy to apply and ensures an effective finish of the cold porcelain, which makes it much longer lasting. You should also choose a location for the solid modeling clay that protects it from moisture and insects. The individual ingredients can be of interest to insects if the artworks are not stored accordingly.

The following properties should have the location:

• no direct sun
• not exposed to strong temperature fluctuations
• dry
• dark

Many people like to use showcases or glass bells to protect their creations from moisture and insects. These prove to be particularly effective, as it does not get any moist air to the porcelain, which could have a negative effect on the structure.

Tip: The durability of the artwork can also be preserved by placing a small bowl of rice or a packet of silica gel in the immediate vicinity. This absorbs excess moisture.

Tips

From cold porcelain, many things can be modeled, as well as jewelry or pendants. These pendants can be used in many ways, for example as a key ring or for decoration as a pendant to branches or other decorative materials.

Please note:

• When dyeing the cold porcelain with colors please wear gloves, as natural and artificial colors rub off and after drying colored modeling clay is usually slightly darker
• decorate your cold porcelain with acrylic paints or other decorative material, you can also sand or small Dekosteine ​​with mix in the material, then creates a new structure (please only incorporate solids)
• The cold porcelain can also be sanded after the drying process with fine sandpaper, so it is particularly smooth from the feel here
• In addition, modeled elements can be covered with napkins or thin paper
• Before modeling, always cold knead the cold porcelain paste, everything should have mixed homogeneously and add some cornstarch again and again while kneading
• after drying, your modeled object will shrink in size, it will be about ten percent smaller, holes from the outset therefore prefer to cut out a little larger or enter in the drying process wooden sticks or straw into the openings
• allow the modeled objects to dry on an air-permeable base, depending on the thickness of the modeled object drying takes a few hours to a few days, then the mass is completely dried
• Cold porcelain itself is not waterproof, so give waterproof clear coat on the finished objects, matt or satin gloss paint looks very noble and sets cold porcelain figures really in scene
• with a little wood glue, individual parts can also stick together, which sometimes works before drying, it is better to do this after the drying process

Modeling clay - ideas

Preliminary remarks: For each brief instruction, the following steps are considered as "Introduction":
Knead the modeling clay softly and form a crack-free ball. Then roll them out in the targeted thickness. Use a pasta roll or similar utensil.

pendant

Step 1: Roll out the modeling paste with some cornstarch as a flour substitute on baking paper.

Step 2: Pierce your desired motif with a cookie cutter (star, heart and so on).

Step 2: Insert a thick straw into the upper part of the cold porcelain.

Tip: The straw marks the hole through which you can "thread" the pendant onto a fastener to the key at the end.

Step 3: Let the trailer harden.
Step 4: Paint or decorate the accessory as you like.

Step 5: Let the paint or ornament dry. Finished! For a noble effect and to protect the color, you can then varnish the pendant with clear lacquer.

The pendants can now be used as pendants or as key rings - as you like. In any case, they are creative, small gifts.

Or you can create small Christmas pendants for the Christmas tree or to decorate gifts. Your creativity knows no limits.