The Clay Santa is 3½ inches tall by 3½ inches wide and shows Santa in a small canoe filled with toys. Santa is wearing a green band with red and white decorations around his forehead. He has long white hair, a full white beard and mustache red Santa suit and green mittens with white dots. He is rowing a tan canoe that has red decorations with a green paddle. There are a small doll dressed in pink, a gray teddy bear, a small stuffed horse and several other toys and gifts filling the canoe beside Santa. Select this link to view our Western Christmas Ornaments.
Polymer Clay.
Original formulations of polymer clays remain soft until cured at relatively low temperatures, but air dry polymer clays have recently been added to the market. Traditional polymer clays harden by curing at temperatures created in a typical home oven and does not shrink or change texture during the process. When properly conditioned and cured, it creates items that will not break if dropped or normally stressed. Cured pieces may have additional layers or enhancements added and can be recured with no ill effect. As long as the maximum curing temperature is not exceeded, there is no limit to the number of times a piece can be re-cured. After it has cured, the surface can be left as is, sanded and buffed, or finished with a water based varnish. Select this link to view our Tin Santa.
Leading brands include Fimo; Sculpey and Premo, created by Polyform Products. Though the brands differ slightly in properties such as plasticity, translucence, curing temperature and flexibility when cured, most are suited to a variety of applications. Specialty formulations include clays that remain permanently flexible when cured, eraser clay, and colorless and tinted liquid "clays" that can be used as slips, glazes, and adhesives.
Polymer clays are available in many colors. "Special-effect" colors such as translucent, fluorescent, glow in the dark, mica containing "pearls" and "metallics," and variegated "stone" colors containing contrasting fibers are also available. Standard colors, which vary from brand to brand, can be mixed to create a virtually infinite range of custom colors, gradient blends, and other effects. Select this link to view our Cowboy Jiggle Down.
It can be colored with other media. Paint, ink, colored pencil, chalk, metallic or mica-containing powder, metal leaf and foil, glitter, and embossing powder can be applied to the surface. The same materials also can be mixed in as inclusions; this is often done with translucent clay. When acrylic paint is cured onto the surface, it forms a permanent bond with the surface. Select this link to view our The Original 4x4.
Few tools are essential for use with polymer clays and these can often be found around the house. The most widely used cutting tools are tissue blades, which are extremely thin and sharp, though craft knives and other blades can be used. A pasta machine is often used to create sheets of uniform thickness, to mix colors, to condition the clay, and to create patterned sheets. A "clay gun" or extruder with interchangeable die plates allows creation of lengths of clay in a variety of uniform sizes and shapes. Most molding and modeling tools used by traditional sculptors are suitable for polymer clays, but artists often create improvised cutting, piercing, molding, and texturing tools from items used in sewing, cooking, woodworking, and paper crafts. Select this link to view our Gingerbread Cowboy.