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Not Conditioning Your Clay Properly, Will Lead To Disappointment:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n If you have worked with polymer clay for awhile, the process of conditioning your Fimo or Sculpey is second nature. You know it needs to be done, so you<\/span> just do it without even thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n But to a newbie or beginner just starting out, the concept of “conditioning” is associated more with what you do to your hair rather than something you do to your brand new block of polymer clay.<\/span><\/p>\n And it doesn’t help matters much that most polymer clay packaging does not even mention how important the process of conditioning really is, if you want to make quality beads and jewelry projects.<\/span><\/p>\n Plus what’s even worse… there is all sorts of misinformation out on the internet that can send a new polyclayer in the wrong direction. I have seen many online videos demonstrating how to use clay straight from the package without doing a thing to it. This is just wrong!<\/span><\/p>\n I also saw a video that provided “perfect” instructions on how to use a pasta machine for conditioning clay… perfect that is if you like to trap air bubbles in your polymer clay. No wonder beginners are running into problems!<\/span><\/p>\n ———————————————————————————————————————————————————<\/p>\n FUN QUIZ<\/strong><\/span> (there’s a prize for one lucky winner that gets all the answers correct):<\/span><\/p>\n 1)<\/strong><\/span> Conditioning polymer clay is kneading, stretching and or beating clay until it is soft, pliable and the plasticizers and pigments are thoroughly mixed.<\/span><\/p>\n 2)<\/span> <\/strong><\/span>You will know that your clay is completely conditioned when there are lots of cracks along the outside edges.<\/span><\/p>\n 3)<\/span> <\/strong><\/span>When using a pasta machine, it is better to put the folded edge of the clay into the machine first, to avoid trapping air inside the clay.<\/span><\/p>\n 4)<\/span> <\/strong><\/span>When mixing two colors of unconditioned clay together, you will know they have been thoroughly conditioned when the color is completely mixed and no longer marbled.<\/span><\/p>\n 5)<\/span> <\/strong><\/span>Tearing the clay is better than folding the clay, when trying to avoid air bubbles. BY THE WAY…<\/em><\/strong><\/span> all of the above information (and more) about conditioning polymer clay, is covered in Video #2 of my 39 Part Polymer Clay Basics Course. If you would like to see a sneak preview clip for this Course Video, here is the link: Or if you want to go straight to the the course order page, here is that link<\/span>: Polymer Clay Bead Making Fundamentals<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n Now rather than give you today’s quiz answers on a platter, I’m going let you post what you think the correct answers should be. Use the comments section below.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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\n <\/span>How To Condition Polymer Clay Properly Using A Pasta Machine<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n **************************************************************************************************<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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