{"id":19871,"date":"2015-07-20T05:05:25","date_gmt":"2015-07-20T12:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/?p=19871"},"modified":"2015-07-19T14:50:13","modified_gmt":"2015-07-19T21:50:13","slug":"7-summer-tips-polymer-clay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/7-summer-tips-polymer-clay\/19871\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven “Summer” Tips For Working With Polymer Clay"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"7<\/a>Video #689:<\/span> Gel ice packs work great for cooling polymer canes… to minimize distortion when slicing them in warmer weather.<\/span><\/strong> <\/p>\n

In this video I will share with you my 7 Tips that will make your polymer clay life a little bit easier in the hot Summer heat.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Avoid Buying Polymer Clay Online in the Summer: Although it is not always the case, sometimes shipments of polymer clay can sit for hours in a hot planecargo area, truck, warehouse or customs warehouse… slowly baking your clay away. So unless it is an emergency, don’t buy clay that needs to be shipped in the summer time.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Don’t Leave Polymer Clay in a Hot Car: It only takes a few minutes in the hot sun for your car to get well over 100F. So don’t buy fresh polymer clay and then leave it in your hot car to bake, while you run other errands.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Store Clay In A Cool Place: Even your home can get really hot during the Summer, so keep your clay stored where it won’t stays coolest… like the back of a closet, in an air conditioned room, the basement or even in the fridge.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Put Canes in the Fridge To Cool Down Before Slicing: Because warm polymer clay canes are soft, they will distort easily when cut. Pop them into the fridge or freezer for a bit, to firm them up before slicing, and you’ll get a lot less distortion and squashing of your canes when cutting.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Use Ice or Frozen Gel Packs: Don’t have a fridge close by to your studio or workspace? Just get a bowl of ice, or a frozen gel pack, and set your clay or hot hands right on top, to cool things down.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Mix Clay Colors: Use the heat to your advantage. Since warm clay becomes soft, this makes it easy to mix up new polymer clay colors. Summer is a great time to mix up those polymer clay color recipe that you have been collecting, and waiting for the right time to mix them all up.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Bake Only When Your Oven is Full: Ovens produce heat, and since we bake our clay for a full hour to make it stronger, it is important that you only bake when you have a full oven. Baking lots of small batches will make your space hotter than it needs to be.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n