Molds

Molds work like reverse stamps. Rather than pressing a pattern into the clay, you are pushing clay into a pattern. Molds are a relatively quick and easy way for beginners to make detailed polymer clay elements that can either stand alone or be incorporated into larger polymer clay collages and designs.

Molds come from a variety of sources and in a huge range of styles. Some molds are flexible, while others are not. Molds may be extremely detailed or very simple. Molds are often sold in sets-several indentations to a sheet-grouped by a common theme, such as gardening, faces, or cabochons. There are sets of molds made specifically for use with polymer clay, but it is also possible to use molds made for paper clay, soap-making or candy-making. Virtually any mold will work with polymer clay, though some may be easier to use than others. It is important to remember that once a mold has been used for clay, it shouldn't be used for food preparation.

Making Your Own Molds

If you like the idea of making your own molds, there are materials sold specifically for that purpose. Many polymer clay artists make their own molds from polymer clay, too. Regular clay makes rigid molds; flexible clay (Sculpey Super Flex by itself of mixed with Premo) makes flexible molds. Either works wonderfully well at capturing details from your favorite beads, buttons, jewelry findings, leaves, or whatever else strikes your fancy.

Certain items around the house can also be used as push molds-anything that doesn't have an undercut. For instance, a measuring spoon or the round indentations in a painter's palette can be used to make cabochons.