Stamping art clay

[desi]

After lurking on this board for a while, I just started using art clay recently. Took a class and got hooked. I have been making basic designs so far.  Stamped pendants some bails, but I was curious about letter stamping.

What is the best technique for this? I imagine you can stamp your letters when the clay is wet, but how do you stamp both sides of the clay with out compromising the impressions on the other side?

What about hand writing words with a needle? Would this compromise the strength of the final piece?

[Metalman]

Sorry to be so long - Great Question .

I usually wipe a very thin bit of olive oil on my stamps to help with release.  To work out the two sided aspect my first thought is to experiment with making two layers that you join together - the Art Clay does join and bond really well so this should work.

I would start with one layer = probably about3/4 of a mil thick [that would be 3 average cards thick]  I would do my stamping , make sure that the piece was good and flat and then dry it.
As that is drying I would work on a different project for a moment or two [this ias a great time to paint layers on those paste projects you have going]

The first piece does not have to be completely dead dry but dry enough for you to work with it and handle it.
NOW - I would make that 2nd layer and stamp it and shape it; then brushing a thin layer of paste over the dried part; I would join the two parts together.
Add any ornamentation then dry again.

Now - this is my first thought and it needs to be tested and fine tuned to your work methods, which are probably different from mine.  So, work it up and make it you own.

[desi]

ahh thank you

[tonjal]

Just stumbled onto this thread, so it may be to late to help much.

I started out working with polymer clay, which lent itself quite well to the jump to silver clay. I use many of the same tools and techniques.

When I want to stamp a specific design onto a 2 sided piece I do the following -

Stamp the designs or text you want to use into 2 sheets of conditioned polymer clay. (If you have an old pasta machine to condition the clay and roll it into sheets dig it out. You won't regret it '> ) Bake the clay according to instructions on package and let it cool. Make 2 more sheets of polymer clay and coat them well with corn starch, talc or baby powder so the clay does not stick together.  Use a clay brayer/roller/rod to roll the second clay sheets firmly, but not to hard) down onto the already baked sheets. Gently lift the unbaked clay sheets off and bake them. You now have a reverse image stamp of your original stamped designs.

Coat the polymer clay with a bit of release (olive oil, balm, what have you) then place you silver clay between the 2 polymer sheets and give it a squish '>

This idea can also work with carved designs you may want to repeat on many pieces.
This time you'll want to make the polymer clay sheets, bake them, use a carving tool to carve your design (linoleum carving tools are inexpensive and easy to use. Got mine at Michael's) . You can make a negative image by pressing a new sheet of unbaked clay onto the sheet you carved. Bake the second sheet of clay.

Tip on brand of clay to use - I'd suggest Premo, Fimo Classic or Kato clay. Skip Sculpey III and Fimo Soft for this application, because they tend to be brittle.

Hope this helps in the future. '>

[Polly]

I love the polymer clay idea for designs that you'll be repeating.  I can think of a few projects where that would be perfect.

Also, Rings & Things carries a 5-minute cold putty molding compound.  Pretty fun stuff and gives you good detail.

[Metalman]

Ahhhhh !.!!...!

We are getting so good at this cross over stuff.
I think there are a number of great experimental directions to take with the polymer clay suggestion above - have great experimentaverse events and let us know what you find.

[tonjal]

Let's not get into the molding putty thing. I've tried several brands. I will mold just about anything that will sit still long enough. LOL Good thing that of cat mine is fast. '> I even made a few molds of fancy chocolates I got for my B Day last year.

Desi i think It's the world's fair of crafts as you mentioned i have never seen like this before.
Thank you.