by Mary Eccher - Page 2 of 3
MODEL MAGIC - Air-drying modeling clay, great for breads, cakes and pastries. Cannot be mixed with other compounds, flammable, so never bake it in the oven.
PREPARING FIMO FOR USE
All modeling clays must be kneaded before use. This can be done by hand or with that wonderful PASTA MACHINE. Run a small amount through it at least 20 times. To clean roller before adding another color, run a paper towel with nail polish remover across it. If you find your clay is still too stiff to work with, you can add MIX QUICK, which is made by the Fimo people. Just knead a bit into your color, and you will have a softer, more workable consistency. It is transparent, so that unless you add too much, it will not change the color. OR.....for all your pastel shades, mix color with white SCULPEY which is very soft. Sculpey makes a diluent to soften their clay, but I have found it to be a very messy process.
NOTE: Actually, a firm clay is desirable for detailed miniatures, or the item smushes as you work on it.
STORING POLYMER CLAYS
Most important of all is to store polymer clay in a cool place. Even summer heat or hot lights can bake them. As to WHERE?.....just storing in a baggie will do the trick. (Never store in hard plastic containers, it will eat into the plastic.) It is your choice, but it is not necessary to seal it in jars or plastic storage containers. Air does not cure it, only heat does.
BAKING POLYMER CLAYS
The general rule for baking miniatures created from modeling clays is to bake at 250 degrees for 10 minutes. But as everything else in life, this can vary depending on the hot temp of your oven. Toaster ovens are wonderful for baking your miniatures but again temps can vary. How to test your oven? Bake a small piece of modeling clay at the above temperature. When cool, slice a piece off. If it is white-ish, or crumbles, bake hotter and a little longer. Test this until you know your own baking setting. Another way to know that you have not baked hot enough or long enough, is that when you paint or gloss your miniature, the paint remains tacky. Bake hotter and longer until you no longer have this problem.
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