Tutorial about My Papercut on Polymer Clay Technique.

 

 

STEP 1:

Trace your design on paper. 

The paper I use is Strathmore Bristol smooth 260 g/m2, 300 series. You can buy the same paper in tiny size if you're not planning to use lots of it. If you're in a hurry just use paper from a cereal box.

STEP 2:

Cut out your design using a #11 X-Acto knife or your favorite knife. It has to be very sharp. Use a self healing mat for support.

STEP 3:

I recommend that you apply baby powder all over the papercut so it doesn't stick to the polymer clay later on. The baby powder also extends the life of the paper a little bit longer if you want to use it over and over. (I didn't do it in this tutorial so you could see the images more clearly).

 

STEP 4:

Prepare a flat sheet of polymer clay with the thickness of your preference. I made mine using a pasta machine on the setting number 2.

STEP 5:

Carefully place the papercut on the polymer clay sheet.

STEP 6:

Now apply pressure using a roller or any similar tool until the papercut and the polymer clay form an even surface. Here is when the magic of this technique happens. Apply the pressure slowly and gradually.

Step 7:

Lift the papercut carefully using a needle to reveal the embossed design.

STEP 8:

 Here is the magic unveiled. Basically, as you apply pressure the paper gets embedded in the polymer clay and the areas where there was no paper become embossed to the thickness of the paper. The thicker the paper the higher the embossed areas will be and vice versa. 

After removing the papercut I cut around the circle of this cameo using an X-Acto knife. Then I baked the piece at the recommended temperature. The polymer clay used in this project was Sculpey PREMO. In the picture below the piece is already baked.

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 You're free to finish the piece as you want. Here are some of the things that you can do:

1. Apply acrylic paint clay on the surface and then clean it up with a rag as I did with this piece.

2. Polish the embossed areas with a rotary tool until smooth and shiny to make them stand from the background.

3. Rub some metallic powder or metallic acrylic paint on the embossed areas using your finger tips.

4. Paint little details in selected areas of the design and then protect them with 2 or 3 coats of varnish.

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I hope that this simple tutorial opens up a door for you to explore the endless possibilities of this technique. I must say that in order to get perfect results you will need a little bit of practice. Be very patient and enjoy the process. To make your first project easier, instead of cutting the paper by hand you could use a paper punch with the design of your preference. I would love to see pictures of any project that you complete with this method. I will share my own new projects with you as soon as they're ready.

Let's have fun!

Elsita :)

Comments

[Jane]

How beautiful and clever! Thank you for sharing your technique.

[Cath Stone]

Thanks for posting this! I'm going to try!

[Elsita]

You're so welcome Jane!

[Elsita]

You will love it Cath :)
I recommend that yo start with a very simple design.

[Shelley Noble]

Absolutely brilliant technique, Elsa! You are the queen of invention in art! Brava!

[Snippety Gibbet]

You are so generous, Elsita. Thank you for sharing that. jan

[Wanett]

Such generosity!! You are amazing! I can't wait until this semester is over so I can try this!

[Ana Gonzalez]

Gracias Elsa. Tu tutorial, muy bien explicado, me ha venido en el momento preciso, ya que yo llevaba algun tiempo pensando en probar esta tecnica, pero estaba indecisa sobre el material mas adecuado, porque vi que habia diferentes tipo de polymer clay.

[Laura Burch]

Dear Elsa,
Thanks so much for this fun tutorial! I usually needle felt, but I love graphic images and this technique really appeals to me. I'm going to try it with my kids. If anything nice comes from our experimentation, I'll send you a photo:)
Sincerely,
Laura

[acornmoon]

Thank you so much for taking the trouble to educate and inspire.

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I think this is really a very nice post.

[Claudia Liliana/rasamalai]

¡Qué hermoso, me encantan tus fotos, no se me habría ocurrido utilizar un papel tan grueso :O
Y el diseño, qué limpio se ve, y con cuántos detallitos que le añaden tanta gracia, la maletita que hiciste es fantástica, tengo muchas ganas de hacer una, se irá a mi lista de pendientes! Y utilizar una máquina para hacer pasta es brillante, súper práctica idea, acá utilizo elmango de alguna herramienta de rodillo o los dedos :D
Si me animo a hacer algo te vengo a dejar enlaces a las fotos a éstos comentarios.
Muchas gracias, ¡se sienten el cariño y cuidado que pusiste! <3

[Maria]

One I would say relatively easy but clever and brilliant technique :) Worth spending time, especially now in late fall before holidays. Thanks for sharing

[Joan Chandler]

I want to share this with Elsa Mora fans (I am a HUGE one): Elsa is a self-taught genius. She has figured out how to do all of these procedures by using her curiosity, scientific understanding, patience, love for her work, and desire to share beautiful objects with the world. We get to enjoy the results!
Joan Chandler

[Irene]

fantastic! Thank you for sharing Elsita!

[margie oomen]

i would love to try that over the holidays

[Claudia Liliana/rasamalai]

She is a self taught genius in many good ways!
But she's also a professionally trained artist from one of the best art schools in the world! :)

[writing career]

very nice post! i liked it!

[research paper]

Dear Elsa, thanks for the article. Very interesting. You have done a brilliant job.

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This is incredibly good

[Rochelle]

Thanks for sharing your techniques! Your work is so lovely.... I have 3 little girls and we often gaze at the beautiful things you create. Ciao

[foo]

Thank you for the tutorial, Elsa. I'm glad I wasn't the only one wondering how to do this. =)

[Doda]

What a perfect tutorial. I'll be trying this sometime, and maybe first with my little bird paper punch I designed.

[Rebecca]

Wow wow wow!!! Thank you do much for including this-as easy as it is my mind would just not figure it out on its own. I love this-so many possibilities!

[Philadelphia House]

Wow, this is cool. So artistic! Very good! I'll use this!

[Dorothée]

Great tutorial, it offers so many new possibilities ! Thank you !

[Holly]

Thank you! I can't wait to try this. I have a digital cutting machine, so cutting the shape will be easy. So many possibilities!

[anilegra]

me ha encantado ,con tu permiso ,te preparo una entrada en mi blog para que te conozcan los que lo siguen

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thx for detailed step-by-step diy

[Deborah Ross]

Yes, thank you so much for sharing! I will have fun with this.

[Donna Kober]

Great technique. I will try it today.