Ever since I discovered cold porcelain clay, it has been used in a lot of my projects. The best thing about it is that you can make it yourself, it is easy and the ingredients are cheap. Cold porcelain clay is a great polymer clay alternative. I have always been avoiding polymer clay because of the expensive price and I do not want to use my oven for small things. I mainly work with air dry clay, and Hearty clay is one of them. However it is also very expensive and I need to buy them overseas, the shipping prices are very high these days. Therefore cold porcelain clay is now one of my favourites, this clay can produce very durable results and I just love the smooth matt finish. The clay is very soft to work with and can be easily coloured.
Above is a short introduction to this clay. I realised the text is hard to see for some people, so please click CC if you need captions.
Above is a tutorial I made with red food colouring. The amount of ingredients were different due to more water contents from the food colouring, however, the processes are the same. I know some of you were having troubles making the clay, I hope this video helps. Also, you can make all sorts of different colours by using this method! Please subscribe to my channel as well :-) !!
* My clay is still sticky
1. Did you use corn starch or corn flour? You can not use anything else other than those two ingredients.
2. What's the watts for your microwave? If it's under 1100W, you might need to add more intervals and cook more.
3. When you knead it, if it becomes sticky, add more corn starch or corn flour. If you are confident enough, you can always put it back in the microwave for a few seconds just to warm it up (however this is really risky, I suggest you just add more cornstarch/ corn flour)
4. If you put it in the fridge to rest and the next day it's sticky, again, mix in some dry ingredients (corn starch/ corn flour) in.
* I overcooked my clay
You can always make an under-cook batch and blend them together, it always worked for me!
* My clay cracked when dried
This is a really hard question, because it has never happened to me before. It really depends on the temperature and the humidity of your area. Avoid putting it directly under the sun, and place it in a well ventilated area in room temperature.
* My clay can't stick together when I put the pieces together
This is a tricky question, because it really depends on the consistency of your clay. My only suggestion would be blend in some PVA glue to your clay so it's 'stickier'.
It depends on the thickness and the volume of your creation. It normally takes 1-2 days to dry for a 3cm round ball, however, please keep in mind that this depends on the humidity and the weather of your place.
* Do I need to put in the fridge to rest?
Nope, you don't need to. I have experimented and put it in room temperature wrapped with cooking wrap, and it's totally fine.
* How much does this clay weighs?
It's heavier than normal paper air-dry clay, I have to say, it weighs around the same as polymer clay. (Still need to confirm)
* How durable is the clay?
The clay dries rock hard! It's very durable for jewellery making, and sculptures. However thin pieces around 2mm-3mm will break (if that's your intention to break them), but other than that, this clay is very sturdy.
* Does the clay dry matte?
Yes, it does! The clay dries to a beautiful matte finish, with a little hint of gloss. You can see the example of a dried work here, and I added a satin varnish over them.
* Is this clay water proof, do I need to glaze it?
Same as other clay, you can wipe it with a damp cloth, but do not 'soak' it in water. If you want longer durability, you can add varnish it- either matte, satin or gross. It depends on the purpose and the look you want to achieve. Eg. If you are just going to put it as a display you might want to leave it as it is, unless you want the shininess from the gross varnish.
More cute crafts coming soon,
Lisa
Above is a short introduction to this clay. I realised the text is hard to see for some people, so please click CC if you need captions.
Here are some of my roses I made with cold porcelain clay. The first rose on the left I made it awhile ago, and the next two I made just few days after. I am really happy with my third attempt, the result looks good but I still have many things to improve on.
So here I am just going to do a brief introduction on how I made my clay, I used the microwave instead of the stove to cook it. If you need the stove version, you can find many of them on YouTube.
*** Please scroll down to see trouble shooting and FAQ if you are having troubles making this clay***You will need :
Important notices:
* Please stick closely to these ingredients, no substitution and you must use the amount it is required.
* You cannot make it in the oven. You can make this clay in a microwave, or cook it in a pot on the stove. There are some tutorials on YouTube demonstrating the stove method.
1 cup (240ml) of cornstarch/ corn flour
* Please stick closely to these ingredients, no substitution and you must use the amount it is required.
* You cannot make it in the oven. You can make this clay in a microwave, or cook it in a pot on the stove. There are some tutorials on YouTube demonstrating the stove method.
1 cup (240ml) of cornstarch/ corn flour
1 cup (240ml) of PVA glue (school grade white glue, any brand would do)
2 tablespoons of vinegar/ lemon juice/ lime juice
2 tablespoons of baby oil/ cooking oil
Lotion
First prepare a microwave save bowl and put in all the wet ingredients.
Add the corn flour.
Mix till a gooey texture.
Pop in the microwave for 15s, and do it for 3 times. Between these intervals take it out and mix it. I have a 1100W microwave, the cooking time depends on the power, so start with a short duration for the first time.
You will start to see the top turn into a matt finish, and the clay is getting hard.
This is after the third interval, the clay starts to form lumps.
Prepare a cooking wrap sheet with lotion, this will prevent the clay sticking to your hands and the working surface. Be careful, the clay is very hot!
Keep kneading till it's cooled down and forms into a shape.
Don't overcook, the clay is perfect with a peak when you pull it apart. If the clay breaks when you pull, it means you have overcooked it.
Wrap it up and store in the fridge (I normally leave it overnight).
Above is a tutorial I made with red food colouring. The amount of ingredients were different due to more water contents from the food colouring, however, the processes are the same. I know some of you were having troubles making the clay, I hope this video helps. Also, you can make all sorts of different colours by using this method! Please subscribe to my channel as well :-) !!
Troubleshooting :
I have received many questions about this clay, sorry I can't reply to everyone's questions. So here are some troubleshooting tips:* My clay is still sticky
1. Did you use corn starch or corn flour? You can not use anything else other than those two ingredients.
2. What's the watts for your microwave? If it's under 1100W, you might need to add more intervals and cook more.
3. When you knead it, if it becomes sticky, add more corn starch or corn flour. If you are confident enough, you can always put it back in the microwave for a few seconds just to warm it up (however this is really risky, I suggest you just add more cornstarch/ corn flour)
4. If you put it in the fridge to rest and the next day it's sticky, again, mix in some dry ingredients (corn starch/ corn flour) in.
* I overcooked my clay
You can always make an under-cook batch and blend them together, it always worked for me!
* My clay cracked when dried
This is a really hard question, because it has never happened to me before. It really depends on the temperature and the humidity of your area. Avoid putting it directly under the sun, and place it in a well ventilated area in room temperature.
* My clay can't stick together when I put the pieces together
This is a tricky question, because it really depends on the consistency of your clay. My only suggestion would be blend in some PVA glue to your clay so it's 'stickier'.
FAQ :
* How long does it need to take it to dry?It depends on the thickness and the volume of your creation. It normally takes 1-2 days to dry for a 3cm round ball, however, please keep in mind that this depends on the humidity and the weather of your place.
* Do I need to put in the fridge to rest?
Nope, you don't need to. I have experimented and put it in room temperature wrapped with cooking wrap, and it's totally fine.
* How much does this clay weighs?
It's heavier than normal paper air-dry clay, I have to say, it weighs around the same as polymer clay. (Still need to confirm)
* How durable is the clay?
The clay dries rock hard! It's very durable for jewellery making, and sculptures. However thin pieces around 2mm-3mm will break (if that's your intention to break them), but other than that, this clay is very sturdy.
* Does the clay dry matte?
Yes, it does! The clay dries to a beautiful matte finish, with a little hint of gloss. You can see the example of a dried work here, and I added a satin varnish over them.
* Is this clay water proof, do I need to glaze it?
Same as other clay, you can wipe it with a damp cloth, but do not 'soak' it in water. If you want longer durability, you can add varnish it- either matte, satin or gross. It depends on the purpose and the look you want to achieve. Eg. If you are just going to put it as a display you might want to leave it as it is, unless you want the shininess from the gross varnish.
More cute crafts coming soon,
Lisa
I can't believe how easy that is to make! Definitely good for a first try since I don't have to commit to buying clay.
ReplyDeleteYou said you can use paint to colour it.. do you just add it to the mixture before you microwave it? Or do you actually paint it after you're finished? Do you think food colouring would work?
Lol sorry so many questions orz
Thanks for this post :3
hehe thanks! I use acrylic paint to colour the clay after i made it. So i just get some clay, put a bit of paint on and knead it. I think food colouring works also :)
DeleteBest if you use acrylic paint because food colouring will discolour over time.
DeleteLove the rose you have made. You make me wanted to do it now. I have seen many cold porcelain clay tutorial before but yours is the most inspiring. So sad, I do not have a microwave and I bought an oven just for baking polymer clay so I do want to spent money on a microwave just for cold porcelain. So I think I have to use stove instead. Hopefully, it will turn out well like yours TT.TT
ReplyDeletethank you!!! Same as you, i don't want to buy a pot to make my clay so i use the microwave version instead because i want to keep the food pot and craft pot separately. I am not really keen to bake little stuff in my oven and polymer clay is really expensive, so i guess this clay is perfect for me. Good luck on your clay ^_^, i really like your creations!
DeleteThis look really awesome ! Is baby oil really immportant, what does it change ?
ReplyDeleteit helps to bond and smooth all the ingredients together, it's just like adding water, but you use oil.
DeleteCan we use bond as a substitute for Pva glue?
DeleteHey so do you keep it in the fridge after the over night thing? Our can i keep it with my other clay? Thanks for the tutorial!
ReplyDeletesure, just wrap it up so it wont stick with your other clay.
DeleteThank you so much for this awesome tutorial! I've tried making cp in the stove top but the microwave method seems to be a breeze. I would like to try this method but I would like to know, would it be safe to use the microwave with food after I use it to make cp?
ReplyDeleteThat's what my mum said, she was worried about it as well. I think it's fine, because you only heat it for very short time. So now i want to switch to the pot version just to be more safe with it ( but i'm still making it in the microwave in the mean time to find a new pot) :D.
DeleteThank you!
DeleteHow much glue is 1 cup? I would really like to try this!!
ReplyDeleteit's 250ml :)
Delete1 Cup = 0.23658824 Liter = 236.56 ml = 8 fluid ounces US
DeleteI don't know if this will make a difference in the recipe, but at least you know the correct amount to use, if it's too wet.
F.Y.I.
Fluid ounces are usually abbreviated as fl. ozs.
A fluid ounce is measured in a glass measuring cup, that has a lip for pouring.
A dry ounce is measured in a plastic or metal measuring cup, that has to be leveled across the top,
by using a leveling spatula or knife.
Could you also use this recipe for the stove top method? I dont have a microwave :(
ReplyDeleteyes you can, but I haven't tried it yet. There are a lot of tutorials on youtube about it.
DeleteThis clay is an air clay? Its a hard one like polymer clay? Thanks! Pati!
ReplyDeleteyes, to the both questions.
DeleteLisa,just saw your tut wish I saw it sooner.Yesterday I tried making some CP it turned out like bubble gum.Used 1c corn starch,1c elmers glue,half T lemon juice,1T baby oil.Mic for 30 sec and stirred(3 times).Each time it got harder.End result it was like bubble gum.
ReplyDeleteI know my glue was old could that have made a difference or did I over cook it?
Your roses are beautiful....Diane
Hi Diane, it is because you didn't put enough 'wet' ingredients that's why it turned hard. Try 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of baby oil, that might help you to tone down the mixture.
DeleteTHANK YOU !!! I followed your directions and it turned out perfect.Thank you so much for this tut.Having the pics really helped me too. Knowing what it was suppose to look like really helped. Have a great day !!! Diane
DeleteYou are welcome! I'm glad this is helpful!!
DeleteI just watched your YouTube red cp tutorial. Is the reason you use vinegar in the white cp because the lemon juice will distort the white color?
ReplyDeleteNop, vinegar and lemon juice works the same in this recipe, the clay is not white, it is translucent.
DeleteCan you use tacky glue instead of PVA glue? Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry I have never tried with tacky glue. But you can give it a try~
Deletecan i use normal elmer white glue for this?
ReplyDeleteand for the coloring part.. can i use pastels instead of acrylic?
Thanks!!
Lenny
I have never tried with pastel, and elmer white glue i believe is PVA glue
DeleteThank you so much for the tutorial o(^o^)o
ReplyDeleteI made half the recipe [since I forgot I had to buy 2 Elmer's glue] but I think I overcooked it ^^" because it just breaks of when I pull it. I'll try to make it again.
I wanted to ask:
-Can I still use overcooked clay or is there a way to fix it?
-Can I use normal School glue or does it have to be glue all?
Thanks again~
Yes, you need glue, and white school glue can do it. You can save over cooked clay by mixing it with normal clay, just blend it in and it should be fine.
DeleteI overcooked the first batch I made and thought I'd have to trash it. However, being a bit of a miser I saved it and searched thnet in hopes of finding a solution. Didn't happen!!!
DeleteTo make a long story short, I gradually added baby oil gel to the overcooked clay and kneaded it, added more baby oil gel, kneaded it, etc. That worked really well. Remember, baby oil GEL, not just baby oil.
Question: What wattage is your microwave?
Anyone have suggestions as to how to color the clay bright red?
I added craft paint (different brands) and even though the craft paint worked wonderfully with other colors, I couldn't get my clay bright red. Suggestiions would be really appreciated. Thank you.
I'm planning on making this today, so thank you very much for this tutorial! ^o^ Anyway, is it important to leave it in the fridge overnight or can you start working with it straight away after making it?
ReplyDeleteYou can just work it straight away. No problem for that~
DeleteHi! Love the tutorial.I made some last night! :D After it cures in the fridge -- what do you do if it's still sticky? It wasn't sticky when I was kneading it before I put it in last night. It's doing the tear drop thing -- but sticky.
ReplyDeleteAlso! How do you store this clay? Keep it in the fridge? Out of the fridge in a sandwich bag? Thank you!
If it gets sticky just knead it or put a bit more corn flour into it. You can store it in an air tight container or sandwich bag, whatever keeps the air out :D
DeleteHow long does the clay last? Do you have to put it in the fridge after each time you've used it? ^w^
ReplyDeleteNo, you just have to seal it tight in a container. It lasts for a very long time, if you store it correctly without it drying out.
DeleteHi I just tried making it. I had 2 tubs of glue of different brands on hand so I thought I'd give it a go first. One of them was Crayola and was a lot thicker and the other one was quite runny. In the end I had to put some water in the thicker one to thin it down a bit or it wouldn't come out of the tub. Maybe it turned out too watery, so I had to microwave it 4 times instead of 3 and perhaps overcooked it.. when I pulled at it it's a slightly jagged peak but still a peak. Is that still ok to use?
ReplyDeleteIt's really up to you if you are fine working with that consistency. You just have to try it out :)
DeleteLisa - Thank you again for this tutorial. I made my first batch a few weeks ago and it still seems pretty fresh. I used Celinescreations marker tecnique for coloring the clay. Do you plan on doing more tutorials soon? I am anxious to see more CP creations!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! Thanks for your support. If time allows me I might make more. :-)
DeleteHi, Thanks for sharing! Could you please tell me if it is a craft kids pva glue you used or was it a DIY shop one? To be honest i don`t know if they are different. thanks, BTW your roses are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Just normal school grade PVA would do, so kids one will work.
DeleteHi, do you have picture of your PVC glue cover ? :) I really don't know which to buy. Post it on your Instagram can? :) thank you a lot
ReplyDeleteYou can buy Elmers school glue!
DeleteIs the microwave okay to heat up food in after? I don't want my food to be toxic after microwaving glue! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes, if everything you've used is non-toxic, including the glue.
DeletePVA glue = School Glue (like Elmers) the regular, standard, white school glue. Lisa: is there anything you use to seal your charms/roses once you've created and dried them; what I mean is a way to strengthen the CP?
ReplyDeleteI just leave them outside. Sorry i don't really understand your question.
Deletetriple thick would seal it!
DeleteHi how do you color the cold porcelain?
ReplyDeleteacrylic paint, pastels can do.
Deletedoes this clay break easily, and is it safe to be in your mouth?
ReplyDeleteIt will break if it's a thin piece like any other clay, and I don't recommend eating it.
DeleteDo you have to leave in the fridge before you use it? Is it okay to use a little bit of it immediately for just small things like strawberries and such?
ReplyDeletesure, no problem!
DeleteCan you substitute coconut oil for the baby oil, or is it strictly baby oil?
ReplyDeleteI am sure you can, give it a try?
DeleteThanks for the lovely tutorial ! I have a question which is how many ml is a tablespoon? And 250ml is one cup right? Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteYes 250ml is a cup, not sure about tablespoon sorry.
DeleteA tablespoon is 15 ml
DeleteHi Lisa, after you've created something from cold porcelain, how durable is it? I heard it can't touch water or else the creation gets destroyed. I guess you must seal it for the creation to last?
ReplyDeleteNot really, it can touch water for few mins, and you can just wipe it off, just don't let it soak in there XD
DeleteHi! Could I use Lime Juice instead of lemon or vinegar??
ReplyDeleteyes you can, but the clay won't be pure white, due to the hint of yellow from the lemon.
DeleteWould this be strong enough to use to make beads?
ReplyDeleteYep! It's rock hard when tries.
DeleteARG. I TRIED. SO HARD. I did the recipe exactly and the microwaving didn't work. 3 times for 15 seconds, still liquid no lumps, couple more times same results, then I did 20 seconds, it got a matte finish and got harder, so I was getting impatient so I put it in for 30 and it was lumpy and such. But by that point it was like shoving my hands in sticky fire to knead it, even with plastic wrap. WHAT DID I TO WRONG D:
ReplyDeleteDid you use tacky glue or PVA glue? Because I saw you commenting someone's post saying tacky glue is PVA, but it's actually not.
Deletewow! can't thank you enough. finally found a legit(er) recipe! the other ones i tried... well, they were not meant to last. made half a batch today! success!
ReplyDeleteI made your recipe with so much excitement and mine too turned out runny, even after 6 times of microwaving at 15 sec. intervals. HELP what did I do wrong? I really want to make this and used all my elmers glue all I had. Also can I use homemade Glue? probably not - just asking. Thanks for the great tutorial!
ReplyDeleteWhat's the watt of your microwave, and did you use corn starch or corn flour?
DeleteHey i loved your tutorial and your blogs. You are very creative. Just wanted to ask you is it fine if i use CP instead of polymer clay ?
ReplyDeleteI thought of using polymer clay for making charms for a bracelet.
----- waiting for your reply, thanks a lot :)
Sorry, i don't get what you mean. All my crafts are made from CP, not polymer clay, and of course you can use polymer clay to make as well.
DeleteEllo, Love your creations have been officially inspired by you woo! O wOb
ReplyDeleteQuestions: when it dries does it have a smooth shiney look or a matte look?
do I need to glaze it with some varnish or leave it as is?
Thanks so much! :3
Thanks! When it dries, it will have a matte finish. If you want longer durability, you can add varnish it, either matte, satin or gross, depends on the purpose and the look you want to achieve. Eg. If you are just going to put it as a display you might want to leave it as it is, unless you want the shininess from the gross varnish.
DeleteThis is very informative, anxious to try it. Do you also have a tutorial on how to make the beautiful rose? It is so pretty!!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's here http://puffylittlethings.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/clay-roses-quick-walkthrough.html
DeleteHi Lisa~
ReplyDeleteI tried to make it, its just that mine doesnt seemed to look right. .___. even though I added a lot of cornstarch, it kinda looked hard at first but once I leave it for 5 minutes, its like the whole clay is going to melt. XD Do you have something to make it hard?And I tried to stretch it it doesnt make a "peak" :(
(note: I live in a tropical country... "maybe" the result turned out to be like that) v.v
Sorry, I am having trouble 'imagining' that scenario, can you video it and show me?
DeleteHi Lisa, the person above means the cold porcelain won't keep its shape; it sags, and loses its form (I'm having the same issue, e.g. when trying to make features on a face, after a while it all kind of collapses and loses its form; turns into a blob) so fine detail isn't staying put. I've been trying to find out why that is. There's no way I could make those rose petals, mine would just slowly sag and "melt" out of shape...any ideas?
DeleteHi Lisa, my cold porcelain just won't come together when I stir it, after I put it in the microwave. Please help because I don't want to spend more money on glue!
ReplyDeleteTake a photo of the ingredients and list down your steps please.
DeleteI used Argo Corn Starch, Elmer's Glue, RealLime Lime Juice, & Johnson's & Johnson's Baby Oil.
DeleteFirst, I added 2cups corn starch, 2 bottles of glue, 2 teaspoons of baby oil & lime juice.
Then, I stirred.
After that, I put it in the microwave(mine is a 1200 watt) for 10 seconds.
Then, I mixed after each and every interval.
I did for more than 5 times, but it still wouldn't come together.
Please help!
This is very strange. Was your bowl hot? The clay should come together when it cooks.
DeleteSorry to chance upon Anonymous queries. The material composition is definitely out. For double portion of corn flour should go with 4 tablespoons of baby oil + 4 tablespoons of vinegar and 2cups of PVA glue. Teaspoon is not the same as TABLESPOONS.
DeleteHi Lisa...
ReplyDeleteThe tutorial is a great help but I have a question too. My clay looks fine but the creations made from it are not drying up, its remaining soft from inside. What should I do?
How long did you leave it to dry? Just let it sit and it should harden within a week at least for a small project.
DeleteHi, I have just discovered this product, however I bought mine already made. My question is what can I make with it? I have learn't how to make Sweet Peas and Anemones, but could I make a cake decoration with it - off cause I know it isn't edible, but I thought you could keep it better than icing. Any other ideas would be great!
ReplyDeleteYou can watch tutorials from my Youtube, I have a lot of projects made from cold porcelain clay! :) I also love to make a lot of fake foods too! http://www.youtube.com/user/pufftique
DeleteI love the roses you made! They are so beautiful. This was also a great tutorial, the clay was really easy to make. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa, your tutorials are awesome! I'm so inspired by this one and just can't wait to follow your recipe and make some cold porcelain!
ReplyDeleteHowever I have some questions:
- Which varnish or gloss type and brand do you recommend to use on the finished CP work?
- Can the same varnish brand recommended to use on CP be used on Paper Clay? If not could you suggest a brand of varnish for Paper Clay?
- What if I don't have a microwave, but only an electric oven? How can I estimate the temperature and duration for hitting the mixture in the oven?
Many thanks in advance! :)
Hello! Here are my answers:
Delete1. I use water-based polyurethane varnish, they are durable and long last in wear. You can find them in hardware stores, it's kind of like wooden floor polish. This should work on paper clay as well.
2. You either make your clay in microwave or cook it on a stove in a pot, you can't make it in the oven. There are tutorials on stove cooked version on youtube. Have a try! :-)
Hi! Your roses are very beautiful!! What kind of lotions could you use for your clay?
ReplyDeleteAny hand/body lotion would do.
DeleteThank you so much! Other recipes I looked at call for cold cream and glycerin, but for my first batch of cold porcelain I used your tutorial. Though it needed a lot more corn starch, I'm really happy with how it turned out.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, I'm glad it worked out for you!
DeleteI made your recipe and it forms teardrops when stretched. So I made a 2 inch high teddy bear figurine, but by the time I was doing the finishing touches, the whole thing was starting to flatten out somewhat.. like it wasn't able to keep it's shape. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteI assume that the clay might be too soft, did the clay stick to your hands?
DeleteNo, it didn't stick. It just seemed to not be able to stand on its own weight and sort of flattened out.
DeleteI have the same problem, it is not sticky, but it is hard to hold once I made a form, and then when I set it down to dry, it will just settle and get flat on one side, I have been searching the whole Internet to find some answers, no avail... It also sucks up the pieces I attach to it...
Deletehi, i saw your recipe and made it myself twice but in two method.
ReplyDeletei tried in a stove but it seem to overcooked because my stove heat up very fast although in min, so i change to using oven because i don't have a microwave . it turn out to be sticky or tacky when i want to used it. it sticks to my cutting tools and my toothpick too when i want to texture it.
Please help!
Sorry, to the best of my knowledge, you can only make this clay either by using the stove, or microwave. Oven would not work.
DeleteYou can always turn the heat low and just keep on stirling when you cook on the stove.
Hi! Can i use oven toaster instead of microwave oven? For how many minutes?
ReplyDeleteSorry, you can't use an oven toaster.
DeleteHello Lisa,
ReplyDeleteYour tutorial was brilliant and I love your creations.
I do have a couple of questions for you.
I tried your Clay recipe with all the ingredients and time intervals and the clay came out great, though I had to add extra corn flour to knead it nicely. I put it wrapped up in clingfilm and in a sealed box over night in my fridge and came out rock solid. The bits of clay would not stick together properly and so I had to wet it to try to keep it together. Would you have any advice?
I have a 850 W microwave and was also wondering what time I should put my clay in for. I seemed to do it for about 9 times at 15s before it started changing and getting thicker. So I'm sure I'm doing it wrong somehow xD
Thank you,
Hello! Thank you for your kind words.
DeleteMaybe next time, let the clay sit in room temperature over night rather than put it in the fridge. It works the same for me.
I don't think intervals matter- as we all have different watts and microwave models. As long as the clay is workable, then everything is fine :)!
Hey Lisa !
ReplyDeleteYour video is really amazing ! After seeing your video makes me wanna try it out !
I really love to draw and make small cute little things ! Like ploymer clay! But ploymer clay is so expensive and all the tools is expensive also, I'm age 15 and I can't really afford to buy all those things so it's kinda hard for me ! But when I saw the video all the things I need is affordable ! So I want to try it out !
But there is one thing I want to ask ! I don't have microwave at home I only have oven am I able to use oven instead ?
And how much is 1 cup of cornstarch ?
Hi! Great to hear that you find this post useful, same here, polymer clay is really expensive for me, so cold porcelain is a great alternative. But sadly, you either have to cook it in the microwave, or on the stove. You can find the stove version on Youtube.
Delete1 cup is 240ml.
Hi Lisa! I really want to get some cold porcelain and make some charms, but buying it isn't really an option, so I've been intensively researching recipes and such online. I've decided on using this one, and have all the ingredients except for the cornstarch. Right now my parents aren't too keen on going out of their way to buy some. So I was wondering if rice flour or tapioca starch would work instead..?
ReplyDeleteNo, you will need corn starch or corn flour.
Deletehi! I made this the other day evidently I measured the corn flour wrong or something but it was very very sticky so I popped it in the MIC for about 20 seconds give or take and the started kneeding in some more Cflour it worked perfectly! I might have added a little 2 much but I found out that right before you make your final shape kneed hand cream/hand lotion (any kind) and then make it , it will have little to no cracks :) so far I have made a heart a necklace pendant looking thingy, two 5 point flowers with leaves, 2 roses (granted not as nice as yours lisa but pretty all the same) some marbled beads. and 4 soon to be 5 MACAROON CHARMS! pink purple blue and green :) thank you so much for this recipe!
ReplyDeleteGreat it worked out for you! ^_^
DeleteHello! i always love your videos!
ReplyDeletei wanna ask.. can i use clear glue *crystalclear* instead of white glue? and how to prevent my charms from cracking? thank you!!
Tried this last night! Although, after microwaving it more than 5 times, it still came out WAY too sticky to knead. It was all over the place. :/ The tutorial wasn't really clear on what consistency to look for with this. I got it to the point like the third picture after microwaving it, but I it just stuck to my hands. It was awful. :/ I almost gave up but then I decided to keep microwaving at smaller amounts of time. Slowly became firmer for me to knead.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I found that your instructions for the lotion and the plastic weren't clear. I didn't know if I was supposed to knead on it, or if I was supposed to put the clay in it and knead... I tried both but both didn't really work out. The plastic kept slipping and sliding everywhere and kneading the clay inside didn't make it any firmer when it was super sticky. In the end I just ended up kneading in my hands.
Knowing what to look for now, hopefully next time I make this will be better. I only made about half the amount because most of it stuck to my hands and had a hard time scraping it off. @_@
Hello, i agree with you that my picture tutorial wasn't clear, but did you watch the video at the end? It should clear up some confusions. The consistency that you are looking for is when the clay start to form lumps, and you just need to stop right there, and knead it with your hands to even out the lumps with the rest of the mixture. You will notice the clay stick to your hands and that's what the lotion is for, the cooking wrap i put is optional, it's just to prevent the clay sticking to my work surface.
DeleteHi, I was planning to make a small sculpture using cold porcelain. I want to know how can I make like a clay glue to stick different parts together. Is there a special glue for it?
ReplyDeleteNo, you can just use PVA glue or any type of glue. You can also use those sculptural tools to blend the clay together.
DeleteHi, yes i tried the uncooked version. It's very lumpy for me, and the clay isn't tacky for me either. I suggest you try to add more oil or corn starch to it, it might hold it's shape better.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa, upon reading the comments and questions i found you as a very patient and kind person, you answered all their queries with a very kind heart. anyway, thank you for this posts, it really means a lot for me, i love your work, and your videos are a great help although i havent tried it (but base on the comments above) i find it very useful. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteOh, if incase i do have problems that yet to arrive, hope that you will find time too to answer all my questions.... Have a good day ahead!
Hello, thank you so much for your kind message, it really means a lot to me, it makes me feel so warm and fuzzy on the inside! :)
DeleteAnd yes, if you do have any questions just write me a message, or send me an email via the 'Contact Me' tab at the top.
Have a great holiday season to you and your family!
this sounds fun and I have everything I need - I am going to try this weekend. Can I press the clay in a thin mold to make ornaments. the mold is clay. just wondered if it will work cause I don't want to ruin my mold.
ReplyDeleteSure, this clay works well with silicone molds.
DeleteHI! I want to try your recipe! I am not doing it yet but hopefully I can get it right :) Hope this works :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
DeleteHi! So after I mixed in all the ingredients it was kind of tinted brown. It might've been the vinegar…..Do you know if it will affect the steps later on, like coloring it?
ReplyDeleteNo, it won't.
DeleteMy issue is its cracking as it dries, my first batch was perfect and all after crap...but reading all comments I think its over heating! So another batch and doing in microwave I seem to over heat on stove. Hate the no heat it won't hold a shape. Do you color before you heat or after I've only colored after but its messy so before would be so cool! Awesome roses :)
ReplyDeleteHello, I'd like to know if you have any pointers preventing warping in thin pieces. I'm trying to make flat circles, about 2-3 mm thin and they keep curling up. I don't have time to flip them every 10 minutes for two days. I was thinking about blow drying them? I tried putting a book on top to keep them dry, but they won't dry that way.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I have the same problem too :(, i cannot make thin flat pieces also. Sorry i can't help you.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteHow long do the creations last after dried? Years? Months?
I started using this clay one year ago, and so far so good. I still have those really old pieces i made, and i'm sure if you glaze them it will last longer.
DeleteHi, I was wondering where do you buy your "whip cream" clay you used on your macaron charm? Is it clay or is it made of something else and where can I buy it? Thank you ^^.
ReplyDeleteIt's silicone that you can get at the hardware stores.
DeleteHello, I was wondering if you had any advice on warping of thin sculptures made with this clay. Please help! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi is it ok to use the clay right after u make it? Like without leaving it in the fridge?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteHi good day, question! What is the problem if my mixture is not smooth, i mean you can see lots of particle "small lumps" forming and I'm sure i mix well before heating it.
ReplyDeleteHey there. Lovely tutorial btw! I made my cold porcelain using your tutorial and the clay came out sticky at first but slowly came together at the end. When making my charms/creations, the clay was too soft to work with. I am able to make simple shapes but I wasn't able to stick things together and when i would touch it, it would deform. I have added cornstarch to it but it still doesnt work. Whats wrong with it? Thanks
ReplyDeleteI use the stove top, and my porcelain clay came out very silky. However it doesn't hold any shape. It just droops and puddles and I can't form it into anything. Is there a way to fix this?
ReplyDeleteAdd more dry ingredients- corn flour/ corn starch, and maybe cook longer.
Deletethank you for posting~ saving all to the computer to do this later. <3
ReplyDeleteIs cold porcelain clay suitable for big sculptures for example 30cm in length? It would be really helpful if you could answer and thank you for the tutorial :D
ReplyDeleteIt might take a long time to dry, i haven't made anything bigger than 10cm.
DeleteHi Lisa, love your work! I know you said above that you still have pieces from a year ago. Were your pieces glazed? After I glaze it, do you know exactly how long it will last? Have you experienced any pieces molding? I would hate to give something as a gift and have that happen. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!
ReplyDeleteHello, I do have some un-glazed pieces for around 2 years now, and they are perfectly fine- no mold and no deformation. After you glaze it, it should lasts for years, but this depends on your glaze, because i heard some glazes like Triple Thick will get sticky over time, and turns yellow. I suggest you to use water based polyurethane varnish from hardware stores, that's what i use.
DeleteIts so interesting...but this clay should put in the microwave? isn't it possion if other foods put in this same microwave?
ReplyDelete1. Can make photo frame using this clay?
2. Will ants eat this?
3. Is it (finished project) possible to stay longer?
1.It probably takes longer to dry
Delete2. No
3. Yes
Can you use the lotion in place of cooking or baby oil?
ReplyDeleteNo
Deletedoes the porcelain rot or grow fungus please??
ReplyDeleteNo it doesn't
DeleteDear Lisa, i just need an answer about cold porcelain, i used to make it at home & after it dries, it became very flexible when it exposed to the sun while wearing it, do you have any solutions for this problem, thanks a lot
ReplyDeleteThis never happened to me before, sorry I couldn't help you. Best of luck!
DeleteGreat tutorial! I will try it for sure. However my question is, what kind of glue do you use( where can you buy it)? Also how toxic it is. ? I would like to use porcelain with pure essential oils which means that if any part of it is toxic, oils will pull it out and Tanager to the body if used as jewelry pirces. Is there non toxic, natural glue would you recommend. ? Also quick comment about use of microwave, microwave itself is bad for human and more of all waves kill food we eat, i don't think it will anyhow affect food from microwave since it already doesn't have much of nutritional value. I use microwave for everything and disinfect it with essential oils. Eighter way, i hope you can help me with that glue. Thanks! Justyna
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa! Watching the video, I noticed the glue you add is very 'liquid', like watered down: is it so? Is the glue mixed with water (because PVA glue is like that)? I ask you this because mine is not, infact when I mix all the ingredients with the same amount you wrote, the paste isn't gloomy, but still quite solid. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi, PVA is a liquid type of glue, it should run down smoothly.
DeleteLovely site - thank you for all the useful information!! :) Especially the FAQ
ReplyDeleteHi Sami, thanks! I had a lot of questions so i just put them all in the FAQ XD!
DeleteCan I use this CP to fill in chips or apply it to older porcelain pieces like decorative bowl vase or like, model an ear on a porcelain doggy my grandmother gave me and one of the kids broke..etc.? And if it can be used do I try to attach it before it dries?
ReplyDeleteHello Roberta, sorry for the late reply. Yes you can, just get a piece of your clay, mix it up with pva glue so it becomes liquid clay. Then use a paint brush to fill in those chips. You can model the clay pieces out and let it dry, use the glue and attach to existing creations. But keep in mind that the clay will darken and shrinks, so better to try testing it out before attaching the real thing! :)
DeleteHello Lisa, thank you so much for sharing this! Like you said, polymer clay is very expensive, so I've been looking for something cheaper and this it it. :) I can't wait to try it! I do have a question though. Would varathane or floor finish work well as a "glaze" on this? I really love shiny finishes. Your roses are amazing by the way. :o
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yes floor finishes are the best! It gives extra protection and shine!
DeleteHi Lisa! I know you haven't been making new content for a few years now so I doubt you will see this. I've been taking a trip down the memory lane and I remember you were such an inspiration for me a sparked my interest in clay. I really hope you come back :( I've been getting back into cold porcelain and in the case that you see this, I really hope you could answer some questions for me.
ReplyDelete1. Do you experience discolouring with the pieces? My pieces always dry a little more yellow and brown that before drying
2. Could I know the brand of PVA? I've tried most brands I could get my hands on and I don't know why but I can't seem to make CP like i used to. Maybe the market for PVA has changed since then but the clay goes rock hard with a single increment.
3. Will you ever be coming back as pufftique? I loved seeing your work and I swear hald the views are from me. I would love to see you come back!
Hello!!
DeleteThanks for your comment and YES! I am back haha. Same with me, I doubt you'll see my reply but I will try my best to answer your questions.
1. Yes, my pieces will turn slightly darker after it hardens but not yellow or brown. I think this has to do with the PVA glue you are using, maybe it's not white enough.
2. I use normal craft PVA glue from the store. Maybe it has changed, I haven't made any CP for a while so I can't help you with this question sorry.
3. Yes! I decided to come back, and I have already uploaded some videos. So please check out my channel :)!!
Hi Lisa, thank you for the amazing tutorial.
ReplyDeleteI tried making it with a different method before I saw yours and after 5 days there was mold on it. What can be the problem?
Thanks,
Yael
Hi Yael,
DeleteSorry I just saw your message, I just came back to my blog after a very long time.
I think you might need to add more vinegar to your CP, and maybe it has to do with the humidity too. Try it again with more vinegar and corn startch to balance the texture. Let me know how it goes!
Lisa