Let the piece sit for a few minutes so the resin can self-level, and the bubbles can rise to the surface. Air-dry clay, whether dried or in a workable state is water-soluble. That is, it will dissolve in water. Even humid conditions can cause them to deteriorate over time. To have any permanents, air dry clay should be sealed with an appropriate water-resistant sealant. These can range from the completely waterproof epoxy coatings on the market to watered down PVA glue (white glue) Is air dry clay food safe? Inspect again with the magnifying glasses. Look for any bubbles that are lodged down in crevices or textures. Use a needle tool to encourage them to surface.

We specify that Mod Podge should only be used for lightweight protection because it’s a thin layer of sealant and will not stand up against hard rainstorms. Mod Podge is best for pottery artwork that will be displayed indoors with little risk of water damage.

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Both epoxy and UV resins have a short shelf life, typically a year or less. Older resin turns yellow while in the bottle and if it’s old enough, might not cure completely. Yellowing Air-dry clay doesn’t need a kiln to cure; it dries by allowing the moisture in the clay to evaporate naturally in the air. Unfortunately, this means that if the clay is reintroduced to moisture, it will become soft again. As such, air dry clay isn’t naturally waterproof. If your item is fairly smooth and you want a glass-like shine, any resin can give you this effect. Thin coats of brushed-on resin work well for this, too, but only if you have already removed the surface flaws. Brushing resin overa bumpy surface will just accentuate the bumps. Two brands of epoxy resin, Little Windows Brilliant Resin and another one called Art Resin both advertise that they’re non-toxic. They’re not made from something particularly unique. They’re both made of the same general ingredients as the other brands of epoxy resin. Remember, resin is NOT toxic. They’re not lying. But it’s a bit of marketing sleight of hand to avoid mentioning this hypersensitivity issue. Some crafters feel that oven drying removes more moister from the clay, making it harder. Others believe that this makes it more fragile. Based on personal experience, we can’t support either side of the argument. Choosing the right clay for your project and conditioning it properly is more important to determining the strength of your work than the drying methods.

Although it offers lower protection, Mod Podge is great because it’s so easy to apply. Simply apply it to your pottery with a brush and allow it to air dry. Once it’s had time to fully dry, display it anywhere inside your home. You won’t commonly see polyester resin used in the craft world as it’s pretty noxious. It’s used similarlyto an epoxy resin, except that you use a large volume of resin (part A) and a small volume of hardener (part B). I’ve not used this since I was a kid and helped my dad repaira fiberglass tank, so I’m only mentioning it here as an FYI. Dimensional Glazes Sealing air-dry clay is a simple process. To help you achieve sterling results applying varnish to your air-dry clay projects, we offer this simple guide to success. Cons: Many. Save this product for your paper projects. Resin alternatives on polymer clay. The finishes here are (L-R) resin, varnish, dimensional glaze, liquid clay, sanded and buffed. Liquid Clay Resin is messy. It’s the kind of thing that you want to do in a dedicated space where children and pets have no access. It also takes a bit of concentration, so you don’t want to be interrupted while dealing with resin. Make sure to have a clean box to put over your epoxy-resin-coated items to keep dust from falling onto them during the 24-hour cure.

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Liquid Fusion is a urethane glue that is slightly amber-colored and crystal clear. It can be poured onthe surface of flat polymer clay and left to dry. It will take several days, but you’ll be left with a smooth, glossy, hard finish similar to resin. Sanding and Buffing Another thing to think about is how you will apply the finish to your projects. The three most commonly used methods for sealing air dry clay are by spraying, brushing, or with a sponge. An excellent sealant and varnish for a wide variety of crafting applications, Vallejo Polyurethane Varnish is water-resistant, provides UV protection, and has a beautiful finish. Comes in gloss, matte, and satin formulas. Leave your work in a warm room that is not exposed to too much sunlight and has as little dust as possible. Again, be patient and allow your work to completely cure before handling it unnecessarily. Brand new on the market, Clear Liquid Sculpey is similar to Kato Liquid Polyclay in that it can give a perfectly clear coating when it’s clarified with a heat gun. Baking it in the oven at normal clay-curing temperatures will result in a cloudy finish. It really does need the high heat of a heat gun. It will be just slightly less shiny than Liquid Kato. Spray Varnish

Resinsare quite hard after curing and are crystal clear. The surface will be extremely glossy and can’t be easily peeled or lifted from a project. While you can apply resin to curved pieces, it is an advanced technique, so I only recommend applying resin to flat pieces until you have a really good feel for how to use it. Resin is lovely on sparkly or mica-covered projects as it will intensify the sparkle. Resin is a rewarding finish, but it has a huge learning curve, and your first few projects will likely incur a few tears and swear words. Always apply resin after baking your polymer clay project. It cannot be baked. There are three types of clear-coat resins as follows. The exception to this is the opaque and tinted sealants that are available, Some of these can be quite stunning and might suit your taste.Air-dry clay is wonderful to work with for novices and experts alike. Many of the techniques you can use with it easily transfer over to working with ceramics and pottery. This makes it an ideal introductory medium for people just starting to explore working with clay. It also makes air-dry clay an inexpensive way for experienced crafters to perfect their skills. Nothing provides better protection to your air-dry clay projects than epoxy resin varnish and we consider EnviroTex Lite to be the best of the best. It can be poured onto flat surfaces or spread with a brush or sponge. Self-leveling, water-proof, and food safe it is one of the most versatile sealants you can have in your arsenal. Don’t pour your UV resin while sitting near a sunny window or even with strong light. Even ambient light has some ability to begin the cure process. UV Resin should always be kept in a dark cabinet and preferably in a dark bottle because strong light can cause it to cure, especially over time. Brands of UV Cure Resin I’m very sad to say that at this point of my Crystal Clay experience I ran out of blanks to fill but still had lots of clay and stones left over. It’s been a week or more since I was last able to set crystals into clay and I now find myself looking around the house for things to cover in clay and sparkle up. It doesn’t just have to be jewellery items. Fridge magnets? Mobile phone covers? I need to do more. Now…..where’s the cat?….he’s been looking rather dull of late…..

Resin is a wonderful material that does what it does very well. There is no substitute that matches it exactly. But by understanding which features you’re seeking, such as gloss or protection, you can make a better decision about which resin alternatives you want to use for your polymer clay work. Personally, I use all of these finishes (including resin) for different projects because they have such different features, results, and appearances. The best part of acrylic paints as a water-resistant seal is that you get to add decoration and color to your artwork. While not strong enough to display outside without an additional sealer, acrylic paints work great for decorative pottery you plan to display inside your home. Slightly less expensive than epoxy coatings are polyurethane varnishes. These are the sealants that we use most often and the choice of many professional crafters. They are not quite as durable as epoxy but some come very close. They are also much easier to apply as there is no mixing involved. Polyurethane can be bought as a brush-on liquid or a spray.

Correct any flaws that you find now. It will be much more difficult to take corrective action later.