Clay Company - Hearty Tips

Helpful Hints

	Items such as vessels, may be made in a free form manner or by covering a mold. Molds can be glass, ceramic or cardboard. Hearty® clay will shrink slightly so extend clay beyond the mold edges.
	When the clay is wet, it will stick to each other and create a very strong bond. It may be necessary to use glue to ensure bonding once clay dries.
	Water and hand lotion will help keep the clay from drying.
	Once dried, Hearty® Clay has a soft suede-like appearance and texture.
	It is helpful to have plastic wrap on hand to cover parts and prevent the clay from drying.
	A bowl of water or spray bottle will help to keep the clay moist.
	When drying thin items, allow the piece to partially dry, then sandwich between two flat items to prevent warping and curling.
	Clay, wet or dry, may be cut with a blade or scissors.
	When you are finished with a project, store Hearty® Clay in plastic wrap, an airtight plastic bag or container.

ADDING COLORS:
	Any type of paint can be mixed with or applied directly on to the clay.
	To show transparency using Lumina®, use oil paints to mix with.
	Lumina® can also be mixed with Hearty® to gain a wide range of opaque colored clay. It is recommended to mix in small amounts of Hearty® clay at a time until desired color is reached.
	When Lumina® and Hearty® are mixed together, using acrylic paints will give it an opaque finish.
	You can also paint directly onto your clay piece. Allow clay to dry before painting. Paint will dry fairly quickly and the less paint the better; too little is easier to deal with than too much.

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES FOR RUBBER STAMPING:
	Rubber stamps, molding mats and unmounted stamps should be lubricated with a releasing agent before using them with clay. Releasing agents may include pigment inks, baby powder, cornstarch, hand lotion, or Armor All®.
	Select stamps that are deeply etched and fairly simple.
	Roll out the clay to the desired thickness. Press stamp into the clay then lift stamp.
	If clay sticks to the stamp, use an extra piece of clay to remove it from the stamp. The clay will pick up unwanted pieces left on the stamp.
	Molding mats and unmounted stamps are used by placing image side down onto the clay and rolling over the mat with a clay roller.
	Dimension can be added by cutting images from clay an attaching to other pieces of clay by sealing around edges with a clay tool.