This simple crackle effect requires no special paints or additives. Polymer Clay, Alcohol Inks and Liquid Clay are all you need. I am using Fimo Professional, Liquid Fimo and Adirondack Alcohol Inks.
I love your tutorials, not totally because of the content but because you talk TO us, not AT us and make everything as easy to understand as possible, not just for beginners but for everyone (sometimes some of us "old timers" can get confused or just need it broken down for us.) You teach with grace, humility and humour. Thank you
Feedback so far is don't bake the thin coat for too long, or it won't want to crack. If you have any issues tell me and I'll try to give you advice. Thank you for watching. xx
I just came across this video and I have to say that I think this is the best idea for getting a crackle effect on clay that have seen and I'm super excited to try it. Love your attitude and sense of humour ❤️
Aw thanks! As I said below to Jay - Keep the top layer really thin and bake it for the least amount of time possible. I say this following feedback. Experiment with a bit the size I used, not an A4 sheet. xx
I loved the simplicity of these circle pendants, and went on to make quite a few of them using the crackle effect, and the alcohol inks on baked polymer. Thanks for these tips.
It is always such a relief to watch you work, because the way things go for you -- with the odd bits falling off, etc -- is a;ways how things go for me. You are so real. Thank for for making the REAL poly clay tutorials!!!
Your video was sent to my face book page by a group I belong to and I saw your 7 ways to use the acrylic board. I am just beginning and I absolutely loved it and so I headed over to You Tube to see what else you have. I just watched this and I loved it also. I will watch the rest that you have done and keep going. Oh, don't put yourself down. I think your are marvelous!!! And you are right. Things happen and go wrong but we learn from people like you and maybe things won't go wrong as much for us beginners hopefully. So thank you!!!!
This was a very easy to follow along with tutorial. I am very new to the polymer world and was able to clearly understand your directions. Thank you very much!
This is the first video of yours I've watched and it was absolutely delightful. I can't wait to try this technique now. Thanks for sharing your skills and adorable sense of humor!
Just an FYI for anyone watching. They actually make finger condoms and they work great for polymer clay projects to prevent fingerprints. And they can be reused over and over, until they are too dirty. They would work for this ink too.
I haven't been able to master the crackle technique but you've made it look easy, so I'll try once again. Thank you very much, Valerie! The work you put into your tutorials is greatly appreciated as is your lovely way of describing the process.
Jean Buchan Thanks Jean! Not everyone can get it to work (so many different factors could affect it), so if needs be try another tutorial - there's more than one way to skin a cat. 😉
I can see this is a good place to use your tip about putting the time on a sheet of paper -- that way the crackle pieces wouldn't pop off when you lift it from the tray.
Great project! I think you do a great job with your videos, and I enjoy watching them. Even though there may be mistakes and/or issues while filming the creative process, your end result is always lovely! Thanks for sharing!
Excellent tutorial! Very cool way to create crackle. I love your sense of humor and agree--when things "go wrong" it can be very interesting! I'm thinking applying a tiny film of Rub n Buff before the inks might be a fun way to add some shine, though these are gorgeous as-is. Subscribed!
I'm thinking this would be lovely with coloring the baked sheet with the inks first, before you put it through the PM to make the crackle! I think I'll try this experiment :) Well done! Thank you again!
Very nice pieces. Thank you for sharing this technique can’t wait to try it. One suggestion that may prove helpful. When cutting the pieces out after applying the crackle layer, maybe covering it with cling film will keep the crackle pieces from lifting up. This of course will give you a beveled edge so not as wide to add your finishing strip around the piece, but just a thought.
Good idea! This technique turned out to be a little difficult for some people... Keeping the baking time for the white layer to a minimum seems key. xx
Thank you!!! I love your tip about the plastic wrap around the finger, I have such small hands gloves don't fit me so I use my fingers with the ink. Always stained. Wonderfull-I'm making these now!
I love the blue and yellow rectangle. It turned out so pretty! Thank you for this tutorial. I just bought alcohol inks and didn't know how to use them on polymer clay.
Thank you. I tried something like this , but used the heat gun for a few minutes then put thru pasta machine. It cracked well. I like the way you did the alcohol inks.
I've used a heat gun before but I didn't suggest it because I wasn't sure the fumes were healthy and not everyone has one LOL. What kind of clay did you use please? Someone has had problems with Premo.
+Cindjo717 I think I even over did it with heat gun. Could have used less time with heating it. I only did it for a few minutes too. Next time I will keep testing at short intervals
Thanks for the feedback! I've had a comment from someone that they had it fail with Premo. Perhaps a short blast with a heat gun would work better for them. xx
Thank you for your fast reponse! I will try with the heatgun and see if it helps! thankx so much for the inspiration, saw it this morning on the bus on my way to work and couldnt think of anything else during the day, im so exited!😀
Thanks for this, it looks great fun and I can't wait to give it a go. In case you ever have trouble with your cling-film condoms, you can get thin latex finger cots - which stay on well, can be washed/wiped, and give you decent sensitivity on your finger ends so that it's easy to keep them on whilst working - very cheaply on a well-known auction site. I'm allergic to latex, so I have to use the slightly more expensive nitrile ones, but the cheapest ones are fine for most people. (They're also useful if you ever find yourself with a cut finger, saving you having to change sticking plasters 138 times every day because they keep getting wet and falling off!)
They look very effective,and great that they can be done without a flexible texture sheet or texture mould , they look lovely how you done them,👍🌹🌺🌹🐝🌸🌼🌹🌺🐞🌈
Thank you! The thin white top sheet wants to be hardly baked at all, is the feedback I've had. Polymer clay is surprisingly strong, especially when you WANT it to crack! xx
That is a great idea ,you know you could do slightly thicker pieces of that sheet in different colors and put a hole in the chips, and turn them into a polymers chip bracelet, but the hole may have to be made after then before I suppose,its just an idea that I got,🌹🌺🌹🌺🌹🐝👍🌸🌼🌸🌼🌸🌼🐞🐱
Just love your videos! Loved the one about the questions re your new fiancee as well! You are a Pip! I look forward to watching more of your videos. Also like your Musings on HOP!
Hi! I’m watching your older crackle tutorial . I luv it. I had to say, Lol! I noticed your T-shirt with the federal prison NY on it. I live in Montour Falls NY, the western section right at the southern tip of the finger lake, Seneca Lake! Lol! It’s a small world! Luv your fun videos, keep em up! 😉👍😍🌹
I totally enjoy you doing your tutorials, your accent, your tee shirts, your techniques, your wee bloopers, and the way your hands move . Are you a musician too? I am excited to do this technique. Woopeee!
Had so much fun watching this! Very informative. I will actually be using this for a different purpose. I will be making a dragon skin effect and so I think that this is extremely close and super cool! Thank you so much for the idea. Definitely subscribed. Love your sense of humor. Big fan!
Interesting technique, I've done something similar with white or dark clay (and inks and metallic paint) but using both definitely adds some interest. I like the bright color inked ones :)
Great video. Interesting demo. I find these are better WITH the mistakes left in. More interesting and helpful, because I also find myself doing things in the 'wrong' order. So long as it works, who cares! Brilliant!
Ohhh, my dear, I'd love to have an afternoon of claying with you 😉 I think we'd have the giggles all day. You got me when you mentioned if it was entertaining or annoying 😂 🤣🤔🧐 That's my question every time I pick up a lump of clay. For me, it's hurry up and create! Hurry up and create - before my grandson makes his grand entrance 😁 Of course, we have to switch gears and create something else. I love love love this tutorial and your little giggles. Thank you for sharing with us ❤️
Thanks for the great video! I'm looking forward to experimenting with this technique! I've never used alcohol inks on baked clay before so that's another new thing to try out. thanks again!
House of Kraken Creations Try it first with a smallish piece and bake the white for the least amount of time possible. That's my advice after a lot of feedback. I have a nice (and much simpler to do) Batik video, if you want to play with inks a bit more. xx
Thank you! Top tips are bake the white sheet for as little time as possible (sometimes it just bends if it gets too strong) and practice on a small bit, like mine. People have tried whole sheets but I'd be overwhelmed with that. Good luck! Read through comments for more tips, or don't be afraid to ask me. :D xx
The only part of the instruction on Casablanca site I just posted here below is the actual Buesseler cut (football shape), not all the blending and tools, I already have all that. I need to practice on the actual cut right now. Thanks again so very much Valerie. Hopefully someone can help me out here!
Great! Just make sure the thin white sheet is baked to an absolute minimum, so that it cracks easily. Do a small amount at a time - huge sheets are too much to deal with. Good Luck and thanks for watching. xx
trying this today with a slight variation..so far no success baked pearl white clay for the top.... Tried it twice now with the baked piece not cracking lol. going to try with white for two min instead of the 5 i did with the pearl.
yeah im such an ideas maniac... am sure wed have a ball!.Sadly Australia is a bit far. I also wanted to let you know i have success!!! 2 minutes with curing the white worked,. im still wanting to try to make the pearl work tho... ah if only i had the time or energy to try a fraction of the stuff i dream up lol. will try to post you my finished stuff in the next week or two. all varnished up and drying right now. Am very pleased. I used some reactive tie dye powders and made washes since i had no alcohol inks. came out ok but not as vibrant as yours.Wish i didn't hate taking pictures even more than doing the dishes or id be doing that now despite the wet varnish and acrobatics id have to do to get the shots . Ty again for this tutorial, you rock:)
Buenas noches. He visto su vídeo pero no entiendo el idioma. Me podría indicar cómo se da rigidez a la placa blanca del craquelado, por favor? Se hornea?
Hi UH! Great video. Thank you for sharing. After baking for 5 minutes per your instructions, my clay won't crack. I've followed your instructions to the letter but can't get Fimo or Premo to crackle. I also tried leeching the clay overnight between paper thinking it wasn't dry enough but nothing works. Also tried baking for as long as 25 minutes. Both clays are flexible not brittle. What am I missing?
Sorry you've had a problem with this! Baking for the shortest time possible helps - if you bake it for longer it gets stronger. I know that's counter-intuitive but it's true, in the case of polymer clay. Some people have had success with just waving a heat gun over it - but do have all the windows open, if you try that. 5 mins worked for me but it seems that with all the different clays and ovens it might not always work. Keep the white really thin and only do a small amount - I wouldn't want to wrestle a whole sheet of it! Again, I'm sorry it won't play nice, especially as you have tried so hard! xx
Thank you for sharing that really interesting technique with the polymers. It's really effective... Could you please tell me what inks you used, as I found using my resin inks, even when baked on something I trialled recently remained sticky..thank you..
