2018 #12 Transfers: Transfers on Clay {by Alison Hall}

2018 Topic 12: Transfers

Hmmm I've been wondering if this was possible, and Alison now shows us how, not 1 but 3 ways! What wonderful results! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Alison/Craftytrog with you today, and I'd like to share with you some transfers I did onto oven-bake clay. When I decided to create a project for this challenge, I thought I'd check out YouTube to see if I could find a different sort of transfer technique. I found a few videos using clay which looked pretty cool, so thought I would give a couple of the techniques a try. For my projects, I've used both paper napkins and laser prints with Premo Polymer Clay.

The first technique I used was the paper napkin one. This involved separating the 3 layers of the napkin, and using the top layer, image face down on the clay. You just roll out your clay, gently burnish the tissue image onto the clay using your fingers, cut your required shape, then bake it with the tissue still in place, as directed on the clay packaging.

 

Placing cling film over the clay and tissue whilst cutting, gives smooth and rounded edges. Once cooked and cooled, pop the piece into water, then use your finger to rub away the tissue to reveal the image transferred onto the clay. 

I also used a few laser printouts on the clay, a black & white photo of my daughter, part of one of my own art pieces, and also a free background download by artist Carolyn Dube. This technique involves placing the image face down on the clay, then using cotton wool to dab it with rubbing alcohol. I used Isopropanol. You need to apply the alcohol a few times, leaving it to dry out in between. Carefully lift the image to check whether the image has transferred, and also be careful not to slide the image whilst dabbing on the alcohol. 

The black and white image didn't transfer well, but the others turned out pretty good.

I found both techniques fairly easy to do, although I put the napkin image on the wrong way up in my first attempt, which resulted in no image on the clay! Lol! That was rather disheartening, but I persevered and was pleased with my second attempt. The piece with the birds in the centre below, was made with a napkin image, onto a partial laser print transfer. I really like this double effect. After baking, you can also use alcohol pens to accentuate the colours of your clay transfers if you wish. 

I decided to make a few cards with my clay transfer pieces. I stamped backgrounds using images from PaperArtsy Ink & The Dog stamp sets

  Backgrounds Plate 5

 Letters Plate 5

 and also Urban Snapshots: Nature Plate 1

The Premo Clay is very light once baked, so it works very well on cards.

Making transfers onto the clay were fun techniques to do, and I would encourage you to give them a try. You could also use your clay pieces to decorate boxes and canvases. On one video I looked at, the artist rolled out her clay a bit thinner, and made book marks, which I think is a lovely idea. I look forward to seeing your clay projects for the Transfer Challenge.

Alison x

Blog: Craftytrog's Arty Adventures
Facebook: Alison Hall
Instagram: @craftytrog

To join our challenge and win a new Zinski apron:

Simply make something arty relevant to the topic, and link your creation from any social URL (eg. Instagram, Pinterest, Blog Post etc) sharing your original make to this challenge page.

The current topic link Topic 12: Transfers will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, 22nd July 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

NB you have 3 weeks for this challenge due to New Products being announced

All links go in the draw to win a PaperArtsy creative apron. Please make sure we can contact you as a prize winner - it helps if you share your contact info from the platform you opt to use.

Good Luck! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!