How to Make Your Own Cameos
- 1). Select two colors of polymer clay. Ivory is the traditional color used for the 'face' of the cameo, while the other color will serve as the background.
- 2). Dust the mold lightly with a paintbrush dipped in cornstarch to prevent the clay from sticking to it.
- 3). Roll out a small piece of the background clay slightly larger than the mold. Gently press the mold into the background clay to outline where it will be cut. Cut out the piece of background clay with the X-acto knife. Set aside.
- 4). Take a small ball of ivory clay and press it into the mold. Use the end of the paintbrush handle for precision. Go slowly and work carefully, capturing every detail of the mold. Add more clay as needed to fill the 'face' part of the mold.
- 5). Clean up the edge of the face design. Use the X-acto knife to carefully remove any clay that has spilled over the edge of the face part of the mold. Later, after removing the clay from the mold, the edge of the ivory face must be crisp and clean and the only time to ensure a clean edge is when it is still in the mold.
- 6). Leave the ivory clay in the mold and lay the piece of background clay on top of the ivory clay.
- 7). Tamp very gently, using less pressure as you move toward the center of the mold. Try not to make any depressions, but keep the clay uniform and level. Add any additional clay necessary to level it off.
- 8). Trim any overflow clay before curing or sand the edges after the cameo has come out of the oven.
- 9). Cure the cameo in an oven set at 230 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
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