Sprig Collection

Back in December 2024, I started working on a new accessories collection to launch in February/March this year. It uses one of my gelli prints (see detail above) as the imagery. I love the colour combinations in the print and wanted to combine them with a warm brown tone to create the first colour scheme of the new collection. I experimented with colour mixing, laying shades next to baked samples of the pattern until I was happy with the results. I try to remember to record the recipes, otherwise it’s difficult to recreate the same shades if I want to make them again in future.

A page from my clay recipe book

I’ve been playing about with image transfers on polymer clay for a while and I’ve finally got the process refined. I used this technique to apply the gelli print image, and two alternative colour schemes which I created in Photoshop, on to sheets of polymer clay, adding plain accent colours to complete the surface design. It’s a bit time consuming because you can’t touch the surface of the image transfer when the clay is raw, as this will cause the pattern will smudge. Once the clay combinations were laid, I cut out as many shapes as possible and baked them. They’re left to cool before the edges are all sanded and the backs are added. Then they’re baked again. After this second bake, I can drill any bead or earring components and assemble the pieces as required.

If you’re interested in learning how to use image transfers on polymer clay, please get in touch. It’s not a workshop I offer at the moment, but it certainly could be!