Mad About Molds: 2009

December 21, 2009

Happy Holidays & Thank You From Mad About Molds

Mad About Molds wishes you a magical holiday season and a very happy New Year.
We want to thank you for your business in 2009.
We truly value our loyal customers and appreciate your patronage!
Looking ahead to 2010, we are excited to offer ideas, new molds and amazing tips.
Our new molds will be announced very soon!
Happy Holidays and a Joyous New Year.
"When it comes to service we break the Mold"
Mad About Molds

December 10, 2009

Why molds are a great value! – December Issue of My Molds!

My Molds Newsletter

News that Inspires Imagination! – By MadAboutMolds.com

December Issue 2009

The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

Over 925 Clay Push Molds to Choose From Today!

When it comes to service, we break the mold!

See what our molds look like.

Home Gallery Instructions Subscribe Newsletter Archives Contact Us

In this issue:

● Why molds are a great value!

● This Month’s Featured Molds: Have you seen our new molds?

● This Month’s Article: Jewelry Making Using Precious Metal Clay.

Hello Crafter,

Bring the lush festive hues of the holidays into your life is EASY with our incredible molds! If you're looking for something to make a special memory this season, you've come to the right place. Be sure to check out our seasonal molds on our website. With cooler days ahead, now is the time to plan a special evening with friends sharing all kinds of creations together.

So sit back, and enjoy this newsletter to get you motivated and inspired to get started.

Happy Holidays!

Until next time,

Marjorie with Mad About Molds

Why molds are a great value!

In a tough economy, people look for ways to save money. Molds can be a great value to you, by allowing you to create a multitude of castings with just one mold. Also consider the many ways to use molds on our “Creative Ideas Page” to get the most out of your molds.

Here’s just a few reasons why molds are a great value.

· Save by making your own embellishments, instead of purchasing them new.

· Save by making an endless supply of castings for your favorite projects.

· Save by staying home, instead of going out for your entertainment and relaxation.

· Save by selling your creations, as an extra income for your family.

· Save by using many everyday items found around your house as molding tools.

· Save by creating personal gifts, instead of purchasing store bought.

Featured Molds:

Have you seen our NEW Molds!

We have so many of them,

it’s best to see them all here!

This Month’s Article:

Jewelry Making Using Precious Metal Clay (PMC)

In the 1990’s scientists in Japan developed a combination of binders and fine metal particles to create a material with the malleable properties of modeling clay, known as Precious Metal Clay (PMC). This product is now available to the jewelry making industry and to hobbyists as well.

PMC is also commonly known as ‘Silver Clay’ which, when heated, turns into pure silver. The binder in the material holds the silver particles together. When fired like normal modeling clay, the binder burns away, allowing the silver particles to bond and form a solid piece of pure silver. The beauty of Silver Clay is that it can be easily used at home with just a few specialist pieces of equipment, and can bring a whole new dimension to your jewelry making techniques.

Since its initial development, Silver Clay has undergone a transformation, making it easier than ever to use. Early examples of the clay needed to be fired at very high temperatures, requiring a kiln to complete the process. Modern metal clays are now capable of being fired in a common kitchen oven or even with a gas blowtorch. Although a kiln is not strictly necessary with modern materials, it is still a useful jewelry workshop item to have, as it enables the user to control the temperature of the firing accurately. Too high and the silver will melt into a blob. Two low and the binder will not burn off completely, leaving the final piece weak.

The early PMC suffered from one major drawback – shrinkage. Modern metal clays are now much more resistant to shrinking during the firing process, making them easier to manipulate into far more delicate and complex patterns. Acceptable levels of shrinkage for modern materials are between 10-15%, depending on the brand.

Metal clay can be thinned with water to make a paste that can be used to join elements, repair cracks and use as a surface texture. Because the clay is very dense, just stirring in additional water will not thin the mixture. The medium has to be mixed, rather like adding thinner to oil paint, with a palette knife. Once the required consistency has been reached, allow the mixture to ‘rest’ in an airtight container for a few hours before use.

Metal clay is perfect for developing texture in a piece, and this can be achieved by simply pressing the pattern into the surface of the clay. Patterned rollers, even leaves or lace can be used to achieve a delicate finish on the surface of the silver piece.

Firing temperatures for the clay are around 1500 degrees F, which is applicable for most types of metal clays. Firing time is around ten minutes, making the use of a small kiln the optimum choice for firing processes.

Once fired, the metal can be soldered, filed, sanded and polished like any other metal, but it is advisable to burnish the surface first to compact the surface structure. Once finished, the piece can be worn like any other piece of silver jewelry.

Silver clay is widely available from jewelry and craft suppliers, the two main brands being Precious Metal Clay (PMC) and Art Clay Silver. Gold clay is available, but its price is prohibitively expensive for novice users. The silver clay is a good starting point when exploring this versatile medium.

Questions? Contact us - Creative Ideas - Molding Tools

"When it comes to service, we break the mold

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Fun Links: Molding Accessories - Free Stuff - Creative Ideas - Gallery

November 28, 2009

Big Black Friday & Cool Cyber Monday Sale! – From Mad About Molds

My Molds Newsletter

The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

Home Gallery Instructions Subscribe Newsletter Archives Contact Us

Hello Crafters!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! We have something we must tell you about!

Don’t miss this! The First Annual “Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sale!”

We are offering “Free Shipping” on all orders of $30 or More!

From Friday, Nov. 27^th at 8AM to Monday, Nov. 30^th at 8PM.

FOUR DAYS ONLY!

Shop Now!

Marjorie with Mad about Molds!

SOME CONDITIONS APPLY:

In US Central Time. Please allow 1-3 Weeks Delivery. Standard Shipping in Domestic USA Only.

Questions? Contact us - Creative Ideas - Molding Tools

"When it comes to service, we break the mold

Fun Links: Molding Accessories - Free Stuff - Creative Ideas - Gallery

November 11, 2009

Get Ready for a BIG Sale! – November Issue of My Molds!

My Molds Newsletter

News that Inspires Imagination! – By MadAboutMolds.com

November Issue 2009

The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

Over 925 Clay Push Molds to Choose From Today!

When it comes to service, we break the mold!

See what our molds look like.

In this issue:

● Announcements

● This Month’s Featured Molds

● Firing Precious Metal Clay

Hello Crafter,

We hope this Fall has been full of fun for you! We love fun at Mad About Molds, so let’s get busy! With the Holidays fast approaching, there’s no time to spare. It’s time to have fun creating all kinds of goodies for those you love.

Have you seen our Gallery lately? Take a peek and you will get lots of ideas for those on your list this year. Just click on the “Gallery” link at the top menu of any page.

Have you thought about giving molds as gifts? What about those kids who have everything? They usually have lots of imagination as well. Getting them started with new hobbies is perfect for long days at home during Christmas break. Plus you can join the fun as well! Molds are something the whole family can enjoy together!

Until next time,

Marjorie with Mad About Molds

New Announcements:

1. Keep an eye out for our next email. We will be announcing a Great Sale!

You don't want to miss this! More details coming soon!

2. New Daily Dose of Inspiration Calendar!

We have made our Calendar available to the public! Here you will find a ton of Craft Quotes and Inspiration. It shows the US Holidays, Postal Holidays, and also the days we set aside for Vacations and Holidays so we can be with our families. Plus if you have Google, this calendar can be imbedded into your Google Calendar! It’s all HERE!

3. Would you like help promoting your website, blog or newsletter?

We are always interested in doing a link exchange with other people/crafters. If you are interested, please let us know where you placed a link to us, and we will do the same. No inappropriate pages please, and we prefer it to be a craft or art related page. Although if we feel our customers would be interested in your page, we will add it!

Announcements: (Recap from last month)

Have you seen our Movie Clips? Well now we have a new improved version of Steps 1-7 and how they can be completed in about 20 seconds per mold. This just shows how easy and fast our molds really are to use. See our Movie Clips Here

We also have NEW molding instructions with illustrations to show you how Step-by-Step! 10 Steps for using our molds with clay. This great technique will help you to make a perfectly flat backed mold, without distorting your casting when your remove it from the mold. These new instructions are so easy to understand and follow. See them here!

If you are an international customer we have made things a lot easier for you! As you may know it wasn’t possible for your shipping rate to be included in your order, well now that has all changed! So now when you place an order, your shipping rate will be included. We no longer will need to request the remaining amount from you after your order is processed. We hope you will be able to enjoy this and take advantage of this time-saving change.

Featured Molds:

Have you seen our Christmas Molds!

We have so many of them,

it’s best to see them all here!

This Month’s Article:

Firing Precious Metal Clay

One of the beauty’s of Precious Metal Clay is its ability to create small piece quickly, and rather using a kiln for just one piece, many designers prefer to use a hand torch to fire & start the sintering process.

Is the piece suitable for hand torch firing?

When deciding how to fire a piece consider its weight. Pieces weighing 25g or less are ideal of for torch firing, but also consider that your piece should be of a relatively even thickness for torch firing to work effectively. If your piece is of complex nature kiln firing is recommended to ensure even heat distribution.

Preparation before firing

Before starting to fire its worth considering the preparation of your working area. Make sure that you work in a well ventilated room, and that you have a dedicated area for soldering. Ensure that you have a heat proof surface i.e. soldering sheet, and then place a soldering block on top to work on. Plus consider you own safety with glasses, apron and tweezers and even protective gloves on hard to protect you whilst working.

Test firing

The first time you torch fire clay, practice on a small piece to watch how the clay reacts to the heat, and to practice the firing process.

Preparation of the clay

Before you fire ensure you are happy with the shape and detail of your piece and that the piece is complete dry, as excess moisture will turn into steam causing the clay to expand or crack. If your piece contains gemstone, shells, or even findings consider how this will react to direct heat.

Firing the PMC

Once ignited adjust the torch flame so the flame is around 6cm, and the blue inner flame is around 4cm. Hold the torch at 45 degree, about 5cm away from the piece using the outer flame first to warm and then bring closer to increase the heat, ensure you keep the torch moving keeping the flame on the piece.

First the binder will begin to smoke and then flame, burning away. The clay will be then exposed and begin to glow red/orange (at sintering temperature). At this point continue firing the piece for 2-4 minutes depending on its size, be careful not to over fire the piece –if the piece beings to look shiny (indicating the surface is starting to melt) then move the torch away to reduce the heat. Once heated the particles fuse together and form a solid dense metal, and PMC3 only shrinks around 6% of its original size. To complete the process let the piece cool down to room temperature. Once fired silver PMC 3 becomes fine i.e. 99.9% pure - and can be hallmarked as fine silver.

Did you know that we are on Facebook?

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Visit us here!

Questions? Contact us - Creative Ideas - Molding Tools

"When it comes to service, we break the mold

Fun Links: Molding Accessories - Free Stuff - Creative Ideas - Gallery

November 5, 2009

My Molds Newsletter

News the Inspires Imagination! – By www.MadAboutMolds.com

October Issue 2009

The Preferred Place for Clay Push Molds

Over 925 Clay Push Molds To Choose From Today!

When it comes to service, we break the mold!

See what our molds look like.

Home Gallery Instructions Subscribe Newsletter Archives Contact Us

In this issue:

● Announcements

●This Month’s Article: Facts About Polymer Clay Used by Artists.

●What's New at Mad about Molds?

●New Molds Just Listed!

Hello Crafter,

Happy Fall! I love this season of transition. Summers over and school’s back in session: the calm before the bustle of the holidays. It’s a great time to take a deep breath of fresh autumn air and prepare for things to come! Now that summer has come to an end, it is time to start switching gears and think about how we are going to plan for the rest of the year.

We have a lot to tell you about this month. From new molds to new instruction tools to use for your enjoyment. So sit back and enjoy this issue of My Molds.

Until next time,

Marjorie with Mad About Molds

Announcements:

As promised we started to expand our mold line. We are happy to tell you that we are getting closer to our goal of offering 1,000 molds for you to choose from. Below you will see 50 of our newest molds available. Or you can go to our What’s New page to see them all on one page.

So is that a great selection or what?! Enjoy!

See our Movie Clips Here!

We also have NEW molding instructions with illustrations to show you how Step-by-Step! 10 Steps for using our molds with clay. This great technique will help you to make a perfectly flat backed mold, without distorting your casting when your remove it from the mold. These new instructions are so easy to understand and follow. See them here!

What’s New at Mad About Molds:

You can purchase our NEW molds here!

This Month’s Article:

Facts about Polymer Clay Used by Artists

Polymer clay is a unifying and pliable polymer compound intended for crafters and artists. It is not considered real clay since clay is composed particles of silicate suspended in water. Polymer clay comes from particles of PVC or polyvinyl chloride suspended in a plasticizer. Although real clay and polymer clay are completely different things, polymer clay can be used like clay.

Originally, when these clays were first produced, they were soft prior to curing in low temperatures. Nowadays however, air dry polymer clays are now available. This makes it easier to mold these to one's personal liking. Afterwards, it can be hardened at high temperatures to fixate the design.

There are basic curing and conditioning steps to follow, so that the finished product will not break even in the changing conditions of weather, and in accidental falls. Curing can be done as often as one wants. And afterwards, it can be sanded lightly to smoothen out rough finishes.

The versatility of polymer clays makes it special. It is available in different colors. You can blend paints with this clay in order to make your own unique colors. You can also work out two or three different color-schemes without blending them. This is effective if you greatly prefer effects like marbling and cane working rather than the plain one-colored clay.

The ductility and pliability of polymer clay lets you use certain techniques for textile, architecture, sculpture and glasswork. The best thing about polymer clays is the fact that it does not dry out so people who use it won't have to worry for a time limit whenever they are doing some art forms such as sculptures.

Firing is the process which fuses the fine particles on polymer clay into a solid material. This process requires low heat. The heat must be low enough for you to use your home oven as a kiln. The sizing and colors are not changed during the process of firing. The clay gets hard and solid enough to make your art forms durable objects. There are several techniques to obtain the desired textures. Textures may range from stone-like to glasslike figures.

Polymer clays can be used in many ways. You can actually cover anything with it as long as it doesn't burn or melt during the firing process. You can cover wooden boxes, mirrors, table wares as well as picture frames with this type of clay. A popular application of polymer clay is in jewelries. This clay is used to make pendants, beads, neck pieces as well as bracelets. Buttons and miniature sculptures are also good options.

A number of clay artists developed techniques to give this clay other appearances such as amber, coral, granite, jade, ivory and turquoise. It is very flexible that it can be shaped any way you want.

Polymer clay is widely available nowadays due to its surging popularity. Obviously, there is lots of polymer clay in the market. Look in art supply stores, local craft stores and bead shops.

Questions? Contact us – Creative Ideas – Molding Tools

"When it comes to service, we break the mold!"

Fun Links: Molding Accessories – Free Stuff - Creative Ideas - Gallery