Molded by Me

It’s been awhile since my last blog post, mostly because the real world decided to encroach on my “ME” time!

Well wouldn’t you know as soon as I start getting into my polymer crafting groove real life strikes, typical.
Without getting into specifics, or boring you; I have a pretty demanding day job. I don’t have the typical 9 to 5. If I have still have projects to complete then I work way into the evening. Projects have deadlines, so I need to make sure they are completed on time. On the flip side, there are many times the work load is lighter so the day seems less stressful and then my nights are completely free. Sometimes when I am really lucky the afternoons are free too!!

This past week has NOT been the case. An over flowing work load, with work into the evening everyday! All the while my polymer clay sits and waits for me. I have chosen the right medium for crafting, I am reassured of this all the time. Polymer doesn’t dry out. I can start a project in polymer and stop, and then when I am ready I can resume! This is such a great feature of polymer. I never have to worry about a deadline with crafting, never have to worry the polymer will dry out, or loose it shape. There is no window of time I have to try to complete a project in.  The absolute opposite of my day job.

As the time ticked away each day and I had come to the conclusion I wouldn’t be able to work with my polymer yet again this week, I was able to snag a few minutes to search the net for a new way to bake my polymer creations. Polymer clay as they say is non-toxic and safe. However, if you burn your polymer while baking it gives off some nasty fumes, and during a normal bake the polymer can give off a residue that can stick to your oven. For this reason I never bake my polymer clay in my home oven, or use tools that I would use with food.

I have a standard toaster oven dedicated for baking clay. I noticed that the temperature is very erratic and since the elements are so close to my creations I would burn the occasional piece. Spending an hour working on something just to have it ruined during the baking process was enough for me to take some time to research a new option. Well, I found it! A Deni Convection Oven. Lord do I love Amazon and polymer crafters that review items there. Love this item (so far). The heating element is far from my pieces and since this is convection cooking the fan circulates the hot air around my creations. The Deni Oven so far is very accurate at keeping a constant temperature. I’ll keep you posted as I work with this oven some more.

I just love the Ood, who doesn’t? Really!?

A gentle, telepathic alien race that in my opinion should be seen more in future episodes of Doctor Who. 

As I love the Ood so much, they were one of my first polymer miniature creations.

I have been so jazzed about working with polymer clay, now that I create what I love - Doctor Who inspired mini’s of course. It doesn’t hurt that the little characters I create are a huge hit it my house either. I love showing off my little creations, in fact half the time my little guys are still hot from the oven when I squeal “Hey, come and check this out!”

Yes, my family would be biased about my work because A.) they are my family, and B.) they love Doctor Who too! So between the boost to my ego and the endless possibilities of what I can work on next I feel like I could go on and on forever - happily!

Last night I completed Rory Williams, one of my favorite characters. You’ll see as I go on with my creations everyone one seems to be my favorite.. I just can’t narrow the list down. There all so cute!

I’ve got to say what an awesome feeling it is to craft something that you absolutely enjoy! The hours go by so quickly and the work feels effortless. I say “feels” effortless, but every character presents it’s own challenges to create, but I love it!  I have tried my hand at countless other crafts for years and I have never gotten such a feeling of joy and accomplishment as I do when I create my little characters.

So, I say “Hello, Rory Williams!” ..now what can I make next….?

Create what you love and the inspiration just flows!

I bogged myself down with the thoughts that I had to create something gorgeous, artistic, original, something uniquely me. It was way too much pressure! The moment I let go of those thoughts and just reminded myself to have fun with my craft I was off and running, or sculpting as the case may be. Why was I putting myself under such strain? There are no rules with crafting, which I believe is the one and only rule.

I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan.. Don’t know what Doctor Who is? Well, it’s just about the best show on television. It’s got it all! Time travel, aliens, comedy, suspense, drama! Check it out!
What more could you want?

See how I could go on and on and on…. Well that is what I needed for my polymer crafts. The want to go on and never stop! So, like any smarty pants I mixed the my 2 loves. Any what you get is some really cute polymer miniature characters from the show.. and more to come!

These cuties are available at my Etsy Shop

I have been working away at creating Doctor Who miniatures for a bit now. My goal is to have every companion, time lord, and alien I can!

Still loving the fact that creating these little cuties is not a chore for me at all, I generally think about working on them all day! When work and home finally give me a break I head right to my polymer work station and get crafting.

I do not have a set plan on what order I make them in whether that be from the 10th or 11th Doctor’s series or well even before that. I make what I like and what pops in my head at that moment. I do have a little “wish” list that I review here and there and check off the ones I have completed.

And now, I check off one more!

Not exactly sure why I like the Sliurians so much but gosh darn it I just do!

The Silurians or Homo Reptilia living under earth for millions of years, waiting for the day when they can occupy the surface again..kinda tragic in a way…

So here is my polymer clay Siliurian, I put this one up on Etsy too for other Whovians to enjoy!

I have been baking my polymer clay pieces with my Deni for a about a week and I love it! I have found the perfect temp setting and…. drum roll please… not one burnt or suntanned face in the bunch! In the past with my toaster oven I would burn the occasional piece thanks to the awful temperature consistency, or sometimes my mini characters little faces, ears and hands would have a nice tan. (Which I do not want at all). Between this new convection oven and my special blend of polymer clay for skin tones I am such a happy gal right now!!!

Pictured is my New Deni Convection Oven (I love Amazon!) and another Doctor Who Miniature - the 10th Doctor - Need to paint on the eyes and then finish with the clear coat, but I was so happy I had to post now!

My other mini creations are up at my Etsy Shop.

I have made a few of the 10th Doctor miniatures in polymer clay.

This is my first using my Deni Convection Oven & my polymer skin tone blend together.

I wasn’t happy with the skin tone I was getting using Premo Sculpey or Super Sculpey at all. Premo Sculpey beige was too dark, but loved the consistency of the clay, and the ease of conditioning it. It also baked really nice, but too darn dark.The Super Sculpey holds any forms, or impressions you make in the clay really well, it conditions nicely, but I just didn’t like how goopy it felt the warmer it became while I worked with it. It bakes really nice too without darkening during the bake, but I just wasn’t over the top in love with it. I finally got the great idea to mix them together. I mix about 1/4 premo beige with 3/4 Super Sculpey and what I get is a great workable mix. Bakes great, the color is great, and well I just love it!!

I posted yesterday my unfinished Doctor, I needed to paint on the eyes and clear coat him. Done and I love it!

Even though I already have a 10th Doctor miniature for myself, this one is going to be really hard to part with if he sells on Etsy!

Here are the pictures. 1st is of the Doctor from last night unfinished and then the finished project. Today is a great day!

Doctor Seuss’ birthday is March 2nd. In honor of one of my beloved memories from childhood I created this Green Eggs & Ham charm to celebrate the day.

For those that follow my posts, yes they are mostly about Doctor Who, but this Doctor is high on my list as well!

So Happy Birthday Doctor Seuss! I will be wearing my charm proudly on the 2nd of March!

I have posted these at my Etsy Shop as well for any other Doctor Seuss Lovers out there!