Creating Embellished Polymer Clay Hearts Using Molds

Condition polymer clay, in the color(s) of your choice, by hand or by rolling it through a Poly-roller machine. Roll it into a ball shape until any cracks are removed and the clay is smooth. The ball should be approximately the size of a hard-boiled egg yolk.

Hold the clay ball between your hands in a V shape then roll your hands back and forth until a basic heart shape is formed. Use a sculpting tool and roll it over the top from one side to the other, creating a crease in the top of the heart. Flatten the front and back, then use the sculpting tool again to make the crease larger. Continue until the desired heart shape is formed.

Use your fingers to smooth out the humps in the heart to make it more natural looking.

Cut a 2-inch length of 20-gauge wire. Use a pair of pliers to form a small hook on one end. Hold the wire just above the hook with the pliers, then bend the wire over your thumb, creating a "shepherd's crook" shape. Trim any excess wire from the bottom of the crook shape.

Create a bail by pressing both ends of the wire into the top of the polymer clay heart. If needed, use your fingers to reshape the heart if it became disfigured from pressing the wire into the top.

Press a small ball of conditioned clay into a mold, then press the clay piece onto the heart as an embellishment. Continue adding molded embellishments to your clay heart as desired.

Tip:

• Use caution not to press the embellishments to hard to prevent distorting the mold design
• You do not need to use the entire mold to create embellished pieces. Use a small part of different molds to give your heart diverse embellishments
• If desired, use mica powder to give your embellishments a shine finish

Bake according to manufacturer's instructions. Let cool.