clay and bookmaking

[mgodby86]

hi everyone!

i was wondering if any of you could help me generate ideas. i have been dabbling in polymer clay over the past few weeks, and i really enjoy it. however, i started paging through some of my old book/journal making books and was inspired to try my hand at that again.

i need some ideas to incorporate clay things into the book. i'd be really interested to see some pictures if any of you have tried this. also, how realistic would it be to try and make book covers out of clay?

thanks!!

[WIPs]

Actual book covers?

I'm not too sure about that, but you could definitely make decorations out of clay and then glue them onto a book cover.

[thefloridagurl]

I have actually just done this. I made embellishements out of polymer clay (the air-drying kind, cause I had it laying aound).

I just rolled it out (pasta machine, empty bottle, kitchen roller, whatever you have laying around) and used some of my rubber stamps to stamp words and pictures into it. To protect the stamps you might wanna dabble them into either baby powder or, in my case, flour (maybe not the best idea, but hey - I am all about experimenting!). That protects the stamp from sticking to the clay.

You could probably even embed things into the clay, like marbles or pearls or something.

Let it dry (or bake, whatever clay you use), paint it the colour you want, and voilá - instant and personal embellishment.

Then you just glue it to the book, or card, or whatever, and you´re all set.

[Diane B.]

i need some ideas to incorporate clay things into the book. i'd be really interested to see some pictures if any of you have tried this.   also, how realistic would it be to try and make book covers out of clay?

There are actually many ways to use polymer clay for book covers, items on journal or scrapbook pages or cards, minibook pendants, and even as the pages themselves 
If you want to check out lessons and examples for some of those things, look on these pages at my site:
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/books.htm
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/cards.htm

Those pages deal mostly with "how to" use polymer clay for making those kinds of things.  If you're also interested in how to make the clay patterned or decorative (in a bajillion ways) to then use for the covers, doodads, etc., that info would mostly be covered on the particular technique or item page for each. To see what those all are, check out the Table of Contents page, (scroll down), then click on any of the page names from inside the alphabetical navigation bar to actually go there and get lessons, examples, etc. for whatever you're interested in:
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/contents.htm

HTH, and have fun!

(then post photos of anything you make over in the Polymer Clay boards!)



Diane B.

[mgodby86]

Hi Diane

Thanks again for all your help! The links you provided are JUST what I was looking for!

Actually I'm happy to say that after all the posting on this board I have a completed polymer clay project! I would love to post pictures but I can't find the USB that fits my camera...  so until then it will have to wait

[sarahspunda]

I was thinking you could do book covers either as large sheets of polymer clay glued onto the regular covers (like a composition book or something) OR make very thick polymer fronts and backs. Either pre-punch the holes or drill them after baking - then stitch up a book.  Just be careful to use a binding method that would be pretty loose because the polymer won't bend like a paper cover would (OK, it will bend, but then break!).  Hope that makes sense! 

Please post whatever you come up with - now I'm curious to try it out too!

Sarah