Polymer Clay Push Molds Store by Mad About Molds

Text Box: HUNDREDS of molds are available in our STORE! CLICK HERE!

1. Each mold package has a place where you can add your own title, number & category for easy filing for reference and reordering.

2. Each mold comes in a small Ziploc bag ready for display.

3. We provide many one-of-a-kind molds that can not be found anywhere.

4. Each mold is leveled for easy filling.

5. New molds are introduced regularly.

6. We take custom mold requests when possible. If we can find it, or you can send it, we will make a mold out of it. Additional costs may apply.

7. All Molds are packaged safe and securely.

8. We offer molds on by special order.

9. Clay provides the highest quality images.

10…

QUALITY ASSURANCE

I make these molds individually one-by-one, each handmade mold is inspected by me and needs to meet my own high standard before shipping to you. My unique process insures a clean, smooth and uniform mold. The items that I choose to mold are based on minimal undercuts when being molded, insuring you a quality casted piece.

Photo Disclaimer: Unlike manufactured products, handmade items are not all exactly alike. This is what makes them unique. Although the mold will be the same one pictured, there may be slight variations to the edges. If you have any special requests concerning this, please email me and acceptable changes can be made. These are stock photos; molds are made as they are sold.

This website does not support Netscape browsers. Switching to Internet Explorer will allow you to view this site.

Welcome to Mad About Molds!

This page was created to teach you about how to use your clay molds.

There is so much information that can only be learned through experience, so this is the place to start learning the basics.

This is just too much information to be included in an eBay auction, so here’s the information to help you get started.

Marjorie at “Mad About Molds”

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Push Molds?

The term Push Molds, refers to molds by pressing softened clay into a mold, dozens of highly detailed impressions can be made in minutes. This simple process allows even novice crafters to create pieces that look like they took hours to make.

How do you keep clay castings from sticking to the mold?

Most molds will stick to the clay and can distort the design when you pull the clay free. Avoid this problem by using a mold release:

· Water: The simplest solution

· Talcum powder or cornstarch: brushes off the clay piece before or after baking.

· Metallic powders: do double duty as a mold release and a decorative effect.

Apply the mold release to your ball of clay before pushing it into the mold. If your clay still distorts when you pull it free of the mold, you can also try chilling the clay and mold for a few minutes before you separate them: this will make the clay firmer and help avoid distortion.

What causes clay to stick to the molds?

There are several factors that can cause clay to stick, including clay residue, too little mold release, too soft clay and warm temperatures, all of which are discussed below.

· Clay Residue—Molds can be cleaned with waterless hand cleaner or rubbing alcohol and a soft brush. Make sure the mold is thoroughly dry before using it again.

· Not enough mold release—It is hard to use too much cornstarch. Use a clean, soft brush to remove any excess powder from molds, or rinse them under running water and allow to air dry before baking. The water will dissolve the cornstarch but will not affect the clay.

· Soft Clay—Mushy or sticky clay can be leached to remove excess plasticizer before molding.

· Warm days—More problems with sticking occur on hot, humid days during the summer months. The simplest solution is to pop the filled mold into the freezer for a few minutes to make the clay firmer and more easily removed. Warm hands will also contribute to sticky clay.

How do you bake clay castings?

Always remove the clay from the molds before baking. Never put the molds themselves in the oven. Follow the clay manufacturer’s recommendations for baking.

What types of paints work well on baked polymer clay?

Acrylic paints are a good choice because they do not react with the clay. Textured molds hold the paint in the crevices allowing many painting techniques to try.

Do you have any storage or display tips for molds?

Although our stamps can be hung, here are some other storage tips for displaying your molds.

Keeping molds in order makes it much easier to select just the right one for each particular project. Select shadow boxes, drawers or trays that will hold one layer of molds. Place them by category in each storage unit and label the front in bold, easy to read letters. Here are some suggestions for storage units: pizza boxes, loaf cake pans, cookie sheets with sides, Rubbermaid type plastic trays or a metal tool chest or tackle box that has drawers. Some tool chests are stackable and it is also possible to find plastic trays that stock as your collections grows. Stick-on Velcro or magnets can also attach molds to a board for easy viewing. Some people also like to attach a picture of the molded object to the back side of the mold. Feel free to edit my pictures for this use "only."

Tips for Using Molds

__________________________________________________

As these molds are not flexible you will need to use some sort of mold release, when using clay to create your project. A simple release agent to use is "Talc Powder" or "Corn Starch". Be sure to brush off the powder before baking your casted piece.
        Once you've brushed the cavity of your mold w/powder (be careful not to overdo the powder and cover up the design) you are ready to make a casted piece. If you are using an oven baking clay such as Sculpey or Fimo, kneed the clay until soft and payable before pressing into the mold cavity. Using hardened clay and pressing too hard could cause mold to crack. Using a softened clay insures longevity of your mold.
        To get your casted piece out of the mold, there are a couple of techniques to use: One way is after you have filled your mold cavity with your desired clay, smooth flat, take a small amount of clay and roll into a ball, gently press to the flat side of your piece and gently pull out, being careful not to distort your casting, trim your piece where needed and bake your clay piece according to clay manufactures directions.
        Another technique is once you've dusted your mold w/powder, and pressed your clay into the cavity, Simply put your mold in the freezer, until your clay becomes somewhat hardened, shouldn't take too long, and out it pops! Ready to bake! Some people have told me that they bake their casted piece right in the mold in the oven. However, I have not tried this technique.         Once your finished piece has been baked and cooled, there are so many finishing techniques to be used to make your project complete, try using colored chalks, a light dusting of various colors adds such depth, you can also paint your piece with acrylic paints, or try using "Rub-n-Buffs". You may also seal your finished piece with a clay glaze. For more Clay techniques and Tips, such as using metallic powders etc., please visit your favorite clay websites. There are tons of great information on clay techniques out there.

*Remember - Any symmetrical mold can be decorative on both sides by casting two pieces and attaching the back flat sides together. Shown below…

REMOVING CLAY FROM MOLDS

Print screen button

HUNDREDS

of molds are available in our

STORE!

CLICK HERE!

JUST A FEW OF OUR MOLDS AVAILABLE BY CATEGORY!

ANIMALS

CABOCHONS

CABOCHON SETTINGS

FLOWERS & PLANTS

FUN STUFF

HEARTS

HOLIDAYS

New Years

Valentine’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day

Easter

Mother’s Day

Father’s Day

Birthday

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Christmas

MARINE & NAUTICAL

Sea Life

Shells

Anchors

MEMORIAL MOLDS

MISCELLANEOUS

Cameos

OCCUPATIONS

Nurses

Teachers

Moms

RELIGIOUS

Angels

Crosses

SCRAPBOOKING

SEASONS

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

SHAPES

WESTERN & SOUTHWESTERN

WINGS & FACES

HUNDREDS OF CLAY PUSH MOLDS TO CHOOSE FROM. We add new molds regularly!

Mad About Molds

There are several methods for pulling polymer clay from the mold. If the area is shallow, you can usually roll a corner of the clay back and peel the molded piece up.

Using a soft brush, dust the mold with cornstarch. Turn the mold over and tap it to remove the excess. Roll a smooth ball of clay smaller than the selected impression area.

Flatten the clay into the mold, filling it from the center out. Spread the clay to the edge of the impression, not beyond it.

Coax the clay back from the edges toward the center of the mold. The clay should roll up at the edge so that it can be lifted from the mold.

Deeper impressions need to be lifted straight up to prevent distortion. You can leave excess clay on the center back to use as a handle. Lift the clay by its handle, let it rest for about 10 minutes to firm up, then trim off the excess clay with a blade or scissors.

Using a soft brush,
dust the mold with cornstarch. Turn the mold over and tap it to remove the excess. Roll a pointed oval of clay smaller than the selected impression area.

Push the clay into the mold, filling it from the center out. Spread the clay to the edge of the impression, not beyond it. Some clay should extend above the mold.

Grasp the clay and pull straight up to remove. If the clay does not release easily, wiggle it. Use scissors or a sharp blade to trim off any excess clay.

Maureen Carlson from Wee Folk Creations fills the molds so that the backs are even with the surface of the mold. She takes a separate piece of the same clay (larger than the original piece) and forms it into a wedge shape with a flat bottom. She presses the wedge against the back of the filled mold. The wedge extends straight up, and the flat bottom is about 1/16" to 1/8" inside the edges of the impression area. The molded clay sticks to the wedge so that it can be lifted. Maureen then peels the wedge off the back This eliminates the need to trim the handle, as in the method above.

Using a soft brush,
dust the mold with cornstarch. Turn the mold over and tap it to remove the excess. If the mold has a deep area, form the clay into a sharply pointed teardrop.

Flatten the clay into the mold, filling it from the center out. Form a second piece of clay into a wedge. Press the flat bottom of the wedge against the clay in the mold.

To remove, first pull the wedge straight up to lift the molded clay. Then gently peel the wedge off the back of the molded piece.

After molding, use a soft, clean brush to remove any excess powder from the surface of the clay.