All Things Metal Clay
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Here’s my attempt at the tear away technique. If you haven’t heard of the tear away technique, it’s a method of using polymer clay and a photocopy to create a low-relief texture plate.

Those of us who work with PMC are most familiar with Celie Fago’s use of the tear away technique. Her instructions for the method appears in two of her books, including the one on keum-boo. As Celie reminds us though, she did not invent the method. That credit goes to Gwen Gibson.

I did this (sample pictured) at our recent meeting of our local chapter of the PMC Guild, where Monica Sargeant taught us the method.

I had tried this one my own previously, and it was a complete failure. To help ensure our success, Monica brought some photocopies already prepared with copyright free art on Hammermill 32 weight glossy paper. She copied the art work using an old copier that she knew from experience worked.

You can see in the picture that mine is a partial success, the part where you see the black didn’t work out, the other half is great. In this picture, this is before the polymer clay has been baked.

Monica has generously given me permission to reprint her instructions here, those will come in a separate post. Here are the supplies you’ll need to gather:

Flat portable surface, small sheet of hard plastic or glass maybe about 4″x6″
Wax paper
White polymer clay, Sculpey III is preferred
Hammermill 32 weight glossy paper
Black and white image
Access to an old carbon based black and white copier, try Libraries, 7-11, Kinkos
Lamp

You can visit Monica’s site at DelilasDelightJewelry.

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