How to Use Transfer Paper on Polymer Clay

Pendant made from transfer paper on polymer clay. Copyright GeltDesigns. All rights reserved.

You can use a water slide decal or transfer paper to add pictures, photographs or graphic designs to your polymer clay jewelry or craft projects. This tutorial will explain how to use a water slide decal or transfer paper on polymer clay.

Things You'll Need

• water slide decal or transfer paper
• Premo or your choice polymer clay

Instructions

1. 

   Purchase or create your water slide decal and determine how you will incorporate the transfer paper into your jewelry design. Trim the water slide decal so that there is no excess paper.

2. 

   Condition your polymer clay. You will need to use white or very light colored polymer clay when using a water slide decal. Dark colors will hide the water slide decal.

3. 

   Prepare your work surface. Roll the polymer clay out until is the thickness you want for your project. Place the polymer clay on the clean work surface so that the polymer clay sits flat.

4. 

   Place the water slide decal in a bowl of room temperature water. Allow the transfer paper to sit in the water until the decal loosens and is able to slide off the paper backing.

5. 

   Remove the water slide decal from the water. Place the wet transfer paper on the polymer clay. Slide the paper off the decal.

6. 

   Use a paper towel to wick away the water from transfer paper. Pat the water slide decal with a paper dry until both the water slide decal and the polymer clay are both completely dry.

7. 

   Use your finger to burnish the transfer paper and remove all air from between the water slide decal and the polymer clay.

8. 

   Cut the polymer clay containing the transfer paper to the shape you desire. If the clay is not as thick as needed for your jewelry or craft project add additional layers of clay before you cut.

   Here placed two layers of custom blue clay behind the clay with the water slide decal and then we used a cookie cutter to cut a rectangle.

9. Bake the polymer clay containing the transfer paper at 275 degrees for one hour or according to the manufacturer's instructions. Be sure to let the polymer clay cool to room temperature before touching the water slide decal.

10. You can seal the design with Future floor wax or polymer glaze.

Resources

• GeltDesigns
• Tutorials by GeltDesigns
• More eHow tutorials
• Polymer Clay Tutorials