flower_tutorial

Basic "Cold Porcelain"
Miniature Flower Making Tutorial

Print - "Apple Blossom" by: Anne Jenkins

The print above will serve as an inspiration for our first try at
"Cold Porcelain" Miniature flower making.
Apple Blossoms are fairly simple structured flowers and will serve as a great example
for trying out some techniques to create miniature "Cold Porcelain" flowers.

What is Cold Porcelain?

Cold Porcelain is not actually a real porcelain clay.
It's name comes from the effect achieved with the finished product.
Porcelain is a clay body that requites a high fire temperature in a kiln to vitrify.

"Cold Porcelain" is a mixture of cornstarch, water, glue, glycerin and cold cream.
It is mixed up and heated on a stove until it forms a solid clay type ball.
It can be colored with acrylic paints or virtually any coloring medium.

It's best feature is that it air dries to a very hard porcelain like substance.
It also shrinks quite a bit, very much the same as porcelain does when it is fired in a kiln,
making it a very useful product for many applications.

Materials for Cold Porcelain Paste

3/4 cup of white glue
(any child's white school type glue)
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup of water
1 teaspoon of cold cream
(any thick moisturizer like Ponds, Curel, etc)
1 teaspoon of glycerin
(available at any drug store or pharmacy)

Making the Clay

Over a medium heat, add all ingredients in pan except the cornstarch
and mix together until it is smooth over medium heat.
Stir constantly for a few minutes. Slowly add cornstarch.
Continue stirring (this is important) until it forms a ball. Remove from heat.
Let it cool just a bit so you can handle it
and knead it with your hands.

The clay should be very smooth and soft.
It is important to Keep in it an airtight bag.
Wrapping the clay in cellophane and then putting it in a zip-loc bag will help to keep all air out.
If any air stays inside the bag, the clay will harden and be ruined.

When working with this clay you can use
extra cornstarch to keep it from sticking to your fingers or you can use
cold cream to moisten your fingers.

It is sort of like making bread dough when you are baking. When you are working with
bread dough sometimes you need to add more flour (cornstarch),
or you can oil your hands to keep the dough from sticking (cold cream).

Have Fun!
Once you mix up a batch of this cold porcelain clay
Click on the "Next" button to follow me to the next lesson!

This tutorial is for your personal use only.
NO portion of this tutorial may be
reprinted without permission,
copied for sale, or to be taught as your own.
Thank you for your cooperation
Enjoy!

Video Professor