Translucent Liquid Sculpey (TLS)

Translucent Liquid Sculpey (TLS)
*Great for making image trasnfers!
*Can be mixed with paint!
*Bake extra thin for translucent paper glass effect
*And many more uses!

Image Transfer:

TLS is an effective medium for creating very thin, flexible, translucent transfer fro paper to clay using black and white or colored photocopy images (with toner) or color laser prints (not inkjet's). Black and white images can be hand colored with high quality colored pencils before transferring.

TRANSFER DIRECTIONS:
1. Spread a thin layer, even layers of TLS on a sheet of glass.
2. Place transfer image toner side down into the TLS.
3. Gently press the image into the TLS starting from the center of the image. This will remove any air pockets between the transfer and the TLS. Allow image to rest in TLS for five minutes before baking.
4. Bake glass with TLS and transfer paper at 130C (275F) for 15 minutes. Transfer can be baked at 149C (300F) which improves the color from glossy paper and the translucence (but it may be harder to peel).
5. Remove glass from oven, and while still hot, carefully peel paper from the TLS. To start peeling, use Sculpey Super Slicer or a craft knife to separate the paper and TLS. The TLS will still be adhered to the glass. Peel paper in a smooth and gentle motion; do not tear the paper.
6. Gently peel the TLS from the glass and lay on a smooth, flat surface to cool. The thin transfer is now ready to be applied to clay or other bakable surface using more TLS as an adhesive. The transfer can also be inserted into a clay frame to enhance its translucent qualities.
NOTE: It is best to photocopy the image into a paper with a very smooth surface and low cotton content, as the fibers in the paper make it more difficult to remove the paper from the TLS transfer after baking

Paint with it!

*Add color to TLS by using only non toxic oil paints(tube), dry pigments, mica pigment powders, concentrated inks, or concentrated liquid watercolors. Oil paints thin the TLS slightly; powders tend to thicken it slightly. Do not mix TLS with acrylic paints. The water in the paint evaporates during the baking leaving bubbles and a bumpy texture.
*Stir TLS with pigment in a polymer resistant container with a skewer or other mixing tools. Add pigment sparingly, as a very small amount tints the TLS quickly!

Uses for Tinted Translucent Liquid Sculpey:

*PAINT: Tinted TLS can be used as paint over raw or baked clay. Different colors can be stippled over a solid clay base and baked in stages to create a patina.
*IPRESSION GLAZING: Impressions can be made in raw polymer clay with texture sheets or rubber stamps, or in carved baked clay (use a linoleum cutter) and then filled with a contrasting color of TLS.
*MOSAIC: TLS can be used both to adhere polymer clay mosaic tiles to a polymer or other bakable base, and tinted TLS can be used as a grout after the tiles have been baked in place.
*Marbling: Use a brush or skewer to make lines or dots of different colors on baked polymer clay that has been coated with a thin coat of colored TLS. Take a pin or skewer and drag through the lines or dots to form a pattern. The same technique can be done with colored TLS directly on glass to create sheets of patterned clay.
*Enamel/Stained Glass: Tinted TLS can be used to imitate enamel or stained glass when contained within polymer clay borders and then baked. For an enamel look, bake over a polymer clay base, for stained glass bake on glass.

Adhesive Application:

*TLS has great adhesive properties for use with polymer clay, but only when baked. By itself it is not an adhesive. Only use a thin coat, too much will cause pieces to slide. TLS is best used to bond raw clay to raw clay, raw clay to baked clay, or baked clay to baked clay.
*TLS can be used to adhere lightweight polymer elements to mixed media surfaces such as paper mache, wood, glass, or metal.
*TLS can be used for extra security when embedding clasps, wore loops or other wire elements into raw clay.

Handling Translucent Sculpey

*TLS has a honey-like consistency. Over time it does thicken. To thin it, add a drop of Sculpey Clay Softener
*TLS can be stored in a metal, glass, wax coated paper cups, or flexible plastic containers.
*To clean up, use a paper towels and rubbing alcohol. Clean brushes with paint thinner and blot dry. Wash hands before and after using TLS.

Baking:

*Bake TLS at 130C (275F) for 15-20minutes. TLS can be baked at 149C (300F) to increase transparency and intensify image; however, this is not recommended when TLS is combined with solid clay.
*NOTE: TLS has more of an odor when baking than solid Sculpey clays. Although it is not toxic, you may want to use a dedicated, inexpensive roaster pan with lid to minimize odor.
*In thin layers, TLS bakes to a translucent finish. TLS can be applied to a very thin layers and re-baked after each layer. Solid clay items can be baked several times.

Finishing:

Thicker or multiple layers of TLS can be wet sanded and buffed to a very high shine. TLS can also be left matte or varnished with a polymer friendly product.