Cutter Use & Care
Using Its Made Of Clay Cutters
If you've ever cursed your cutters for pulling the clay up with it, you're not alone! Here are a few methods for making the perfect cut!Burnishing method
Burnish-huh? Basically a fancy way of saying roll the clay onto a tile so it sticks. And yes, you just use a basic plain white gloss tile (I picked mine up for $1.10 at Home Depot). White is excellent for a nice clean base, which allows for greater visibility, but you can use any colour that takes your fancy. The gloss is not really optional though. It makes for easy clay removal and cleaning is a breeze. Once you've rolled your clay onto the tile and it's gripped on, simply stamp with your cutter and pull away the surrounding clay. Voila! Bake away on the tile!
Cornflour method
Whip out that corn starch you use twice a year (when that sauce just won't thicken), pop a small amount in a bowl and you are ready to go. Simply dip the cutter in the cornflour so it has a light coating and stamp with your cutter. The cornflour will brush off after baking.
Cling wrap method
Cling wrap, Glad wrap, Saran wrap, plastic wrap, cling film … yep, that's the stuff. Place it over your rolled out clay and stamp with your cutter. Pull away the cling wrap and surrounding clay and not only will you have a perfectly cut piece of clay, but as an added bonus it will have a slightly domed edge.
What clay should I use?
It is highly recommended that you use a firmer clay, such as Sculpey Premo or Fimo Professional, when using Its Made Of Clay Cutters cutters. Softer clays, such as Sculpey III and no-brand clays, can be too soft to get a clean cut and can get stuck in the cutter. If you are making jewellery it is generally recommended to use a firmer clay such as Premo as it will not be brittle after baking like Sculpey III. You don't want your beautiful creations to break!
For more intricate cutters it may also help to put your clay in the fridge for 10 minutes once you've conditioned it to firm it up a little again.
Its Made Of Clay Cutter Care
Now, if you are someone who glosses over instructions, that’s cool (I'm guilty of that myself). These care instructions are important though, so pay attention if you want to keep those Its Made Of Clay babies in tip top shape:- Do not put them in the dishwasher. They will warp at around 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Wash in lukewarm water after use and let them air dry.
- Alternatively, you can clean them with a baby wipe.
- Keep away from heat.
While Its Made Of Clay cutters are hardy enough to withstand the necessary force needed to cut through your clay, please remember that these little guys aren't indestructible. All we're saying is, leave those incredible hulk muscles at the door!