Will polymer clay stain?

Hello everyone!

 

So I was thinking about making some accessories for my dolls with polymer clay, and I was wondering if baked and finished clay will stain? I want to make maybe some masks or some horns or ears or something but I don't want to ruin them. Obviously I wouldn't touch their faces or heads with the unbaked stuff, but I was just curious if when baked and painted over with a matte or gloss finish if it still has potential to stain the vinyl.

 

I have never tried this before, which is why I ask. I am just a little paranoid hahaha

 

Thank you very much!

Baked polymer clay shouldn't stain your doll, especially if it has a good finish on it. I'd go for it, personally the accessory possibilities are endless with clay! If you're really worried about staining, maybe put a few extra layers of finish on it to ensure no dye from the clay will transfer to your doll's body or clothes.

Best of luck!

Another thing to try. In the case of masks and such wearables. Once you have finished the item and added a protective coating, try lining it with a soft, white cloth to further protect your doll. Simple fabric glue or glue like Elmer's white or transparent glue should be enough to hold it in place.

Baked clay won't stain--I've had my dolls handle polymer clay food props for weeks at a time with no issues.

 

A different thing to watch out for, though:

 

If you're making something fairly fitted (like the mask example above), polymer clay DOES exhibit some shrinkage. It's not a huge amount, I think around 5%, but it's enough to screw up the fit of things after baking. You'll want to use a kind of aluminum foil base/last, not just as a barrier between the unbaked clay and the doll, but as a baking support to make sure the fit still stays okay.

 

A good example of this trick is how AkameruKawaii on YouTube does the snake hair for her Medusa Monster High custom: