Creative Paperclay®

Creative Paperclay® is an essential medium for miniatures, dollhouses and scale buildings. This lightweight blend of pure clay and paper fibers creates strong, durable miniatures when dried and sealed with paint or sealants. It is especially useful for achieving scale textures and finishes or molding into shapes. For uniform coloring, water based paints can be kneaded in before the clay is shaped. The clay can be molded when damp, or sanded when dry to create finished surfaces. If the project doesn't achieve the results you want, just wet the clay, place it in a sealed plastic bag and allow it to re-hydrate.

What is Paperclay?

Paperclay is a mixture of clay and paper pulp with the properties of fine clay. It shrinks slightly as it dries, allowing it to be used in molds. It releases easily from most materials and can be stamped with inks when wet, or dry. You can use it in thin sheets as texturing material for surfaces or landscaping or mold it into any shape you wish. Paperclay is used extensively by Artisan Rik Pierce for his unique scale buildings.

No Need to Fire or Cure

Paperclay does not need to be baked or cured. It air dries to a dense, lightweight material which resists breaking apart. Best used fresh from the bag, it can be kept for several months in a sealed plastic bag once the package is open. Dried clay can be re- hydrated for re use.

Using Paperclay

Sculpting with Paperclay is just like sculpting real clay. It is best to keep your objects fairly small, thick objects will take a long time to dry, and the core shrinkage may distort larger objects as they dry. This material is very easy to work using your fingers, or simple sculpting tools. Its fine texture makes it easy to sand or work to resemble a variety of materials. Use it over a base of dry florist's foam, GatorFoam ® board or other surfaces, to add strength. Unlike polymer clays, which must be baked before they can be sanded, Paperclay can be sanded when dry, allowing a finished surface to be worked until it is exactly what you want.

Clean Up and Storage

Cleanup with soap and water. Paperclay is biodegradable and non toxic. As Paperclay can be re-hydrated and kept from drying out by using damp towels and plastic wrap, the working time can be extended almost to infinity. After the clay has been rehydrated it has slightly different working characteristics, so it is best to do most of your work while the clay is fresh from the bag.

Projects With Paper Clay

Create a Faux Stone Foundation