Recently, I got lost in the enchanted world of miniature Polymer clay cupcakes. Naturally, this inspired me to create my own sweet treats. With my early examples; I found that my frosting required tons of sculpting and it still didn’t look real. Very frustrating. This was the beginning of my quest! How could I make clay look more like real buttercream frosting?
The Quest; How can I mix polymer clay so that it had the consistency of buttercream frosting?
In my mind, I had two goals…
The first was that I needed to be able to pipe the clay easily, from a piping bag utilizing a decorating tip.
The second was that I needed to be able to make large batches, so I could “play” with the medium.
Ultimately, my goal was to make a rose out of clay using one of my Wilton Rose Tips. I have a video of this later in this blog post.
Mixing Was A Tricky Business
Initially my quest seem simple enough but, I soon found that it was going to be harder than I thought. The biggest problem was getting the consistency right so I could pipe the clay & bake it. I made lots of messes and discovered what NOT to do, so please follow the instructions exactly! After ruining countless bags of Sculpey Ultra Light clay, I’m happy to report that I was successful!
When choosing your decorating tips make sure they will be the correct size for your cupcake! I used the above tips for cupcakes that are (about) .5″ tall (measurement before decorating).
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12 Inch Disposable Decorating Bags https://amzn.to/2NJkjCc
Wilton Decorating Piping Tip set, 22 piece https://amzn.to/2ZJcU8q
Wilton 4 Pack Couplers (one coupler per color!) https://amzn.to/2ZJ4s98
This is the Clay!!! Don’t be tempted to use something else, it won’t work…I tried it!
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Sculpey Ultra Light Clay https://amzn.to/2ZGd94i
Sculpey Clay Softener https://amzn.to/2ZEQEN3
Sculpey Glass Glaze (local craft store) https://amzn.to/317rqLq
Sculpey Satin Glaze (local craft store) https://amzn.to/2V6aMIg
This project is so messy!! Please be sure to use gloves. In addition, the clay will stick to everything accept glass or ceramic. For this project, I recommend using a glass surface to work on such as We R Memory Keepers Precision Glass Cutting Mat.
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We R Memory Keepers Precision Glass Cutting Mat https://amzn.to/2HBB5iY
Let’s choose a color. Please, use only oil paints to mix into your clay…Acrylic paints will make the clay crack when you bake it.
These supplies have been carefully chosen for this project
It’s amazing how a tiny bit of color is all you need.
Follow these instructions! Mix in increments, thoroughly. This will help you avoid clumps of dry clay that will interrupt the “flow” of the frosting when you are piping it.
When to deviate from this recipe?
The only time you would need to add more softener is when you are using clay from a bag that has been opened for a while, or you live in a dry climate. After you have made a few batches you get a sense of whether you have the correct consistency or not.
Get your bag ready
Clip the tip of the bag
Place the inner coupler piece inside the bag
I like to use a clear glass to prop up the bag for filling
Cut a hole in the corner of the bag and squeeze the contents into your frosting bag.
Choose your tip, and use the coupler ring to secure it in place.
Move the contents toward the tip
After you tested your mixture, you are now ready to decorate your cupcakes. After you have decorated your cupcakes, bake the mixture according to the directions on the packaging. After I have baked them and, they have cooled, I like to seal them with the Sculpey’s Satin or Glass Glaze…be sure to add a touch of glitter.
See me create a frosting rose out of Sculpey Clay (If your internet is slow, let the video load first or just go to my YouTube Chanel To see the entire video!)
See the entire video at my Youtube Channel…HummingbirdTraveler
All of the products used in this post have been purchased with my own money. This is not a sponsored post.
I hope you liked this post and, I hope that it has inspired you to create!
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Have an AWESOME day, and remember…Magic is all around you!
Connie R Hansen
October 3, 2018 at 1:30 pmthis looks like fun!
Danell
May 10, 2019 at 4:27 pmThanks so much for the helpful info! Your tips on adjusting the “ingredients” should prove helpful since I live in a humid climate along the Ohio River. I am looking forward to making tiny cupcakes with lots of icing.
Jennifer Primeaux
May 18, 2019 at 3:53 pmThank you for your comment! Let me know if you have any questions.Have a wonderful day.
S Kamealoha
August 26, 2019 at 8:34 pmYour creations are absolutely beautiful!! How ever did you create your cupcake bottoms? They are incredibly realistic. Beautiful!
Jennifer Primeaux
August 26, 2019 at 11:15 pmThank you! For this post I sculpted them by hand, but later I found a small cupcake mold from Etsy.com that works really well.I haven’t checked recently to see if they are still available …happyKawaiisupllies (Etsy.com)