This is a 57 gram block of FIMO Leather Effect oven bake polymer clay.
FIMO Leather oven-hardening modelling clay can be shaped and worked in a similar way to FIMO soft. After hardening the clay looks and feels similar to leather, and you can feel the effect when you're kneading it. Unlike other oven-hardening types of FIMO, FIMO leather‑effect is hardened for 30 minutes at 130° C / 266° F. After hardening, thinly-rolled sheets are flexible and bendable and can be cut with scissors, punched or sewn. This clay is therefore ideal for making unique jewellery pieces such as earrings, necklaces or bracelets. FIMO leather-effect is also great for making wonderful leather effect decorations for your home.
Benefits of FIMO leather-effect at a glance
- You can shape or work FIMO leather-effect in any way you like, e.g. by embossing patterns or lettering.
- You can achieve the thickness you want for your FIMO sheet by rolling it out as appropriate.
- Leather effects vary: the more firmly you compress the modelling clay (e.g. by rolling it out), the smoother the leather effect you will create. If you pull the clay apart gently by hand after rolling it out, the leather effect will have more of a “raw” look.
- FIMO leather-effect (and FIMO in general) is what is known as self adhesive, i.e. when two pieces of FIMO are placed on top of each other, they will stick together. Pressing and smoothing the clay will strengthen the bonding. So you can lay two colours on top of each other, for instance, creating different colours on the front and back. FIMO will also stick to glasses and tins, making them easy to cover. (Individual FIMO decorations (e.g. little hearts, etc.) applied to items after hardening will not stick permanently)
- The FIMO leather-effect look is visible on both sides after hardening. This is particularly useful if you are creating earrings, handbag charms, etc.
- FIMO leather-effect is especially flexible and bendable after hardening. When FIMO leather-effect is rolled out thin, it can be punched, sewn (by hand or with a sewing machine) and cut into shapes with scissors.
What should I be aware of when working with unhardened FIMO leather-effect?
FIMO leather-effect can be worked in a similar way to FIMO soft, but it shrinks slightly once hardened. So if you need one of your creations to be a specific size, you should initially work with a slightly larger size. You can then cut it to your desired size (e.g. with scissors) after hardening.
How can I intensify the leather look effect?
If you pull the clay apart evenly in different directions after rolling out, the leather effect will become more obvious. The further you pull the clay apart, the more obvious the leather effect will be.
Can colours be combined with each other?
Colours can be combined with each other. Twisting them together gently will create a beautiful marbling effects, for instance. It’s also possible to create patterns and colour blends.
Kneading your chosen colours together thoroughly will create a new solid colour.
Can FIMO leather-effect be combined with other oven-hardening types of FIMO (e.g. FIMO soft)?
FIMO leather-effect can be combined with FIMO soft, for instance.
But its important to note that the more FIMO soft you add to the mix, the less pronounced the leather effect, and flexibility of your hardened pieces, will be.
When positioning pieces, the clay should be firmly bonded to avoid any slight loosening (even after hardening).
This can make the colour somewhat lighter and reduce the leather effect slightly. The more FIMO Mix Quick you add, the greater the impact will be.
Hardening process for FIMO leather‑effect
How do I harden FIMO leather‑effect?
Preheat the oven to 130°C / 266 °F (upper and lower heat). Once it is up to temperature, place your pieces in the oven and harden them for 30 minutes.
Since every oven is different, we recommend you use an oven thermometer to make sure nothing burns and your pieces don’t take on any undesirable colour. It’s important to control the temperature during hardening and ensure that you do not exceed the recommended temperature or baking time.
(FIMO should not be hardened in the microwave.)
How should I harden pieces that have a combination of FIMO leather-effect and other types of oven-hardening FIMO?
Combinations can be hardened at 130°C / 266 °F.
Can FIMO leather-effect be hardened with convection heat, or on several baking sheets at once?
To achieve optimal hardening of FIMO leather-effect, you should use only one baking sheet in the oven at a time. Pieces should be hardened for 30 minutes at 130°C / 266 °F on upper and lower heat.
Can FIMO pieces that have already been hardened be put back into the oven?
We recommend that FIMO leather‑effect is hardened once only under the conditions set out above.