Customizing Wedding Toppers: A Fimo Clay Guide

Wedding cake toppers are a special addition to the wedding cake for many couples. They can be a unique way to personalise your cake and make it truly one-of-a-kind. Fimo, a type of polymer clay, is a popular choice for creating these toppers as it offers a wide range of colours and can be baked to create long-lasting and unique cake decorations. With some simple steps and readily available supplies, you can create beautiful and impressive Fimo wedding cake toppers.

Choosing your materials

Fimo, a type of polymer clay, is a great material for making personalised wedding cake toppers. It is long-lasting, can withstand repeated baking, and is available in a wide range of colours at local art shops and online craft stores.

When choosing your materials, it is important to select a clay that is well-conditioned and soft. This will make it easier to shape and mould into your desired design. You will also need tools such as a rolling pin or pasta machine, a craft knife, a surface for sculpting, and cookie cutters (optional). If you want to add extra details or decorations to your topper, you may need items such as acrylic paints, glitter, varnish, and wire.

For the base of your topper, you can use foam board or cardstock, which can be purchased from craft stores. You will also need a pencil, scissors, hot glue, and any other decorations you want to add, such as fabric, ribbon, or sequins.

If you want to create a figurine topper, there are a few additional considerations. Sitting-down figures are generally easier to make, as you don't need to worry about as much internal support. Using a jam jar or mug as a base to sit your figure on can be helpful. Reinforcing the joints with pieces of cocktail sticks can add extra security. For clothing, you can roll out thin sheets of clay using a pasta machine and cut and shape them as needed.

Shaping your figures

First, ensure that you have a well-conditioned and soft Fimo clay to work with. You can use any scrap clay you have leftover for the main body. If you're new to shaping figures, a sitting-down figure is a great option as it requires less internal support. Using a jam jar or mug, create a base for your figure to sit on while you work. For a sitting figure, it's best to cut the legs straight across and the arms on the diagonal to achieve a smooth joint at the shoulder. You can then add half-ball shapes for the bust, adjusting the size according to your preference.

Now, it's time to clothe your figure. Roll out the clay for the clothing using a pasta machine or a rolling pin, aiming for a thin and even thickness. Cover the body, keeping the seams along the insides of the arms and legs, where they will be less visible. For the arms, add circles of skin-toned clay to match up with the hands later. You can also add skin-toned circles to the body before covering them with the clothing colour. Remember to keep the seams on the sides of the body, as the arms will likely cover them.

Once you're happy with the body and clothing, it's time to add the details. You can use a cocktail stick to reinforce joints, create stitching details, and shape facial features. For the face, simply make two holes with a cocktail stick and add a curve for the mouth. You can even add blush to the cheeks using real blusher powder. If you want to add hair, mix your desired colour and roll it into very thin tubes. Start at the front right and work your way around, adding extra curled bits for texture.

Finally, it's time to bake your figure. Place it on a glass jar or mug and bake it in the centre of the oven. The baking temperature and time will depend on the type of Fimo clay you are using. For Fimo Soft clay, bake at 100 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes. However, you may need to adjust the temperature and duration based on your oven's performance.

Reinforcing joints

When joining body parts together, use a piece of cocktail stick to reinforce the joint and provide extra security. Cut the legs of the figure straight across, while cutting the arms on the diagonal to facilitate a smooth joint at the shoulder.

For the arms, roll out black clay through a pasta machine on a thin setting. Cover the arms with the clay, keeping the seam on the inside of the arm, which will be less visible. Add circles of skin-toned clay to match up with the hands later.

For the body, add a circle of skin-toned clay and then cover it with the black clay, again keeping the seam down one side, which will likely be covered by the arm.

To attach the arms to the body, shape and bend them first and use a cocktail stick to place fold lines at the elbows. You can also add wire to the hands before attaching them to the arms, providing additional reinforcement.

When joining the legs to the body, cover them in skin-coloured clay first if you want to create the effect of ripped jeans. Then, cover the legs in a flat sheet of denim-coloured clay. Use a fine blade or scalpel to slash open the clay and reveal the flesh-coloured clay underneath. Bending the legs at the knee will create an even more pronounced opening.

Finally, when attaching the head, consider making it slightly smaller than needed so that once the hair is added, it will be more proportional to the body.

Adding clothes and accessories

Choosing the Right Clay

Before you begin, make sure you have enough Fimo clay in the colours you need. For clothing, you will likely want a variety of colours to reflect the style and personality of the couple. You can roll the clay with a pasta machine to get thin, even sheets that are easy to work with.

Creating Clothing Details

To create clothing details such as jeans, you can cover the legs of your figure with a flat sheet of denim-blue clay. Use a fine blade or scalpel to carefully cut slits in the clay to create the effect of rips in the jeans. You can also add pockets and stitching details using a cocktail stick.

If you want to add a jacket or hoodie, try copying the shape from a real hoodie and adding a hood onto the figure's upper body. For a more form-fitting look, you can roll the clay into thin sheets and cover the arms and body, keeping the seams on the inside of the arms and down one side of the body.

Accessories

You can also add accessories to your cake topper to make it even more personalised. For example, if the couple is known for their love of a particular shoe brand, you can create tiny shoes by forming the shoe shape from clay, adding a sole and tread using a cocktail stick, and creating laces from thin snakes of clay.

Another idea is to add wire into the hands of the figure so that they can hold small accessories, such as a miniature bottle. You can even print out tiny logos or images and attach them to the accessories once they are baked.

Hair and Facial Features

The hair can be created by rolling thin tubes of clay and using a clay extruder to ensure uniform thickness. Start at the front right and work your way around, adding extra curled bits for texture. For the face, use a cocktail stick to create two holes for eyes and a curve for the mouth. You can add colour to the cheeks using real blusher powder.

Baking your topper

Now that you have kneaded your clay until soft and pliable, rolled it out to your desired thickness, and cut out your shapes, it's time to bake your Fimo wedding topper.

Before you begin, ensure your clay is well-conditioned and soft. This will make it easier to work with and less likely to crack or break during the baking process. Leave your clay shapes out overnight to dry. This step is important as it helps to remove any excess moisture from the clay, which can affect the final product's texture and appearance.

When you're ready to bake, preheat your oven according to the package instructions. Different brands of polymer clay may have specific temperature requirements, so be sure to follow the manufacturer's guidelines. Generally, polymer clay bakes at a low temperature, typically around 100 degrees Celsius.

Place your cut-out shapes on a baking tray or sheet. If you're baking a figurine or a more intricate design, consider baking it on a glass jar or mug to help it retain its shape. You can also use a jam jar or a mug with straight sides to support your creation. Ensure your design is centred in the oven to ensure even baking.

The baking time will depend on the size and complexity of your topper. For smaller, simpler shapes, 30 minutes should be sufficient. However, for larger or more intricate pieces, you may need to bake for over an hour. Keep an eye on your topper, as you don't want it to burn or discolour. If you're unsure, it's better to err on the side of caution and bake for a shorter amount of time. You can always put it back in the oven if it needs a little longer.

Once your topper is done baking, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool completely before handling. This is an important step, as the clay will be soft and pliable straight out of the oven and could be damaged if handled too soon.

After your topper has cooled, you can begin the decoration process. Paint your topper with acrylic paints, add some glitter for a sparkly effect, or apply a varnish for a glossy finish. Get creative and use a combination of these decorative elements to make your topper truly unique.

Frequently asked questions