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1. What is polymer clay? Return

   Polymer clay is a manufactured "clay" that was originally developed in Germany in 1930.  The "clay" is made from polyvinyl chloride, or PVC.  Some of you may recognize this as the plumbing in your homes.  PVC is mixed with a plasticizer and colors are created by simply adding a color pigment.  Polymer "clay" can be found in a wide variety of colors including translucent, granite textures and neon-day-glow colors.

   After forming the "clay" you can bake it in any standard home oven at a low temperature, usually around 275º F, although this may vary by brand.  The length of baking time depends on the thickness and/or shape of the design created.   When baked, polymer "clay" does not shrink or fade in color.

   After the curing process, you can do many things with the creation, including drilling, sanding, painting and polishing.

   Properly stored, unbaked polymer clay has a very long shelf-life of upwards to two years. The shelf-life can be prolonged by storing in the refrigerator or freezer.

    

2. Where can I get polymer clay? Return

   Just about any craft store, like Michaels, will carry a selection of polymer clay and accessories.  Occasionally you may be able to find polymer clay at discount stores like Wal-Mart.  The internet is also a great source for polymer clay accessories, although, if you read the About Us page on this site, you'll know that finding all the clay accessories you need can be difficult to say the least.  That's why I've dedicated this site to making the lives of polymer clay artists a little easier by creating a one-stop shopping spot for all of their clay and accessory needs.  So while your here, please check out our large selection of products and please feel free to let me know if there's anything you can't find here or elsewhere.

    

3. What can I do with polymer clay? Return

   Polymer clay has an almost infinite number of uses.  It's great for creating pendants, lamp shades and other home decor, beads, jewelry, pens, faux stones, jewelry and trinket boxes, vases, candle holders, sculptures, pictures and picture frames, figurines, dolls, miniature furniture, and my favorite, miniature villages.  It's also great for using with other materials like embossing powders, glitter, metal, and any other product that can tolerate temperatures up to 275º F.  There are several websites dedicated to the use of polymer clay.  We also carry a broad selection of books here.  Polymer clay should NOT be used for any product that will come into contact with food, or small children. (Small  children like to put things in their mouths.)  Cured objects can be sanded, drilled, buffed, painted, glazed, etc.  The possibilities are limitless...just use your imagination!

    

4. What tools do I need? Return

   First and foremost, you must have access to an oven.  You can use your kitchen oven, or a toaster oven.  Kitchen ovens are great for the occasional crafter, although if you bake clay frequently, I'd suggest getting a toaster oven.  This makes it much easier to work on your crafts in a more convenient area, or away from high traffic areas of your home.

   Second, I must say, for the sake of being completely honest, that it's quite possible to create things with polymer clay using no tools at all, other than an oven.  While tools do make most projects a lot easier, and quicker, many things can be created simply using your hands.  I, personally, am a tool junky.  If they make it, I want it, but my suggestion is to work in the manner that suits you best. 

   However, since this question is about tools, I will run down a list of the most common tools used with polymer clay:

   • As I mentioned above, you absolutely must have access to an oven.  Based on how often you work with polymer clay you may want to stick with your kitchen oven (never bake clay on pans you use for food preparation), or you may find that you'd be better off purchasing an inexpensive toaster oven dedicated solely to polymer clay baking.

   • My number one, can't live without tool...the pasta machine.  I injured my hand a couple years ago, which required surgery, so the pasta machine has become irreplaceable to me.  It's great for conditioning the clay, which saves my hand from a lot of stress and pain.  On top of replacing your hands for conditioning, it's perfect for creating thin sheets with an even thickness.  Most come with either seven or nine thickness settings.  Also, make sure you get one that can be mounted to your table or desk, otherwise you'll be struggling the entire time you use it.

   • While we're on the topic of tools used for conditioning, I'll go ahead and cover the food processor.  These seem to be gaining popularity among polymer clay artists, although I have to admit, it's not one of my favorites.  You can find these fairly cheap at Wal-Mart or K-Mart, and we also carry them here.  Just make sure you dedicate your food processor to polymer clay.  Do NOT use the same food processor for food.  When using a food processor you should add a couple drops of mineral oil to make the pasta machine work smoothly.  Otherwise, you risk burning up the motor.

   • Brayers or acrylic rollers are another tool similar to the pasta machine.  Although they aren't good for conditioning the clay, they're great for flattening the clay if you don't have a pasta machine or desire a thicker sheet of clay than what the pasta machine produces.  These are also great for reducing square canes...just make sure you work your way out from the middle of the cane to minimize picture distortion.

   • Next in line of importance is a work surface.  The easiest and cheapest way to find a glass work surface is to purchase a $9.00 cutting board at Wal-Mart, although we do carry them here as well.  Just make sure when purchasing that the back side is smooth (the "top" is usually rough textured).  If you have a glass table you don't mind using as a work surface, those work great as well.  Also, I've heard of some people using tiles as work surfaces.  These are great because you can work on the tile and then simply put the entire piece into the oven for baking.  This eliminates the stress put on your clay pieces by moving.  Just be careful when choosing tiles.  I had a bad experience with a tile that apparently had been treated or coated with some sort of finishing material.  When I baked my piece on the tile it distorted the color of the clay and my work was destroyed.  Again, I would recommend dedicating this piece solely to polymer clay work and avoid using in food preparation.

   • If you create canes, you really should have a tissue blade.  They're longer and thinner, which is better for slicing canes, than craft knives or x-acto knives.  This lessens distortion of the cane design.  They're also flexible which means you can cut with a curve.  If you need to slice flat sheets in straight lines the tissue blade is great for that as well.

   • A clay gun is another great tool, especially if you make a lot of figurines, dolls or ornaments.  They make uniform shapes that you can use to create hair for dolls, or even trim a christmas-tree-shaped ornament, or whatever idea you imagine.  These can usually be found at Michael's and we also have a couple types here.  We also carry a few clay gun accessories, which makes the extrusion process easier, since the standard clay gun can be hard on your hands.  Just make sure your clay is well-conditioned and very warm when you put it into the clay gun.  This also reduces stress on the hands.

   • You'll also need a pan for baking.  You can use one dedicated to polymer clay, or use disposable pans.  My personal preference are glass cake/casserole pans.  If you're baking flat pieces you should cover the pan with parchment paper, or freezer paper (wax side up).

   • Piercing tools are mandatory if you make a lot of beads.  Some people prefer the actual tool, although you can also use toothpicks or quilting needles.

   • Another great tool for those bead fanatics is the bead baking rack.  It's great for baking beads without creating spots from baking them directly on the pan.  A homemade version of the bead baking rack that I came up with (out of my frustration in finding a bead baking rack) is a disposable pie pan, my piercing tool and toothpicks.  I used the piercing tool to poke holes into the disposable pie pan.  I then placed toothpicks in the holes and placed my beads on top of the toothpicks.  This prevents the spots that form during baking directly on the pan.

   • Rulers are great for creating beads or pendants of equal size and/or thickness.  They can be used to make marks on the clay which can serve as a guideline for slicing.

   • Templates are another great tool for creating consistently sized beads.

   • X-Acto Knives are great for trimming and cutting shapes.

   • Shape cutters and cookie cutters are also great tools to have for obvious reasons.

   • You may also need paint brushes either for use in smoothing the clay or in painting the baked product.

    

5. Is polymer clay safe? Return

   Although polymer clay is a non-toxic product, it is highly recommended that you do not use any of the same tools for food preparation.  If you work on your clay in an area that may come into contact with food, make sure you clean the area thoroughly before using in preparing food.  Working with polymer clay with leave a "film" on your hands and the tools used, which can be resistant to soaps.  I usually rinse my hands in alcohol and follow-up with soap and lotion to prevent dry skin.  Alcohol is also great for cleaning your tools.  I usually just wet a paper towel with alcohol, but alcohol wipes and "Wet-Ones" also do the job.  Make sure you clean your hands thoroughly before eating or touching food.

   When polymer clay is baked at the correct temperature, there is no hazard.  However, extended inhalation of the fumes should be avoided.  If polymer clay is burned, you should immediately ventilate the area.  When burned, polymer clay produces gas that is irritating to your eyes and lungs.  It's recommended that you avoid the area until all fumes are gone.  Make sure you remove your pets and small children from areas that contain fumes.  You should also thoroughly clean your oven before using again. 

    

6. What is the difference between different brands of clay? Return

   Polymer clay usually bakes between 260ºF and 275ºF.  It varies by brand and type (glow-in-the-dark and fluorescent clays usually bake at a lower temperature).  Always be sure to read the label since the temperature can vary between brand and type.  Also, it's highly recommended that you use an oven thermometer, since most ovens are off by 25-50ºF.  Thicker items bake longer than thinner items.  Most clay brands recommend 15 minutes for every 1/4".  If you're not sure how long to bake, just remember that longer is always better.  Polymer clay strengthens for up to two hours, and since the clay is waterless, it can be baked over 24 hours without damaging the clay, assuming the temperature is correct.  If the oven is too hot you risk burning the clay or losing color.  As far as comparing other variances between brands, the best info I've found so far is located at Polymer Clay Central.

    

7. How is the clay prepared for use? Return

   There are several ways to prepare the clay for use.  The simplest is to just begin working the clay with your hands.  However, I've heard of many different ways of warming the clay.  For example, some people carry a pack of clay around in their pocket to use body warmth to soften the clay.  Others may use the lowest setting on a heating pad, or simply floating the clay (in a Ziploc bag) in warm water.  Then the use of the tools I mentioned above come into play.  Many people use the food processor to warm the clay, which also conditions it (see "How do I use a food processor to condition the clay?" for details).  I personally prefer to warm the clay by simply playing with it.  After warming the clay it needs to be kneaded for conditioning.  Another option is to run the clay through a pasta machine until well-conditioned.

   You should always wash your hands before handling polymer clay, especially when changing colors.  Unless you use a food processor, the clay should always be kneaded by hand until fully conditioned.  You'll know the clay is fully conditioned when it stops crumbling.  Kneading is a simple process, you really just have to play with the clay.  It eventually warms up and you can roll it into a log, fold and repeat, until the clay is completely pliable.    Alternatively, once the clay is soft enough to form logs, you may choose to use a pasta machine to condition the clay.  Just start with the thickest setting on the pasta machine.  Use your hands or a brayer or acrylic roller to flatten the log and then run through the pasta machine.  Simply fold the clay and run through the pasta machine again, repeating until the clay becomes softer.  About 10-15 passes should condition the clay for use.  This also keeps the clay from being unstable and brittle once it has been cured.  If the clay isn't conditioned properly before use, the baked product may crack or have a porous look to it.  You can also use this process to combine colors to create your own.

   Sculpey Moldmaker and MixQuick are softening mediums developed by Sculpey and FIMO, respectively, to make the clay easier to work.  Combining one part softening medium to five parts clay is a good guideline rule.  You may also use a bit of petroleum jelly.  However, Sculpey is a much softer clay than FIMO, but it also requires proper conditioning.

    

8. How do I make beads? Return

   Beads are one of my favorite things to make.  The simplest bead is made by taking a piece of conditioned clay and lightly roll it between the palms of your hands until it becomes a round ball.  Alternatively, you can use a bead roller, which enables you to make many differently shaped beads. Once you have your bead formed, use a piercing tool to pierce the bead.  Just barely push the piercing tool through to the other side, just enough to break the surface.  Then pierce the bead again from that side to complete the hole. 

   Marbled beads can be made by combining 2-3 complimentary colors.  You can blend them by hand or with a pasta machine.  Once you've reached the marbleized affect that pleases you, form the clay into a bead and follow the instructions above to pierce and bake the bead.

   In order to ensure that all your beads are equally sized, you should use a template.  However, instead of using the template, you can also roll out a snake of clay and then using a ruler, measure out equal lengths of clay for each bead.

   To learn about the best ways to bake your beads check out "What kind of tools do I need?"  For other types of beads, please check out our Tutorials section.
   
    

9. How can I adhere clay to glass? Return

   Some polymer clay artists will bake the clay onto the glass piece, then remove it and glue it.  My personal preference is simply coating the glass with Translucent Liquid Sculpey (TLS) and then apply the cane slices or clay pieces on top of the TLS.  This ensures that the entire surface of the clay comes into contact with the clay which gives it a better hold.  However, the only glass I apply clay to tends to be vases and candle holders.  If you're doing something like applying clay to glass balls or glass eggs, for instance, you may want to follow the baking and then gluing technique.  My suggestion is to use "Goop" or "Zap-A-Gap" after the clay and glass have both cooled completely.

    

10. How is the clay cured? Return

    Polymer clay usually bakes between 260ºF and 275ºF.  It varies by brand and type (glow-in-the-dark and fluorescent clays usually bake at a lower temperature).  Always be sure to read the label since the temperature can vary between brand and type.  Also, it's highly recommended that you use an oven thermometer, since most ovens are off by 25-50ºF.  Thicker items baker longer than thinner items.  Most clay brands recommend 15 minutes for every 1/4".  If you're not sure how long to bake, just remember that longer is always better.  Polymer clay strengthens for up to two hours, and since the clay is waterless, it can be baked over 24 hours without damaging the clay, assuming the temperature is correct.  If the oven is too hot you risk burning the clay or losing color.

     

11. What kind of finishes are there? Return

    There are many different ways to finish your baked polymer clay.  Check out our Tutorials to learn how you can sand and buff baked polymer clay to get a nice shine.  You may also want to apply an acrylic lacquer, which you can find here.  Sculpey and FIMO both offer paintable acrylic lacquers in glossy and satin finishes.  We also carry a selection of acrylic spray lacquers.  I've also heard of some people using polymer floor wax to create a shine on their polymer clay projects.

     

12. How should the clay be stored? Return

    Clay should always be stored in containers made of materials that will not interact with the plasticizers in the clay.  Glass or metal containers tend to work best, although they also tend to be more expensive.  I've used plastic storage containers for storing my packaged clay.  Any clay that has been opened I first place into a sandwich bag.  As for caness, I first wrap them with wax paper, then place them in a sandwich bag.  This helps prevent distortion of the cane.  Make sure you always keep the storage containers away from heat and direct sunlight.  This could essentially bake the clay over time.  It's best to keep the containers in a cool place, such as a basement, or in the refrigerator or freezer.

     

13. What type of things can I make with polymer clay? Return

    Polymer clay has an almost infinite number of uses.  It's great for creating pendants, beads, earrings, necklaces, pins, barrettes, bracelets, anklets, pens, faux stones, jewelry and trinket boxes, vases, candle holders, light plate switch covers, sculptures, pictures and picture frames, figurines, dolls, miniature furniture, and my favorite, miniature villages.  You can also cover vases, glass balls, picture frames or anything else that can withstand baking temperatures up to 275º F.  It's also great for using with other materials like embossing powders, glitter, metal, and any other product that can tolerate temperatures up to 275º F.  Polymer clay should NOT be used for any product that will come into contact with food, or small children. (Small  children like to put things in their mouths.)  You'll never find yourself short of ideas, and there are plenty of instructional books to be found.

     

14. What are canes? Return

    Canes are created by using multiple colors of clay to form designs within the cane.  The best way I can come up with to explain a cane is by using a poker chip as an example.  Let's assume the poker chip has an identical design on both sides.  If you place ten poker chips together to create a log this would be the "cane."  The design on the poker chip runs all the way through the cane.  You can slice it anywhere throughout the log, and see the same design.  The designs are created by making small logs of clay at a time, and placing them together to create a larger picture.  Once your picture is complete, you have a thick log, which you have to carefully press and stretch.  Doing this from the center out is usually the way to get the least picture distortion.  It also helps to eliminate any air pockets that may be trapped in the cane.  Once the cane is fully compressed you may reduce the picture side by lengthening it, also working from the center out.  Check out our Tutorials section for instructions on reducing canes.

     

15. Can adhesives be used with polymer clay? Return

    Since polymer clay contains plasticizers it can be difficult to glue.  Polymer clay sticks best to polymer clay, however, some glues will withstand for a period of time, but eventually all of them will release their hold.  The best glues to try are "E4000," "Goop," or "Zap-A-Gap," although they will eventually lose their grip as well.

    The best way to attach jewelry findings to clay is to bake them into the clay.  When doing this you should create a hook or bend in the wire because straight wire will simply slip out of the clay eventually.  I also like to reinforce this by using Translucent Liquid Sculpey, which can act as a "glue" but when baked is actually a polymer clay.

     

16. What type of jewelry findings should I use? Return

    Any jewelry findings that you use with any other beading or jewelry making works well with polymer clay.  You may need various beading tools when creating jewelry, which can all be found here.

     

17. What kind of molds can I use? Return

    Several companies make molds especially for polymer clay, the more popular two being AMACO and Sculpey.  However, you can make your own molds from any small item around your house.  I've made molds from figurines and dolls, but the possibilities are almost limitless.  Sculpey Moldmaker is an awesome product for creating your own molds.  After baking they remain flexible which makes them a lot easier to work with than if you used regular clay to make the mold.  You should use cornstarch or talcum powder to prevent the clay or Sculpey Moldmaker from sticking.  Simply brush the powder or cornstarch on the surface of the item you want to mold, and I'd suggest brushing it on the surface of the clay as well.  Depending on what you're creating a mold of you may be able to bake the object along with the clay, or very carefully remove the clay from the object and bake.  You should always allow the mold to cool completely before using it.  Also, when using the new mold, you should use the talcum powder or cornstarch again.

     

18. How can I use powders with polymer clay? Return

    There are several different types of powders you can use with polymer clay, including blush, eye-shadow, chalk, spices, and brand name embossing powders like PearlEx and Eberhard Faber Powders.  They  can be used with polymer clay in a few different ways.  You can use powders with cured and uncured clay.  You may either mix the powder in with the clay for various affects, or brush or sprinkle the powder onto the surface of an object.  Just be careful to not inhale any powder products, since they can be very dangerous.  After the clay has been cured you can attain different results by sanding the object.  You should always use an acrylic lacquer or some other form of sealant to keep the powder affect from wearing off the finished product.  Look for Tutorials on using powders with clay.

     

19. How do I use a food processor to condition my clay? Return

    Food processors are a great way to soften and condition polymer clay.  Just make sure that you use a food processor that is dedicated solely to this use, and never used for food preparation.  To use the food processor, cut a 2 oz. block of clay into twelve squares  Then pulse the food processor until the clay quits clumping.  Then run the food processor for about thirty seconds.  The clay will then be warmed and will form small balls.  You may need to add a drop or two of mineral oil or Sculpey Dilutent (plasticizer) if it feels dry.  Be careful not to add too much oil, as this can may the clay too soft and sticky.  Then press the balls of clay together and remove from the food processor.  You can then flatten the clay and run it through a pasta machine.

     

20. My pasta machine is leaving black streaks.  What should I do? Return

    It's not uncommon for pasta machines to leave black streaks on your clay, however it does go away eventually.  Streaking is more common with some brands of clay, apparently due to a chemical reaction with something in the clay.  I've also heard that it may be very tiny metal filings from the scraper bars underneath the rollers.  You can also clean your pasta machine by running alcohol-soaked paper towels through it several times.  You should always do this with a new pasta machine.

     

21. What is Translucent Liquid Sculpey? Return

    Translucent Liquid Sculpey (TLS) is a liquid form of clay that looks similar to Elmer's School Glue.    However, it has no adhesive quality while in it's liquid form, although once baked it proves to form a very strong bond between polymer clay objects.  TLS is great for creating a stained glass affect, reinforcing jewelry findings onto the jewelry pieces and for many cool affects like photo/image transfers.  You can also use oil-based paints or PearlEx powder to add pigment to TLS, although the more pigment you add, the weaker the bond gets.  Check out our Tutorials page for some neat project ideas and uses for TLS.

     

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