Working with clay can seem like child's play, but after manipulating the clay for awhile, one can truly become addicted to it! Polymer clay, such as Fimo and Sculpey, is the adult answer to children's play clay. Welllll, kids can use it, but after you adults get your hands on it, you may not want to share! It can all start with tossing a little package or two of the stuff into your cart at the craft store, just purchasing out of curiousity. Then look out!
Polymer clay is a very pliable clay until it is baked, when it becomes permanently hard. It does not require the high temperatures of a kiln or any commercial oven, and therefore is a practical item to work with. The project can be done from start to finish in your own home. As a matter of fact, this clay can be manipulated with several tools which you may already have in your home! Common tools include: a rolling pin or pasta-making machine, toothpicks, dowels, paring knifes and darning needles. Of course, you can always go and buy
commercial tools , but to start, I would definitely work with what you have on hand, until you get more advanced and find a need for more upscale tools. Polymer is easy to work with, has many uses, keeps its shape well, has low start-up investment, and has many other endearing qualitites that make it a favorite craft medium in many homes.
So, you're interested, but don't know what you want to make? Check out this page, full of ideas and inspiration. This page is nice also. And for truly unusual pieces made with polymer clay (and actually could be a novelty gift for Easter, which is coming soon!), look at the eggs embellished with the clay. Are you more inspired now?
First stop, Polymer Clay Central. This site is a biggie in the world of clay, so make sure you visit. The site is loaded with tips and FAQ's, and lots of other stuff, and is definitely a "can't miss." For more tips and ideas, I like to check out this site, which shares some practical tips for the new or intermediate clay crafter. To get a better understanding of the different types of polymer clays (i.e., Super Sculpey, Sculpey III, Promat, Premo, etc.) and the ins and outs of working with them, I highly suggest this site.
