Polymer clay is a great craft material that can be used to make beads, jewelry, figurines, miniature models, vases and almost anything else you can imagine. Polymer clay comes in a variety of bold colors, pastels and translucent colors that will harden to look like glass, and even eraser material. With a few basic techniques your ability to create polymer clay projects is endless.
Instructions
1. Purchase a variety of polymer clay colors. There are several brands of polymer clay, but some examples are Fimo and Sculpey. If you have difficulty determining if clay is polymer clay, read the instructions. It usually comes in small color blocks, and is baked in the oven to harden your final project.
2. Prepare your working surface. Working on waxpaper makes cleanup easy especially when working on a desk or table.
3. Place your tools in a handy spot. The basic tools you need are something to roll clay flat and something to cut the clay. While you can purchase tools designed for working with clay, you can also improvise, using a glass with a flat texture to roll clay and a toothpick or sharp knife to cut the clay.
4. Create new colors or swirl designs by blending colors together. All polymer clays can be mixed together.
5. Attach pieces of clay to one another. Score both surfaces by scratching them with a toothpick and press the pieces securely together. If they fall apart during baking, you'll have to glue them.
6. Select a variety of other scrap materials for your projects. Get creative. Wire, marbles, glass beads, metal hardware and wood are all fun materials to incorporate into your project and can be safely baked.
7. Conserve clay on large projects by making an aluminum foil base and covering it with a thin layer of clay rather than making a solid clay creation.
8. Follow the baking directions on your clay to harden your project. Most clays bake at about 275 degrees for 15 minutes; but thicker pieces of clay may require longer. Allow your project to cool completely before handling it. You can damage your project by handing the clay when it is still warm.
9. Store unused clay in plastic wrap or in a plastic bag in a cool, dark place to avoid hardening.
