Polymer Clay

Polymer clay is a craft supply that can be used for a number of crafts. Some of the things that you can make with this versatile clay are:

• Beads
• Buttons
• Pendants
• Charms
• Picture Frames
• Ornaments
• Jewelry Boxes
• Dolls
• Candleholders

What makes this clay so impressive is that it is so easy to use. It is highly malleable and because it is made of PVC, not earth, it doesn't require that you use a kiln to fire it. Any home oven or toaster oven will suffice. Another great thing about working with polymer clay is that it is inexpensive (unlike precious metal clay, for example). Plus, polymer clay is very colorful; you can make swirls, twists, gradients, marbled looks and also mille fiori designs. It can even be textured, painted, stamped, and sanded. Lastly, polymer clay makes very lightweight pieces that are also quite durable.

The possibilities are endless with polymer clay. All you need are some ideas and a few basic supplies.

Picking Out Clay

One major thing that will come to mind when picking out clay is the color. Of course, this is the fun part where you can get creative and conjure up designs for new projects. However, you might find yourself making a compromise between the brand you prefer and the colors that they manufacture. This means that you have to learn about mixing clays. You should also keep in mind that clays can change color after being fired, making it a good idea to do a test fire before committing a particular color to a labor intensive project.

A more important thing to consider when buying clay is what you plan to use it for. Projects that are small, such as beads, don't need to be very strong since they are less likely to break. However, frames, boxes, and the like, are larger, more capable of breaking, and need to be created with a stronger clay. A lot of choosing the strength of clay has to do with the brand. Another thing to know about brands is that some are harder to work with than others. For example:

• Sculpey III  -- Soft and easy to condition, but neither durable nor resilient. It has a tendency to become brittle and break easily.
• Premo Sculpey  -- Easy to condition, and it's also strong, resilient, and durable. Many translucent hues available.
• Super Sculpey  -- Excellent for doll making.
• Fimo  -- Hard to condition, but strong, durable, and good for cane work.
• Fimo Soft  -- Many colors to choose from, easier to condition, but not as durable.
• Kato  -- Easy to condition, but not as strong. Otherwise, it's quite durable.
• Cernit  -- Very strong and it produces a waxy, not satiny finish, making it good for doll making.

Basic Tools

Working with your hands is a necessity, but having tools makes things easier and allows you to do much more with your clay. This section will discuss those tools that will allow you the most creative flexibility.

First, you need a work space. Any smooth tabletop will do, such as granite, Formica, glass, or marble. Whichever space you choose, be sure to cover it with wax paper to protect it. Next, find yourself a rolling pin  to condition and roll out the clay. If you plan to fire your clay with a toaster oven, it's a good idea to invest in a thermometer  to monitor the process.

Those are the basics. However, once you become accustomed to working with clay, you'll want to invest in a few other tools as well. Food processors  are great for conditioning hard clay and pasta makers  are useful for cane making. Hand tools that you might benefit from are the following:

Bead Roller These tools help roll perfectly symmetrical beads without lots of hassle.	Cane Slicer Make slicing canes easy and even. No need to measure or worry about messy cuts.	Clay Gun Make all sorts of cords with this press tool by switching the plates.	Sculpting Tools Creating dolls and figurines requires details which these tools can provide.	Cutters Make shapes easily with a cookie cutter or cutter designed for clay work.

Firing

As was mentioned earlier, polymer clay does not require that it be fired at high temperatures (around 275°F for 20 to 25 minutes). That means that you can use either a conventional oven or a toaster oven. This brings us to an important issue on safety.

• Polymer clay is non-toxic to use. Granted, it cannot be digested in any way! Wash your hands after using it and avoid getting it into your eyes. Also make sure that you ventilate your work space an/or home when firing since the fumes ARE toxic.
• Do NOT use your kitchen utensils or appliances for working with polymer clay. Invest in the proper tools and machines to do what you need for your craft and leave your cooking supplies alone if you ever plan on using them to cook with again.
• Do NOT use polymer clay to make dishes, cups, or any item off of which you would eat or prepare food.
• If you bake polymer clay in your toaster oven, do NOT use the toaster oven again for toast. The same goes for your oven. The only exception is if you use your oven or toaster oven for baking clay as a one time event. Then you can use baking soda and water to clean the appliance afterwards. You can also consider using baking bags (like those you use for a turkey), which when sealed will keep the fumes from escaping into your oven and creating a toxic residue that can be released next time you cook with it. Otherwise, frequent firings warrant a dedicated oven just for the clay.