What is Polymer Clay?
Polymer clay is a pliable, bendable polymer compound that is not true clay. Polymer clay is fine particles of polyvinyl chloride suspended in plasticizer. This basically means it can be used much like clay, but it comes in dozens of colors that can be blended together like paint so you can make your own colors.
What is Polymer Clay used for?
Polymer clay is commonly used because it doesn’t dry out, so you can sculpt it without worrying about a time limit. Many people use it for creating several different things like: jewelry, picture frames, sculpture pieces, etc. It can be used for just about anything you want, however it cannot be used for serving food.
Is Polymer Clay safe?
It is safe to use, however you should not use it around food. To start working with polymer clay, designate an area in your house. If you want to use the kitchen table, be sure to cover it with plastic or a tablecloth that is only used for the polymer clay.
Keep the materials you use separate from other food or kitchen materials. Most people will use cutting tools, a rolling pin, and a cutting board. Invest in new ones from the dollar store. Be sure to clean the materials after use and store them away from food.
Be sure to read the instructions for firing the clay, as there are different temperatures and times for different polymer clay crafts. Clean your oven monthly to prevent polymer clay crumbs from being burnt and emitting fumes in the home.
Always wash your hands after handling polymer clay especially before touching food!
How do I start making polymer clay crafts?
Decide on a pattern – What do you want to make? You can find several ideas online for making polymer clay crafts. Decide on how complex you want your project to be.
Choosing the colors – After you have a design in mind, the instructions should tell you what colors you need.
Selecting the brand – There are several different brands on polymer clay. Sculpey and Filmo are softer brands and easier for children to work with.
Wire and Sculpting – Some project require that you use wire. Make sure you purchase an oven-safe wire that can be trimmed with scissors.
Baking – Be sure to follow the directions for baking your polymer clay. Most polymer clay can be fired in your oven at 275 degrees for about 20 minutes.
Repairs – The best about polymer clay is that you can re-fire it at any time without affecting the original design. If a piece of your creation falls off or you want to add more to it, you can simply attach it to your design and fire it in the oven again.
Where can I find polymer clay craft ideas?
If you are looking for polymer clay craft ideas, a good place to start is the internet. So much information can be found online through the search engines or through craft websites. Here are a few places you can look for polymer clay craft ideas:
Start with the search engines, type in information such as “polymer clay craft ideas”. You will be provided with several listings pertaining to polymer clay crafts. Another great source is Ask.com; they provide several articles about craft ideas and have step-by-step instructions for you to follow.
Your local craft store may even have a website that you can view and download instructions for certain polymer clay crafts. Also, look at the brand of polymer clay you are using. Most companies have websites and will provide you with some craft ideas for free. Others may require a subscription or a small fee for downloading the craft project.