Polymer Clay for Beginners: How to Guide with Tips
Polymer clay is such an amazing material! I came across polymer clay when I watched The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge on Channel 4, and I was amazed by what the contestants were creating. So, I picked myself up a pack of Sculpey III, and I jumped in…learning A LOT of lessons on the way. Polymer clay is extremely versatile; while I’ve dabbled in jewellery making, I love, love, love making (and looking at) miniature food.
While I think it’s fun just to jump in there and have a try, here are some polymer clay tips for beginners, including some tool suggestions and how-tos I’ve picked up along the way.
So, What is Polymer Clay?
Polymer clay is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. It’s made from plastic and synthetic materials that solidifies when it’s baked and is practically impervious to water. Being synthetic, it lasts for along time, even if you leave it out on your work surface for weeks (yes, I’ve done it). To ‘cure’ the clay, it needs to be baked in the oven, although there are some brands that also make air-dry polymer clay.
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Choosing Polymer Clay
There are plenty of polymer clay brands on the market, and each produce different results, depending on your project.
Brands
Here’s a rundown of some of the most popular polymer clay brands and the kinds of projects you might use them for.
Sculpey
Sculpey has been around for years and produces several different types of polymer clay, including Sculpey Premo and Sculpey Souffle. They also have a range of tools and liquid polymer clay, which is perfect for jewellery making. It’s so easy to use, it’s perfect for polymer clay beginners.
I’ve used Sculpey III Bright Colors for making miniature food, although Classic Colors would have also worked well. Sculpey is incredibly easy to mould making it perfect for polymer clay beginners. Mixing colours is straightforward and fun, so even a small pack like the ones I bought goes a long way.
STAEDTLER FIMO
STAEDTLER FIMO soft is a great option for polymer clay beginners and amateurs. This soft and pliable modelling clay comes in 24 different colours, as well as packs of 12 or 24 blocks and 454g blocks. It is compatible with FIMO effect and FIMO professional, as well as a variety of FIMO accessories, moulds, and varnishes. The FIMO soft basic set is also available, which includes nine different coloured blocks, tools, and accessories to get you started on your creative journey.
Cernit
Although it is similar to other polymer clay brands, some colours may be firmer than others, and it can be a bit sticky. However, Cernit has a unique porcelain quality that gives it a translucent and luminous quality when baked. It is also waterproof after baking and can be baked several times, making it a great option for experimenting with designs.
Some Essential Polymer Clay Tools
Work Surface
Ceramic tiles and silicon mats work well as smooth working surfaces. They can also go into the oven when the polymer clay needs to be baked.
Ball Stylus
Perfect for decorating the polymer clay with gentle indentations and holes. They come in various sizes and at affordable prices.
Craft or X-acto Knife
Keep one handy for cutting clay or moulding a design.
Roller
A small acrylic roller can level clay for cutters or modelling.
Baking Tray
Keep a tray aside just for baking your polymer clay to avoid contamination.
Foil or Foil Trays
Cover your clay during baking with foil or small foil trays to prevent your project from burning.
Toothbrush
An old toothbrush can be used to create different textures, as well as clean residue from baked clay.
Coarse Sandpaper
Sandpaper can be used to remove fingerprints or other blemishes from baked clay. Sand papering can also smooth and prepare baked polymer clay for painting.
Cutters
Basic cookie cutters can be used to create simple shapes. You can also buy polymer clay-specific cutters in multiple sizes and shapes.
Toothpicks
Great for making holes, as well as modelling.
Setting Up Your Workspace
Polymer clay picks up all kinds of dust and particles, so make sure your surface is clean before beginning.
If you’re not using a silicon mat, tile or oven-safe craft mat, you can use a simple piece of wax or baking paper. Tape it to the table or surface to avoid it slipping around.
Keep alcohol wipes handy, or make sure you have easy access to water to wash your hands regularly, especially if you’re working with different coloured clay. Clay remnants will easily rub off your fingers or tools and onto light-coloured clay, blending into and affecting the final colour.
‘Conditioning’ Clay – Preparing your clay for modelling
Conditioning is just the process of making the polymer clay the right texture to mould or model. It also combines the ingredients and gets rid of any unwanted air bubbles. It’s a little bit like kneading dough for making bread.
Soften a packet of clay using your hands or place it in a pocket. When using your hands to condition, it’s easier to cut small 2oz (50g) pieces of clay and roll them into balls rather than conditioning an entire pack of clay. Use your fingers to fold and knead until it’s manageable and smooth. After conditioning, the clay shouldn’t crack or break.
You can also use a pasta machine to condition your clay, especially if you’re working with large amounts. Cut your clay into thin slices and pass it through the machine. Fold it in half and feed it back through. You can repeat this a few times to condition it fully.
If you have problems softening your clay or it’s too crumbly. Add a softening agent, such as liquid polymer clay or mineral oil.
For clay that’s too soft, place it between two pieces of paper for around 30 minutes. The paper will absorb some of the plasticisers and cause them to harden. You can also try cooling it down in the freezer for a few minutes or combining it with a hard piece of clay to distribute some of the plasticisers.
Baking Polymer Clay
Polymer clay needs to be cured to harden and keep its shape. While you can leave it out without drying it out completely, it’s better to store unused clay in a container or ziplock bag.
Each brand has its own baking temperature and time, so it’s best to check the packet before curing. Polymer clay stays soft during baking, and when it comes out of the oven, so you have to trust the recommended baking time.
If you’re a polymer clay beginner, it’s best to test your oven temperature and baking time with a small piece of polymer clay around the same thickness and size as your planned project.
Never cure polymer clay in the microwave, as it can result in an uneven bake.
Storing Polymer Clay
Since polymer clay doesn’t air dry, you can leave it out for quite some time without it drying out. After a while, the clay might start to get crumbly, so the best way to prevent this is to store it using plastic sandwich bags or small bags with an edge that seals from your DIY kits. You can also use plastic container boxes with separators, commonly used for storing jewellery-making accessories.
I have read that some people have found that using plastic containers can cause a chemical reaction with the clay, but I haven’t seen this.
Painting Polymer Clay
You can use acrylic paint on polymer clay after baking. Since they’re opaque and often have intense pigmentation, you can get decent coverage to add detail or create a design effect.
Sealing Polymer Clay
Since polymer clay is oven-baked, you don’t need to use any kind of sealant. However, if you decorate the clay using pastels, mica powder or foil, you will need to use a sealer to protect the final product.
You can also use sealers to produce a specific effect, such as gloss, matte or satin.
Are you a polymer clay beginner with questions? Leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to help!
