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Polymer Clay
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What is the best brand of polymer clay to make jewelry with?

I would like to start experimenting with polymer clay (just for fun, a new hobby) and I think it'd be fun to make my own earrings or necklaces from it. Any tips?

Also, what is the best brand to buy? How much does it cost? Michael's is the only craft store around here -- is that a good place to buy it?

Thanks!

The "best" brand of polymer clay can vary by individual preferences and even by environmental situations, but the thing that's most important to know, whether using polymer clay to make jewelry, or boxes, or sculpts, etc, has to do with the final strength of the clay after baking:

--(original) Sculpey, SuperSculpey-flesh, and Sculpey III are the weakest brands after baking any place they're *thin* or projecting (original Sculpey is worse than the other two)... but are fine for round or rounded thick items
--FimoSoft is fine but may be somewhat weaker than the other brands (but stronger than the Sculpeys listed above)
(check out this page for more on the differences between brands:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/Characteristics.htm )

Michaels carries several brands and lines of polymer clay, but the brand "Kato Polyclay" isn't available there, for example.

Prices for polymer clay vary from craft store to craft store (or hobby store or art supply store), and Michaels has very good sales every month or so it seems. Mail order (online) will have the cheapest prices other than the sales though... also online sources** will usually have all the colors in stock though anytime you order, and all brands are available online. Large "bricks" of clay can also be purchased online (for less money than the same weight in small bars), but not locally.
** http://glassattic.com/polymer/supplysources.htm
The prices for small bars locally usually range from $1.99 to $2.49 or so, except during sales, and bars are about 2 oz, though some may be a bit smaller.

There are lots of ways to save money when using polymer clay though (check these messages for lots of those ways --some info overlaps:

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=155163.msg1548395#msg1548395

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=73664.msg1638472#msg1638472 )

As for making jewelry, first be aware that with polymer clay you'd be able to make beads for jewelry from all kinds of miniature items, and with any kind of colorations, patterns, metallic effects, etc., that you can imagine --which could then be made into earrings, necklace beads, bracelets, pendants, etc. Each of the techniques for making those patterns/colors/etc are on their own pages at my online polymer clay "encyclopedia" website though, but there are several pages that deal with jewelry in particular as opposed to those surface looks that beads can have:

http://glassattic.com/polymer/beads.htm

http://glassattic.com/polymer/beads-holes.htm

http://glassattic.com/polymer/jewelry.htm (necklaces, bracelets, earrings,hair,etc)

http://glassattic.com/polymer/pendants_cording.htm

http://glassattic.com/polymer/wire.htm

As for other tips on using polymer clay, just check out the "Table of Contents" page at my site to see all the other polymer things that are covered there. Also note that there are also specific pages for "the basics" of polymer clay like baking it, preparing it, using simple tools and work surfaces, giving glossy finishes to it, etc.:

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/contents.htm

HTH,

Diane B.

In today's world, if you decide to get into pottery, you've got a lot of options at your disposal. There is all sorts of information and many purchasing options available that the process is pretty much laid out for you. Sure, you need to have the creativity and the inspiration to create new and beautiful things, but you can also find templates and ideas online for that if you so desire. That's what makes even more impressive the beautiful pottery created by ancient Native Americans. The effort and attention to detail in simply making the clay makes one appreciate being able to buy something pre-made. And those Native American women certainly didn't have anything like AMACO glazes at their disposal! In fact, many Native American pottery pieces were left unglazed and were instead rubbed a high polish with a stone or bone.

The primitive techniques didn't stop the Native Americans from making beautiful pottery, however. Each piece was expertly crafted with much care, ensuring that there were not any weak spots in the pottery. Clay was worked until it was the right consistency, then shaped slowly and carefully into whatever the piece was to resemble. Since Native Americans never used kilns, it's not like they would know anything about clay oven polymer techniques. Instead, they would build a fire over a shallow pit that contained the unfinished pottery. The fire reached a temperature that would finish the pottery without using a kiln. Try telling a modern potter about these techniques-they'll probably tell you they're happy to have a kiln at their disposal!

What is consistent among all Native American pottery is their unique beauty. Some may look at it and call it primitive, but it's amazing what can be created simply by used human hands and a few tools. And the fact that the clay they used was made from such materials as crushed seashells, plant materials, and sand is incredible. Hours and hours were devoted simply to mixing the clay to a perfect consistency, a foreign concept in today's now culture. In fact, clay pottery art has taken so many leaps forward that if this were still the process, it's doubtful that many would give it a second look. So on one hand it's great to marvel at the Native American pottery techniques and on the other hand it's a good thing that technology came along and made things so much easier!

Making pottery as beautiful as ancient Native Americans may be hard, but getting pottery supplies isn't. AMACO is your source for whatever you need, from quality AMACO glazes to clay oven polymer. If you're interested in clay pottery art, then you need to AMACO today! You can find the information you need at the prices you want. Get started on the pottery project of your dreams with a little help from AMACO!

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