Blog

Preparing for Seasonal Markets and Events

Preparing for Seasonal Markets and Events

I was recently asked where I look for inspiration for seasonal themes, how far ahead of an event or show I started to prepare, and what my marketing strategies are?...

Preparing for Seasonal Markets and Events

I was recently asked where I look for inspiration for seasonal themes, how far ahead of an event or show...

Duality: The Challenge of the Professional Crafter

Duality: The Challenge of the Professional Crafter

One topic that comes up again and again is time management. We Creatives suffer from, what my daughter calls, Type A/B Syndrome. Type A’s are often pragmatic, driven, and disciplined....

Duality: The Challenge of the Professional Crafter

One topic that comes up again and again is time management. We Creatives suffer from, what my daughter calls, Type...

New Color Tuesday! Introducing Sculpey Soufflé™ Smokey Mauve

New Color Tuesday! Introducing Sculpey Soufflé™ Smokey Mauve

The top row of the large photo contains the 3 colors that I'm mixing with the featured color on the far right. The bottom 3 colors are the colors mixes...

New Color Tuesday! Introducing Sculpey Soufflé™ Smokey Mauve

The top row of the large photo contains the 3 colors that I'm mixing with the featured color on the...

Tactile Inspiration: The Antidote for Burnout

Tactile Inspiration: The Antidote for Burnout

There are days when you wake up with so many project ideas, you can’t even choose one. (Hallelujah!) Then, there’s the flip side, the dark, dreaded void – burnout. You...

Tactile Inspiration: The Antidote for Burnout

There are days when you wake up with so many project ideas, you can’t even choose one. (Hallelujah!) Then, there’s...

Using Silkscreens on Polymer Clay

Using Silkscreens on Polymer Clay

Applying patterns and designs using silkscreen is a simple way to make a big impact on your polymer clay creations. The technique is very simple, and is great for both beginner...

Using Silkscreens on Polymer Clay

Applying patterns and designs using silkscreen is a simple way to make a big impact on your polymer clay creations. The...

How I Use Inclusions with Polymer Clay

How I Use Inclusions with Polymer Clay

Did you know that you can add inclusions to your polymer clay if you’re looking to add more texture and dimension? From glitter, to mica powders, to even spices straight...

How I Use Inclusions with Polymer Clay

Did you know that you can add inclusions to your polymer clay if you’re looking to add more texture and...

New Color Tuesday- Introducing Sculpey Soufflé™ Honey Mustard

New Color Tuesday- Introducing Sculpey Soufflé™ Honey Mustard

This new Sculpey Soufflé™ Honey Mustard is yet another favorite color in the Yellow Family – and I’m all about anything that reminds me of warm afternoon sunshine.

New Color Tuesday- Introducing Sculpey Soufflé™ Honey Mustard

This new Sculpey Soufflé™ Honey Mustard is yet another favorite color in the Yellow Family – and I’m all about...

How to Start Working with Silk Screen Printing on Clay

How to Start Working with Silk Screen Printing on Clay

Printing with silk screens on polymer clay is a great technique to get wonderful patterns and effects with only a little effort. The silk screens can be used many times,...

How to Start Working with Silk Screen Printing on Clay

Printing with silk screens on polymer clay is a great technique to get wonderful patterns and effects with only a...

New Color Tuesday! Introducing Sculpey Premo™ Vintage Teal Pearl

New Color Tuesday! Introducing Sculpey Premo™ Vintage Teal Pearl

Sculpey Premo™ Vintage Teal Pearl is destined to be a major player on my clay table for sure!  Who wouldn’t love a classic Teal color with flashes of Copper mixed...

New Color Tuesday! Introducing Sculpey Premo™ Vintage Teal Pearl

Sculpey Premo™ Vintage Teal Pearl is destined to be a major player on my clay table for sure!  Who wouldn’t...

Working With Sculpey Color Tints to Make Custom Colors

Working With Sculpey Color Tints to Make Custom Colors

Sculpey Color Tints are a relatively new product in the Sculpey product line and I have not worked a lot with them up to now. When I get my hands...

Working With Sculpey Color Tints to Make Custom Colors

Sculpey Color Tints are a relatively new product in the Sculpey product line and I have not worked a lot...

How to Color Polymer Clay

How to Color Polymer Clay

Coloring clay involves changing the color of polymer clay using natural or synthetic substances. Typically, you can use either pigments or dyes to change the color of polymer clay. Dyes...

How to Color Polymer Clay

Coloring clay involves changing the color of polymer clay using natural or synthetic substances. Typically, you can use either pigments...

Tips to Help Avoid Artist Burnout

Tips to Help Avoid Artist Burnout

Artist burnout is real and when it happens, you’re tired, overwhelmed, and you consider quitting your career as an artist. Instead of being a fun hobby, it turns into work....

Tips to Help Avoid Artist Burnout

Artist burnout is real and when it happens, you’re tired, overwhelmed, and you consider quitting your career as an artist....

I am a mixed media artist, demonstrator and product designer living in Hampshire, England with my family and two cheeky Yorkshire Terriers. I studied art and design in South Africa, where I developed a love for the natural world and wildlife. I also love listening to stories, myths, legends and fairy tales. My aim is to combine the richness and beauty of the natural world with that of the fantasy world. Polymer clay allows me to do this through the simple use of texture and form, as well giving me the flexibility to add a little humor and magic to my cheeky characters. I was a featured artist in the UK Channel 5 TV show, The Wonderful World of Crafting, which first aired in October 2019, with it being repeated several times since, and also have many live TV appearances as a mixed media craft demonstrator on Create and Craft TV. My artwork, tutorials and creatures from the Frosty Feather Forest can be found through my website, and also my Instagram and Facebook pages.
Cindy is a self-taught polymer clay artist from Ontario, Canada. She's worked with the medium for over 10 years, finding her style with the influence of anime, pop culture, and street fashion. She originally wanted to work in the video game or graphic design industry, but after graduating, she started Sukita Studio in her desire for escapism. One of her favorite things in the world is storytelling, which has a monumental impact on her art. She wants every piece she makes to represent a story, evoke emotion, and inspire hope. Stories have the power to change a heart, and one heart at a time, she hopes to lift the world into a better place.
My name is Precious Nunez, I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. I am currently in college achieving an Associates in Business while I own and operate my very own online shop and social media full time as SimplyPreciousMade. My clay journey started in 2015 when I came across polymer clay tutorials on Youtube and started to make my own creations. Since then, I have grown a great love for the craft and turned my hobby into a business. I decided to open SimplyPreciousmade in 2017, selling a wide range of charms, phone grips, croc charms, pins, hair clips, and much more. Since owning my shop, I have sold my products across the world with 5-star ratings and excellent satisfaction as well as recognition for my work through numerous blog posts and mentions. I also collaborated with several influencers and businesses throughout my clay career to provide in-store products, gifts, promotion items, and more including miniature ice cream replicas for a popular business in Barcelona, Spain. I also organically grew a large fanbase on instagram for those who enjoy seeing unique handmade items and built relationships with like-minded crafters. My creations are based on a child-like imagination with a wide range of bright and pastel colors to perfectly convey my personality and creativity through each and every piece. I genuinely admire what I do by bringing joy and happiness to others with love reflected through my creations.
Anke is a mixed media and polymer clay artist. Young at heart and mind, uber creative and “medium adventurous”, fearless about trying new things and making them her own. She has an extraordinary eye for color and pattern. Her professional training at the University of Arts, Berlin, Germany, and her self-studies have encouraged her to find her own path in many ways. Anke enjoys most to explore creativity in all it´s forms and help other people to find their own path to being creative. Anke has published several books, e-books and writes regularly articles for magazines. She is a demonstrator for polymer clay manufacturers, teaches classes on-line at CraftCast.com and in person workshops nationally and internationally.
Pandora Salgado is a mixed media artist from Los Angeles, California. She began crafting in early childhood using sticks, rocks, and glue. In 2010 she discovered polymer clay and fell in love. In addition to her six years as a Sculpey Design Squad member, Pandora is a YouTube instructor with over 3 million views, hosts a weekly live workshop, and runs three Facebook groups with over 50,000 followers, all devoted to polymer clay. In 2016 Pandora created a family business, Tiny Pandora Crafting Boutique, which she runs with her daughter Elaina and granddaughter Jolene. Making art, teaching, and interacting with others are Pandora’s passions and she hopes to continue crafting for many years to come.
Anthony is a self-taught sculptor who has been sculpting since he was 12 years old. He started his own YouTube channel Ace of Clay in 2018. His sculpting videos feature figurines, sculpted book covers, and more – in themes of horror, fantasy, and video games. He has since gained more than 200,000 subscribers! His easy-to-follow tutorials and creative designs are fun and inspirational for every experience level.
My name is Gail, and I’m the maker behind my brand, anna&bull. I started playing with polymer clay when I chanced upon it a few years ago and have been hooked on it ever since. I love how versatile and light polymer clay is, providing endless possibilities with the things we create. The pieces I create are greatly inspired by nature and the Bauhaus movement, and I’m so thankful for the online community that has grown with me all this time!
Hollee Gaytan is a jewelry designer who has a decades-long love affair with Sculpey polymer clay! From her very first sculpt during a late 90s art class, she was hooked and immediately bought a multipack of Sculpey to use at home. Fast forward 20 years and her love for Sculpey transformed into GlamPop Designs: a full-fledged small business specializing in artisan clay earrings. Hollee loves the endless possibilities of Sculpey for her jewelry biz. She enjoys creating polymer clay canes, artistic slabs, color mixes, and delicate floral styles which she showcases through reels and photography on her GlamPop Designs Instagram page. Hollee’s three children are ecstatic that their mom works with clay-they’ve developed their own love of Sculpey and often create sculptures alongside her using scraps from her projects. Hollee is so proud to use this wonderful medium to create wearable art for the masses while encouraging a love of sculpting within her family and internet community and she couldn’t do it without Sculpey!
Teaching art has been my passion for over 26 years. Whether it is painting, polymer clay or costume design, spreading the love of creativity brings joy to my life. Helping others discover that art can be the balance in their chaotic lives has been a major goal in recent years and has led to the discovery of many new techniques. My greatest pleasure is watching a student learn one of the new techniques and then make it their own. To that end I continue on my journey of discovery and am fortunate in the versatility of the art. Over the years it has been my privilege to receive several awards and be published in a number of art magazines in recognition of new polymer discoveries. I have also been fortunate to be a presenter at several polymer clay retreats. Creating new avenues to share ideas and cultivate artistic interest is my goal for the future while having fun in the process.
Lauren Hooper is a crafter, adventurer, and storyteller. She has repatriated to Raleigh, NC after living overseas with her husband and pup for 6 years and has created a career out of creativity and adventure. She runs Radiant Art Retreats, hosts the podcast How She Creates, teaches online courses for creatives at lauren-likes.com, and sells handmade clay jewelry and weavings. Her work explores the intersection of art, travel and good in the world.
Lindsay is a crafter, graphic designer, and glitter enthusiast from Utah. She’s passionate about homeschooling her creative daughter, traveling, and spending time in the craft room. Lindsay shares DIY project tutorials, printables, recipes, kids crafts, and more on her blog, ArtsyFartsyMama.com, where her goal is to inspire readers to live a creative life.
Syndee has been part of the Sculpey team for over 25 years now! The artist/pro photographer/single mom has always encouraged people to find time for art in their lives. She has written over 100 magazine articles on diverse topics of pro photography, construction foam and flooring, and of course, polymer clay! One of her television producers pronounced her “the Lucy of daytime craft television” with over 40 television segments filmed. She works tirelessly to bring the magic of polymer clay to as many people as possible and to support the polymer clay groups throughout the world.
Weimin started her business Ferne Atelier making clay earrings as a means of an escape, and to find the confidence she had lost in herself back in 2018. A lot of her designs are inspired by things she sees and places she dreams of going to someday and definitely architectural related too, because at one point in her life that was all she wanted. She takes a mini clay kit everywhere and works on the go by the beach, at a cafe and even on a moving bullet train in Japan! Because you never know when inspiration might hit and it’s just such a good way to capture ideas.
Shauna Cardone is a middle school art teacher as well as the owner and designer of Roo and Roo. Roo and Roo makes earrings that are light and bright for all of the bodacious babes out there!  She has a BFA and an MFA in Jewelry and Metals, as well as a MAEd in art education. She enjoys reading, all things sparkly, and makeup art. She lives in Gloucester, MA with her husband and cat. Check out her work at IG: @_rooandroo_ / FB: Roo and Roo / TikTok: @_rooandroo_.
Ilia is a 30 year old artist from Phoenix Arizona and is the owner of Ilia Creations. Her passion for creating with polymer clay began 3 years ago and it has been the most exciting and rewarding journey! What started out as a hobby and hopeful side hustle became a dream come true. She has been an artist her entire life and only ever dreamt of owning her own business creating and selling my art. Check out her work at IG: @iliacreations and FB: Ilia Creations.
Erica is the owner & creator behind Wild Encanto. Her journey working with clay started as a craft to help pass the time during the pandemic lockdown. She started with a few packs of Sculpey clay, some basic sculpting tools and went down a rabbit hole of how-to videos on YouTube. She is continuously learning more about her craft and trying new techniques. Since then, she has grown Wild Encanto into a full on Small Business to sell her creations. She has slowly gained a following on social media, in her local vendor community and even gained recognition on her local TV station as a featured small business. She genuinely loves this craft and bringing her ideas to life to see the love they get from so many people! Check out her work at IG: @wild_encanto / FB: wildencanto / TikTok: @_wildencanto.
Emma Rose is a young artist from Missouri. She has worked with clay for over 6 years and specializes in creating nostalgic and cute bakery/food themed jewelry. In the last year, she started sculpting miniature guitars inspired by musicians. She loves sharing her creations with the world and sharing the joy of seeing something you love in miniature.  Check out her work on IG and FB @bluebirdminiatures.
Laura is 36 years old was born in the province of Rome.  She is a big fan of k-pop, k-drama and k-beauty. She first used polymer clay about 9 years ago making pendants and necklaces. Over the years she has changed her style very often, looking for something that fully satisfies her. Always a lover of anime and manga, she decided to combine these two passions by dedicating herself to the creation of 3D cartoon-style figures. For this reason, she calls herself a doll maker. For two years she has been following this path with passion, trying to improve day after day... in fact she constantly feels like a 'work in progress'. She loves what she does and everything that revolves around the creative process. Check out her work IG: lallulart / TikTok: @lallula_dollmaker.