Blog written by Teresa Pandora Salgado, Sculpey Design Squad member
I’m a member of every FaceBook polymer clay group. Literally. I monitor the clay chatter constantly because I am not only a polymer clay artist and instructor, but also a small business owner with a store dedicated to clay crafting; so I need to understand what clayers around the world are thinking, feeling and creating. That’s why I feel sorry for Sculpey III.
Ever since the polymer clay earring explosion, I’ve heard this refrain again and again: Sculpey III is weak and brittle. Every new earring tycoon is warned not to use it by dozens of group members. Many clayers have even posted “de-stash” ads across the groups in a frantic effort to get rid of the offending Sculpey III. Oh, my!
The truth is, Sculpey III is less flexible, after baking, than Sculpey Premo or Souffle. If you bend a very thin piece of Sculpey III, whether it’s a flat, cookie-cutter earring or a bug antenna or a tree limb, it could snap. But let’s break that down.
No matter what clay you’re using, cookie-cutter earrings should be made on the thickest or second thickest setting of your clay machine. The pendulous look of an earring is part of its beauty; and, at that thickness, it will still be comfortably light for the wearer. Earrings that are paper thin can hang at odd angles and, more importantly, affect the perceived value of the jewelry. And who would try to bend their earrings anyway? Even thin metal jewelry will be ruined by bending.
When it comes to sculpting, Sculpey III has many advantages. It’s ready to use with little conditioning and the components blend and stick together easily. It’s the only clay I use with children because it compliments their hand strength and they can dig right in. I teach them simple armature methods and backing techniques to secure the limbs on their figurines. My granddaughter began sculpting with Sculpey III at age two and, at six years old, we still have her creations intact. I’ve also seen beautiful Sculpey III pendants, beads and magnets made by clayers of all ages.
If you’ve never tried Sculpey III, I suggest the ten piece starter pack. The vibrant colors and softness of the clay offer instant gratification.
