Tips for Working With Sculpey® Air-Dry™ Polymer Clay
When you create something, you want to have fun and end up with a project you can be proud of. If you've never worked with air-dry clay before, you'll probably want some guidance before you get started to ensure you finish with your desired results.
Air-dry clay is slightly different than regular oven-baked polymer clay — it's got a fibrous texture and particular handling instructions.
For the best results, keep the following tips in mind when crafting with air-dry polymer clay:
Plan to work on a nonporous, well-cleaned and smooth surface. We recommend a
metal sheet, ceramic tile, index cards, aluminum foil or the Sculpey® Oven-Safe
Work Mat.
Try to open only what you need at one time and leave the rest of the clay tightly
sealed or wrapped in storage. Air-dry polymer clay is designed to air-dry
and may harden prematurely if left unsealed.
As you work, cover any extra clay you're not handling with a damp paper towel to
keep it from drying.
Knead the Sculpey® Air-Dry™ clay before shaping it into your desired creations.
Lay or stand your air-dry polymer clay projects on one of the surfaces listed
above in an area with low humidity.
Let your work remain undisturbed and untouched for approximately two hours to
ensure the piece completely dries.
Use a combination of multimedia materials, crafting tools and your hands to mold air-dry clay into the design or shape you desire.
Remember, the sky's the limit — create unique textures and patterns and incorporate mixed media elements where you see fit!
While your Sculpey® Air-Dry™ creations will dry on their own, you can also cure more quickly by baking them in your oven at 200° F. The baking duration depends on your clay's thickness — thin pieces should bake for a minimum of 20 minutes, while thick pieces should bake longer with frequent checks for hardness.
If you buy your air-dry clay in bulk and don't use it all at once, you can extend the shelf-life on any unopened packages by placing them in an airtight container.
