Sculpey Design Squad

Sculpey Design Squad

Mica Powder vs. Glitter

If your clay project needs a little bit of shine and sparkle, glitter or mica powder will do the trick. However, though they may look the same, there is a difference between mica powder and glitter. These materials will work differently on polymer clay, so clayers need to know which sparkly material is best for their needs. Read on to learn...
Adding Curves to Polymer Clay Pieces

For some of your polymer clay projects, you may want to give the piece a curve. The curve may serve a practical purpose, like when making a bracelet. Curves also add a nice aesthetic touch, such as making a leaf look realistic. Baking curves into polymer clay is easy to do and will transform your pieces. Read this guide to learn...
Baking Polymer Clay in Cornstarch or Baking Soda

You've got your polymer clay creation finally perfected. You smoothed out the edges and got that swirl to sit just right. It's finally time for the oven. You know that if you place it on a pan, you'll have a smooth, shiny spot where it was resting, and you're also worried that it will roll around as it cooks, ruining...
Understanding Liquid Clay: Clear vs. Translucent

If you're wondering what the difference is between clear and translucent polymer clay, you're not alone. First, let's talk about the meaning of liquid clay. Liquid polymer clay is what it sounds like: polymer clay in liquid form. Liquid clay is a slightly sticky, medium-density liquid that does not require softening. While liquid polymer clay bakes the same way as regular...
Using Silicone Molds With Polymer Clay

Are you wondering how to use silicone molds with polymer clay to get a good casting? Read on for tips and tricks for making polymer clay designs with silicone molds for a fun, easy and mess-free project. How to Use Silicone Molds With Polymer Clay Due to their ease of use and flexibility, silicone molds are a popular choice for...
Seven Common Polymer Clay Mistakes

Mistakes are a part of life. After all, they're how we learn. But when it comes to working with polymer clay, some mistakes are best avoided. Here are some tips and tricks for how to avoid some of the most common clay mistakes. Using the wrong glue: One common mistake clayers make is using superglue on their product. Because polymer clay...
Avoiding Fingerprints in Your Polymer Clay

If you've ever been working in your polymer clay studio and realize you've gotten fingerprints on your finished clay, you're not alone. Fingerprints on polymer clay is a common mistake crafters often overlook. The good news is, it can easily be avoided and fixed! How to Keep Fingerprints off Your Polymer Clay Getting fingerprints on your clay creations — whether...
Overlooked Polymer Clay Tips

Polymer clay is a versatile medium used for anything from jewelry and home decor items to fun crafts and figurines. Whether you're a professional artist or polymer clay newbie, having a few tricks up your sleeve will make the creative process easier and more enjoyable. Top Nine Tips for Working With Polymer Clay Once you understand some essential tips for...
How to Be Productive in Your Polymer Clay Studio

One of the skills every artist strives to master — and one that takes some practice — is the art of productivity. While the term "productivity" can mean different things to different people, we can all agree that it's important. Being an artist is a rewarding and sometimes challenging job that takes willpower, inspiration and a bit of planning. Top...
How to Soften Polymer Clay

A common question from clayers and crafters is what to do about polymer clay that's become too hard. Can clay become too firm to the point where it's unusable? The answer is yes and no. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to soften polymer clay that has become too hard. Sometimes, you can store polymer clay for years...
How to Stiffen Polymer Clay

When the weather gets warmer, your polymer clay may soften and even become sticky. Warm hands and hot work areas can also cause clay to become too soft. As a crafter, you know how important it is to work with firm polymer clay. When clay is stiff enough, you're better able to get crisp, fine details in your designs and...
How to Condition Polymer Clay

Before using polymer clay for crafts, structures, figurines or jewelry, it's essential to learn how to condition it. Always condition your polymer clay straight from the package to ensure maximum softness and flexibility. You can either knead polymer clay in your hands or run it through a pasta machine for the desired effect. What Is Conditioning? Conditioning is the process...
Polymer Clay Basics 101 - Work Surfaces and Baking Tips

I’ve been working with polymer clay for over thirty years now. I’ve learned a few things in these first 30 years and I’d like to share some information with you about work surfaces and baking tips. I have a beautiful studio in our home that has everything I need. But I realize that having a permanent studio might not...
Creating Color Stories

By Lynn Yuhr The colors of clay and the way we can manipulate those colors is probably one of the leading factors that drew us into this medium. It was for me! The range of polymer clay colors right out of the package are wonderful. They provide a solid jumping off point for any design. And I am always inspired...
How to Get Started in Miniatures

Design by Melissa "Mo" Tipton Miniature food making relies on a set of basic sculpting skills, and handily enough, today’s project gives you a chance to practice all of them. The skills you’ll be learning, which will help you with a variety of other tiny food projects, are: Using the proper amount of translucent clayCreating realistic crumbsGiving clay a browned...
Sculpey® Bakeable Molds

Do you ever get a design in mind that is just too complex to do by hand? Or maybe you'd like to create multiple identical pieces? Sculpey® can help! Silicone molds with polymer clay and Liquid Sculpey offer an easy way to create detailed designs that come out just as sturdy as your non-molded pieces. Molds are easy to use...
It’s All About the Shapes

by Teresa Pandora Salgado We’ve established the fact that bull’s eyes, stripes and spirals are the basis for complex caning; but being “creative types”, we’re not quite satisfied, are we? Individuality comes from shaping the components and even the finished canes into new configurations. For this cane, I made the typical components: a log and some sheets. For a...
Simple Complexity – The Caning Oxymoron

In the course of daily interactions, I’m often asked the default conversational question, “What do you do?”. I’ll admit I get a cheap thrill out of replying, “I teach millefiori complex caning.” That phrase alone weeds out those who really don’t care what I do, (which is most people). When they do show interest, I show them a couple of...
Flesh Tone Color Mixing

On of the best features of polymer clay is your ability to create custom colors for every project and piece. Also that fact that our different clay brands can be mixed together.
8 Art Supplies Every Teacher Needs

Ah, art class! It's a universal favorite among kids and adults. First of all, it's fun. Kids are encouraged to get messy and work with their hands. Second of all, everyone — even if they're not the next Picasso — has hidden reserves of creativity just waiting to be tapped. In art class, beauty stays firmly in the eye of...
Polymer Clay Pasta Machine

Whether you're new to the world of polymer clay or have worked with this fun and addictive medium for years, there will come a time when you'll think about using a clay pasta machine. If you're ready to take claying to the next level with a pasta machine, you probably have some questions about how it works and what to...
Finishing Polymer Clay Pieces

This is Krithika, and today I want to talk to you about the different ways I like to finish my pieces once they’re cured. I use a variety of techniques and products depending on the situation. Finishing your piece is one of the most vital parts of the construction! Read on to find out how I decide what to use...
My Most Favorite Clay Technique Ever!

Hi! Krithika Parthan here and today I get to talk about what is probably my favorite clay technique ever. That's a pretty bold statement! But I just adore silkscreening so much! For someone who considers herself "crafty but but not artsy", silkscreening is the perfect way to create detailed gorgeous pieces without needing to draw myself. Textures let me do...
10 Surprising Facts About Polymer Clay

Table of Contents: 1. It’s Non-Toxic 2. It Dries Faster Than Air-Dry Clay 3. It Doesn’t Shrink or Expand 4. It Doesn’t Fade 5. It Will Not Dry Out 6. It Is Durable 7. Storage Is Easy 8. Do Not Overbake 9. Easy Cleanup 10. Small Bars Go a Long Way Shop Sculpey Products Today Since its creation, many artists...
Sculpey for Beginners

Table of Contents: What Is Polymer Clay? What Types of Polymer Clay Are There? What Can I Create With Polymer Clay? What Polymer Clay Tools Do I Need? How Do I Bake Clay? Where Can I Find Clay Inspiration? Learn to Make Polymer Clay Jewelry Sculpey polymer clay is fun to use and extremely versatile. Anyone can work with polymer...
New Color Tuesday! But Do They Get Along? Pt 3

I decided I wanted to see how these vibrant new colors play with Souffle Igloo to create pastel. Again, I was surprised that they reacted like any other color (don't ask my WHY I think it would be different - no idea!) And I really liked the addition of the Igloo to the original color palette as well as a...
Translucent clay components: Colour Inside and Colour Outside

When I first began exploring polymer I was coming from years working with hot glass. You can imagine how excited I was to find that translucent clay existed in a few varieties in the Polyform line! I found it was a natural progression from sandblasted glass to translucent polymer clay. It’s very easy to add small amounts of colour to...
How Did You Do? Oven Bake Clay Quiz Answers

1. True or False – you can mix new colors using our current colors of clay? Answer- True! Sculpey oven bake clays come in hundreds of amazing bright colors but the best part is that you can create your own unique shades by mixing them together! 2. True or False – You use a kiln to cure polymer clay? ...
Where to Bake Polymer Clay

Creating polymer clay sculptures is a great way to engage your child's imagination — and yours, too! The clay starts out soft and moldable, but once you bake it, the polymers fuse and harden. Magic! If you've never worked with polymer clay before, you might have some questions about the process of baking it. That's why we created this "how...
My favorite tool I have Made or Re-purposed from Somewhere Else

By: Anke Humpert I love tools, and I love textures. So talking about my favorite tools will naturally also be a lot about textures. The first set of tools I would like to show you if the one above. It´s a set of dentist tools that I found at my local flea market. They have all kinds of hooks and...