Clay cannot be bonded to metal or other non-porous surfaces. It's better to wrap the clay entirely around the metal or glass to help it stay in place. Adhesives like Loctite and Gorilla Instant Glue work well with polymer clay. If you are using porous surfaces like wood or paper using Sculpey® Oven-Bake Clay Adhesive will help bond the clay to the porous surface.

When covering wood boxes or frames bake them at 275˚F (135˚C) for 20 minutes to release moisture and sap. Let them cool thoroughly before covering with clay. Using Sculpey® Oven-Bake Clay Adhesive between the oven-bake clay and wood will ensure that the clay will stay in place.

Clay cannot be bonded to metal or other non-porous surfaces. It's better to wrap the clay entirely around the metal or glass to help it stay in place. Adhesives like Loctite and Gorilla Instant Glue work well with polymer clay. If you are using porous surfaces like wood or paper using Sculpey® Oven-Bake Clay Adhesive will help bond the clay to the porous surface.

• Sculpey® Liquid Polymer Clay
• 275–300°F (135–149°C) for 15 – 30 minutes.
• ** When baking Clear Liquid Sculpey® bake at 300°F (149°C)
• ** When baking liquids make sure your oven Convection feature is turned off to avoid ripples in liquid from the fan

This very special clay needs to be baked for 20 minutes per 1/4″ of clay thickness at 285°F (140°C). We always suggest that an oven thermometer be used when curing our clay. We have found that our ovens are not as accurate as we would like them to be.

The best baking surface is glass, metal pan or metal baking sheet, or the Sculpey® Oven-Safe Work Mat. Since paper will not catch fire at such a low temperature, it is safe to use cardboard, index cards, card stock paper or parchment paper to use under your piece in the oven. If you plan on using a metal baking pan/sheet/dish that you will use with food in the future, you need to first cover the surface with parchment paper or aluminum foil. If you are using clay-dedicated baking surfaces, then no paper or foil is required. The clay should not touch surfaces that are also used for food unless there is a barrier between the clay and the baking surface.

No! We do not recommend baking the polymer clay pieces at any higher temperatures than what is listed on the package instructions. At higher temperatures the polymer clay starts to degrade and break down and generate noxious fumes, while not acutely toxic, they are an irritant to the eyes, nose and mouth. We recommend baking at the baking temperature and times listed on the package and using an oven thermometer to ensure your oven is reaching and staying at the desired baking temperature.

The accuracy of home oven temperatures may vary significantly and will affect the baking of your clay. To test the temperature of the oven before baking your finished piece, always use the following test:

• • Pinch off a small ball of clay.
  • Shape a disc 1/2 inch (12 mm) in diameter and approximately 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick.
  • Refer to Sculpey® clay instructions for baking time and temperature.
  • Bake piece.
  • Remove from the oven and check color. Any darkened areas indicate that your oven is too hot.
  • If your oven is too hot, lower your oven temperature by 10°F (5°C) and try this test again.

Pre-heat your oven to the baking temperature listed on the package. Use a separate oven thermometer to ensure your oven is reaching and staying at the desired baking temperature. Use good ventilation while baking. If you are unsure of the accuracy of your home oven temperature – run a pre-baking test (see the HOW DO I RUN A PRE-BAKING TEST TO CHECK THE ACCURACY OF MY OVEN TEMPERATURE?)

Bake your clay piece on an oven-proof glass or metal surface at the baking temperature and time listed on the package. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT exceed the recommended baking temperature or baking time. Carefully remove from oven and allow to cool. Baking should be completed by an adult.

Below is a list of baking temperatures and ti/collections/products-polymer-clay-sculpey-bake-shop-sculpey-bake-shop-bendySculpey Bake Shop® Eraser Clay-sculpey-bake-shop-sculpey-bake-shop-bendy">Sculpey Bake Shop® Bendy Clay
285 °F (130 °C)
20 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Sculpey Bake Shop®
275 °F (130 °C)
15 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Sculpey Bake Shop® Eraser Clay
250 °F (121 °C)
20 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Sculpey Bake Shop® Glow in the Dark Clay
275 °F (130 °C)
15 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Keepsake Clay®
275 °F (130 °C)
15 – 30 minutes

Original Sculpey®
275 °F (130 °C)
15 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Sculpey Premo®
275 °F (130 °C)
30 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Sculpey® Souffle
275 °F (130 °C)
30 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Sculpey III®
275 °F (130 °C)
15 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Super Sculpey®
275 °F (130 °C)
15 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Super Sculpey® Firm
275 °F (130 °C)
15 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Super Sculpey® Medium
275 °F (130 °C)
15 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Super Sculpey® Living Doll
275 °F (130 °C)
15 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Super Sculpey® Ultralight™
275 °F (130 °C)
15 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Liquid Sculpey®
275 °F (130 °C)
15 minutes per 1/4 inch (6 mm) thickness

Yes, all polymer clay brands can be mixed together. To ensure proper baking, the clays must be mixed VERY thoroughly in order to avoid separation or layering when curing. Use the baking instructions for the highest baking temperature and longest time for your clay mixture.

Yes, all of the clays can be mixed together. Read and follow the baking instructions. When you mix clays with different baking temperatures, use the baking instructions for the highest baking temperature and longest time for your clay mixture.

NO! Oven-bake clays are not formulated to be cured by this method. Microwave ovens generally have hot spots and are difficult to set exact temperatures. If oven-bake clays are positioned in these hot spots, they can undergo thermal breakdown very quickly, and may char or emit fumes.

Oven-bake clays are not an air-dry material. They need to be cured in a conventional home oven or toaster oven as they do not require the use of high-temperature kilns such as ceramic clays. Follow the recommended baking temperatures and time as listed on the packaging.

Yes. It is perfectly safe to bake your clay in the oven in which you prepare your food, of course, we recommend periodically cleaning your oven just as you would when baking food. When used as directed, polymer clays do not give off toxic chemicals in the curing process. There is a slight odor, which is not harmful.

We recommend using good ventilation while baking, such as using the oven hood fan. It is a good policy to do this anyway when curing polymer clays, just in case your oven spikes and the clay is scorched. We always recommend using an oven thermometer. Many times, ovens are not calibrated accurately and are actually hotter than the temperature set on the dial.

Just preheat your oven for 15-20 minutes, which should be long enough to reach the temperature on the oven thermometer needed to cure your project.

Many Sculpey customers make a living using Sculpey® products as their art or craft medium and do a lot of baking. For this, we recommend using a dedicated toaster oven for consistency of temperature.

No. Our Non-dry clay cannot be hardened and will stay pliable forever.

Yes, you can put your air-dry clay creation in the oven to make it dry faster. Make sure you use a low temperature of 200 °F. How long you leave it in the oven depends on the thickness of the clay. For thin pieces, do a minimum of 20 minutes. For thicker pieces, leave in longer but check frequently as there is a tendency to crack if it stays in too long or if the temperature is too high. Cracks can be filled in with fresh clay.

Plaquing, moons, or resin spots are little round white spots that show up in baked clay. They occur most frequently in flesh-toned clays such as Super Sculpey®, Super Sculpey Living Doll®, and translucent color clays. The cause of these spots is moisture. This moisture could have been introduced in the product in the manufacturing process or introduced by hand kneading during the conditioning process. We recommend that you test your Super Sculpey before you spend days on a project. Take a small amount of clay, knead it, and work it as if you were making a project. Bake the sample piece in the oven.

Ways to eliminate “moons”:

• Try conditioning your clay more.
• Add a small amount of Sculpey III® White. This opaque white will mask the “moons,” and you won’t see them.
• Roll the clay out into sheets of 1/4? thickness and sandwich the clay between copy (printer) paper. Let the clay rest there for a day or so, then work with it.
• The use of a pasta machine will help reduce the possibility of “moons” in your clay.
• Working in a dry environment will help

When baking Sculpey Bake Shop® Eraser Clay, bake pieces for 20 minutes at 250°F (121°C) per 1/2 inch (12 mm) thickness. We always suggest that an oven thermometer be used when curing the clays to ensure your oven is reaching and staying at the desired baking temperature. We have found that our ovens are not always as accurate as we would like them to be. If the clay is baked at temperatures greater than 250°F, it will fuse completely and will not erase pencil marks.

When it's time to bake your creation, follow the package directions carefully. Here are some tips to help your project come out just right:

1. If you're baking clay in your oven for the first time, you can run an initial test of your oven to evaluate the temperature accuracy. See directions for a pre-baking test in the section above.
2. Follow the baking time and temperature on the package. Directions vary depending on the type of clay.
3. Allow the oven to preheat fully before placing your clay in the oven.
4. Bake your clay creation on an oven-safe surface.
5. Use an oven thermometer to ensure your oven maintains a stable temperature throughout the baking process.
6. Open a window or turn on the fan above your stove to ventilate the room while baking.
7. Do not use a microwave.
8. Avoid exceeding the recommended baking time or temperature.
9. For safety, an adult should be in charge of the baking.
10. When the clay is finished baking, remove the project carefully and let it cool.

Below you'll find baking temperatures and times for our Sculpey® products:

If oven-bake clay feels stiff, the clay should be pre-warmed to aid in conditioning. You can do this by letting the block of clay sit beneath a low-wattage light bulb for 5 minutes or so, and then rolling it briskly between your hands. The clay will become soft and flexible and the initial stiffness will subside. You can also use your hands by simply holding the clay between your hands for several minutes prior to rolling.

We offer two kinds of clay softeners, a liquid and a solid clay conditioner:

• When using Sculpey® Thinner and Clay Softener start with two to four drops per 2 oz. clay and mix thoroughly, adding one drop at a time until the desired consistency is achieved.
• When using the Sculpey® Solid Clay Conditioner pinch off a small piece of softener and mix thoroughly. Keep adding either the liquid or solid clay conditioner until you reach your desired consistency.

If you mix in too much, simply place the clay onto white computer paper and let it sit out for a couple of hours and some of the conditioner will leach out.

The Clay Softener will not restore clay once it has become very hard or after it has been baked. If the clay is already crumbly, it has either had too much exposure to heat or is old enough to have already undergone some chemical changes. At this stage, it cannot be reconstituted.

You can use the Sculpey Thinner and Clay Softener to thin out thicker Liquid Sculpey. Add two drops to the bottle and stir thoroughly. Add one drop at a time until the desired consistency is achieved.

You can easily adjust the consistency of your clay. If your clay is too soft try this easy method:

• Protect your work surface with wax paper or foil.
• Roll the clay into a sheet and place a sheet of clay between several sheets of copy paper or newsprint — do not use printed paper as the ink will transfer to the clay.
• Place a sheet of wax paper or foil over the top sheets of paper.
• Use a book as a weight on top of the papers.
• Leave the clay for a few hours, then check for your desired consistency.

If your clay is harder than you’d like, you can soften it by adding a small amount of either Sculpey Thinner and Clay Softener or Sculpey Solid Clay Conditioner. Add a small amount at a time until you achieve your perfect consistency.

If your Liquid Sculpey is too thick you can thin it out by adding two drops of the Sculpey Thinner and Clay Softener to the bottle and stirring thoroughly.

If your clay is just a little dry or firm, it may only require the addition of Sculpey Clay Softener to reconstitute it. Softeners or conditioners will help make clay more pliable. However, it cannot restore already baked clay, and may not work on clay that has become too hard or crumbly.

If you have clay that is too soft for your liking there is an easy fix for this! Protect your work surface with wax paper or foil. Simply roll the too-soft clay into sheets about 1/4" thick and sandwich it between sheets of clean, white paper, such as computer or copy paper. Do not use printed paper as the print will transfer to the clay.

Then, place a sheet of wax paper or foil over the top sheets of paper. Use a book as a weight on top of the papers. Within an hour you will see the surface of the paper looking "oily." This is plasticizer being "leached out." Usually, this only takes a couple of changes of the paper and the clay is a perfect consistency. Some artists prefer very stiff clay, and they continue the process several times.

Sculpey Souffle and Premo are our most durable oven-bake clays. The flexibility makes fine details and thin areas less likely to break. The following are our most durable and strong clays, in order of durability:

• Sculpey Soufflé™
• Sculpey Premo™
• Super Sculpey UltraLight
• Sculpey Bake Shop® Bendy
• Super Sculpey®
• Super Sculpey Living Doll™
• Original Sculpey®
• Sculpey Bake Shop®
• Sculpey III®

If your tints are too thick to make drops, they were exposed to colder temperatures. One of the raw materials has a tendency to crystallize when exposed to lower temperatures. This is easily fixable. Follow these steps to return them to liquid form.

1. Make sure the cap is tightly closed.
2. Place the bottle in a cup and run it under warm water at approximately 120°F (50°C) for 2–3 minutes.
3. Wipe the bottle dry and shake it well.

Oven-bake clay creations are quite sturdy in a bulky state such as a large sculpture. For thin, small items which are fragile and prone to breaking we recommend Sculpey Premo™ and Super Sculpey UltraLight™ clay which are stronger and more resilient. To clean, use a feather duster to remove surface dust. If needed, hand wash with gentle soap and water. Never use any harsh chemical cleaners to clean. Do not place items in the dishwasher as the heat and water will damage the piece. Oven-bake clay, if exposed to direct sunlight, will fade somewhat over time. Large sculptures, such as those used in gardens, should be sealed with marine varnish or Sculpey Glazes to prevent deterioration.

We suggest that you place your cane in the freezer for 30 minutes to ensure the clay is firm enough to slice into it without causing distortion.

We have not experimented with using fragrances commonly used for soaps or candles in our clay products. We are not sure whether the use of these products may affect the integrity or properties of the oven-bake clay if used.

Use Sculpey® molds, Liquid Sculpey® and Sculpey® clays to add details and special elements to handprints. There are also a variety of other items that you can use, such as glitter, shells, beads, paper or foam stickers.

If placing items in the clay before baking, make sure the items can withstand the baking process at 275°F (135°C) for 15-30 minutes. If unsure, items can be glued on the frame after the piece has been baked. The possibilities are endless!

Proper polymer clay storage is essential to freshness. The clay should be stored in a clay compatible container in a very cool, dry place, unexposed to the direct rays of the sun. We recommend containers or bags made out of polypropylene (PP) plastic. Hint: Look for the recycling symbol #5 on the bottom of the container.

DO NOT store in a hot environment above 77°F.

DO NOT store in direct sunlight.

DO NOT store inside a car. Make your craft supplies shopping your last stop.

Store the clay in a cool, dark and dry place. Polymer clay can be stored at low temperatures with no ill effects to the properties of the clay.

Tip: Refrigeration or freezing can extend the shelf life considerably. In the summer months, the clay may become partially cured if your climate is very hot and your house is not air-conditioned.

We suggest placing some ice in a plastic bag and putting it on the clay. Once the clay has hardened, scrape as much out with a butter knife. Repeat this process if needed. Follow up with rubbing alcohol on a toothbrush and scrubbing the spot, then sop up the alcohol with a clean towel.

It might take eight or 10 cycles of loosening, scrubbing and sopping, depending on how much there is. Make sure you try the alcohol on an inconspicuous spot first to make sure that it won’t affect your carpet color. If the stain is still present, have your carpet professionally cleaned.

Yes. We recommend that you thoroughly clean your oven and the rest of your kitchen.

Many modeling clays contain ingredients that may stain or damage finished surfaces. Do not place unbaked clay on furniture, plastic, flooring, carpeting or fabric. Protect finished surfaces by using unbaked Sculpey clay products on a glass or metal surface, or use disposable foils or wax paper beneath your work.

The Sculpey® Oven-Safe Work Mat is an excellent choice because it protects your surface and you can put it in the oven and bake your clay creations right on it!

Baby wipes are the best way to clean the clay residue off of hands, tools and work surfaces. Follow-up with soap and water.

Wire, glass, metal foil, thoroughly cured wood, metal screening and Super Sculpey UltraLight™ can be used. Do not use armature materials that are painted or glazed. An armature is always necessary for any sculpture of a larger size (over 2? high or wide), or with unsupported parts or those parts that will carry weight – e.g., legs or arms. Do not attempt to use Styrofoam as an armature material. Heat causes it to expand and emit toxic fumes.

If an object has a variance in thicknesses, an armature should be shaped in order to “bulk out” the thick parts – tightly crushed heavyweight aluminum foil is the best material to use. Cover form with a 1/4″ thick layer of clay. Bake for 15 minutes at 275°F (135°C). Add a second 1/4″ thick complete layer (like a skin), which can be built up slightly to show contours. Re-bake for 15 minutes at 275°F (135°C). Then, apply a third complete layer, adding finishing details, and re-bake for a final 15 minutes. Try to keep all parts of the sculpture of an even thickness of clay. Layering the clay is the best method to avoid cracking and maintain even thickness in a medium or large sculpture. Over baking will cause hardening of the clay and possibly burn the clay which can cause bubbling and cracking.

Do not fill the crack with uncured clay and put it back into the oven to re-bake. This generally causes the crack to enlarge. The uncured clay does not fuse with the already cured clay. You can use a product called Plumber’s Putty–a two-part epoxy clay-like substance used to repair pipes. It is dark gray but can be sanded and under painted to match the clay. It hardens in a few minutes without heating.

You can also make “sawdust powder” from Sculpey clays and mix it with epoxy glue. Create the “sawdust powder” by taking a piece of baked clay (matching the color of your project), use a very coarse nail file, rasp or grater against the clay to create the “dust” that will be mixed with the epoxy. This makes a paste of the same color as the clay, which hardens without heat. It can also be sanded and painted. It is difficult to add on to any cured clay and re-bake.

The cured clay does not re-melt and mix with the uncured clay, so separation will occur. Pieces that break off or were not attached properly before baking will need to be glued on.

Cracking is almost always caused by insufficient curing or by baking a sculpture with uneven thicknesses throughout. To ensure you have a consistent thickness in your piece, we recommend “bulking out” with foil or creating an armature from Super Sculpey UltraLight™. It is also very important to adhere to proper baking times and temperatures. Using an oven thermometer is the most accurate way to make sure your oven is heated to the exact temperature.

Always use a type of support under the clay if there are raised or extended portions, as the clay softens slightly in the oven before it hardens in the baking process. Without this support, the areas can sag or crack. Fiberfill, crumpled aluminum foil, crumpled up paper towels or tissue paper, glass bowl (to keep a curve in place), wooden dowels or wire supports could all be used as supports under the clay to keep it in place during baking.

If the clay is slightly dry, this can also cause cracking. Add some Sculpey® Thinner and Clay Softener, work in, and the clay will be reconstituted. Because the clays shrink less than 1 percent when baking, this does not lead to cracking except in cases where the layer is extremely thin, such as over a glass vessel.

To prevent cracking and breaking, we also recommend that you do not expose the baked pieces to large temperature and humidity changes.

Currently, there isn’t a good recycling stream source for us to use recycled material in the manufacturing of polymer clay. PVC is the resin that is used in the manufacture of polymer clay.

A common question we get is “can polymer clay be made out of recycled plastic bottles or other plastics?” Unfortunately, the answer is no. Plastic bottles are made from other types of plastics such as HDPE (high-density polyethylene) or PETE (polyethylene terephthalates) or PP (polypropylene) or PC (polycarbonate), not PVC (polyvinyl chloride). It would be extremely difficult to make polymer clay out of these other plastics.

No we do not test on animals.

Safety and environmental stewardship are values that we take very seriously at Polyform. We are proactive in keeping up to date on the latest regulations, and strive to provide the highest quality products with safety as our number one priority.

No, using Sculpey glazes will not make your creations waterproof.

We do not recommend making dishes or utensils that you plan to drink from, eat off of or serve food on, even if they are sealed with the glazes. While our clays and glazes are non-toxic and carry the AP (Approved Product) seal from The Art and Creative Materials Institute, they have not been tested for use with food for direct or indirect contact and cannot be recommended for that use.

To avoid peeling, we recommend applying two to three thin coats rather than one thick one. Sometimes a single thick coat does not form a uniform film onto the clay piece. Where there are voids in the film, moisture can creep under and cause it to lift and peel.

To avoid air bubbles, stir gently. Do not shake.

If the glaze is too thick, air can entrap itself in the liquid.If this happens, try thinning the glaze with a few drops of water. Stir gently to incorporate the water, recap the glaze and let the glaze sit for about an hour. If still too thick, repeat with an additional few drops of water.

The clay piece is sticky or tacky due to an interaction of the glaze with the surface of the clay or other art medium on the clay piece used before the glaze. We recommend that before glazing a painted piece, test a hidden section of the project first. Not all art mediums are compatible with polymer clays and glazes. Always try a test area before applying paints or glazes to polymer clay-baked pieces.

If you have glazed an entire polymer clay project and it becomes sticky/tacky, we recommend sealing the entire piece with a shellac polymer clay sealer.

If your Sculpey® glaze becomes too thick, you can thin by adding a few drops of water to achieve desired consistency. Stir gently to incorporate the water. Do not shake. Recap the glaze and let the glaze sit for about an hour. If still too thick, repeat with an additional few drops of water.

Yes, both Sculpey® Glaze Gloss and Satin are water-based. If your Sculpey® glaze becomes too thick, you can thin by adding a few drops of water to achieve desired consistency. To avoid air bubbles, stir gently. Do not shake.

Sculpey Glaze* is available in two finishes — Gloss and Satin. They are both compatible with all oven-bake clays. Do not apply too thickly, however, as it can peel. Thin slightly with water and apply two to three thin coats rather than one thick one.

Do not use most spray glazes as they can ultimately turn sticky due to interaction between the propellant and the clay. PMYII brand Spray Glaze is compatible if used thinly. Future Floor Wax (applied with a cotton swab or brush) is another economical option for a medium shine that also dries quickly and is compatible with oven-bake clay.

* Before glazing a painted piece:

• Test a hidden section of the project first.
• Apply glaze and allow to dry completely.
• Observe for any interactions with the glaze.

Our Polymer Oven-Bake clays are not vegan and do contain ingredient(s) that are animal-based.

Our Non-Dry clays and Air-Dry clays are vegan.

None of our products are tested on animals.

Our clays in the unbaked form contain liquids called plasticizers that depending upon what surfaces they come in contact with – they will react with them (much like water and metal reacting to create rust). We recommend using wax paper, aluminum foil, Sculpey® Oven-Safe Work Mat or some kind of barrier when working on furniture. We understand your concern about the safety of our products, but we have fully tested our products to the global regulations and the toy safety standards and our formulations and chemicals have been reviewed by the top toxicologists at Duke University as part of our membership with the Art & Creative Materials Institute.

Yes. It is perfectly safe to bake your clay in the oven in which you prepare your food. When used as directed, polymer clays do not give off toxic chemicals in the curing process. There is a slight odor, which is not harmful. We recommend using good ventilation while baking, such as using the oven hood fan. Pre-heat your oven. We always recommend using an oven thermometer (available at most grocery or hardware stores). Many times, ovens are not calibrated accurately and are actually hotter than the temperature on the dial.

Many Polyform customers make a living using Sculpey® products as their art or craft medium and do a lot of baking. For this, we recommend using a dedicated professional oven for consistency of temperature.

While our clays are non-toxic, we have not done any testing on any of the products to be used in aquariums.

Due to the testing requirements and regulations, we have never tested our products that would be used to hold or serve food or beverages. We can only recommend that our clays are not intended for these applications. All of Polyform’s products are NOT labeled as “food safe”.

Due to the testing requirements and regulations, we have never tested our products for smoking materials. We can only recommend that our clays are not intended for these applications. Since our clays are made of PVC and other additives, at high temperature greater than 350°F the PVC starts to break down and therefore should not be exposed to an open flame.

Based on tests of our polymer clays, we found that there was no residue released when the directions were followed. Many Polyform customers make a living using Sculpey® products as their art or craft medium. They do a lot of baking. For this, we recommend using a toaster oven instead of home ovens, for consistency of temperature.

If the instructions on the package are followed – (low temperatures and brief baking times) – you will not burn the clay. If the clay does burn because of a mistake or if the oven malfunctions, a small amount of hydrogen chloride gas could be released, which may cause odor and some eye or nose irritation. The amount of hydrogen chloride gas released from the clay would not cause a health problem because it would be rapidly dispersed into the air. However, if this happens, you should open windows and ventilate the room, just as you would if food burned in the oven.

When you bake Sculpey® products, they harden. During the baking process, essentially no chemicals are released from the clay when baked according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

All of Polyform’s products comply with the phthalate and lead content restrictions of the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA).

Products comply with the CPSIA if they do not contain more than 0.1% of any of the six phthalates restricted or banned by the regulations. These six phthalates are: DEHP (Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) DBP (Dibutyl phthalate) BBP (Benzyl butyl phthalate) DINP (Di-isononyl phthalate) DIDP (Di-isodecyl phthalate) DnOP (Di-n-octyl phthalate).

Children and adults have been using Sculpey® brand products safely for over 50 years. The products have been thoroughly tested and are safe when used as directed.

Many consumer products are listed with Poison Control Centers so proper information can be provided to callers 24 hours a day when they have questions about improper use of the product. Polyform Products can provide information about product use and misuse at 847-427-0020 during working hours (Monday – Thursday 7 AM – 4 PM CST) or via email at info@polyformproducts.com. For medical emergencies, if symptoms persist, seek medical attention and bring the product with you.

Our products do not contain any wheat, gluten, peanut or tree oils, dairy, sulfur, latex, or egg material.

At Sculpey, we ensure our polymer clay is safe to use. Every product undergoes intensive toxicological testing by the Art and Creative Materials Institue (ACMI) and features the ACMI certification seal, which demonstrates that these polymer clay products meet the ACMI's strict standards. Our team also ensures that all our polymer clay products for children are lead and phthalate free and meet the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).

Polyform Products Company is a member of The Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI), and we feel it is important that our products are certified under the ACMI program. ACMI is a non-profit trade association of art and craft manufacturers. Since, 1940 ACMI has conducted a certification program in which member’s formulas are analyzed by a renowned toxicologist and certified by ACMI as non-toxic or properly labeled. ACMI certification also ensures compliance to state and Federal regulations that affect art materials. We encourage you to visit The Art & Creative Materials Institute (www.acminet.org) for detailed information about the safety of art materials.

Products bearing the AP Approved Product Seal of ACMI are certified in a program of toxicological evaluation by a medical expert to contain no materials in significant quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans or to cause acute or chronic health problems. This program is reviewed by ACMI’s Toxicological Advisory Board. These products are certified by ACMI to be labeled in accordance with the chronic hazard labeling standard ASTM D 4236 and Federal law, P. L. 100-695. In addition, there is no physical hazard as defined within 29 CFR Part 1910.1200 (c).

Sculpey's polymer clays are safe when used as directed. They have been evaluated by the renowned toxicologists at Duke University and are certified as AP non-toxic.

This certification is for art products that present no immediate or long-term health effects to children or adults when used properly. Toxicologists certifying these products base their evaluations on the use and misuse scenarios of the product by a small child.

To ensure safety, use common sense:

• Do not ingest clay.
• Do not make items that will be used to hold or to serve food or beverages or for smoking materials.
• Use dedicated tools, such as sculpting tools or a pasta machine and work surfaces such as cookie sheets or a Pyrex pan for clay purposes only.
• Protect your work surface — clays may stain or damage finished surfaces.
• Do not overbake or exceed the recommended baking temperature or time.
• Do not use a microwave oven.
• Use an oven thermometer and follow the recommended baking temperature.
• Use good ventilation in the baking area.
• Wash hands before and after use.

Sculpey® is the brand name for a line of non-toxic polymer clays used by children and adults for arts and crafts. All the polymer clays are manufactured by Polyform Products Company in Elk Grove Village, IL (just outside of Chicago). Polyform manufactures numerous innovative polymer clay lines: Original Sculpey, Super Sculpey, Super Sculpey Firm, Super Sculpey Medium, Super Sculpey Living Doll, Super Sculpey Ultralight, Sculpey III, Premo, Bake Shop, Bake Shop Eraser Clay, Bake Shop Bendy, Bake Shop Glow in the Dark and Liquid Sculpey. The clays are soft and pliable and will not dry out when exposed to air. Sculpey® products can be baked in a household oven and when cooled, can be sanded, drilled, carved and painted.

Polymer clay is composed of polyvinyl chloride polymers, plasticizers, coloring agents and fillers. Polymers are synthetic substances made by stringing molecules together; plasticizers are materials added to the clay to make it flexible; coloring agents are pigments that provide colors and fillers enhance the properties of polymer clay. Polyform’s polymer clays are man-made materials that can be cured in a standard oven or toaster oven according to the instructions on the package between 250°F – 285°F, depending upon the polymer clay product.

Below is a list of Sculpey clay product lines that are marketed to children and comply with the requirements of CPSIA.

• Original Sculpey®
• Sculpey III®
• Sculpey Bake Shop®
• Sculpey Bake Shop® Bendy
• Sculpey Bake Shop® Eraser
• Sculpey Non-Dry™ Clay- Wax-based modeling clay
• Sculpey Air-dry™- Air dry modeling clay

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law on Aug. 14, 2008. The CPSIA is designed to allow the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to better regulate the safety of products made and imported for sale in the U.S. The CPSIA contains regulations that are intended to make products for children under age 12 safer by requiring manufacturers and importers to show that these products do not have harmful levels of lead and phthalates. To view a copy of the law, go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsia.pdf.

We use a variety of powder and liquid pigments to give or clays such wonderful colors. All pigments have been evaluated for safety by the toxicologists at Duke University. In our Sculpey Premo product line, our colors such as “cadmium red hue” or “cobalt blue” and the like, mimic the colors of the non-toxic heavy metal-based pigments. These are named after artists paint colors and have been certified as non-toxic and safe to use.

Some of the oven-bake clays “bleed” color on your hands. This is due to the amount of pigment needed to make deep, rich, luxurious colors.

When working with multiple colors of clay, work from light to dark colors. Clean your hands with baby wipes when switching from color to color, and clean the rollers of your pasta machine to avoid introducing any deep or dark colors into the lighter colors.

We encourage you to visit The Art & Creative Materials Institute (www.acminet.org) for detailed information about the safety of art materials. Oven-bake clays in the raw, uncured state and baked state are completely safe. They have been fully tested to conform to all applicable regulations. To ensure safety, use common sense. • Do not ingest clay. • Do not make items which will be used to hold or to serve food or beverages or for smoking materials. • Use dedicated tools, such as sculpting tools or a pasta machine and work surfaces such as cookie sheets or a Pyrex pan for clay purposes only. • Protect work surface. Clays may stain or damage finished surfaces. • Do not over bake. • Do not exceed the recommended baking temperature or time. Do not use a microwave oven. • Use an oven thermometer and follow the recommended baking temperature. • Use good ventilation in the baking area. Wash hands before and after use.

When sanding your finished polymer clay pieces, please do so over a scrap piece of paper that can be thrown away after you are done. Do not wash clay dust down the sink when sanding as water treatment plants are unable to remove fine particles from waste water.

#1 – 3 mm(0.118 inch)

#2 – 2.5(0.098 inch)

#3 – 2 mm(0.079 inch)

#4 – 1.7 mm(0.067 inch)

#5 – 1.5 mm(0.059 inch)

#6 – 1.15 mm (0.045 inch)

#7 – 0.9 mm (0.035 inch)

#8 – 0.75 mm (0.030 inch)

#9 – 0.7 mm(0.028 inch)

Sculpey Bake Shop® Bendy clay can be used for soft-sided molds. Super Sculpey® or Sculpey Premo™ can be used to make molds with hard sides. All you need is an item that you want to reproduce (this could also be made of polymer clay), a little talcum powder and some clay for making the mold.

Begin by selecting an item of relatively low relief, that is, an item with no deep undercuts which would trap the clay. Dust the item with talcum powder, dust the mold-making clay and press the clay to the item. Remove the item from the mold and bake. To use the mold, just dust the inside with powder, and dust the clay before pressing it into the mold (you can also use a spritz of water as a release agent). Carefully remove and bake. For ease of removal from the original object, place it in the freezer for about 10 minutes before trying to remove the uncured clay.

Sculpey® Oven Safe Molds have not been tested for use with food and therefore cannot be considered food safe.

Yes, all of our molds are made out of oven safe silicone and can be used in ovens.

A slight mist of water works best. Usually a release is not needed, but if your clay is very soft, use the water mist. Before baking, gently remove excess water by blotting with a paper towel.

If you have very warm hands and your clay has gotten quite soft, stick the mold in the freezer for a few minutes. Your pieces will pop out with no distortion or smearing.

You can use baby powder or cornstarch as a release agent, but it is usually not necessary unless your mold has seen considerable use.

You build the colors up in layers. Start at the bottom and add less clay than you might expect to. This prevents “oozing” out of the boundaries as the upper layers are added. Use the handle of a paintbrush or clay modeling tool to compress down the lower layers. Work slowly and methodically, and you will achieve great results!

For most uses, wiping the molds with wet wipes or baby wipes will suffice. For heavy use, use a Q-Tip or a brush moistened with soap and water to get into the details. Dry with a paper towel. Always clean your molds after use.

Do not store clay in mold.

No, our tools have been fully tested to be compatible with all of the oven-bake clays.

There are several ways and options for when making molds for your final sculpted, baked piece. We had master sculptor Paul Pape put together a quick tips video that can be seen here: Click Here

Sculpey oven bake clay products are fine to use outside. Once baked, the clay pieces can withstand both hot and cold climates.However, some of our clays are better suited for projects that are being placed outdoors. Our Sculpey Premo™ and Super Sculpey Ultralight™ clays are our strongest clays and would be recommended for outdoor projects. We suggest that any project be placed in a protected area out of direct sunlight. If not protected, the color may fade over time due to the UV rays of the sun.

Sculpey Air Dry clay should not be used for projects that will be kept outside. The fluctuation in temperatures can cause expansion and contraction that can cause cracks to develop. Air-dry clay is also sensitive to moisture.

The Sculpey® Oven-Safe Work Mat , Marble, Lucite, Granite, glass, ceramic tile, metal, aluminum foil, and parchment paper are great work surfaces. Clays may stain or damage finished surfaces. Do not place unbaked clay on furniture, flooring, plastic, carpeting or fabric.

Yes oven-bake clay can be painted after curing. We recommend using water-based acrylic paints.

Before painting the piece – Test a hidden section of the project first. Apply paint and allow to dry completely. Observe for any interactions with the clay.

Before glazing a painted piece – Test a hidden section of the project first. Apply glaze and allow to dry completely. Observe for any interactions with glaze.

If you seal the piece with 2 or 3 thin layers of Sculpey® Glaze, you can use any type of paint. Apply thin coats rather than one thick coat for best coverage.

You will want to paint your polymer clay after baking. To preserve your painting, we recommend using a glaze — it will create a seal and help protect your work. If you place your polymer clay creation in an area with direct sunlight, however, the color will fade over time.

The best way to avoid dark color pigments in clay from coloring lighter color clays is to always work from the lightest color to the darkest color in your project. It is helpful to wash or clean your hands (with baby wipes) when switching from one clay color to the next. We also suggest cleaning the rollers of your pasta machines by running a baby wipe through to avoid any color transfer.

The process of conditioning is the warming and kneading of polymer clay to prepare it for use. The clay should be kneaded manually or passed through the rollers of a clay dedicated pasta machine or clay conditioning machine several times prior to use. The amount of conditioning depends upon the product consistency and personal preference on clay consistency. Failure to condition well can result in a weak finished product and an increased chance of breakage.

Polymer clay is a type of clay, but it comes from a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) base. PVC is a synthetic plastic polymer, and its number three when it comes to the most widely produced synthetic plastic polymers in the world. Because of its foundation, as well as additional ingredients, polymer clay stays soft and retains its color and size when baked, which leads to its use as a crafting material.

A few items are in polymer clay, including:

• Polymers for flexibility
• Resins for the base
• Fillers for texture
• Coloring for different hues

All our polymer clay products are wheat, dairy, gluten, sulfur, nut and latex free — and we never test any of it on animals.

There are endless uses for polymer clay! From jewelry making, mixed media, sculpting, home décor and more! There are a couple of steps that no matter what you create with oven-bake clay you will follow:

• Condition your clay: Before working with polymer clay, you want to condition it, which helps with its flexibility. Knead and stretch the polymer clay with your hands, or use a clay conditioning machine.
• Protect your surface: Grab some wax paper, disposable foil, ametal baking sheet or the Sculpey® Oven Safe Work Mat to protect your work area, as polymer clay can affect certain finishes. If you have a glass or marble workspace, however, you're good to go without any protective material.
• Bake your creation: All you need to bake your polymer clay creation is your household oven — you can use a toaster oven too. Pre-heat your oven of choice to the recommended temperature. Check your temperature with a pre bake test or oven thermometer before popping your creation inside on a piece of foil or a baking sheet.
• Sand, buff, paint and glaze your design: After your polymer clay has finished baking, take it out to cool and cure. Once it's cooled, buff and sand your creation before painting and sealing it with a Sculpey® Glaze.
• Store your clay: Following your crafting session, make sure you store your leftover clay in a cool, dry area. Aim to use a container or bag made of polypropylene plastic — if you see the number five recycling symbol on the bottom of the bin, then it's polypropylene plastic.

Oven-bake clays, when stored correctly in a cool, dry place, below 77°F and out of direct sunlight, have an expected shelf life of a few years.

However, the shelf life can be affected by changing environmental conditions, including heat and humidity, during shipping and storage. We store the clay at Polyform in a cool and dry environment, but once it leaves our facility we no longer have control over the conditions the clay may be subjected to. Since we cannot control the storage condition of the distributors and dealers who order from us, we suggest that customers keep sales slips and inspect the clay immediately upon receipt.

Oven-bake clays are meant to be a consumable product and not stored for extended periods of time. Improper storage may affect the quality of the clay. One aspect of oven-bake clays is that they react to very warm temperatures. If the clay is stored in a closet, drawer, or other enclosed space, there is an expectation that this will ensure freshness. Actually, the best place for longer-term storage is in a refrigerator or freezer.