Polymer Clay Storage Options
Polymer Clay Storage Options
I have received so many questions from you, my readers, asking me about polymer clay storage options. Previously I had written about some polymer clay storage options, that focused on floss boxes; many of you have asked for more details, pros/cons, where and what to buy. There is a wide variety of polymer clay storage options available to the crafter, professional, or home studio clay artist. The reality is that absolutely everyone stores their clay differently. Everyone has a system that works for them. Just because a system works well for one clayer does not mean that it will work well for another clayer. Let’s see what options are available to the home studio clayer.
PLASTIC FLOSS BOX POLYMER CLAY STORAGE
This is the number one and most favored way to store clay by polymer artists around the world. As I stated in a previous post, floss boxes are my favorite way to store polymer clay. I like to make my own colors of clay, so using colors straight from the package is not something that I do often. This being said, when I open new packs of clay and haven’t created my own blends yet, I put them into a craft floss organizer. I do this for all my uncured and opened blocks of clay.
Here’s what you must look for: your floss organizer must be the soft, non-see through plastic. This is very important. If you buy & try to use the rigid (non-bendy) and clear (see through) plastic, the plasticizers in the clay will actually “eat” through the container. This is not good. So do yourself a favor and purchase a soft plastic container that bends and wiggles and will be safe for clay storage.
GLASS CONTAINER POLYMER CLAY STORAGE
Many people (Christi Friesen included) store their polymer clay in glass Pyrex containers. This is also an excellent option! This option is best suited for the serious clayer who has oodles of open blocks of clay at one time. This option is best suited toward the sculptor or other full time claying artist. Although a full time artist, I generally do not have that many open blocks of clay at one time to warrant a system like this, as I use all my colors, and rarely have leftovers. But for those of you that do, I would consider putting a little additional money into various sized glass containers.
STORING POLYMER CLAY BLENDS
Storing polymer clay blends can be done many different ways. A favorite for most clayers is to store clay in sheets. Elaine of TooAquarius stores her clay blends in sheets in a soft plastic storage container. Or you can use the technique employed by Lisa Pavelka, storing your blends in a small binder between heavy duty protective plastic sheets that have slits down the side to create an opening.
Storing Unopened Polymer Clay Blocks
Many of you have taken my studio tour, but for those of you that haven’t, check out the video, see the pictures, and take the virtual tour now. My favorite piece in my studio is my antique library card catalog. I use it to store all my unopened clays, mica powders, glitters, tools, and so much more. You name it, it’s stored in there. Make sure you visit the gallery to see all the awesome things inside my studio.
I hope that these storage solutions have given you a little bit of help for ideas and ways to store your polymer clay. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
Thanks for joining me today,
I store mine in empty Crystal light containers. I label the lids with the colors and stand them all in a low sided box for easy finding.
Thanks for the ideas, this is great! Could polymer clay be safely stored in metal tins?
I have not personally store polymer in metal tins myself so I can’t say one way or the other. Sorry I can’t help you there Sara!
Could you also use a vacuum seal bag to store the opened clay in? That way you could draw quite a bit of air out, but I don’t know if it would also draw some of the moisture out of the clay.
I’m sure you could Sherry, but the problem with clay is NOT that it dries out. Air dry clay, yes. But polymer clay does not dry out the same way.
I just came across this and I have to disagree. Over time, the other floss boxes can deteriorate from the plasticizers in polymer clay as well. I tried keeping my pre-mixed liquid blends in them and it ate through them, causing my blends and the box to be useless. It may take longer for solid blocks to eat through but thought I would put my two cents in so that anyone else who comes across this might be careful about using them. And yes, I have tried both the clear, rigid containers and the softer semi opaque containers.
Hi Candace,
You must have had the incorrect recycle number on your floss box. While I agree that the plasticizers “eat” plastic, my floss box is over 7 years old and I have not had ONE problem with it, ever; neither have my other clay friends. I’m sorry to hear you did. I would NEVER recommend putting liquid polymer in any form into plastic container however. A note of advice, never store ANY polymer clay in a plastic container marked with a “recycled 6” on the bottom of the container; these are made with polystyrene and will react with clay. My floss boxes say “recycled 1” on their bottoms, henceforth, polymer clay safe.
I personally have a mans tacklebox made by Plano. It has 3 large and 2 small containers that are similar to the floss/jewelry boxes, having several compartments per container. I use the 3 largest to hold nothing but my unopened blocks of clay.(Don’t tell my hubby — but I currently have 100-125 unopened blocks stored in them.) The opened up blocks I store in some little plastic jars I saved from my moisturizer that I use everyday. The plastic jars do not react with the clay. I’ve been using them since 2007. It took me almost 6 years to save the number of 2 to 3 oz jars that I have. My daughter started using the same moisturizer and saves all her jars for me too. I can put one opened up block of clay in each jar. I cut the brand name and the color name/number from the wrapper and scotch tape it to the screw top lid. I probably have 30+ jars of clay I keep in a semi-transparent Sterlite container on the floor under my work table for easy access as I work. That’s what I use.
That sounds like an awesome tackle box. When I had my small studio I used a little tackle box to store all my tools. I still have it, but it’s collecting dust at the current moment. I save glass baby jars to store clay in and to make things out of too, they work so very well!
I store conditioned clay in flat sheets in VHS boxes. It then usually only needs a few runs through the pasta machine to get it workable.
Great ideas. My canes are stored in plastic tier boxes but the other clay does need to find a suitable home
Personally I buy dollor store snack bags and use them, making sure all the air is out of the bag before I store.
This is a great idea as well! Thanks for sharing!
Hello Katie and Christine, I actually do unwrap my clay every time I need it, and rewrap it when I’m done.
I’m used to it cause I did all this since I started working with polymer clay, so I really don’t mind.
And I noticed that when the packages are well rewrapped, the clay stay soft for a longer time.
thanks Katie! I’ll follow your lead.
D you think opening a pkg of clay and repacking it in Glad wrap would help prevent dry out? Those store pks aren’t air tight.
Clay is good indefinitely as long as it doesn’t cure. I do not open any of my clay until it is time to use it. If you feel better about unwrapping them and rewrapping them, feel free to do so, however I’m not sure how much it will help. If anyone else does this, feel free to comment.
Thanks for exploring all these options; very interesting information.