Polymer Clay Brands & You

Finding the right brand of polymer clay can be a challenge for anyone, but especially new clayers.  As I began the journey of the Friesen Project, I didn’t realize how many new clayers would be joining us.  This week I have been bombarded by requests asking what kind of polymer clay I use in my studio and how to find a brand of polymer clay that will work for you.  So, without further ado, let’s find a brand of polymer clay that will work for you, your hands, and your climate.

Polymer Clay Brands

There are many different kinds of polymer clay available on the market today.  I have discussed different kinds of polymer clay in the past, but I have never discussed how to find your brand of clay.  As a general review, in the market of the United States, there are several major brands of polymer clay that can be found at most major craft stores (Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Pat Catan’s, & JoAnn Fabrics).  All major polymer clay brands are also available for purchase worldwide through Amazon.

Beginners / Crafters / Children:

If Your Hands are Hot or You Live in a Warm Climate:

For those of you who have exceptionally warm hands or live in hot climates there are really only a few brands that will work for you.  Why is this?  As you work (condition) polymer clay, it warms with use.  Over a period of a just a few minutes it can get too soft and too pliable to work if your hands are hot or if the weather it warm.  For those of you that have this problem, I recommend two clay brands: Fimo (Classic, not Soft) and KatoPolyClay.

If Your Hands are Cold or Your Live in a Cold Climate:

If this is you, you are in luck.  You are just like me (cold handed, but warm hearted)!  You are special because truthfully any of the polymer clays on the market are going to be great for you … except the two clays mentioned above.  Why?  Because with both Fimo Classic & Kato polymer clays, they are very hard to condition, cold hands or climate makes this a much harder job!  (If you are like me, I have listed the brands that I use below and what I use them for as a guide to help you in purchasing clays).

My Brand of Choice is prēmo! by Sculpey

My polymer clay brand of choice is prēmo!  I prefer this brand for several reasons: my hands tend to be cold and this clay is fairly easy to condition, even with cold hands.  But my biggest reason for using this clay is that it bakes up with a soft sheen to it that the other clays do not have.  Additionally, because this clay is based solely on the painters color palette, it is very easy to combine with other colors to get the exact color, shade, and intensity that you want while using simple painters recipes for color combinations.

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Brands I Use & What I Use Them For:

Sculpey III:

• To combine with my custom blends when a color I need is missing.
• To make very hard clay softer and easily to condition.
• I use this to add to hardened clay or to form a clay base for another clay object.
• Downside: Too soft for sculpting & caning.

Fimo Soft:

• 

  Extremely soft clay (almost too soft).

• I use it to cover pens.
• This is a great clay to use for stamping.  Makes great impressions and holds them well.
• I also use this to blend in order to make extremely hard clay soft.
• Downside: Too soft for sculpting & caning.

Premo:

• 

  My favorite clay (see above).

• I use it for everything: caning, sculpting, buttons, mokume gane, unique effects and so much more.
• Downside: Can get a “moon” effect with translucent blends.

Thanks for joining me today,