How to Start
Working with Polymer Clay (continued)
A Clay Extruder (or a Clay Gun)
No substitute again. The ones used for cake decorations or in Playdoh sets will not work (no, I did not try them myself, I just heard about other people's experience). Price: about $10.00. Use: limited to special projects. If you decide to buy one – take my advice and buy a metal, but not a plastic one (I broke a wing on my plastic extruder the very first time I used it).
Push Molds
There is a wide range of them, in a wide range of prices. I prefer sculpting everything by hand, and the only mold I happen to have had never been used. Buy a mold, if this is what you need for the project. Otherwise try sculpting by hand – it is a lot of fun. You may also make your own molds either out of polymer clay or special molding compounds.
Stamps
The price range is really wide – just pick and choose. Also, if you decide to use some ink on your stamping project, use the permanent types (such as StazOn) – non-permanent ink will most likely smear either when you will try to cover it with a sealant or simply during the life of your finished piece.
Bead Rollers
Bead rollers come in different shapes and sizes, and usually two or three of them are combined in a set. These sets are available in craft stores and on line; price range is $7.00 to $12.00, I think. It is a nice tool for the right project.
Acrylic Sealants and Resin
Please read about acrylic sealants and resin on my page about finishing polymer clay items.
As you can see, all you need to start playing with polymer clay is a few basic tools and materials. That is one of the exciting things about polymer clay! I also like versatility of this material – you can use it for all kinds of projects, from jewelry to home decor items, and the number of techniques to try is nearly endless. I do not know any other material that stimulates creativity as much as polymer clay does.
If you like my style and would like to learn the techniques I am using in my work, consider my project tutorials. They are extremely detailed, and can be mastered by both experienced and novice polymer clay artists.
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