Sculpey
Sculpey Clay Types: The Perfect Match for Every Skill Level
Jan
What Is Polymer Clay?
Polymer clay is a soft, non-toxic clay made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is a plastic polymer and is one of the most commonly used plastics in the world. PVC and other ingredients give polymer clay its unique malleability and brilliant color. Polymer clay will not dry out like other clays, and it retains its shape once it’s baked. So, you can make a pair of ice cream cone earrings for your sweetest friend, and they won’t melt!
What Types of Polymer Clay Are There?
Sculpey polymer clay is available for all levels of experience. Generally, beginners will want to start with the softest type of polymer clay so they can easily knead and shape clay with their hands. Once you develop your crafting abilities, you might want to experiment with more complex projects and other types of polymer clay. Here are the different types to help you choose the right polymer clay for you.
1. For Beginners
If you’re new to the world of polymer clay, it won’t be long before you realize how fun and easy it is to make treasures you love. Polymer clay is a beginner-friendly medium, and you can choose from a range of clays for your first project. Here are polymer clay types to consider as a beginner:
- Sculpey Bake Shop: Sculpey Bake Shop is super soft and won’t dry out until you bake it in the oven. Bake Shop is fun to mix with other colors for endless possibilities. It’s an excellent choice for kids, beginners or even experienced clayers. You can use Sculpey Bake Shop to make holiday decorations, adorable figurines, colorful keychains and so much more.
- Sculpey III: Sculpey III is soft and easy to knead, roll and shape, and it also holds fine details well. Sculpey III can help you build your claying skills and explore the possibilities. It’s available in a vast array of colors, from cheerful rainbow colors to earthy muted hues. Sculpey III is also available in metallics so you can create dazzling jewelry and embellishments.
- Original Sculpey: Original Sculpey looks and feels like ceramic clay and can be painted after baking to add designs, patterns and splashes of color. It’s available in white, gray or terra cotta. Anyone can craft with Original Sculpey and make objects like catchall dishes, decorative bowls and keepsake ornaments
- Liquid Sculpey: Liquid Sculpey allows crafters to draw designs or woods on polymer clay creations. They can also use Liquid Sculpey to make window clings, fill in pieces or even as tile grout. It’s another versatile product that expands the imagination.
2. For Frequent Clayers
Experienced clayers might choose polymer clay that’s suitable for advanced techniques, such as:
- Premo Sculpey: Premo Sculpey holds the most delicate details and is the go-to choice for jewelry-making techniques like caning and mokume gane. It’s available in a range of colors as well as metallics, glitters, stones and opal. With Premo Sculpey, crafters can make stunning jewelry pieces that resemble real gemstones.
- Sculpey Souffle: Sculpey Souffle has an attractive suede finish, holds minute details well and won’t crack when used to make large masterpieces. Crafters might choose Sculpey Souffle to create one-of-a-kind home decor items.
How Do I Bake Clay?
Baking your clay creation is the most important step in using polymer clay. When you bake your masterpiece, you harden it so you can keep it forever. You’ll want to bake your creation properly to know your product is durable and made to last.
To make sure you bake your creation right, always follow the temperature and timing instructions on the package. You can bake polymer clay in your oven or toaster oven. Wait until your oven is preheated to start baking, and check the oven temperature with a separate thermometer to verify it’s set correctly. All you’ll need to do to bake clay creations is line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or wax paper and bake your objects according to the instructions. Times vary depending on the type of clay you use. To give you an idea of what to expect, many kinds of Sculpey polymer clays bake at 135°C (275° Fahrenheit ) for 15 to 30 minutes.
Two rules to remember are do not bake creations in the microwave and do not use a higher heat than the recommendation. As long as you carefully follow the package instructions and ensure your oven is at the right temperature, your creations should bake evenly and look just as bright and beautiful as they did before baking.
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