Polymer clay advice

[StoryDreamer]

I've got an itch to be more creative with my hands, rather than with just my brain (I'm a writer), so I want to try to play with some polymer clay. I know some of you use it to sculpt ponies. I don't plan to make anything to sell (unless I turn out some nice pieces months from now), but I was wondering if any of you had any tips, favorite brands to recommend, places to buy, basic tools? I found a couple of websites, but let's face it, I'm going to be sculpting ponies so I would rather hear from pony sculpters

[Tilas]

Polymer clay is nice, but you need to bake it, which runs the risk of burning and breaking. It doesn't air harden, so that's nice, but can be a pain to work with cause it can be really stiff and need a ton of kneading. If you want to paint it yourself, go with Super Sculpey cause it's easier to work with and comes in big bricks. http://www.sculpey.com/products/clays/super-sculpey Also there's dozens of colors to choose from if you don't like to paint.

Though honestly... if you plan to paint anyways I suggest Apoxie Sculpt instead. http://www.avesstudio.com/index.php It's a 2 part clay that air dries so you don't have to bake it. I find it works MUCH nicer then sculpey, easier to work with, you can go pieces at a time (where as with sculpey, every bake weakens the piece), and it sands and carves nicer then sculpey.

As for tools... Get a pasta machine like this: http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?cat=2,40733,44734&p=70053 Seriously, it will make your life SO much easier to make sheets/strips of clay, and to soften the clay. You can find basic pasta machines in most stores like walmart.  Other tools to use are chopsticks, rolling pin, exacto knives... and clay tool kits you can buy in any art store.

[StoryDreamer]

This is good advice, thank you! I didn't know which clay to go with but I am leaning toward sculpey..
Any thoughts about fimo?

[NoPonySpecial]

(This pertains to Sculpey clay, I haven't tried other kinds yet.)
When it's time to bake, don't use a toaster oven. Use the regular-sized one in the kitchen instead.

I'm sure one could use a toaster oven, but the instructions on the Sculpey are for ovens that are much larger than that. When I put my creations in the toaster oven for 15 minutes, the burned big time. 

Now that I think about it, I bet you could google "how long to bake polymer clay in toaster oven" and get some results. I bet it would save time and energy, as long as your things don't burn.

[kestral_kitsune]

hjmmm I was alwasy told to never bake sculpy in the oven cause then you can't use it if you don't cover it right? cause it goes toxic while baking??? but I can't remember WHERE I read that before, and I think I'm remembering it wrong but I prefer the air dry clays to mess with also ..tin foil is awesome to use as an armature because you can bake it  if you use the kind of clay that needs it.

[daisyd]

I'm a Fimo fan ^^ I've used it for years.

If you're going to use it, I highly recommend using the 'soft' variety, rather than 'classic'. It's much easier to work. I only recently switched to 'soft', as I found there are far more colours available in that type, and I wish I'd done that much sooner! It can take almost half an hour to work 'classic' so that it's easy to shape and roll.

I have a pasta machine, and for other tools I just tend to use whatever will fit the need - normal kitchen knives, quite often *g* I recently bought a set of thin cutting blades though, and they're magic - you can, with due care, bend them so you can cut curves, and there is also a 'wavy' shaped one. Used to cut through a marbled piece of clay, you can get some very cool effects with it.

[BlackCurtains]

I make miniatures with Premo Sculpey-

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^ This is entirely made from clay, even the dishes.

I prefer firmer clay myself, and Premo is a more firm version of Sculpey. The color selection for Premo is great. I've never worked with Fimo, so I don't know anything about it. Super Sculpey is good to work with too if you're going to paint everything.

Always follow the directions on the package. Baking isn't a big deal, and you can rebake it many times without sacrificing anything (that it turns brittle is a myth). Get a cheap ceramic floor tile from Home Depot or somewhere similar and you can bake your clay right on it in the oven. They're under $2 a piece.

I don't have a pasta machine actually, but then I work in very small batches. It is a good tool to have though. I use an exacto knife and needle tool more than anything. Also wood carving tools are great to work with already baked clay.

IMO, polymer clay is much better for actually sculpting things than Apoxie. Apoxie has its uses but I've grown cold to it.

[kaoskat]

I don't really sculpt but it looks like you've gotten good advice so far.

[BerryMouse]

I always use Fimo for my ponies and also for my jewelry - never had any probs with burning or anything.

There is a lot of stuff/tricks to create different looks.
I have no pasta machine so I always use a small rolling pin.
You can use wadded tin foil to get a texture or use an old comb to get even "slots"/holes in a row.
I always use cheap nail design tools to create textures/structures. =)
Or you could use simple tooth picks, needles whatever.
I also use a simple nail file to get some uneven sites down or to remove fingerprints and little dust inclusions.
After I'm done I normally use Fimo sealer cuz it takes longer before it gets sticky (I'm not a mod podge fan) or I don't seal at all.

Few examples:

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[Eviecorn]

I'm jealous of your mini-sculpting skills, BC and BM. 

[frizzycat]

So many mini makers on the Arena!    Here are some of mine.

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Cookie close up by bbqweasel, on Flickr

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Mini Totoro cream puffs by bbqweasel, on Flickr

I make my minis out of Fimo. I like it for cold winter months when my hands are numb with the cold, but it tends to get a bit too soft sometimes when it's warm. I burnt my clay creations the first time I baked them. Later, I discovered some tips that made my baking life easier. 

I use a small toaster oven to bake my minis. Bake on a tile instead of the metal tray, and use a piece of paper to lay the clay items on. The paper will prevent the bottoms of your things from becoming shiny. Little toaster ovens tend to heat unevenly, so I use aluminum foil  to cover my items and make sure that it bakes evenly. I do this by molding the foil around a bowl, and use the dome shape to cover my items with. Make sure none of your items are touching the foil when you cover them.

Get an oven thermometer. Small ovens aren't very good at heating accurately either, and this will help you bake at the right temperature.

Polymer clay is only supposed to be toxic when your burn it, but bake in a well ventilated area anyway. Some people might be more sensitive to the fumes polymer clay gives out when baking than others.

I make miniatures with Premo Sculpey-

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^ This is entirely made from clay, even the dishes.

I love your rainbow cake! I recently made some, and I made the mistake of icing all the layers in between with liquid PC. They don't look anywhere near as nice or even as yours.

[melodys_angel]

Ive used sculpey--i like it because it doesnt air dry.  Ive lost soo much clay over the years because Icant use all of it ina  few goes so it works out.

Its non toxic--im not sure where youve heard it goes toxic in the oven but thats a blatent lie.  You can also boil it^^

[kestral_kitsune]

Ive used sculpey--i like it because it doesnt air dry.  Ive lost soo much clay over the years because Icant use all of it ina  few goes so it works out.

Its non toxic--im not sure where youve heard it goes toxic in the oven but thats a blatent lie.  You can also boil it^^

awesome i can't remember where I heard it either it was on a customizing forum i was once on. It could have been about a dif clay or something