Getting Started with Polymer Clay
Beginner's Guide for Making Jewelry

If you haven't tried using polymer clay for making jewelry, what are you waiting for? All you need is some clay and an oven. Many craft stores have free project sheets to get you started. There are tons of step-by-step tutorials on the Internet. Don't forget your local library. Let's get started!

About Polymer Clay

Polymer clay isn't really a 'clay', although it does resemble modeling clay. It is a mixture of vinyl chloride particles in a plasticizer. You form the clay into your desired shape and heat it. The heating polymerizes the clay into polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Although the PVC isn't harmful (well... you don't want to breathe particles of it from sanding it), the plasticizer and unpolymerized vinyl chloride in the clay can be toxic. You need to bake the clay in a well-ventilated room. The fumes aren't particularly troublesome unless you overheat the clay (e.g., over 300°F). Although many people use their hands to work the clay, others prefer to wear gloves. Kids can work the clay, but it isn't suitable for youngsters who would put the clay or their hands in their mouths. Any items you recruit from the kitchen for your work with clay will become dedicated to clay and shouldn't be used for food.

Polymer clay offers endless design opportunities! The clay doesn't dry out, so there's no time limit for construction. You can blend one clay with other colors. The clay is ductile and flexible. The finished product can be either firm or flexible, depending on the type of clay that is used. Any heat-safe material can be incorporated into the, such as metal and beads. The clay can be sculpted into a shape or used to cover a form.

Materials for Using Polymer Clay

All you really need is the clay, an oven, and something to place the clay on to bake it. That's it! You can bake the clay on a piece of foil or a tile. You may wish to have a razor blade or sharp knife. I like to use baby wipes to clean the clay residue off of my tools and fingers. If you decide that you enjoy working with polymer clay, there are lots of tools and implements that you can make or buy, but you can do great things with just your own two hands.

You can order polymer clay from the Internet or buy it at just about craft store (I get mine at Michael's or Wal-Mart). There are different types (e.g., Premo, Sculpey and Liquid Sculpey, Fimo). You can mix and match the different brands of clay to customized colors or properties, but be aware that different brands may have different firing times/temperatures.

Getting Started

For information on different techniques, I recommend visiting the Polymer Clay FAQ at The Polymer Clayspot. There are projects all over the Net, but one place with a wide variety of projects is HGTV Polymer Clay 101.

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