What is Polymer Clay?
Polymer clay is modelling medium that can be shaped into different patterns and shape. Then set in an conventional oven at a range of 110 - 150 degrees c. The clay is PVC based with added pigments, conditioners and fillers. It is made from non toxic materials and is completely safe to work with. It is not an air dry or earthenware clay.

How do you bake polymer clay?

I like to say the clay is cured rather than baked and it's not edible unlike baked goods such as cakes and cookies. Each brand of clay has it's own curing point and recommendation for duration curing. instructions are clearly marked on the packaging. For example Premo! by Sculpey cures at 130 degrees c for 30 minutes. And Kato Polyclay at 150 degrees. Personally I like to cure for an 45 minutes to an hour regardless of the brand. I find that a longer curing process results in a stonger more durable finish. I always stick to the temperature recommended otherwise discolouration and scorching can occur and this can ruin your piece. One way to avoid colour change during the curing process is to cover or 'tent' your items with aluminium foil or printer paper. I have a specific toaster over for curing my pieces. In this oven I have standard metal pan that I place a large ceramic tile on, this tile is covered in printer paper, the printer paper stops flat pieces getting shiny spots and protects the item from scorching. In addion to this I have a 2 foil pans clipped together, inside my foil pan I have a bed of fiberfill to rest my uncured pieces on. The fiberfill prevents shine, gives support to curved pieces and the foil lid acts as a scorch gaurd. Many of my pieces will be cured repeatidly Repeated curings only seems to strenghten the piece.

I will always advocate using a oven probe thermometer to calibrate your oven and use during the curing process as oven are alway cycling trough cooling down and warming up and you want to avoid oven spikes.

Are Polymer pieces painted?

No, the pieces themselves are not painted, the pigments in the clay provide the colour and the many techniques used are what give you the painted patterns in the clay. Although you can use paint as part of your decoration of pieces. For example you can use a heat set paints for surface techniques. Acryllic paint for silk screening onto raw polmer clay, then cure the pieces. The heat set paint bonds to the clay to make a durable pattern. You can also use an acrylic paint to add ageing, a patina or definition to cured clay.

Can I wear my earrings swimming?

It's not recommend to wear them swimming, however the pigments are colour fast and the material is completely durable once fully cured. Your earrings are waterproof and may even float in the water!

I heard polymer clay is toxic, it that true?

No, all the ingredients in poylmer clay are perfectly safe. Some people will get an alergic reaction to some brands but they are reacting to the pigments/perfumes in the same way as you can react to soap. There is as urban myth that curing the clay causes toxic fumes. This is NOT true if you follow the instructions properly it is compeletely safe. However, if you burn the clay during the curing process it will turn black and puff up realising hydrogen chloride gas, which is caustic and will burn your lungs (but is not exactly toxic). Simple answer is don't burn the clay.  Oh! and I don't recommend that you eat it. It does not taste nice!!

One of the common beginners mistakes is to put the clay in the oven at 265 degrees centrigrade - misreading the 265 is farenheit not centrigrade. Your clay will definitely burn. 

If I want to start working with polymer clay, how do I start?

Read the articles on The Blue Bottle Tree website. Watch Youtube videos. Buy some Premo or Cernit Number 1 to start with, just a coulple of packs. You can cure clay in your home oven (yes, this is perfectly safe to do so if a little uneconomic.) You can use home made tools to start with. You will need a tile or glass placemat to work on. You will need a blade, like a craft knife or stanley knife, a glass to roll the clay out on, maybe a cookie cutter. Once you know it you like using it, you can purchase some professional tools and claying items from one of the UK suppliers. (Clayaround, TheClayHub, CooksonsGold) I would also recommend joining the British Polymer Clay Guild who have a lot of exclusive tutorials and workshops on their webpage. They also have local group meetings where you can learn from seasoned professionals.

Which brand of clay is best to use?

I am not sponsored by any particular brand. I use Premo, Cernit, Kato and Pardo depending on the project I am working on But I have used Fimo Professional, Papa's Clay, CosClay and DAS clay. Everyone will have there own opinion and preference. I say try them all and see what works for you, I have written about the brands here  What is Polymer Clay?