Polymer Clay Supplies
Artsy Earrings Supply List
$5 to instructor for group/initial supplies. This will help me to cover the costs of initial clay at first lesson as well as group supplies. Thank you!
Polymer Clay
Sculpey, Premo, Fimo and Kato are all decent brands. Do not buy the really cheap bargain craft clay. It’s a good idea to get all your colors in the same brand so they mix evenly. Whatever brand you get, make sure to check the baking temperature on the label as it differs.
There are tons of vibrant lush colors of clay so it can be hard to choose! Also, remember that you can mix clay together to make new colors. In order to make fruit earrings, you will need to get the colors of the fruit you are making PLUS translucent. Translucent is what will make your clay see through and make it look more like real fruit, especially for things like slices of lemon or lime. Get translucent, white, red, yellow and green at a minimum so you have some colors to start with. I have black for seeds, so you do not have to buy that.
If you do not use the entire block of clay, store it in a zip bag and label what kind it was along with the proper temperature.
You can get polymer clay at Michaels and Hobby Lobby. Always take a coupon! You can buy it online, but I think it might be less expensive to get it in the actual store, especially if you have a coupon. I have noticed that the Michaels on Foothill in La Verne has a better selections that the Michaels on Mountain in Upland.
One thing to note about polymer clay is that it hardens the longer it is left on the shelf. So in the store, give the package a little squeeze. It should give a little. If it is hard as a rock, try another package. Keep this in mind as you purchase as well: it makes no sense to buy huge amounts that may sit on a shelf in your house for years.
Acrylic Roller / Pasta Machine
You will need to condition your clay by working it with a roller or a pasta machine. A basic acrylic roller is essential for working with clay. A pasta machine is optional, but makes conditioning the clay much easier and also allows you do do some things you can’t do just rolling by hand. You can get a less expensive pasta machine online for about $20 to $25. Sometimes the craft stores have them as well. There is a brand marketed for clay, and another one marketed by Sculpey, but you can get any pasta maker. (I put Amazon links in just so you can see what I am talking about. You do not have to get the linked item per se.) One thing to note is that once you use the machine for clay, you cannot use it for pasta as chemicals may have leached out of the clay onto the machine and you do not want that in your food.
Polymer Clay Blade
To make slices off the cane, we use a flexible blade sometimes called a tissue slicer. These can be purchased in the clay section of the hobby store or online.
Waxed Paper and Masking Tape
Before working the clay, it is a good practice to tape down waxed paper to work on. This gives you a clean surface and also protects your desk or counter. As you change colors of clay, you can just put down a new piece of waxed paper as needed.
Baby Wipes / Paper Towels
Keeping things clean makes your artwork turn out clean. Any little dirt or lint etc that is on your hands or your work surface will quickly get embedded in your clay. In addition, when you roll the clay with either your roller or the pasta machine, you need to keep the surface clean, especially when changing colors.
Zip Baggies / Plastic Containers
It is a good idea to have some small zip baggies on hand to store your clay. You can also use small plastic containers with lids. Old prescription bottles sometimes work.
Old Pie Tins or Baking Sheet
To harden your clay, you bake in a regular oven. Usually you can put your clay on an old pie tin or baking sheet on top of piece of paper. Some people also put clay on a tile.
Jewelry Findings / Pliers
To make your clay fruit into earrings, you will need to add jewelry findings such as stick pins and earring loops. If you want to add beads you can get those as well. In order to twist the wire you will need small pliers. These can all be found in the jewelry making section of a hobby store. I will bring my pliers to class as well.
Above are the main things you will need to make your polymer clay creations! You may want to add optional items. One tool I use a lot is an old knitting needle. I also use an Xacto knife. To soften old clay, I sometimes use mineral oil or clay softener put out by Sculpey.
Before slicing clay, it helps to harden it by placing it in the freezer. I will try to bring something cold to help the clay harden a bit. At home you can just place it in the freezer.
You can find my Polymer clay board on Pinterest here.
My Insta account is Claremont Design.
Link to video on making lemon earrings.