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Step 1
Select a brand of polymer clay. There are several brands and types of polymer clays on the market, including Fimo, Sculpey and Premo. Generally speaking, Sculpey is ideal for projects that need flexibility after curing while Fimo holds its shape. A good place to determine which brand you want for your project is the Polymer Clay Test page at Garie's Clay Creations (see Resources below).
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Step 2
Choose the color palette. Polymer clays come in a wide variety of colors right off the shelf, but they can also be mixed together to create unique colors. You can even blend paint, ink, chalk, colored pencil, pastel, charcoal or any other color-bearing medium that will stand up to the mild heat of the oven.
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Step 3
Wash your hands before and after working with polymer clay. Washing before removes any dirt or lint that may get trapped in the clay. Washing after removes the polymer clay from your hands, so it doesn't get on your clothes or in your mouth.
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Step 4
Condition the polymer clay by kneading, rolling, squeezing, wedging or putting it through a pasta maker. This makes sure the pigments are evenly distributed and warms the clay up, so that it is pliable enough to work with easily. If you find that the clay has become too soft, you can place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to stiffen it once more.
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Step 5
Work on a clean, dry surface that will not stain. Some polymer clays can stain wood, plastic and cloth, so you'll want to work on a surface that won't be harmed by the clay. Glass cutting boards or plain white paper works well. You can even tape down the edges of some wax or parchment paper, with the added benefit of being able to throw away your work surface after you've completed your project, but don't use newspaper, since the ink from the print will transfer to the clay.
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Step 6
Use a variety of household and specialty tools to sculpt polymer clay. Tools designed for traditional clay work well, but so do plain, old kitchen tools like cheese slicers and rolling pins. Needles, bamboos skewers and cocktail straws work great to punch holes in beads or other items you might want to hang while cloths, toothbrushes and sponges make interesting textures on the surfaces.
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Step 7
Construct armatures for large items. Polymer clay can only hold so much of its own weight before it starts to collapse. As long as whatever you use for armatures or supports can withstand the mild temperatures of the oven during the curing process, you can use it.
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Step 8
Bake your creation according to the manufacturer's directions. Each clay type will be slightly different, so read the package carefully. Prop up any large, freestanding objects since the clay will get softer before it begins to cure.
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Step 9
Sand, file, chisel or even drill a cured polymer clay sculpture to achieve the desired effect. You can even paint or write on the finished product.
