By General Crafts Contributor Amy from the Etsy Shop DangerousRainboCraft.
Do I need to buy every shade of every color?
No, you can mix colors to create your own custom colors. If you have a hard time figuring out what colors to mix, a color wheel is a great tool to have and can also be used for other crafts like mixing paints.
Can I mix different brands of polymer clay?
Yes, you can. When baking different brands of clay together bake at the lower temperature clay’s instructions regarding time and thickness. If you feel the need to bake a little longer after your work is cooled you can put it back in the oven and bake a little longer. Just don’t over-bake you work it will cause it to be brittle or even burnt.
Do I need a special oven?
No, you can bake polymer clay in your home oven. It is a good idea to invest in an oven thermometer to ensure you oven temperature is correct. Never bake food at the same time you bake your clay and allow your oven air out after use. Polymer clay fumes can be toxic and could absorb into food if baked at the same time or shortly after oven use. Many polymer clay artists use a craft oven that they only use for baking clay. They are compact enough to fit on a craft table or desk and save on energy.
Why is my clay changing in color as I work with it?
You just worked with a red piece of clay and now as you work with your yellow piece of clay, you notice red fingerprints or marbling. This is because the clay’s color pigments can stain your hands. You can either wash you hands or use a wet wipe to remove the stain from your hands. Another good thing to do is to work with your lightest color first and still use wet wipes or wash your hands between colors.
Why do my eye pins keep falling out of my finished projects?
I personally like to dip the tip of my pins in Liquid Fimo before inserting them into my work. Another method is to pull out the pins after baking and dip them in a strong glue and reinsert them back into place.