Tools & Materials

As luck would have it, the basic tools and materials for working with polymer clay are inexpensive and easy to find at craft stores. Christi shows you what you need to get started, as well as some additional supplies for this workshop that you’ll no doubt want to try.

The Basics:

Polymer clay, of course! There are lots of good brands to choose from. (Christi’s favorite is Premo, available at FireMountainGems.com)
Liquid clay, such as Translucent Liquid Sculpey (Available at FireMountainGems.com)
Work surface, such as a ceramic tile, glass tile, or even index cards or deli paper

Powders for surface effects
Cutting blade or knife
Needle-nose tweezers
Straight knitting needle, thin metal rod, or bamboo skewer for creating bead holes
Metal, wooden or plastic sculpting tools for texturing and guiding clay
Needle tool or toothpicks for poking and scratching
Crystal Katana tool (optional) (Available at FireMountainGems.com)
Roller (or wine bottle)
Pasta machine dedicated to conditioning clay
Tupperware or plastic wrap for storing clay

Tabletop oven
Powders for surface effects such as chalk powders, mica powders, etc.
Paintbrush for applying powders
Protective glaze, such as Sculpey Satin Glaze or Swellegant! Clear Sealant
Tabletop oven or home oven
Oven thermometer
Toilet paper and foil for propping while baking
Oven pan

Additional Supplies for this Workshop:

Sculpey UltraLight clay

Foil and gold leaf
Large cutting blade
Pliers and round-nose pliers
Wire cutters
Scotch tape
20 gauge wire
Fibers and cords for stringing
Crafting foils
Gold leaf
Stamp sheets with deep patterns
Hotel card key for rubbing
600-800 grit wet/dry sandpaper
Acrylic square or old CD case
2-part silicone mold-making material

Silicon mold-making set
Filigree or other items for mold impressions
Acrylic paint
Stone or glass beads
Glass crystals, such as Swarovski hot-fix flatbacks
Findings (ball-tipped head pins, eye pins, jump rings, chain, ear wires, pin backs, etc.)