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Clay
- Polymer Clay / Oven Bake Clay in a variety of colors. (IMPORTANT - These sculptures are intended to be cured and hardened. It is not recommended that Learners use Plastalina or Play Dough. Model Magic or Air Dry may be used, but behaves very differently and does not hold detail as well.) *There are many brands of polymer clay / oven bake clay. See my recommendations below.

Sculpting tools: 
- a ball sculpting tool or a small paint brush with a rounded end 
- a sculpting knife or a straight-edged butter knife (sharper knives are best, but be sure your learner knows knife safety) 
- a clay smoothing tool or silicone nail art brush
- a needle tool or toothpick
- other desired tools

Other materials:
- parchment paper and/or cardstock/index card
- a smooth, clean, non-porous surface to work on. I use a ceramic tile from the home improvement store. You can also use a piece of parchment paper wrapped around a piece of carboard and taped down so that it stays. I do not recommend working on aluminum foil as it gets wrinkled easily.

Artist Recommendations:
I recommend using Sculpey III, Sculpey Premo, Sculpey Souffle, Fimo, Kato, or Cernit brand polymer clay as they are easier to find. Of these, the Sculpey III brand is the least strong but soft to work with. If you are looking for sculptures to be stronger, Sculpey Premo, Sculpey Souffle, and Fimo Professional hold up better after baking but they are less soft. Fimo and Cernit both have varieties that are softer as well, but the same applies. Kato can be more firm sometimes, and bakes at a lower temperature so it is best not to mix with other brands. These brands all come in 2 oz. bars available at stores like Michael’s or JoAnn’s, or online at Sculpey . com , Creative Wholesale, or the Polymer Clay Superstore. I have also recently tested the "Crafter's" brand by Hobby Lobby. The Crafter's Collection Craft version is similar to Sculpey III or Craftsmart. The Crafter's Collection Advanced is extremely similar to Fimo Professional. I would choose the Advanced over the Craft Collection.

Please allow time for shipping if you choose to purchase supplies online. Clay bars are typically $2 - $4 per 2 oz. per bar. You can also buy multi packs that can sometimes be cheaper. The clay will not dry out if exposed to air, so it will last a while and can be used for other projects!

**My favorite clay for softness and durability right now is Cosclay, but it is more of an investment. They come in larger, 8oz - 16oz boxes. This clay is soft to work with, but does take a minute to condition for some colors. It is also very durable, and extremely flexible. You can find it at www.Cosclay.com or on Amazon.

The variety packs that are off branded on Amazon are sometimes okay, but they often have very soft clay that is a little tough to work with. Some kids like it that soft, but others may get frustrated with the texture as it is difficult to use to make details.

****SCULPEY GUIDE****
Sculpey is by far the most popular brand among my Learners. Sculpey is the brand, and then there are several different formulas under that brand. Each one is a little different, and sometimes it is best to try a few to see which one you may like. Here is a guide to Sculpey brand polymer clay varieties:

*Sculpey Bake Shop* - for little kids usually, very soft, not as durable but easy to use.

*Sculpey III* - a good beginner polymer clay for practicing. Usually very soft, which some like and some do not. Not the most durable, especially for thin parts.

*Sculpey Souffle* - this is a favorite with jewelry makers or people who like softer clay. It is soft, easy to mold, and is more durable even when thin.

*Sculpey Premo* - this is my favorite of the Sculpey clays. It is definitely more firm, but that also means it holds detail very well. It is also more durable.

*Sculpey Original* - usually white, gray, or beige. This is for sculptors who use a lot of tools and do a lot of detail work. It is a great, but does not come in colors. It can be painted with acrylic paints.

All of these Sculpey clays are oven bake clays, and can be mixed around and used with each other since they bake at the same temperature (275 degrees Fahrenheit).

If you have any other questions about tools, materials, or colors then please send me a message.

Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.

Parental supervision or guidance may be needed for inexperienced learners. Polymer clay should be used on a non-porous surface (a metal sheet pan or piece of cardboard covered with parchment paper, or a piece of ceramic tile, or just parchment paper laid out). Learners should avoid touching their mouth when working with polymer clay.

Parental supervision or guidance is recommended when learners are using sharp cutting tools. We will be cutting the clay at various times in class, and that will require a clay cutting tool or knife. A plastic knife with a straight edge will also work.

You can bring any clay colors for your animals. If you use polymer clay like I do, it is helpful to take the clay out before class and start conditioning the clay. You can do this way before class or about 15 minutes before, depending on how hard your clay is. To condition the clay, take out a little at a time. Squeeze the clay, roll it around, and make sure it feels workable. Even if your clay is soft when you open it, conditioning it helps it to cure properly and be stronger. 

If you have really hard clay, make sure to start conditioning early, sometimes 45 minutes beforehand, by chopping up the clay into very small pieces and slowly rolling them together a little at a time. You can also use a food processor, but only if that food processor will not be used for food.

Parents may need to help their learner cure the sculptures by baking it in the oven after class. Place the sculpture on parchment paper or an index card, then on a baking sheet or in a baking dish. If you are using Premo, bake at 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Time will vary depending on thickness, but usually 1 hour is sufficient. If you use another brand, check your packaging for baking temperature and time. Let it cool completely before handling.