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Earth-Friendly Ways with Polymer Clay

April 22, 2008 by heather powers

I know Polymer Clay gets a bad rap on earth day, so do cars, but most of us drive one. So how can you be green and a polymer clay artist and make sure that your use of polymer clay is good for the environment?

Reuse, reduce and recycle – clay that is!

  • There shouldn’t be any waste in your polymer clay studio. All raw clay can be reused. I sort my scraps by color when I’m working and either use them for organic-looking canes or mix them together for new colors.  (Keep your clay covered to protect it from dust and stray hairs.)
  • Mud? What happens if you mix too many colors and end up with something that looks unmentionable? Fear not, that clay can be used for the base clay in your projects, cover it with canes, new clay or paint over it.
  • All my ugly beads and projects end up in the hands of my children who use them in their own creations. Have a pile of beads you aren’t going to use? Donate them to a local classroom or Sunday School teacher.
  • Be safe – cook your clay in a clay-dedicated toaster oven, in a well-ventilated room. Never burn your clay. Wash your hands thoroughly after working with clay or wear rubber gloves.
  • And hey, who hasn’t covered an altoid tin with polymer clay – that’s green baby, all the way! You took trash and made it into something useful and beautiful.

Polymer clay crafters have been repurposing household items and cast-offs by decorating with with polymer clay for years and years! They give these items a new life and that means less stuff in landfills.

More earth day polymer clay posts:

Earth Day & Polymer Clay – at Polymer Clay Daily.

Polymer Clay Safety – from Judy Dunn.

Looking for more polymer clay texture tools? Check these out on Amazon.

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Comments

  1. Dave Robertson says

    April 23, 2008 at 8:42 am

    Heather,

    Great stuff! Thanks for posting these ideas. Rings & Things is always looking for ways to promote “greenness” in the bead/craft world, and you’ve just given us a nice bunch of new ideas.

    Keep up the good work!

    –Dave

  2. Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor says

    April 24, 2008 at 9:21 am

    Great Post Heather! Waste not… want not I always say!

Have you read?

POP! – Perspectives on Polymer

POP! – Perspectives on Polymer

Contemporary Craft is thrilled to be hosting POP! – Perspectives on Polymer June 25-29, 2022.  A five-day celebration of contemporary work in polymer, the event will have something for everyone who loves polymer clay.  POP! will feature four workshops along with virtual talks by some of the best polymer artists in the country, an exhibition of small works in polymer, and a curated feature in the Store. The opening reception will be held on Saturday, June 25, 6-8 PM, and will be free and open to the public.

POP!’s focus on workshops and the materiality of polymer makes this boutique event more than just a conference. Each participating artist was selected for their unique perspectives on polymer and the exciting ways they are moving the medium forward. The featured instructor for the event is Jeffrey Lloyd Dever, whose pioneering techniques in polymer have made him one of the most respected artists in the field. His jewelry and sculptural objects have been shown in many national invitational exhibitions, and his works are represented in numerous private collections, galleries and museums.

Read more here 

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