Polymer Clay

Fimo and clay tips and tutorials

Website Review – Poly Clay Play

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Hi ladies (and gents?) !

I was cruising around some old haunts on the web, and one of them was the Poly Clay Play website. When I found this gem of a site I was first beginning to explore clay. I love her site just as much today. Trish Hodgens is the owner of the Poly Clay Play site, which offers tools and unique supplies to help keep the polymer fun going with monthly sales. She also has monthly clubs for both, adults and children. There are free samples of a few of her her club projects on the site. Oh, and there are monthly challenges, this month was the Spooky Tabletop decor. It was a hard choice to pick from the entries . Last month the theme was “bugs”. That looked like a fun one also. She offers monthly kits for her members of the club to use with the challenges. Then, there’s the Yahoo group where you can keep up with the going’s on over there and to vote in the challenges.

The thing that I loved on the Poly Clay Play site; Trish has a new way of doing color-mixing recipes and it also cures the problem you may have of storing them. She calls her system ” Rainbow of Color System” ” The Poly Clay Play Color Recipes & Storage System”

Here is a small description from the website about her new color-mixing product- 

“The Poly Clay Play” website is a superb site for polymer clay beginners to start. The monthly kits have all the instruction you need and Trish doesn’t mind answering any of you questions. She has well stocked supplies of all kind of goodies, I spotted a texture sheet that’s gonna be mine! So, beginner or pro, at least check out her supplies!

A comprehensive kit with everything you need except clay.

Color chips at your fingertips. Easy to See – Easy to Recreate !

Poly Clay Play’s ~ Rainbow of Color System
Everything you need to create and save your recipes!

Binder

Recipe Card Pages hold up to 180 Recipes

Printed Recipe Cards for your New Polymer Clay Recipes

Pre-Printed Recipe Card with lots of colors to try

Inventory Sheets

Shopping Lists

Polymer Clay Color Charts

Web Access to New Color Recipes

Step-by-Step Easy to Understand Instructions for making your own or following the included recipes.

Color chips at your fingertips. Easy to See – Easy to Recreate!

 Let me know if anyone has one or gets one, so you let me know how easy it is.

[tags]Polymer Clay – General, color recipes, Poly Clay Play, monthly kits, challenges, website review[/tags]

Have you read?

The Best Glue for Polymer Clay (And How to Use It Without Messy Mistakes)

If you’ve ever spent hours sculpting the perfect polymer clay earrings only to have the posts pop off, you’ll know the heartbreak of choosing the wrong glue. Polymer clay doesn’t play nicely with every adhesive, and what works for paper or wood can end up brittle, tacky, or just plain useless on clay.

After twenty years of crafting with polymer clay—jewelry, buttons, magnets, and more—I’ve tested my fair share of glues. Below is a no-fuss guide to the best glues for polymer clay, when to use them, and a few tricks that will save you from sticky disasters.

Do You Really Need Glue for Polymer Clay?

Here’s the secret: clay itself bonds better to clay than any glue can. So, if you can bake pieces together, that’s always the strongest option. But for jewelry findings, mixed-media projects, or attaching polymer clay to metal, glass, or ceramics—yes, glue becomes your best friend.

The Best Glues for Polymer Clay

1. Super Glue (Cyanoacrylate)

  • Best for: Quick fixes, small attachments like jewelry posts or jump rings. 
  • Pros: Dries in seconds, clear finish. 
  • Cons: Brittle over time, not ideal for stress points. 
  • Tip: Use a tiny drop. Too much will bloom white residue onto your clay. 

2. E6000

  • Best for: Heavy-duty bonds, especially clay to metal (think bails, barrettes, and keychains). 
  • Pros: Industrial strength, flexible once cured. 
  • Cons: Strong fumes, needs 24 hours to fully cure. 
  • Tip: Work in a ventilated space and clamp your piece while drying. 

3. Two-Part Epoxy

  • Best for: Jewelry and repairs that need to last a lifetime. 
  • Pros: Rock-solid bond, water-resistant. 
  • Cons: Messy to mix, limited working time. 
  • Tip: Mix on a scrap surface and apply with a toothpick for precision. 

4. Polymer Clay–Friendly Liquid Clay (Like Sculpey Bake & Bond)

  • Best for: Attaching raw clay to baked clay before re-baking. 
  • Pros: Fuses clay layers when baked, invisible bond. 
  • Cons: Won’t work as a cold glue. Needs baking. 
  • Tip: Great for mosaics or adding small details that need extra security. 

5. PVA or White Craft Glue

  • Best for: Porous surfaces like paper, cardboard, or fabric accents. 
  • Pros: Cheap, easy to find. 
  • Cons: Weak bond on non-porous surfaces. 
  • Tip: Use only for mixed-media projects where polymer clay is decorative, not structural. 

Common Gluing Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

  • Using too much glue: More isn’t stronger. A thin layer bonds better. 
  • Not roughing up surfaces: Lightly sand shiny metal or glass so glue has something to grip. 
  • Skipping the clean-up: Oils from your fingers weaken adhesion—wipe surfaces with rubbing alcohol first. 
  • Expecting miracles: Some things just won’t bond forever. Reinforce with wire, eye pins, or bake-in hardware whenever possible. 

My Go-To Recommendation

If you’re attaching metal jewelry findings, go for two-part epoxy or E6000. For clay-to-clay details, stick with liquid polymer clay and rebake. Super glue? Only for quick fixes when I’m too impatient (we’ve all been there).

Choosing the right glue for polymer clay isn’t just about brand—it’s about matching the adhesive to the project. Once you understand when to use each type, your clay creations will hold up beautifully for years.