While kids are working with polymer clays (like Fimo and Sculpey), small pieces get pinched off, cut off, or even crumble off while kids knead and warm up the clay. Although the temptation may be to sweep up and toss these odd bits, it is frustrating to waste money by throwing away this clay. Instead, give these polymer clay pieces a new life in other projects geared for mixing colors.
Working Polymer Clay
Save bits of clay in a plastic sandwich bag or a closable container. It is okay if different colors go in the same bag, they won’t mix until you blend them. Keep even the smallest crumb of clay and add it to the bag.
When you have enough for a project, grab a small amount of the clay, a piece no larger than the tip of your thumb. Warm it in your hand if the clay is cold and crumbly. Don’t worry about blending the colors right now you just want to get the clay soft and to start working the different pieces together. Depending on the project you decide to do and how much clay you’ll need, keep working small pieces and join them together.
Join the small amounts and roll them into a ball. With the flat of the palm squash the ball of clay and start rolling it back and forth to form a snake shape. Fold the snake in half and continue rolling the clay so the two snakes join into one.
You should have stripes running down the length of the clay tube. Check the colors. As you’ve been working the clay, some of the colors have blended together to make a third color. If you like the colors you have, you can use the coil; otherwise fold the clay in half and roll it once more into a single tube.
To spiral the colors around the tube, place your fingertips on one end and hold it steady while rolling the other end. The stripes will twist around the coil, creating a new effect.
Quick Crafts with Fimo and Sculpey
Bangle Bracelet
Roll the coil so it is long enough to go over the widest part of your hand. Join the ends together in a circle. Remember, whatever size you make something with polymer clay it will stay that size – it won’t grow or shrink.
Beads
Use a knife to cut quarter-inch slices from the cylinder. Leave as a flat disk and poke a toothpick or skewer from one side through to the other side of the bead. Or, after cutting a slice, roll it into a ball and poke the toothpick through the ball-shape bead.
Magnets and Game Pieces
Create tie dye-like magnets by forming pieces of the coil of clay into flowers, peace signs, hearts, etc. Frame the crazy clay pattern with a solid color. Make a solid color disk and set the swirled patterned shape on top or outline the shape with a narrow coil that is gently pressed along the side of the shape. Use hot glue to attach a magnet to the back of the shape, if desired.
You could even use the striped clay to make animal sculptures or anything else you want. Remember, though, the more you work the clay the more the colors will blend together into a new solid color and you’ll lose the striped effect. After you form the items, bake according to the directions on the package
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