Our kids were born two years apart, meaning that for several years the little guy took a nap while his older sister was wide awake but not yet in school. Our solution was to spend nap time creating a menagerie of animals from polymer clay with the older sibling.
Polymer clay is easy to manipulate, brightly colored, and bakes into a hardened figurine in under 20 minutes. There are numerous brands, with FIMO being the German original, and Sculpey being it’s more affordable upstart cousin made in the USA.
As frugal patriots, we always opt for Sculpey. If you live near a Michael’s arts and crafts supply store, they typically have an online discount coupon available via their website that you can apply at the cash register, giving you 20-40% off.
Our successes have primarily been with small figurines (~ 2 inches tall) and similarly-sized functional spinning tops. It’s possible to make jewelry and charms as well.
A few pointers:
- Start by choosing your palette with 2-3 colors of clay that go well together.
- Delicate features and protuberances are prone to break, so stick to designs that are chunky.
- Wash hands or use moist wipes between using different colored clays to avoid inadvertent color contamination.
- Test that your figurines can stand upright just prior to baking.
An hour spent on polymer clay is relaxing, provides a creative outlet, and often results in unique handmade gifts for family and friends.
i love the hippo!!!
Thanks! Simplicity in design (and skillset) for the win.