PC Color Mixer
My Favorite Products
One of the side benefits of having a large sharing community of polymer clay artists is seeing what tools and other products others are using. Polymer clay is such a versatile medium that lends itself to working with many tools and supplies from other arts and crafts mediums. Below are some of the things that have worked for me!
Full disclosure: For some of these products, I receive a tiny commission if you purchase the item after clicking my link!
Polymer Clay Tools and Supplies
Bubbles & Pearls Mold
Kind of pricey, but worth every penny! I've used this mold in several different ways including for the Sutton Slice technique and for Mokume Gane. It doesn't disappoint!
Flower Cutters in 8 sizes
This set of 8 metal cutters is very reasonably priced! These will be a great addition to your cutter collection.
Texture Tools
Use these great feathering tools for adding texture to your clay project - works for making moss, features, hair, grass, etc...
Rubber Tipped Dental Tool
This one is a must have. Super Scultor, Amy Hucks uses this to smooth and shape her amazing sculptures. The per item price goes down a lot if you order a multi-pack, so buy them for your friends!
Burnishing Tool
This is actually stainless steel soap, but it works great for burnishing your clay veneers. This is a set of 5. It also comes in a single one or a set of 2, but you can get 5 of them for the price of 2 singles, so I went that way!
Patty Paper
Great price on this stack of patty papers to use when burnishing clay and to keep clay from sticking to your work surface when working with it.
Deli Sheets
Store or cover your polymer clay with these plastic deli sheets. The box lasts for ages and keeps your clay safe from sticking together or from touching paper, wood, or the wrong plastics.
Round Cutter Set
Very inexpensive, but great round cutters. A staple for all clayers.
Form for Making Inros
This petit four cutter is the perfect form for making inros (pronounced eenyo). Donna Kato has a great tutorial on YouTube for this.
Semi sphere pans
When you want to bake something with a bit of a curve, these spherical pans are just the ticket. I bought the set of 4, but can only seem to find one at any given time. The little stand pans that come with them are also great for baking small items.
Water Soluble Transfer Paper
My favorite transfer printer to use with polymer clay. Print your design on one of these sheets on a laser printer. Burnish face down on clay. Rinse with water. The ink stays, the paper dissolves.
** Does not work with ink jet printer! **
POSCA Pen Set
I love POSCA pens & use them mostly for adding accents to baked polymer clay pieces. This is a great set of 12 that will get you started on your POSCA pen journey. My collection has grown large. I think buying craft supplies is a hobby on its own.
Pasta Machine Motor
I didn't know I needed a motor for my pasta machine until I bought one. I thought, I don't mind cranking. Why would I need a motor. O.M.G. This is a must have if you are doing much conditioning and blending. It's not just about not cranking. It gives you both hands free for guiding the clay. It's wonderful! Fits the Atlas perfectly
Oven thermometer
I have been very lucky to have home ovens that have been super accurate temperature-wise. I always bake in my home oven. Whether you are baking in your home oven or a smaller oven, its a good idea to make sure the temperature is accurate. This inexpensive little thermometer will test it for you.
Heat Gun for Curing Liquid Clay
If you are working with liquid clay, it is often advantageous to cure it using a heat gun rather than in the oven. This is a great option for that. You can adjust the temperature and the fan.
Pan Pastel Tray
Instead of having to unscrew the pan pastel containers when I use them, I love having them already opened in this Palette Tray. You take off the big lid and all the round containers are open and ready to use. When done, replace the lid and the containers are protected.
Christi Friesen
Gotta Have It Tool
This little tool is heavy metal and is very useful. I lost mine for a few months and just as I was about to order a new one, I found it hiding in a bag of texture tools. I really missed it. My favorite use for it is for shaping the split in the top of a heart. See my YouTube channel for how I make my hearts!
4x4 wood blanks
I'm sure there are many uses for these 4" by 4" wood squares, but I purchased them to use as the front and back covers of an explosion book. The uses for these magical art books are limitless. Cover the blanks, decorate how ever you like, and bake. Then make your book and glue it between the covers. Link for how to make the book!
Acrylic shelf for Acrylic Paints
Although this little shelf is made for holding nail polishes, I have found it is just the right size for the little 2 oz acrylic paint bottles that I have many, many of. It organizes the paints and looks pretty!
Etch & Pearl Tools
These are available on Sculpey.com. They have a blunt point at one end and a concave dome at the other. When that end is pushed into clay, it makes a wonderful perfect little domed dot. If you don't have these, you need them.
Twin Blade Craft Knife
Need a uniform strip of clay? This great adjustable tool lets you make the cuts so that the strip ends up uniform every time!
Table Mount for Extruder
If holding your extruder while cranking it hurts your hands, this table mount is just what you need.
Metal Pill Case for Decorating
with Polymer Clay
This pill organizer unscrews and separates into 8 parts. Each part can be decorated and baked, then reassembled. Be sure to remove the tiny rubber O rings before baking and replace after.
Cup Burr Set
When working with metal wire, this cup burr set used with a Dremel quickly and easily rounds the ends of the cut wire so that they are no longer sharp. Includes a variety of sizes.
Color Tools
Sarah Renae Clark's
Color Cube
The Color Cube was the inspiration for the PC Color Mixer app. It's a fantastic tool for choosing colors for your art projects. Each card includes a cohesive color palette and the hex codes for the colors.
Scale for weighing clay
This is the scale that I use with the PC Color Mixer app. It is inexpensive and weighs fractions of grams pretty accurately.
Polymer Clay
Color Inspirations book
This is THE book for studying color as it pertains to polymer clay. Authors Lindly Haunani and Maggie Maggio are the eminent color experts in our field and this book is a must read for clayers, new and experienced.
PC Color Mixer app
Available for iOS (link above) and for Android (search in Google Play), the PC Color Mixer app asks the question, what color do you want to mix and how much of it do you need and generates a recipe for the color using Sculpey Premo primary colors of polymer clay.
Other Stuff
Pilot G2 Pens
I have several physical journals that I write in regularly. These are the BEST, smoothest-writing pens! I use them all the time and they feel good and write good. You need these!
Hard Cover Thick Sticker Books
There are several of these. Reasonably price and chock full of great stickers to use in journals, on envelopes, wherever! Also, Seashore and Botany themes.
I talk to my grandson often on FaceTime and this phone holder is a lifesaver when I need my hands free when we are talking.
Diamond Painting Kit
Ed and I both do some diamond painting and have purchased several of these kits to keep all our stuff organized. The kit includes enough lidded containers for a couple projects and all the tools that make diamond painting easier.
Apple Watch Bands
My favorite bands for my Apple Watch! These are very comfortable and allow me to change out the color of my band to match my mood or what I'm wearing.
POPYoung Tunic Top
I have this top in almost every pattern available. It's long enough to wear with leggings and super comfortable. Hubby does our laundry and he both machine washes and dries these and they come out perfectly!
These turn your sneakers into no-tie shoes without investing in Kiziks. Ed swears by them and has them in all his shoes.
UnderOutfit Bras
O.M.G. I've always worn underwire bras and every evening by 7 pm, I changed into my nightgown because I couldn't wait to shed my bra. Now, I am comfortable till time to go to bed!
No underwire AND they keep the girls up where they belong!
My Favorite Pill Case
Getting older involves lots and lots of pills - medications, supplements, vitamins.... This pill case has the space and divides every day of the week into Morning, Lunch, Dinner, & Bedtime.
Wallet/Phone Case
I hardly ever carry a purse or bag any more. Instead, I wear my phone on a crossbody strap and this case lets me take the bare essentials with me - driver's license, cards, and cash. I attach my keys too and I'm good to go!
I have 2 of these cloth earring organizers hanging on my bedroom wall. They hold all my favorite earrings and brooches. But, they could also be used for displaying earrings in a shop or a craft show booth.
Roll-up Dish Rack
I love this! I lay dish cloths on it to dry, wash vegetables on it, use it as extra counter space, leave dishes on it to drain. It keeps things up out of the sink, while still letting water through.
Chenille Bath Towels
Fun and absorbent bath "towels". I use them in my kitchen and all the bathrooms.
These are great because the bottles can go in the dishwasher and the covers in the laundry. I replace them about every 6 months when they don't seem to be getting clean enough.
Mason Jar Sealer
I usually store cut vegetable and leftovers in pint and quart sized jars. This sealer sucks the air out so the food stays fresher longer.
Wire Wash Cloths
These are gentle scrubbers and they work for everything! Use them on pots and pans, even nonstick. Use them to clean off dried food on counters and stovetops. Throw them in the laundry.
2x3 Sprocket Printer
I love my Sprocket! Print pictures directly from your phone to a 2z3 sticker. Great for using with an art journal!
At $20 for 50 stickers, that puts printing stickers at about 40 cents per picture. Not bad for a LOT of convenience.
Security Stamp Roller
As mail comes in that I'm going to put in recycling, I hit it with this bad boy and, voila! No personal info heading to the landfill to be combed through by identity thieves!
Suggestions???
Have suggestions for great products to share? Email me at pccolormixer@gmail.com