Sakrete 40-lb Tan/Brown Polymeric Sand at Lowe's. Sakrete polymeric sands are mixtures of sand and special additives designed to fill the joints between pavers and bricks.
When we start working with polymer clay, the choices can be overwhelming. What is the best polymer clay brand to use? There are many brands of polymer clay and they're all a bit different. Some are stronger than others, some are more flexible, some are more brittle, some are easier to work with, others are too mushy. There is no one best polymer clay brand to use. It's best to choose the right clay for the kind of results you want to get. But what is each brand best suited for?
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I do have all of these brands on hand here, and have compared them by using them in various applications. Here, I'll describe what's unique about each of the various brands of clay and what they might be particularly well-suited for. The best thing, of course, is to find what works for you. But it is helpful to know what else is out there.
Sculpey is a Brand Name, not a Type of Clay
When you say that you use Sculpey, it could mean any of several different clays produced by the Polyform Company. They have polymer clay brands that range from a very weak and mushy children's clay to a high-quality clay suitable for jewelry. Here are some characteristics of the various Sculpey brands of clay. Oh, please note, there is no 't' in the word. It is not Sculpty. That is a very common slip of the tongue.
Sculpey Original
Original Sculpey is a very soft and easily worked polymer clay that comes in a large boxes (from 1 to 24 pounds) and is only available in white and terra cotta. This should give a clue about its intended use. It's quite mushy and soft, can be difficult to sculpt, and is quite weak when cured. This should never be used in thin pieces as they will certainly break. This clay is best used as a pottery substitute for clunky things like pinch pots, bowls, and plaques. It's perfect for letting children explore with the advantage (over pottery clays or plastalina) of being able to cure and preserve their creations in a home or school setting. It is not the best polymer clay brand for making detailed sculpts, figurines, or jewelry. In fact, it's utterly unsuitable for those purposes. I know that a lot of beginners use this clay first, but know that most of the other brands are stronger and better suited for most of the types of clay work that you see others doing online.
Super Sculpey
Super Sculpey is designed for sculpting and comes in large boxes (from 1 to 24 pounds) and is only available in a light flesh tone. It's best used for sculpting figures that will not be handled. It's fairly translucent and makes a nice doll skin tone, but it often darkens during baking and people will often paint it. This is still a quite soft clay and there's a gray colored version called Super Sculpey Firm for those who need a stiffer sculpting medium. If your sculpture needs to be strong after baking, or will be handled, you're better off choosing one of the stronger clays below, some even have a range of skin tone colors specifically designed for sculpting.
Sculpey III
One of the first American colored polymer clays on the market, Sculpey III comes in 2 oz bars in a range of colors that include metallics, pearls, and translucent. Some colors are also available in 8 oz and 1 pound bricks. This is a much stronger clay than Original Sculpey, but it still has limitations in its usability. It's very soft to work with, people say it resembles toothpaste or cookie dough in texture, and it is notoriously brittle after baking. This brand of clay is often the first choice of beginners who try to attempt complex projects and are disappointed to find that it breaks easily. Don't use this clay for anything that will be thinner than 1/4″. It's a great, soft clay for children to use to make dioramas and figures that will not be handled extensively, but it is not suitable for fine detailed work that has to stand on its own, for jewelry, or for detailed sculptures like dragons and fairies. But it's a wonderful beginner clay for making large beads or simple hand-built sculptures.
Sculpey III is quite soft, though, and therefore works well for times when 'smearing' the clay is a plus. Polymer clay painting, Sutton Slice, and faux embroidery are some techniques that come to mind. But the base that you 'smear' the Sculpey III onto should be a strong clay for best results.
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Bake Shop
Available in 2 ounce blocks in several colors, Bake Shop polymer clay is the softest and weakest of all brands of polymer clay. Typically found for a mere dollar a block, it's an attractive temptation for those trying to save money. But most people complain that this clay is far too mushy and soft to hold details. Baked pieces break easily. You may prefer to save yourself some frustration and leave this clay for the toddlers to play with. *Note: I think that Bake Shop has been rebranded as Firefly in some markets.
Souffle
Only on the market a year, Souffle polymer clay seems to cause people to either love or hate it. It's one of the most flexible AND strong polymer clays on the market and is soft and easy to handle. The colors are quite subdued, but they go together well. The matte finish hides fingerprints well, but it means that a high gloss cannot be obtained. There are no translucent, metallic, or pearl colors. It's probably the best polymer clay brand for those with weak hands or arthritis. It's also tremendous for mokume gane because it slices beautifully with little distortion. I reviewed this clay in detail if you'd like to read more about it. It's available in 2 oz blocks.
Premo
Premo is quite versatile and is an excellent all-purpose polymer clay work that's readily available for most people around the world. For many people it's the best polymer clay brand, and it is certainly one of my top picks. It holds its shape and details well while you're working with it, it's easy to condition, and it's strong and flexible after baking. The colors are clean and bright and come in a full range of hues. The metallic, pearl, and translucent varieties of Premo are called Premo Accents. They function the same as regular Premo. There have been some reports of inconsistent shelf life of some colors of Premo in recent years, so do make sure to buy fresh clay from a reputable supplier and use it promptly for best results. Old clay can be quite crumbly and hard to work with.
There are other brands of polymer clay in the Polyform line, and while I've used most of them at one time or another, space limits me writing about them in detail. Ultralight is very lightweight, Bake and Bend is flexible, Eraser Clay makes erasers, Glow in the Dark does just that, and Mold Maker is sort of good at making molds. These are typically not all-purpose clays and you'd use them for a specific purpose or type of project. They're specialty clays.
FIMO, the First Polymer Clay
Fimo was the first polymer clay brand created (in 1954), and for many years the only one. Made by Staedtler, Fimo polymer clay is made in Germany and comes several variations, including a kid's clay, a general purpose clay, and a professional clay. The Fimo line is the most common brand of polymer clay in Europe and clayers there often refer to all polymer clay as 'fimo'. Fimo can be more difficult to find in the US, but it's a high quality brand that's worth seeking out.
Fimo Professional
About a year ago, Staedtler rebranded the long-loved Fimo Classic under the name Fimo Professional. They changed to 3 ounce blocks (it's now been changed back to 2 ounce blocks in North America, btw) and added a line of 'True Colors', along with an extensive mixing system that enables you to easily create a range of repeatable colors. It also comes in 12 ounce bricks. I've been lucky enough to work with this clay quite a bit and I have to say that I do love it and I think it comes close to being the best polymer clay brand. While it does stiffen up with time on the shelf, it doesn't seem to be as brick-hard as Fimo Classic was reputed to be. I find that Fimo Pro can be crumbly at first, but soon softens to a lovely workable mass with excellent body. It holds its shape well, holds detail well, and is just the right mix of stiff and soft. I do find that it does get sticky (but not like toothpaste) as it warms up. It leaves a residue on your hands and you do need to wipe your hands with baby wipes between colors. After curing, it is phenomenally strong and durable. People say that it's wonderful for caning.
Fimo Professional also has a full range of doll colors, too. That variety is called Fimo Professional Doll Art.
Polymer Cafe Freeport
Fimo Soft
Far more readily available in the US than Fimo Professional, Fimo Soft is another very nice all-purpose clay. Available in 2 ounce blocks in wide range of colors, this polymer clay is easily worked, holds its shape well, and is strong after baking. Some people have recently reported that some colors don't have a very long shelf life and can be very stiff and crumbly. As with Premo, do make sure you buy this clay very fresh from a reputable supplier and not from craft store shelves where it can be years old. The metallic, pearl, and translucent colors of Fimo are called Fimo Effect and from what I can tell they resemble Fimo Soft in behavior far more than Fimo Professional.
Fimo Leather
This brand of polymer clay has paper or cellulose fibers inside which give it a texture effect in both the raw and baked forms. This texture makes Fimo Leather look like real leather. It's also flexible enough to sew with a sewing machine. It's an interesting novelty clay that has some great possibilities for making marbled faux stone effects. Read a full review here.
Fimo Kids
Not to be left out, children have their own brand of polymer clay in the Fimo line as well. Fimo Kids comes in a basic color palette of fairly small 1.5 ounce blocks. The colors are more chalky and less intense than the colors in the other Fimo brands. The clay is soft and workable and I think it's the best polymer clay brand for children.
Kato Polyclay
Kato Polyclay is a brand of polymer clay developed and marketed by polymer clay artist Donna Kato. It comes in 2 ounce blocks and large 12.5 ounce bricks and comes in a range of bright colors, neutrals, and metallics. The colors or Kato Polyclay are designed to be close to artist's primaries, so you can readily mix any color that you would need. Kato has a reputation for being difficult to condition and stiff to work with, so you will find a lot of people who dislike this clay intensely. But that's because they're expecting this clay to be something it's not. It's not a clay for children or people with weak hands, but it's arguably the best polymer clay brand for caning. The colors remain crisp and well defined, the clay is not at all sticky and is easy to re-position during caning, too. The unbaked clay has a waxy and plastic feeling to it, and the baked clay has a slight sheen. To me, it feels the most like plastic of any clay brands. Because Kato is fairly stiff to work with, it's the best polymer clay brand to use if you have hot hands and tend to find other brands too soft.
A lot of people find that Kato Polyclay has a very strong smell. Well, it does. There's no doubt about that. It's not a terrible smell. It's very vinyl-like, just like a new shower curtain or a new baby doll. But some people find it to be overwhelming. Others quite like it. I find that the smell is barely noticeable if I keep my clay covered with a lid during baking.
Kato Polyclay is also one of the strongest polymer clays on the market. If you need something to be strong after baking, this clay is the one to choose. It's also wonderful for very finely detailed sculpting, as you can see in the work of Forest Rogers.
Pardo by Viva Decor
Also a German brand of polymer clay, Pardo comes in a jewellery clay and a professional clay. It's also known for having a phenomenally clear translucent polymer clay.
Pardo Jewellery Clay
Originally supplied in odd little balls in a jar, Pardo Jewellery clay is a hobby clay that has colors named for and is designed to resemble various gemstones and jewelry materials. Most of the colors have a slight sparkle or shimmer to them, similar to gemstones. I rarely see this clay and don't have any reason to work with it as I find other clays more suitable for my needs. But it's a perfectly good brand of polymer clay. In short, I know little about it.
Pardo Professional Art Clay
I will admit that I don't use Pardo Professional for anything but the translucents, but it does come in a full range of lovely colors. Translucent Pardo Professional Art Clay is the clearest translucent polymer clay on the market and is by FAR the best polymer clay brand to use if you want to create faux glass or other extremely translucent effects. Pardo now has a line of colored translucent polymer clay that I reviewed recently. I highly recommend them!
Pardo Professional is a very good polymer clay for creating canes as it gives clear definition and doesn't get too mushy. It can, however, be a bit tricky to work with. It does tend to crumble when it's not conditioned, and some people find this to be a problem when slicing older canes. Pardo responds beautifully to heat, though, and gently warming a cane before slicing can make it easier to slice. Here's more info for you if you have trouble conditioning Pardo translucent. It does have some tricks to it!
Cernit Polymer Clay
For some reason, Cernit is a polymer clay that's far more popular in Europe than it is in the US. It has a reputation of being the best polymer clay brand for making dolls and it does come in a range of flesh colors that more evenly reflects the variations of the human population than other brands. It comes in well over 77 colors in both small and large blocks. Cernit has a slightly translucent base, so baked items have a luminous porcelain-like effect that makes nice flower petals and doll skin. I find Cernit to be a bit crumbly when you first break it off the block, but it quickly smooths out to form a very soft-bodied clay that can be a bit too floppy to work with when it warms up. I find that it's best if you let it rest every few minutes and don't overwork it. Cernit is extremely strong and quite flexible after baking, making it an excellent choice for flower petals and flower jewelry. Translucent Cernit is one of the clearest of all the brands, and you will find that mixing Cernit and Pardo Translucents gives and excellent translucent combination that seems to have the best features of both. You can read my comprehensive review of Cernit Polymer Clay here.
PVClay is from Brazil
South America has a rapidly growing polymer clay community. More and more people are learning about the joys of creating with polymer and they're looking for good brands of clay to use. Importing clay can be expensive. But there is a wonderful brand of polymer clay made in Brazil called PVClay. I have used this clay and I wrote a review of PVClay here. It's strong, flexible, fairly easy to work with, and comes in a range of colors, metallics, pearls, and even a translucent. I do recommend this clay and find it to be a very nice all purpose brand.
Generic Brands
Polymer clay is easy for chemists to make, so it's not unusual for there to be 'no name' or generic brands of polymer clay available on the market. Some stores have their own brand of generic clay. Michaels has CraftSmart brand and Hobbycraft has ShapeIt! Brand. You can also find unnamed brands for sale quite cheaply on auction sites such as Ebay. In general, these clays can be too soft, too hard, too brittle, or just plain inconsistent from one purchase to the next. There are better choices.
So, What is the Best Polymer Clay Brand?
As I hope you can see here, there is no one best polymer clay brand. It just depends on what you're wanting to do with it and what type of project you want to make. In short, here are my recommendations:
- If you're teach toddlers about tactile work, I'd choose Sculpey Original or Bake Shop.
- For working with small children, I'd choose Souffle or Fimo Kids.
- To make jewelry I'd choose Premo, Cernit, Fimo Professional, or Souffle.
- For caning, I'd pick Kato Polyclay or Fimo Professional.
- For detailed, strong sculptures, Kato Polyclay seems to be best.
- For everyday sculpting of things that will stay on a shelf, Super Sculpey does well.
- If you're sculpting cartoon figurines, choose Premo, Kato, Fimo Professional, or Fimo Soft.
- If you have hot hands and need a stiff clay, Kato Polyclay is wonderful.
- For arthritic hands or disabilities, choose Souffle.
- For super clear translucent work, go for Pardo Professional Art Clay in Translucent.
- If you're in South America, PVClay is an excellent choice for most purposes.
- When a super stiff and strong result is needed, Kato is a natural choice.
- When very flexible and strong results are needed, Cernit and Souffle are good.
- If you just want to pick one brand and be done with choices, Cernit, Premo or Fimo Professional are excellent all-purpose brands.
- If you prefer to mix your own colors and want true primaries, Kato and Fimo Professional have true colors. Premo makes true primaries, but they're only available by special order.
- To make polymer clay paintings where clay is spread on a surface, Souffle works nicely and Sculpey III might work if you can keep the base rigid.
Polymer Cafe Back Issues
Where to Buy Polymer Clay
In short, I think the best place to buy polymer clay is from reputable suppliers who keep up a high turnover, always have fresh clay, and are invested in finding other products that will help you with your claying adventures. Craft stores, while convenient, often have old stock and that can mean you'll get hard and crumbly clay that will cause swearing and frustration. For more strategies on buying polymer clay and for a list of good suppliers that I trust, head over to my article How to Buy Polymer Clay.
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Oh, how things have changed. It wasn't long ago we went to a supermarket or bookstore to browse hobby magazines, looking for fun projects to try. If you were like me, you'd buy several and spend a glorious afternoon thumbing through the pages. You would dream, become engrossed in the articles, and scan the ads for new products to consider. Now that we have the internet, we no longer need magazines. We use social media instead. But is that true? Is print dead? As you'll learn here, it's not! Especially in niche markets (like polymer clay art and craft), print magazines are alive and thriving. We are lucky to have three polymer clay magazines available to read, thumb through, and devour during those glorious lazy afternoons.
What are these polymer clay magazines? The Polymer Studio, Polymer Week, Passion for Polymer, Polymer Clay in Russia, and Polymère & CO are currently in publication. All (except Polymer Clay Russia) are created in print or digital form and are available to readers all over the world. Here's more information about each magazine.
The Polymer Studio
Brand new on the scene, and replacing The Polymer Arts (see below) is a skills-based magazine from publisher Sage Bray, called The Polymer Studio. Sage developed this new magazine in response from readers that they wanted a crafting-level magazine that focused more on projects and tutorials. You'll see articles and tutorials from your favorite writers and artists. And yes, I'm a regular contributor in this magazine with a column called Best Practices.
The Polymer Studio is published quarterly and is available both in print form and digitally for instant delivery. You can order your copy here on Tenth Muse Arts.
Polymer Week Magazine
A sleek polymer clay magazine scene is Polymer Week Magazine published in the Czech Republic by the Lucy Clay Tools company. By the title, you'd think it was released weekly instead of quarterly. But the name refers to 'Polymer Week', which is a series of week-long learning events hosted by Lucy Clay Tools in The Czech Republic. For the first Polymer Week event, the company produced Polymer Week Magazine. It was such a hit that the company has decided to begin regular publication and both digital and paper copies are available here. Polymer Week Magazine‘s editor is Lucy Struncova, the former child prodigy clay artist and namesake of the Lucy Clay Tools Company. She is all grown up now and has put in a truly admirable effort to create a very high-quality magazine.
Mission of Polymer Week Magazine
Lucy shared with me the following. 'The Mission is to present polymer clay material as an artistic medium full of possibilities not only to clayers but to other artists who might believe that polymer clay is just plastic. We know it's much more.' She went on to say that this is the reason they work so hard to make the magazine with nice graphic design and high-quality photos. As Lucy says, 'I love the smell of the mag and also the look of the paper. Quality is quality.' I'll have to say that I agree with her. It's a gorgeous magazine. It reminds me of high-end design magazines rather than one for crafts.
About Polymer Week Magazine
- Published as single issues, but subscriptions are available
- Available in both English and Czech in print or digital form
- Available in Russian in digital form only
- Articles and tutorials from artists around the world
- High-end look and feel
- Tutorials follow a pared-down, simplified format
- Best for clayers who seek new design influences and beautiful 'eye candy'
- Great as a showcase or coffee-table book that elevates our medium
- Available by the issue from the website and some polymer clay retailers online
- Copies are available intermittently on Etsy
- Accepts submissions from contributors, especially those with a new, fresh voice
Some people have privately voiced concerns that the magazine would be a glorified advertisement for the parent company, Lucy Clay Tools. While there are, of course, ads for their products, this magazine is much more than that. The articles are good, the tutorials fresh and fun, and the variety of advertisements will be valuable for the reader.
Where to Get Polymer Week Magazine
Polymer Week Magazine is published in the Czech Republic, so mailing the magazine to buyers around the world at a reasonable cost has been a frustration for the company. The company made the initially high shipping estimates more affordable (just $5 to the US) once they found a US distributor. Jan Montarsi has been so kind as to send out each issue in the US as it is ordered. Because this magazine is new, there are still growing pains and many details that will be worked out once a regular publication schedule and distribution plan is in place.
If you're 'down under' in Australia, you can buy print issues through 2Wards Polymer Clay in Australia. If you want to know more about the Polymer Week experience and stay informed about the workshops, events, and the news about the magazine, join the mailing list here and make sure to follow them on Facebook.
Passion for Polymer
Ilysa Ginsburg and Kira Slye have recreated themselves many times in the polymer world through Polymer Clay TV, Createalong, and more. Their latest endeavor is Passion for Polymer, a print magazine that has grown out of their digital magazine that was called 'Polymer Clay Universe'. The first issue came out in January 2019 and is jammed full of tutorials, projects, and informative articles. It's a bit similar to The Polymer Studio in mission, but I think it has a touch more of an amateur focus.
You can get print or digital issues of Passion for Polymer on the Createalong website here.
Polymère & co
Béatrice Picq worked for a sports magazine and had worked with polymer clay for ten years. There were no French-language polymer clay publications, and she saw a great need for more education and inspiration for French clayers. This background gave Béatrice the idea that creating a polymer clay magazine would be a natural path. So she joined forces with Astrid Brefort and Ingrid Lepain to form Polymère & co in 2013. Mélanie Jung has since joined the team. They've published quarterly ever since.
Mission of Polymère & co
Béatrice told me that the mission of Polymère & co is to help, to advance, and to support all polymer clay artists of all levels. She goes on to say that Polymère & co offers quality content, a clear editorial style, and plenty of tricks to master the techniques of polymer clay.
About Polymère & co
- Written in French
- Published quarterly and available both digitally and in print
- Includes articles and artist interviews and features
- Tutorials suit beginner through advanced levels
- Lots of 'eye candy' and an introduction to many French artists
- Best for French-speaking polymer clay hobbyists and artists
- Available by subscription and single issue from the website
- Single issues available from online retailers
- Accepts contributor submissions
This magazine is written in French, and the digital version is not able to be translated with online translation tools. You will need to read French to understand everything. However, I found that even with a very basic and elementary understanding of French, I can still get a lot of enjoyment out of Polymère & co.
Where to Get Polymère & co
Like the other polymer clay magazines, you can get Polymère & co from their website. Subscriptions are available, both for digital and print issues. And you can buy back-issues as well. The website is written in French, so if you don't speak French do make sure to use a browser (such as Chrome) with translation capabilities when you order. You can also buy print issues from online polymer clay retailers Polystudio, Polymère Passion, and FunnyPat. Make sure to follow Polymère & co on Facebook.
The Journal of Polymer Clay in Russia
Tatiana Evdokimova founded the Russian Polymer Clay Guild in 2014, and as part of the guild's activity they publish a polymer clay magazine. After discussion on Facebook, several guild members contributed to (and still write for) the magazine. The Journal of Polymer Clay in Russia has been produced quarterly since 2014. Both print and digital back-issues can be purchased, but starting with the Fall 2017 issue, it will be digital only. It's available only in Russian. The editor-in-chief is Tatiana Evdokimova and Anna Kokareva.
Anna Kokareva says this: 'We try to make the magazine to be interesting for beginners and for advanced artists. We publish everything that concerns polymer clay — tutorials, articles about techniques, tools & materials, colors, baking, sanding etc., reports from workshops and other meetings, artist's stories, interviews with foreign artists.'
Mission of Polymer Clay in Russia
On their website it's stated that the goal is to consolidate the diverse community of Russian-speaking polymer clayers, learn new opportunities, discuss new materials and techniques, learn about master clay artists in the rest of the world and in Russia, and to advertise classes and artists in the community.
About Polymer Clay in Russia
- Available only in Russian, but I was able to copy the text and use an online translator to understand enough to get the basic idea.
- Available in digital form. Back issues (previous to Fall 2017) are available in print.
- Best for Russian-speaking clayers of all skill levels
- For non-Russian speakers, it will be valuable for adventurous and patient clayers comfortable with using online translators
- An excellent introduction to the dynamic and talented Russian polymer clay community
- Accepts contributions from readers.
Where to get Polymer Clay in Russia
You can order print issues on the website and they can be sent anywhere in the world, but you will need to pay the shipping cost. Digital versions are available from the website, too. Digital subscriptions are also available.
Retired Polymer Clay Magazines
I remember when there were no polymer clay magazines and we had to resort to thumbing through jewelry and craft magazines, hoping to find the occasional polymer clay tutorial or article. But things have changed and we have so many choices today! In addition to the five currently published polymer clay magazines listed above, there are three magazines that I want to mention. While these are no longer in production, you may find copies for sale on destash groups, or you may be able to borrow them from friends. Here are the two retired polymer clay magazines.
Polymer Cafe Free Download
The Polymer Arts
NOTE: The Polymer Arts published its final issue in October of 2018. Back issues are still available. In its place is a new magazine, The Polymer Studio, which began publication in early 2019 and can be ordered here.
Editor Sage Bray founded The Polymer Arts in 2011. Sage was an established polymer clay artist who had met her sales and production goals and was looking for a new challenge. She wanted to find a way to earn a living that didn't require being alone in a studio day after day. Sage had previous experience in magazine publication and knew others in the community had expressed a need for a quality magazine with more advanced information. It seemed like an obvious step forward. So Sage asked friends and family for help with setup and started publishing the polymer world's second print magazine. Now she heads a team that brings us a high-quality polymer clay magazine that is a huge favorite among polymer clay enthusiasts around the world.
Mission of The Polymer Arts
When I asked her about the mission of The Polymer Arts, here's what she said. 'I aim to inspire creative thinking and increase our readers' knowledge of design to boost both their financial success and personal fulfillment.' Sage goes on to say, 'This magazine aims to make you think. Most craft magazines are about practicing skills, but if you would like to increase your understanding of design or want to be more expressive in your work, the articles in this magazine will inspire and motivate as well as help hone polymer related skills.'
About The Polymer Arts
- Was published quarterly and available in both print and digital form
- Written in English
- Articles and tutorial concepts from artists and writers around the world
- Best for those who are eager to grow in their art and want to learn more than technique
- Back issues are available on the website
- Available through selected polymer clay retailers in their online shops
- Each magazine follows a theme, so there are many articles on a related topic
- Typically three artist galleries are featured, showcasing their work
- There are also regular features in each issue
Where to Get The Polymer Arts
You can order back issues to catch up with what you've missed. While you're there, do make sure that you sign up for delivery of both the bi-weekly newsletter and the Daily Polymer Arts Blog by email. You can do all of this on the homepage. If social media is more your thing, you can follow The Polymer Arts on Facebook.
Polymer Café
Polymer Café was the first polymer clay magazine. It was such a treat to get this magazine in the mail! Starting in 2003, Polymer Café was sent out four times a year by founding publishers Joan and Mike Clipp. Over time, the magazine changed hands and Scott Publications took over publication bi-monthly (six times a year). This periodical was known for its accessible style and tended to be a favorite of hobbyists who were most interested in creating for leisure. The magazine always aimed at the amateur (a niche that's lacking in current publications). Sadly, it did suffer a bit in its later years from poor editorial standards. Polymer Café closed in early 2017. I'd say a 14-year run is an admirable success, however, and we'll all remember this magazine fondly.
From Polymer to Art
From Polymer to Art is another retired polymer clay magazine and has left a hole as well. Created in the Netherlands by editors Saskia Veltenaar and Marjon Donker and written in English, print copies were sent all over the world. Some individual issues were available in Dutch. From Polymer to Art was bright, fresh, with a distinctive visual style. The articles were straightforward and the tutorials simple and easy to follow. It was an excellent magazine for engaging a younger or beginner audience. Some of my website articles were re-published there, by the way. The magazine ceased publication in 2016, but you can find some back-issues at online polymer clay suppliers, such as the UK shop Metal Clay Ltd. and the Czech shop Nemravka.
On being a Contributor: When an author submits articles to a magazine, that does not mean they become an employee of that magazine. Therefore, even though I write articles for some of these polymer clay magazines, it does not suggest that I am aligned with the companies who publish them. The independent nature of being a contributor also means that you, too, can submit articles and tutorials to these magazines. If you have a great article idea or a tutorial you'd like to share, contact the editor and share your thoughts with them. The more authors we have, the better these magazines will become!
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