How to use polymer clay

Kneading, squeezing, and shaping colourful clay is something most of us did in our younger years. Here at Pen Store, we ask ourselves why we ever stopped! Modelling clay brings out the creative side in both young and old. We want to remind you of the joy, creativity, and fun of our old favourite, modelling clay, so we've listed our top tips for anyone who wants to start, has started, or wants to return to kneading, squeezing, and shaping colourful clay.

FIMO is an incredibly popular and easy-to-use modelling clay that can be hardened in an ordinary oven. Choose from a variety of options — Professional, Soft, Effect Air Basic, and Air Light — there's a clay for every occasion.

Different Types of Fimo

Fimo clay comes in several different types, each suited to different creative projects.

Fimo Professional

A stable clay that's suitable for detailed work. Ideal for those who have experience with clay and have high expectations for their material.

Fimo Soft

A smooth, soft, and easy-to-use clay. A clear favourite here at Pen Store because it’s perfect for the whole family and is a joy to work with.

Fimo Effect

As the name suggests, this clay is full of exciting effects like glitter, metallics, and night glow. Perfect to use in combination with Fimo Soft.

Fimo Kids

This clay is specially designed to be easy for children to use. It comes in bright colours and can be hardened in the oven.

Fimo Air Light

An extra-lightweight clay that becomes incredibly light when it dries. It is air-drying, so no oven or additional heat is required.

Fimo Air Basic

This is also an air-drying clay that is very easy to work with. Perfect for kneading together with children.

Which Fimo Clay Suits You?

Consider which clay suits you best; as noted above, there are different types of clay. Most clays can be mixed together (with the exception of Air), so you could treat yourself to a few different types to find your favourite. The clays also last remarkably long if stored correctly, so you don't need to worry about buying too much.

How to Store Your Fimo Clay

Once you've found the right clay, it's important to store it properly to protect it from dust, dirt, direct sunlight, and heat. After opening the package, we recommend storing it by colour in a sealed container. Following these tips will allow you to reuse the clay whenever your creative fingers get the itch.

If your clay becomes crumbly after a while, you can mix it with something like baby oil. The easiest method is to crumble the clay and mix it with the liquid in a plastic bag, then let the clay soften for a few days. Knead the clay several times, and voilà, problem solved!

How to Harden Fimo Clay in the Oven

Have you created something you'd like to keep? You can harden your work in the oven to make it permanent.

Fimo clay hardens in the oven at a temperature of at least 110°C and should be baked for at least 30 minutes. The longer it's in the oven, the more durable and flexible the final product will be. Note that 130°C is the maximum temperature the clay can withstand, except for transparent clay, which may discolour at higher temperatures.

It's advisable to use a thermometer to monitor the exact temperature and cover the clay with aluminium foil to protect it from any discolouration that might occur due to excessive heat.

Clay like Air Light and Air Basic hardens in the microwave or simply by air drying.

Mixing Different Colours

Mix the clay to create unique colours — Fimo clay is very easy to blend. You can mix different colours and even different types of clay, such as Fimo Soft and Fimo Professional. However, Fimo Air should not be mixed with other types of clay.

The high quality of Fimo clay allows for easier blending and shaping, as well as advanced techniques and various sculptures. The clay is the perfect material for both experienced users and hobby artists.