Polymer clay's history as an art media is only decades long, unlike many media that have been around for centuries and have long traditions. This newness means that there is a great deal of innovation by users of polymer clay. Often, ideas are born by borrowing from the traditions of some other materials, such as metalworking (mokume gane), ceramics, glass (millefiore), paper, etc.

Polymer clay hardens by curing at temperatures created in a typical home oven (generally at 265 to 275 F (129 to 135 C), for 15 minutes per 1/4" (6 mm) of thickness), and does not shrink or change texture during the process. When properly cured, most clays create items which won't break if dropped or normally stressed. It also comes in liquid form and in permanently flexible solid form. A piece may have additional layers or enhancments added to it, and re-cured with no ill effect. As long as the maximum curing temperature is not exceeded there is no limit to the number of times a piece can be re-cured.

Few tools are essential for use with polymer clay, and these can often be found around the house. A pasta machine is often used to create evenly flat sheets, to mix colors, to condition the clay, and to create patterned sheets.

Polymer clay is available in many colors. Special-effect colors such as transluscent and micas, -containing "metallics," and "stone" colors are also available. Clays can be mixed together to create new colors, gradient blends, or other effects. Judith Skinner was credited with a technique to use the pasta machine to create a gradient blended sheet of color. This technique is used frequently in many other applications and is one of the early skills developed by hobbyists or artists in the media.

Polymer clay can be colored with other media. Paint, ink, colored pencil, chalk, metallic (mica-containing) powder, metallic leaf, foil, glitter, and embossing powder can be applied to the surface. The same materials also can be mixed in as inclusions; this is often done with translucent clay. When acrylic paint is cured onto the surface, it forms a permanent bond with the surface.

After it has cured, the clay surface can be left as it is, it can be sanded and buffed, or it can be finished with a varnish.

This description was taken from Wikepedia, the free Enclyclopedia.

Liquid Clay

A number of Liquid Clay are currently on the market. Ranging from Sculpey's Translucent Liquid Sculpey (TLS), to Fimo Gel, liquid clay and lastly Donna Kato's liquid clear medium.

Liquid polymer clays opens a whole new arena for artists and crafters alike! It is a bakable transfer medium for the new millennium! When artist's oil paints are mixed with it, it can be an enamel, a glaze, or a backfilling compound. When pigments or mica powders are mixed with it, it can be a stipple, a metallic glaze, or a grout for polymer clay mosaics.

Liquid Clay is a fantastic transfer medium, also. It is a terrific adhesive agent. Its adhesive qualities are activated only after baking. It increases the clay to clay bond between raw layers of clay, and when adding raw layers to previously baked layers. Baking temperatures are similar to solid polymer clay, but translucence increases when the temperature is bumped to 300 degrees for a short period of time. This technique takes careful attention and a well calibrated oven.

Varnish

Both Satin and Gloss varnishes are available and are an essential item to your craft box, the gloss highlights the intensity of colours whilst protecting your projects, your gloss will also seal embellishments which have been applied to your polymer clay such as pearlex powders, paints and foils and repel water.