"It is easy to think of polymer clay as glorified modeling clay, but as a serious craft medium, it requires knowing some basic techniques. These are covered in great detail with excellent photos...Beginners will find many of their questions answered...After mastering the basics one can move on to complex projects such as miniature villages...Recommended."--"Library Journal."

Start making beautiful crafts from polymer clay! Art Makers: Polymer Clay for Beginners is your guide to this fun, easy kiln-free craft. Polymer Clay for Beginners introduces artists, art hobbyists, and polymer clay enthusiasts to this versatile, accessible medium. Because polymer clay does not require the use of a kiln and needs only baking in the oven, it is an easy, approachable art form for even the most inexperienced artist to learn. Professional artist and experienced author Emily Chen demonstrates how to make adorable animal figurines, flowers, cookies, cakes, beads, and more through easy, step-by-step projects. Each project features colorful, styled photographs demonstrating how finished pieces can be used, displayed, and gifted. A comprehensive tools and materials section and detailed information on techniques, baking, and glazing guide artists in their quest to become polymer clay pros. A modern approach to sculpture art, polymer clay is the perfect choice for beginners and crafting enthusiasts.

Katherine Dewey's expressive and elegantly detailed sculptures enchant all who see them. With the magical medium of polymer clay and this book, you can follow in her footsteps. Thorough instructions supported by more than 400 step-by-step color photos and 200 detailed drawings cover the entire process of sculpting realistic figures, from selecting clay and gathering essential tools to the basics of modeling the human figure, to incorporating poses, facial expressions, ethnic and gender subtleties, costumes, and painted finishing touches. Easy-to-read maps of the figure illustrate the landmarks of the body, while scale diagrams indicate the simple shapes hidden within the human form, as well as how to combine and model those shapes. For anyone who loves fantasy, romance, nature—or sophisticated crafting—this book is a must-have.

Renowned for their courses and workshops on color, the authors offer instruction and inspiration that focuses on polymer clay as a learning tool that crafters can use to explore their own color instincts and preferences. Each chapter investigates a color principle supported by a jewelry project.

Techniques, tools & projects.

"Beginner's guide to crafting with polymer clay, teaching all the basic techniques through easy projects. Includes DVD-ROM"--Provided by publisher.

If crafts are big, then clay is colossal. From pins and pendants to bracelets, buttons, and embellishments, crafters of all ages are embracing the creativity that polymer clay inspires. The Complete Book of Polymer Clay is an encyclopedic book by renowned expert Lisa Pavelka includes the latest techniques, handy tips, and trade secrets. Pavelka presents a sweeping overview of materials, how-to fundamentals, and construction techniques. She also introduces six original projects with complete instructions showing readers how to make pendants, curio boxes, a necklace, and a bracelet. Clear, concise, and comprehensive, this is an essential addition to any crafter's library, no matter his or her skill level. For even more inspiration, this indispensable reference features a gallery of 50 original projects by Pavelka and other talented polymer clay designers.

This is not your ordinary how-to book! Austin TX based authors and polymer clay artists Kim Schlinke and Randee M. Ketzel artfully mix a clever mystery with 20 how-to projects that show step-by step photographs and instructions to create your own "ancient artifacts." These polymer clay masterpieces are beautiful enough to grace a museum collection-or yours! At 206 pages, this lavishly photographed book is stuffed with a multitude of projects that can be done just as presented with highly detailed step-by-step instruction, or used as starting points to make faux gems for use in all sorts of designs. Priced retail at $30, the hefty book's how-to projects weigh in at the mere cost of $1.50 each. Animal lovers will be pleased to note that our authors also give us the secrets of making replicas of ivory and tiger claw that involve no cruelty towards elephants or wild cats whatsoever! Projects featured in this compendium include: Celtic Bronze Fibula, Navajo Silver Pendant, Art Nouveau Golden Gingko Brooch, Carnelian Choker of Ancient Rome, Amethyst Cabochons and Nugget Beads, Amethyst Silver Art Nouveau Pendant, Black Opal Cabochons, Barbarian Bracelet, Chrysoprase Cabochons (A and B Grade), Hammered Cuff Bracelet, Ancient Limestone Fossil Pebbles, Cycladic Goddess, Leopardskin Jasper, Primitive Pebble Bracelet, Faux Twigs, Fantastical Forgeries Bracelet, Blue Lace Agate Tile Bracelet, Copper & Rhodochrosite Tiered Necklace, Snowflake Jades, Qin Dynasty Bangles, Amber Caravan Necklace, Primeval Coral Rock Hound Necklace, Ammolite Cabochons, Gothic Revival Pendant, Victorian Mourning Brooch, Faux Tiger Claw, Victorian Raj Brooch, Faux Tiffany Glass Scarabs, Faux Ivory Cuff Bracelet Find out how it is all done-and "who done it"-along with our intrepid protagonists, Parker and Peele. "What is this stuff?" wondered Parker, and her companion pointed her umbrella to the drawings that plastered the walls. "The raw materials for the best forgeries ever seen" replied her friend. "This is where they were created." Together they examined the drawings, exclaiming softly as they recognized several objects from the Museum. Parker picked up one of the colorful lumps and frowned. "What is this, Peele? It's soft like clay, but I've never seen these colors before." "No," said her friend, "nor have I-at least in this form. I suspect it requires a catalyst of some type to render it into the false gems-ah, here!" Peele uncovered an array of electric ovens. "Heat-how charming. This must be some type of polymer, which, when brought to the proper temperature, then hardens. I have heard rumors. Could become just about anything, in skilled hands."

Following the successful format of The Absolute Beginners Guide series, this 5th book in the series is the perfect choice for beginners who want to expand their jewelry-making skills. Jewelry makers will love experimenting with the 24 easy projects in The Absolute Beginners Guide: Working with Polymer Clay. Helpful tips and instructions on the basics, tools, and color are followed by progressive projects that put techniques into action. Budding polymer clay artists will learn how to make and shape beads, add texture and surface interest, develop faux techniques, work with creative caning and pattern, and more.

Everyone can achieve great results with polymer clay. With the 50+ techniques in this book, readers can create polymer clay buttons or boxes or anything in between. Starting with the very basics (such as rolling, baking and gluing), it then moves on to more advanced methods: marbling, texturing, millefiori, bead-making, faux-stone effects and more. Feature spreads show exciting ways to combine techniques. A comprehensive guide to the medium, complete with everything from a listing of necessary tools and materials to inspiring examples of polymer clay art.