choose your clay

[fantail]

One thing I think every body should do is experiment with clays to find the best one to suit the thing they are making
I found that out a few years ago when I was sculpting a mouse from Fimo
I was struggling to get good detail
I had bought some Du-kit and decided to start a squirrel at the same time that I was making the mouse
The difference was startling
The mouse slouched because of the clay and became a fat sea rat as a result
The squirrel was sprightly
Of course I discovered Super Sculpey and now that is my main choice although I still work with Du-kit from time to time
here is a rather bad photo of the two


Perhaps every one can say which clay works best for which project for them or what qualities they like most in the clay they use

[anubis4]

Fimo and Du kit for the little critters I make. SS Fimo mix. The only reason is that I didnt have enough of either one to make tree so I mixed them to see what would happen.

[fantail]

Interesting
I use du-kit for mini idybity teddies (coloured clay)
but for more detail I like to use super sculpey and lately for things I wish to paint and have that pink effect like kitten pawpads.
but I am experimenting with mixes
nothing great to report, yet
nonpoly clay like that superlight paperclay i used for Griffs nails
it has a ever so slightly spongy effect once dry
but i find it hard to sculpt with
when it dries out rework wate rinto it till it crumble gets sticky and becomes normal together again

[anubis4]

Would like to work with some of the other doll clays but gotta watch the pennys so will stick with SS at this stage untill I get rich and famous that is

But now I have found wings I can stick them to everything...people like wings...maybe I should stick a set on Bongo and re-list him. Then a big mean black set on George and call him werepire bat creature....

I feel the need to put an order in to Lily......

[BLL]

hiya ... my first experience was Sculpey II(IIIIII??) - too soft; then Fimo - too hard (and old and crumbly, but that's another story ), and then Du-kit - just right! call me Golidilocks. ... but the main reason I use Du-kit is because its CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAP.

I buy basic colours cos I LOVE colour mixing.

[kimmie]

LOL bll as you were saying that was thinking ...... Goldilocks as well.

I started with dukit and then got some super scupley but its wayyyy to soft
So I stay with dukit but having said that bought a small block of cernit just because of the shade of it was gorgeous. Unfortuately find its colour changes as u work it and its also too soft.

[BLL]

I just been working on a teddy embellishment for sis's b'day card, the bear is turquoise granite sculpey - and wouldn't you know it, I'm sitting there thinking to myself, "ugh, too soft". Its a shame dukit don't do the specialty/effect clays, huh?

[fantail]

Three Goldilocks present so far
Wouldn't have tried Du-kit if it wasn't such a bargain
Ooh specialty clays- should suggest it to petra at zizag to have a personal word with Du-kit
Imagine paua mixes a nz idea for a nz product
Petra once had Du-kit flesh clay that was the same colour as super sculpey but no more

Do you use du-kit for the beautiful canes as well Bll

[BLL]

I don't know about any beautiful canes, but I do use du-kit for the canes I make.

fantail said:

Do you use du-kit for the beautiful canes as well Bll

[anubis4]

Those will be the same ones then bll and they are amazing I have looked and rolled and followed full proof cant fail step by step instructions and dont know how you can do it.

[BLL]

right back at ya, oh godess of the fuglies and all things squishy ...

[anubis4]

;D ;D ;D ;D

fugly squishy.......I could do a whole range

1 fugly squishy
2 flying fugly squishy
3 swimming fugly squishy

will work on that and you can have half of international sales... we could be rolling in 20 -30 cents by 2015. hahahahahaha ;D ;D

[lindiloo2]

I have used Fimo, Puppen fimo, Dukit, SS but the absolute best is Living doll from Zig Zag!!!! It is soft but not too soft, It doesn't bounce back like some softer clays do and best of all its the strongest when baked!! I'm sure my sculpting has improved since using it. ;D Living doll is the same product as Pro sculpt that all the professionals in America use, Its just under a different name for export. do try it, you'll never go back! darn, I should be a sales rep. Anyway its about $32 a pound.

[anubis4]

Thats my next clay to try lindiloo... but have to make some sales first and use up what I have got.

[fantail]

I bought a block from the doll show but will first make a few large sculpts before I use it
I read that some people mix it with sculpey to get a more translucent clay and to make it go further

I have mixed Super Sculpey with Du-kit Translucent and it results in a beautiful colour and good sculpting quality but it increases the amount of moonies which means back to drawing board.
I've tried the Cernit-SS mix but not entirely happy with it

Next Ill try some opaque colour du-kit and SS mix just not the Du-kit skin tone,
I don't like the colour and it makes the mix too yellow.

dito Lindiloo my skills improved too as i find the clay that suites me

[kimmie]

Hmm anyone know if Living doll is sold in small blocks. Would love to try it but just a little in case it wasnt me, if ya know what I mean.

[lindiloo2]

I was hoping for that too at first, but I couldnt find any. If you were to get a big block to try and you felt it wasnt your thing, I would happily buy what is left off you so you wouldnt be out of pocket. Im going to be a regular buyer anyway. ;D just let me know. Its well worth it I recon.

[kimmie]

well just thinking about it at the moment lindi, got quite a lot of other stuff to use up first tho.