Since polymer clay is a little off the beaten path of most paper artists, here’s some basic information to help get you started:

• There are two major brands of polymer clay on the market: FIMO and Sculpey. Although there are other brand names, these two have been around the longest, and one or the other will be stocked at your local craft store.
• Polymer clay isn’t generally affected by contact with the air, and I often leave it sitting out on my work table all day while I’m working on a piece. Since it’s designed to stay soft until baked, the less contact with heat or sunlight the unbaked clay has, the longer it will remain soft.
• Clay should be prepared by warming it. Begin by rolling it gently in your hands. As the clay starts to become warm, make long snakes, twisting back and around to make sure that the clay is completely warmed, with no cold spots. If the clay crumbles while you are working with it, that is a sign that it is still cold. Keep at it—some clays take a great deal of conditioning before they’re ready to be worked.
• If you are working with old clay, you can add a couple of drops of glycerine to bring it back to life. The FIMO line also has a softening agent that can be worked into stiff clay.
• Follow the manufacturer’s baking instructions on the clay package. Be sure your oven is set at the correct temperature, and do not overbake the clay. In general, thinner clay applications take less time to bake, and thicker chunks take a little more.
• Leftover polymer clay should be sealed and stored in a cool place. Some people store their clay stash in the refridgerator.
• If clay sticks to your hands when you are working with it, dust them lightly with corn starch.
• Do not eat from any cooking tools that have been used for baking polymer clay.
• For cutting, use a straight razor, available from hardware or medical supply stores, rather than Exacto blades. Straight razors give an even cut from top to bottom, while Exacto blades tend to bend under pressure.
• The best work surface is a spare ceramic tile with a smooth surface, like a bathroom tile. This tile can be used for a cutting or rolling surface, as well as to cook on. Keep the tile clean.
  For small projects, a round dowel makes a great rolling pin. For very large items, or multiples, a pasta machine can be used to roll out the clay in a large, even piece.