Polymer Clay 101: Master Basic Skills and Techniques Easily through Step-by-Step Instruction

Loads of books about polymer clay flood the market - and for the most part, they give good, solid information. (I probably own most of them so I should know. haha) I'd been anticipating this book for awhile before I plunked down the funds. (So many art books, so little funds. You know how it goes.)I'm really impressed with this book. It's like Mabray and Otterbein read all the good (and even just ok) polymer clay books and took notes. They then used those notes to write an expansive, clear text that included all the best parts of the other available books. At the same time they managed to leave the redundant, repetitive information out. (Get it? Redundant & repetitive. haha) Besides - the colors they chose for the cover are just delicious - making this hard to skip.I love that it came with a DVD. I haven't watched it yet - and as a busy single mom, don't know when I will. Knowing it's there, waiting for me? Priceless. It feels like I got a BOGO offer...making this volume a fantastic value. The two women seem to share a single voice - making for interesting projects and easy reading. I will even go so far as to say this book makes the Skinner Blend very easy to understand and remember.There is a sentence in the "How to Use this Book" (Introduction section): "Each project in this book is designed to teach you a new technique or basic skill". A great summation! Each project lists what you'll learn, what you'll need, and how to make... Those beyond the basics will most definitely enjoy the eye candy and the opportunity for creative inspiration. It's a beautiful book and the spiral binding is ingenious. (Are you listening, publishers?? Make more art/craft books with the spiral binding - we're willing to pay the extra buck to have the convenience!)I can't wait to get out my clay and start on some of the projects in this book. Instructions/Ideas for making neat clay covers for your tools, key chains, buttons, tic-tac-toe game, beads, jewelry, clock...seriously. Great book I'll refer to often - for project ideas and inspiration.

I am new to polymer clay and this is my first polymer clay book. This book covers from how to condition clay to making the basics of several clay concepts. I started using this book right away and it is very simple to follow and use. I find myself referencing this book after reading tutorials online or watching videos. I like to have it around for that purpose.If you are a beginner like me, I highly recommend this book to learn from and reference later.

You took everything that was wrong with all the other clay books and made sure you did not make the same mistakes. Your book is so well written and laid out. It is so easy to follow. I just love how you even gave the recipes for the colors. This is the first book I did not have to pull apart and bind. The spiral binding is great.You chose such a wide variety of projects and made it so easy for a beginner through watching your DVD. What value. I guess if you charged too much more, people would not buy the book but the DVD alone is worth the price of the book. I am going to recommend this book to everyone I know. I know a few beginners and this will give them a great foundation. You have so many helpful hints.

Checked this book out of the library & almost immediately ordered a copy to keep. Terrific book for beginners to polymer clay & those looking for additional inspiration. I’m learning a lot from this book.

This book is a terrific source of knowledge, hints and techniques. A must have for anyone who works with polymer clay. Gives valuable information on most popular brands of clay. A book you will reference again and again. I feel like I have my own personal instructor available whenever I have a question. Get your own copy - this one is mine and I'm not giving it up!! Highly recommended!My book arrived exactly when promised and in advertised condition. I would recommend this seller and will be purchasing from this seller in the future.

I am a very very beginner at this art/craft- I've been curious and this looked like a good place to start.The photos and descriptions in this book are amazing; you can see every step of each project, and the written descriptions are thorough. The authors also give you ideas on how to use techniques after you finish the book projects. There is so much information here- not only information on how to make specific crafts, but basic comparisons of different kinds of clay and tools, and descriptions of WHY polymer clay acts the way it does in different circumstances.I never knew how flexible polymer clay was as a craft medium- I've already made dozens of mosaic tiles and some "stone" word magnets. I'm excited to experiment more!

GREAT book for beginners. As a rookie I purchased MANY how to books. Most were totally inadequate and disappointing. This one IS A KEEPER! Detailed instructions with great accompanying photos. A really wide variety of technics, and way better than usual projects.

It ok

Having done a one day intro workshop to polymer clay I wanted to have a go at home. This is a great book to get you started with simple projects that will teach you different processes and techniques. My copy is spiral bound whiwhich is great as it means it takes up less space on my worktable if I want tor ead-along as I work. Obviously, not all projects will appeal to everyone but its a good book for newbies to polymer clay. I had borrowed a copy from the library but decided there was so much in it that was useful it was worth buying a copy. You dont need to buy many tools for completing the projects but I would recomend getting an old pasta making machine ( from a charity shop if you can) to roll out your clay evenly and thinly.. much easier than rolling it manually.Polymer clay is so versatile and this book will give you inspiration and the skill to progress. Look online / Pintrest at The London Polymer clay group blog for ideas once you know the basics.

I could not stop reading and indulge myself, looking at the book.The book itself is an Spiral-bound which makes live easy to lay it down on the table while you are learning and making the pieces.Its Simply Stunning, Gorgeous & Very Easy to follow the instructions, which is more important when you want to learn something, because I am a visual learner and I need to see the step by step pictures to be able to learn instead of reading and trying to figure out what the author is talking about it.If you never worked with Polymer Clay before or are trying to learn or if you are an Advanced in Polymer clay, This Book IS A MUST HAVE for your Library.Another Phenomenal book is the: Making Polymer Clay Beads: Step-by-Step Techniques for Creating Beautiful Ornamental Beads, By Carol Blackburn, its astonishing as well.You wont regret Buying It.

Wonderful book... didn't get the chance to watch the DVD that comes with it as it is so facinating to create from this book!!!! So no time to watch. This book created an urge to do more than watch. If you are very good at using polymer clay already, you might find this book too basic but yet again, it is an inspiring book. Used it to teach and got very nice feedback!

I have quite a few Polymer Clay books but this is by far the one I would recommend for anyone wishing to grasp not only the beginnings of working with Polymer Clay but moving on to more interesting techniques. The book is supported by the DVD which is great and especially helpful to those starting from the beginning. I wanted to move my skills to a new level and I now feel more confident that I can achieve this. If you buy just one book in Polymer Clay let it be this one and you won't be disappointed.

I loved the layout of this book, the spiral binding makes it so much easier to follow when working with the clay as it opens flat. Ihe instructions are very clear and take you through from the very beginning of choosing, conditioning, colour mixing, and very interesting projects. I'm looking forward to trying several techniques that are new to me, such as mokume gane, as the directions couldn't be clearer. Altogether a book I would reccomend to anyone starting out or wanting to go a few steps further, in polymer clay work.I haven't watched the dvd yet - that was a bonus I didn't realise was included! But I've tried some of the projects with no problems encountered.

I like this book.. Very good help for starters like me who wanted to use arts as a summer activity with kids

This book is really good, is a lovely spiral bound type book, making it easier and nicer to read. very trendy designs and brilliant ideas to get you started. well recommended.

good

I have been using Polymer Clay for about 3 years in my jewellery making. This is a great addition to my already extensive collection on this medium. It has great concepts presented in easy ways. I am really glad it was available for Kindle.

This book is a bit dull - much like the voice on the dvd (as mentioned by another reviewer). Still if you are really new to polymer clay it will guide you through your first week or two but after that you probably wont look at it again. It doesn't inspire but it is helpful with very basic techniques.

Helpful purchase.

This is a great book for beginners to polymer clay work. It is simple to follow and very well illustrated.

Good book clear picture guides not complicated to follow and some really nice projects also very good. DVD to watch and learn with the book very good purchase

this was a download, possibly better to have a hard copy of this type of book

I found the techniques to be quite limited, I expected more variation.