What is Polymer Clay?

Polymer clay is an inexpensive, readily available, man made material which is better known by trade names such as Sculpey, Cernit, Fimo, or Prosculpt. Polymer clays all have the same basic structure. They are compounds made of poly-vinyl cloride (PVC) mixed with a plasticizer for flexibility, a filler for texture, and pigments for color. It is a soft pliable material that can be rolled, molded, sculpted and imprinted. When a polymer clay sculpt is completed, it can be fired to a permanent hardness by baking it in a standard oven.

How to Fire Polymer Clay.

Polymer clay is very heat sensitive. It softens when it is held in warm hands, and it permanently hardens when it is heated between 200° F and 275° F. After it bakes, polymer clay can be carved, drilled and sanded. It can be baked in stages, which means that it can be baked more than once.

Working with Polymer Clay.

Each brand of polymer clay has its own qualities - pliability, strength, color variety, firmness, etc. - and each sculptor has their own preference. Debbie Sampson's creations are sculpted from head to toe out of Prosculpt, or a mixture of Prosculpt and Sculpey clay.

The expressions of pain and joy, disappointment and delight, innocence and curiosity that you will see in Debbie's dolls come from observing young children's faces and unrehearsed reactions to life's experiences. Tiny tools, such as toothpicks and knitting needles, are used to sculpt and smooth. No molds are used.

Finishing Touches.

Debbie's doll eyes and lips are painted with acrylic paints and each cheek is lightly blushed to perfection. The hair, made from mohair or frizzled-out craft hair, is styled with ribbons and bows. Each outfit is handmade, usually embellished with tiny buttons and delicate laces.

Most of Debbie's dolls measure approximately 5 inches in height. Because they are made out of clay, they are fragile and should be handled with care.