Fimo, Super Sculpey & Living Doll!!!

I've tried a few of the UK clays... from the 'Fimo Doll (puppenfimo) to Living Doll... and found many to be just horrid to work with, others brilliant but let you down when cured, and just the odd few that are FANTASTIC!!

Here's my run down on the clays I've tried....

Fimo Doll (puppenfimo).... I totally hated this clay, I found it very soft, and hard to work on... no soon had you added detail then you would smudge it out while working on another area.
Maybe if you leached it to reduce the moisture contents, it would improve it's softness!

Fimo..... I good clay to work with, as it is quiet firm... however it's shelf life is rubbish, and it become very brittle very quick.... adding the clay softener does help but dilutes the colour of the clay down.

Super Sculpey..... This is the clay I use alot of... It's nice and firm, which makes adding detail, just heaven... It does have some draw backs though... I find it moons alot, and small parts, such as fingers etc... can easily break, as the clay doesn't have alot of strength when cured...

Living Doll.... For me this is a amazing clay.. It cures rock hard, and I've even tested heads by bashing them hard against my worktop, and nothing, not even a chip...
It can get a little soft sometimes, so needs leaching, but I've found this tend to only be the 'light' coloured clay.
You also get no moonies, not one... which I know are the nightmare of all doll artist's.

Super Sculpey & Living Doll Mix....... I'm currently trying a experiment, by mixing these to clays together.... so that I get the firmness of the Super sculpey, but the strength of the living Doll.... and so far, I'm liking what I see...
I will keep you all upto date with how the experiment goes!!!!

What do you think of the above clays?????

oh! and before I go, has anyone tried the new 'KATO POLYCLAY' or the new 'Studio clay' by sculpey?, I'd love to hear some feedback on these.

hugs Clare xx

I don't care for FIMO, and I *hate* the smell of Kato Clay...I saw some Studio Clay in the hobby store Sat -- it seemed quite firm.

I'd luv to try Living Doll, but I live in the States...

Super Sculpey mixed with Premo is my brand of choice...I have been using Super Sculpey since the 80s, and began mixing with Premo for color almost as soon as Premo was introduced...

I mix super sculpey with Kato. (I actually like the smell) It makes a very strong final product. If you would like to try living doll clay, it is pretty easy to do. Just order some Pro-sculpt. I guess it is some big secret but Pro-sculpt is made by Polyform for Jack Johnston. Living Doll is just Pro-sculpt in a different package and sold to the Euro market. They are not allowed to sell it in US because of agreements they have with Jack.

Tombo

Thanx for the info!!

Clare when I started I tried every clay sample I could get hold of and made notes about them all in a very nerdy way! lol
I used to use the Puppenfimo a lot when I started off ( 6 years ago) as it had a lovely colour and texture I thought when it was fired up. Then they messed with it and it's unusable now as you say, and I find it moonies and crazes horribly sometimes too.
I then tried Prosculpt.... I got some from someone who had brought it in from the states, and also Sculpey Living Doll...apart from slight colour variations I couldn't tell them apart...but they were lovely to use, so I have stuck to the Living Doll as it's easier to get here. I've also heard they're the same thing Tombo.
I'm still waiting to try the new Kato one too as I've heard it is brilliant...last I heard it's supposed to be coming very soon!!
Eileen

Thanks Eileen.
I've found now I use a blend of fimo clay, as they've improved it from when I first used it many years ago... and I also love the living doll, it's brilliant to work with and mixed with the plain super sculpey it is really tough and nearly unbreakable... perfect!!!

I do wish however that we had the choice of clays the have in the states...
Clay here can be so hard to find.

Where do you get yours from Clare? I have been using the polymer claypit for ages, they seem to stock most sorts? They stock SLD there now....I know you can get it on ebay too but when you add the postage in as well it's about the same as from the PCP. I have bought several blocks together and keep mine in a tin...the SLD seems to keep better than the fimo used to.
Eileen

snap!! For large amounts its the PCP... but I've been managing to get the fimo doll from my local art shop...

apart from them, there's no other place...!!

I don't like using ebay... My past experience has alway been dry old clay!! and postage can often be more then PCP.