Polymer Clay Pens

Polymer clay pens are one of my favorite things to make. There's so much potential variety in decoration, they are useful, cheap, make great gifts... what's not to like!

I sell some of them at the local Farmers Market, because if I didn't I'd be awash in them, but I make them mostly because they are addictive.

My pens

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Polymer Clay Pen-making Information sites

Lessons, tutorials and techniques

Many of these sites also have other Polymer Clay tutorials and lessons, but here I'm focusing on pen-making.

Pens on Glass Attic: Glass Attic is a totally addictive gathering of information from many forum postings over the years. More stuff about making pens and pencils here than any other one place. All text, no pictures.
Polymer Clay Central - Clay and Pens lesson: Instructions to veneer Penn State 'SlimLine' Pens and Pencils with Polymer Clay, by Jami Miller!
Cover Pens with Polymer Clay: Covering pens with polymer clay. Illustrated lessons and tutorials for working with polymer clay, for beginning to advanced clay students and artists.
Polymer Clay Pen : Home & Garden Television: What's better than your average Bic? Custom polymer clay pens. From an episode of the Carol Duvall show on HGTV.
Polymer Clay Pens by Karen Perry: Polymer clay covered pens by Karen Perry. Gallery of pens for sale.
Spiral Pen and Holder - Sculpey Clay Projects: Pen project instructions on the Sculpey product site.
How To Make Polymer Clay Pens: The Basics (CraftyGoat's Notes): How To Make Polymer Clay Pens: The Basics

What's your favorite Polymer Clay book?

Classic PC books: vote for your favorite!

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Polymer: The Chameleon Clay by Victoria Hughes

1 point

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The New Clay: Techniques and Approaches to Jewelry Making by Nan Roche

0 points

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The Polymer Clay Techniques Book by Sue Heaser

0 points

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Faux Surfaces in Polymer Clay: 30 Techniques & Projects That Imitate Precious Stones, Metals, Wood & More by Irene Semanchuk Dean

0 points

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Art of Polymer Clay: Designs and Techniques for Making Jewelry, Pottery and Decorative Artwork (Watson-Guptill Crafts) by Donna Kato

0 points

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Foundations in Polymer Clay Design by Barbara McGuire

0 points

Pen-making hints, tips and traps

1. Test-bake the pens you're going to use! Manufacturers specs and plastic formulations change, and what you can buy locally may not be the same as what's recommended online or in books. Test before you make a dozen! (Guess how I know...)

2. Covering pen barrels with glue before clay is recommended by some resources and not others. It hasn't improved adhesion for me, so I don't bother.

3. Don't use Sculpey III. It breaks if you look sideways at it. Sculpey Premo has worked very well for me.

4. Sand pens in a drill press. Hand-sanding is OK if you're only doing one or two, but it can play havoc with your hands if you have many to do (especially if you already have RSI like I do). Set the drill press on its SLOWEST setting, line the drill chuck with a slip of thick paper or thin card, mount the pen *gently* in the chuck, start the motor and run your wetted wet-and-dry paper up and down the pen barrel as it turns. When done, reverse the pen so the other end is in the chuck, and repeat. WARNING: watch where your water is going, this is an electric power tool.

You can do this in a corded or cordless drill too, but I find it needs to be a 1/2" chuck one, and holding the drill is awkward.

Polymer Clay books I'd like to own

(but don't yet)

The Art of Polymer Clay Creative Surface Effects: Techniques and Projects Featuring Transfers, Stamps, Stencils, Inks, Paints, Mediums, and More

by Donna Kato

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/20/2008)

Polymer Clay Creative Traditions: Techniques and Projects Inspired by the Fine and Decorative Arts

by Judy Belcher

Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 07/20/2008)

Polymer Clay Art: Projects and Techniques for Jewelry, Gifts, Figures, and Decorative Surfaces

Amazon Price: $19.00 (as of 07/20/2008)

PolyPens (Polymer Clay Pen Sets)

by Linda Peterson

Amazon Price: (as of 07/20/2008)

Polymer Clay Beads: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration

by Grant Diffendaffer

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/20/2008)

Reader Feedback

Made PC pens yourself? Give us your hints and tips!

Noadi

Pens are one of the few things I haven't done with polymer clay. I'll have to give it a try sometime. 5 well deserved stars.

Posted June 02, 2008

nightcats

Excellent idea. I have dabbled in polymer clay a little bit, mostly making decorations for scrapbook pages or sometimes jewellery, but I never thought of a pen.

Posted April 23, 2008

3c86a4

5 Stars!! Your pens are great and there's lots of interesting information. I love working with polymer clay too.

Posted November 30, 2007

shanastomper

this is sooo cool. who would have thought there is sooo much to say about pens. give you a five. I recognise you from simple.

Posted August 17, 2007

wildheart4vr

Wow your talented I really like your pens makes me wish I had one. I went to a sale the other day where someone had made pens with different colors and hardnesess of wood.Very good workmanship. You have eaqrned my five stars.

Posted August 07, 2007

Kevin and Fran's clay playday

There aren't many clayers here in our small ferry-isolated community. So my friend Fran and I got together one hot summer day to play with clay in my cool basement. Here's what we made...