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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
curated content from Flickr
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
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.
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
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/24/2009) 
Polymer Clay Creative Traditions: Techniques and Projects Inspired by the Fine and Decorative Arts
Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 12/24/2009)
Polymer Clay Art: Projects and Techniques for Jewelry, Gifts, Figures, and Decorative Surfaces
Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 12/24/2009)
PolyPens (Polymer Clay Pen Sets)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/24/2009)
Polymer Clay Beads: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration
Amazon Price: $17.96 (as of 12/24/2009)
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...
curated content from Flickr
Reader Feedback
Made PC pens yourself? Give us your hints and tips!
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- alteredkat alteredkat Sep 7, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
- Great lens - I stumbled it...my 8 year old makes these! :D
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- Mortira Mortira Sep 1, 2008 @ 8:10 pm
- You have some really gorgeous blends there - a real inspiration to those of us who are still 'getting their feet wet' with polymer clay. Thanks for all the great information!
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- Noadi Noadi Jun 2, 2008 @ 11:04 pm
- 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.
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- nightcats nightcats Apr 23, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
- 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.
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- 3c86a4 3c86a4 Nov 30, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
- 5 Stars!! Your pens are great and there's lots of interesting information. I love working with polymer clay too.
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by kevinw1
I grow a big organic garden, save seeds, and promote gardening and local food; help people design and redesign kitchens, provide custom LEGO building... (more)
