How to Make Homemade Polymer Clay Substitute

Are you tired of spending money on expensive polymer clay? You can save money (and have fun) by making your own polymer clay substitute right at home, and it's super easy. This wikiHow will show you 4 different ways to make polymer clay substitute. Let's get started!

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Glue and Cornstarch

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1
Pour ¾ cup of glue and 1 cup cornstarch into the non-stick pot. The pot should be either sitting on the counter during this step or if it is perched on the stove, make sure the flame is not on. Stir well until fully combined.^{[1]
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- PVA wood glue works best for this recipe although the normal white children's glue will work well also. The children's glue may result in clay that is a bit weaker than clay made with wood glue.
2
Add 2 tablespoons of mineral oil and 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of lemon juice to the glue and cornstarch mixture. Stir well until completely blended. You can get mineral oil online, but if you cannot find it then you can use petroleum oil (not jelly) or baby oil as a substitute.^{[2]
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- If you want, you can add food coloring or acrylic paint to the mixture at this point to color it. Be careful not to add too much paint or else you could change the texture. If you want vibrant colors then you should simply paint your creation once it is made.^{[3]
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Simmer over low heat/flame. As you heat up the stove, stir constantly to keep the liquid ingredients moving. Don't let the mixture sit still, as this will compromise the integrity of the clay's texture.^{[4]
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4
Continue stirring the mixture until it resembles mashed potatoes. Once it turns to the mashed potato consistency, it's time to remove from the heat/flame and place onto a cool/flat surface.
- Consider placing a hot pad or towel on the counter to protect your countertops.
The oil will coat and grease your hands as you knead it so that it does not stick to your hands.
6
Transfer the clay to the countertop to work and knead. You should do this while it is still quite warm, but it's important to wait at least a few minutes for it drop to a temperature that is safe enough to handle.^{[5]
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- You can also use either rubber or work gloves to protect your hands.
The consistency should appear like well-worked pizza dough and be completely blended together. Roll into a ball when finished.^{[6]
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8
Store the finished clay in a re-sealable freezer bag that can be kept in the refrigerator. To keep clay fresh and avoid having it harden, remove as much air as possible before sealing the bag and storing it.^{[7]
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- If the clay is still warm, place in the bag but leave a small amount of the bag open. Once it has cooled completely, then you can seal and store it.
9
Use your dough to create something. Now that you have made your dough, you can use it to create anything you choose. When working with the dough it helps to put a little hand cream on your hands to allow you to smooth the clay easily.
- Allow your creation to dry for at least 24 hours, or more if it is not yet dry.
- Paint with your choice of paint. Tempera paint works well but other types will work as well.
- You should paint even those areas that you want to remain white because it can start to look translucent if you do not.
10
Use this recipe for a homemade version of clay. This clay behaves the most like commercial polymer clay, but it might shrink slightly (polymer clay doesn't shrink). The effect should be minimal, but be aware of this when working on projects, and consider making a test piece first to gauge how much shrinkage you can expect on your final piece.
- You may want to build your project a bit bigger so that when it shrinks it will be the correct size.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Glue and Glycerin

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1
Use this recipe for homemade polymer clay for a version that does not crack. This recipe has a higher ratio of glue, which makes it much stickier but also prevents cracks. The addition of glycerin also reduces cracking in the final product.^{[8]
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- This recipe also dries much faster, taking only about 30 minutes.
- However, after making the recipe you will have to wait at least one night and preferably a week until you can use the dough. This makes it less sticky.
This will keep your clothes clean and tidy during the process.
3
Mix the water and glue in a non-stick pot and boil for two minutes. Mix ½ cup water with 2 cups pva (wood) glue in a non-stick pot. Boil them for two minutes while stirring constantly and then remove from the heat.
- You can use any white children's glue but wood glue works best for this recipe because it is stronger.
4
Mix the cornflour with ¼ cup of water in a mixing bowl and pour into the blend. Put the cornflour and water in a bowl and pour into the pot of boiling glue and water. Mix the ingredients well.
- Cover the dough with plastic while it is cooling.
- If using food coloring, add one to two drops and adjust as needed. Otherwise you can paint the clay after drying.
Sprinkle cornflour on a suitable work surface. Remove the dough and knead well. Continue kneading and adding extra cornstarch until the dough becomes less sticky.
You want to work the gluten in the cornstarch into nice pliable dough. It is now ready for use.
Put the dough in an airtight bag to prevent it from drying out while you wait until making use of it.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Unbreakable Clay

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This recipe involves additional ingredients but it results in very strong clay that can be dropped from one meter high and not break.^{[9]
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2
Combine all the ingredients except the cornstarch in a non-stick pan over low heat. Mix 1 cup PVA glue, ½ tablespoon stearin (stearic acid), 1 ½ tablespoon glycerin, 1 ½ tablespoon Vaseline and ½ tablespoon citric acid in a non-stick pot over low heat. Mix completely.
- Use the lowest heat possible to heat up the pot.
3
Add the cornstarch little by little and keep stirring. Add the ½ cup cornstarch little by little into the mixture, stirring the whole time. Adding the cornstarch little by little prevents lumps from forming. Keep mixing the clay until you can lift the clay up from the pan.
- It will get stickier and stickier and then heavier and very hard to stir but you must continue until you can lift it out of the pan.
4
Knead the clay for about 20 minutes. Place the clay on a table on top of non-stick paper (baking paper). It should be hot, a little sticky and a little lumpy. Knead the clay for about 20 minutes until all the lumps disappear and the clay becomes smooth and no longer sticky.
- Allow the clay to cool down for a bit if it is still hot when you finish kneading.
Store the clay in sealed plastic bags to prevent it from hardening before use. Make sure you press all the air out of the bag before sealing. Use the clay to make whatever you prefer and paint using acrylic paints.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Pasta Francesa

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This recipe is very popular in Latin America and makes useful clay. Many recipes call for 10% formaldehyde or formalin but this has been replaced with white vinegar in this recipe for a safer, non-toxic version.
Mix the cornstarch, water and glue into a Teflon-coated pot. First mix 1 cup cornstarch with ½ cup water in a Teflon-coated pot over low heat until it is completely dissolved. Once the cornstarch has dissolved, add and mix in the 1 cup glue.
3
Add the glycerin, cold cream and vinegar to the pot and mix. Add 1.5 tablespoons (22.2 ml) of glycerin, 1.5 tablespoons cold cream with lanolin and 1.5 tablespoons (22.2 ml) white vinegar to the pot. Continue cooking on low heat while stirring constantly until a dough forms and begins to come away from the sides of the pot.
- Be very careful not to overcook or else the dough will harden.
- Glycerin is a common baking ingredient that you should be able to find in the baking section of the supermarket or online.
- Find cold cream with lanolin in the cosmetics section of the store.
4
Knead the dough with lotion on your hands. Allow the dough to cool with a damp cloth used as covering. Once you can handle the dough knead it into a smooth clay consistency. It is ready to be molded however you wish.
- Allow your creation to dry for at least three days in the air.
- Oil paints and acrylics can be used to paint your creation once you have allowed it to dry.
Store in plastic wrap and keep in a cool, dark place.

Community Q&A

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Question

Can I use PVC glue for it?

Community Answer

Yes, you can. White glue or PVA or PVC or wood glue are all the same. Any thick white glue should work fine.

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Do I bake the clay in the oven at home?

Community Answer

If you have an oven, you could but it's not necessary. Alternatively, find a very warm spot in the house, such as on the porch or in a windowsill that gets very hot during the day. Or, use a hair dryer on the clay (which will require about an hour, so set the hair dryer up on a stand).

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Can I use flour instead of cornstarch?

Community Answer

You can but it can result in many cracks in your final product. Cornstarch will give you a much better result.

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Tips

Cornstarch-based clays are sometimes called "cold porcelain." Some versions can be purchased, but some are made at home. Another good recipe for homemade cold porcelain uses a microwave oven.

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Make these clays ahead of time to keep on hand for children's projects. The non-toxic, easy-to-work-with clays are ideal for little hands.

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Keep air-dry clays in air-tight containers or bags when not being actively used since they dry and harden when exposed to air, though slowly.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

PVA glue is the same as white glue or Elmer's glue. Either PVC or PVA may be used, but these glues are not the same. PVC glue is softer and a bit more rubbery. It's also water repellent. PVA glue is harder, but it's more absorbent and can become softer.
If you want a really tough clay, try mixing in a little Model Magic. It'll help strengthen your clay and make it harder to break when it's dry.
Make sure you knead the dough out thoroughly. Really blend everything together to ensure that no cracks in the dough are visible.

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Things You'll Need

Method 1:

About 3/4 cup per batch of regular white glue (the non-toxic “school glue” will do the trick)
1 cup of cornstarch
2 tbsp of mineral oil
1 tbsp of lemon juice
A non-stick pot (any non-stick pot will do, but if you don't have one on hand, a light coating of non-stick spray around the bottom and sides of the pan should keep ingredients from sticking)
A wooden spoon