Frequently Asked Questions 🧐🤔

Polymer clay is a synthetic sculpting material that starts soft and pliable, then hardens permanently when exposed to heat. It’s not traditional clay; it doesn’t air dry, and it doesn’t need a kiln. It comes in dozens of colors and brands, each with its own feel and finish.

Sometimes! Fimo is one of the most recognizable polymer clay brands, and many people grew up with it. I work with several brands depending on what a piece needs. Each brand has different strengths in softness, color saturation, flexibility after curing, and handling of fine detail work. Fimo is in the mix, but it’s not the only one.

I use a dedicated Breville toaster oven. Polymer clay cures at low temperatures (usually around 230 to 275°F depending on the brand), so a small countertop appliance works perfectly. Using a dedicated appliance keeps food and clay separate, which is the recommended approach.

No. Polymer clay is not food safe and shouldn’t come into contact with food or beverages. It’s strictly decorative, except Whimsy Pots, which are sealed and watertight inside.

It depends entirely on the piece. A simpler Nerdlet might take 20 minutes; a more detailed Nerdling can take a couple of hours. That’s before curing time, finishing work, photography, and packaging. The honest answer is it takes longer than you’d think.

A few years! Long enough to have a lot of opinions about clay brands and a dedicated air fryer. I’m not an expert in all of it, though.

Each piece is individually handmade, so there are always small differences between pieces in the same design. I do make multiples of popular designs, so they’re not strictly limited editions, but no two are exactly identical.

A Nerdling is the flagship creature of Itty Bitty Nifty Gifties: a small, expressive, handmade polymer clay figure with a personality all its own. Each one is photographed on a US quarter so you can see exactly how small they are. They’re collectible, giftable, and weird in the best way.

A Nerdlet is a smaller, rounder, slightly simpler sibling to a Nerdling: no arms, no tongue, possibly just one eye. Think of them as Nerdlings who haven’t quite grown into themselves yet.

A Worry Wort is a figurine from a family of characters built around worry and big feelings. Good for anyone who has a lot of thoughts, or just needs a small creature to share the mental load with.

A Whimsy Pot is a small decorative container made from polymer clay with a sculpted character on the outside. The opening is about an inch across and nearly two inches deep, big enough for a small air plant, a pencil, a Sharpie, or whatever else needs a home. The interior is sealed and watertight, so it can hold actual soil.

A Lucky Toe Bean is a handmade polymer clay paw charm inspired by cat toe beans. You pick the paw color and the pad color, and it comes with a jump ring so you can clip it to a keychain, bag, or anything that could use a little extra luck, and a little more paw.

A Lip Balm Buddy is a polymer clay holder that slips over a standard lip balm tube and clips to a bag or keychain. Decorated with retro chunky daisy flowers in bright colors. Your lip balm, elevated.

Keep it away from extreme heat (car dashboards in summer are a particular hazard) and avoid prolonged moisture. Don’t wash it. Beyond that, properly cured polymer clay is pretty durable. See the Use & Care page for the full rundown.

Brief contact with water is usually fine, but don’t soak it or leave it in standing water. Whimsy Pots are the exception: they’re specifically sealed and safe to use with soil and water.

Properly cured polymer clay is reasonably durable, but it’s still a handmade decorative object, not a toy. Treat it like you would any small handmade collectible.

All pieces contain small parts and are not appropriate for children under 3. For older kids, they’re fine for display and gentle handling, but they’re not designed as toys.

I do, occasionally, depending on the scope and timing. Reach out through the contact page and tell me what you’re thinking.

Online at ittybittyniftygifties.com, in person at craft shows around the Madison, Wisconsin area, and sometimes through the ArtVend machine at Tobin. Check the site for upcoming show dates.