How To Make Beads | Choosing The Right Polymer Clay Brand

Would You Like Some Sculpey With That Order of Fimo Classic?
Today's post is a Fun Quiz / IQ Test that will reveal how much you actually know about choosing the right brand of polymer clay for your jewelry bead and cane making projects. Upon completion (without peaking of course – answers are posted at bottom of the page), you will be that much wiser when it comes to Premo Sculpey, Sculpey III, Fimo, Fimo Classic, Fimo Soft, Kato Polyclay and Cernit.
Polymer Clay Brand IQ Test:
1) Which brands of polymer clay are the most easily available in North American craft stores?
a) Premo Sculpey, Cernit, Kato Polyclay, Fimo Classic
b) Sculpey III, Premo Sculpey, Fimo Classic, Fimo Soft
c) Cernit, Kato Polyclay, Fimo Classic, Fimo Soft
d) Premo Sculpey, Cernit, Fimo Soft, Sculpey III
2) Which company was the original inventor of polymer clay?
a) Polyform – Sculpey and Premo
b) Van Aiken – Kato Polyclay
c) Eberhard Faber – Fimo
d) Cernit
3) Which Brand of polymer clay is the strongest when baked?
a) Fimo Classic
b) Sculpey III
c) Fimo Soft
d) Premo Sculpey
4) Which polymer clay brand is the weakest when baked?
a) Premo Sculpey
b) Sculpey III
c) Fimo Soft
d) Fimo Classic
5) Of the four following brands, which one basis their colors on traditional artist pigments?
a) Fimo Classic
b) Sculpey III
c) Fimo Soft
d) Premo Sculpey
6) Which of these four brands is the firmest and therefore is excellent for making polymer clay canes?
a) Premo Sculpey
b) Sculpey III
c) Fimo Classic
d) Fimo Soft
7) Which polymer clay is the best multipurpose clay, great for canework, bead making and sculpting?
a) Fimo Classic
b) Premo Sculpey
c) Sculpey III
d) Fimo Soft
8) Which popular polymer clay brand shines to the highest gloss?
a) Premo Sculpey
b) Sculpey III
c) Fimo Soft
d) Fimo Classic
9) Of all these clays, which one does not sand and buff to a high gloss and stays with more of a matte finish?
a) Fimo Classic
b) Premo Sculpey
c) Fimo Soft
d) Sculpey III
10) Is it OK to mix different brands of polymer clay together?
a) yes
b) no
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BY THE WAY… all of the above information (and more) about the various brands of polymer clay, is covered in Video #1 of my 39 Part Polymer Clay Basics Course. If you would like to see a sneak preview clip for this Course Video, here is the link: Or if you want to go straight to the the course order page, here is that link: Polymer Clay Bead Making Fundamentals |
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***The Quiz Answers are listed further down on the page. But first, here's how to read your score:
Score (9 – 10) = You Nailed It:
You know your brands! Either you have been making beads for awhile, or you have taken my Bead Making Basics Course. Way to go!
Score (5 – 8) = You Know A Thing Or Two:
You have bought some clay and learned a few things about it. Though you are probably still getting some unexpected results! You need some more knowledge to get where you want to go with your bead making projects. The Bead Making Basics Course would be very helpful for you!
Score (0 – 4) = You Are A Newbie or Beginner:
You are very new to this fascinating form of polymer clay art! You need all the help you can get so you don't get frustrated and quit. You are thirsty for knowledge and want to learn more. You need to purchase the Bead Making Basics Course so you don't waste a moment of your time or your valuable money, making mistakes! As you have probably seen in my tag line…. "I learned by making mistakes… now you don't have to!"
***ANSWERS 1)-b; 2)-c; 3)-d; 4)-b; 5)-d; 6)-c; 7)-b; 8)-a; 9)-d; 10)-a
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So how's your Polymer Clay Brand IQ? Want to share your score? Let me know in the comments section below.

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Comments on How To Make Beads | Choosing The Right Polymer Clay Brand
Well, I got 8 out of 10. I missed knowing who was the first to invent polymer clay, and I forgot that it is Premo, not Fimo who basis their colors on traditional artist pigments. Well, I know I will always remember this things from now on!!! I feel good knowing that I remembered everything about which clays work best for what:) Good test, Cindy. I think I'll go back and watch your Bead Making Basics Course again! I haven't watched it for a little while, and I obviously need a tune up!
:) Cindy E.
I would love to see how Kato stacks up in this line up, especially after the new formulation. I was under the impression it was pretty strong and shined up very well. Also based on artist's pigments, isn't it?
I got a 7 out of 10 BUT the questions I got wrong were;
1. – my excuse is that I'm an Aussie and therefore don't know what is in the US shops.
6. and 7. I was tossing up between premo sculpey and Fimo classic and got them around the wrong way.
That was fun!
@Cindy E: That's a great idea! The more you review something the more it becomes ingrained in your brain. You will always find there are new things to learn too, because your brain can't absorb it all the first time! Thank you for your great comments, as always!
@Diana: I would like to do some comparisons with Kato too. It's on the to-do list! I didn't include it in this video though, because it not readily available in stores. It is strong and shiny, you're right. The colors are more based on spectral colors (colors that will mix predictably) rather than artists pigments. For example, Kato has Yellow clay. Period. Premo has Cadmium Yellow and Zinc Yellow, like artist paint colors.
@Amanda: Yeah that was unfair to you! Tell me, what brands are most available in Australia?
Hmmm, Fimo classic and soft, premo and cheap Aussie versions!
Cindy, I got 6 out of 10 right. Guess I've got alot more to learn, but quizzes like that sure are enjoyable & you learn alot from them. Thankx for picking my brain–DE BRADEN
@Amanda: Fimo and Premo Sculpey seem to be the standards everywhere. That is mostly why I tend to focus on them. Thanks for coming back and letting us know!
@Darinda: You're welcome! I'll make sure to give you lots of Pop Quizzes then!! And aren't polymer clay quizzes so much more fun than the ones in school?! :-)
I got six out of ten right, too! I know I'll be watching the video course again soon! :-) In my defense though, I've been concentrating on my flower petal beads and experimenting with Premo, Fimo and Kato translucent clays. Each one is unique and they each seem to react differently with different flowers. This was a great quiz though, Cindy! Thank you! P.S. I bought my Kato polyclay at Michael's.
6 out of 10 for me too!….I learned somethings through this little quiz…so that is a good thing!!
That quiz was fun and didn't hurt my tiny little brain.
What do people use Fimo Soft and Fimo Effects for? I have seen them in the stores but never purchased any.
@Marsha: Those flower beads sound wonderful! You bought Kato at Michaels? When did they start carrying it? It would be great if the Michaels here in Canada will carry it. Make it more accessible to more people!
@Kam: Learning is always good! Thanks for the comment!
@Anna: Fimo Soft is just a softer version of Fimo Classic, so it can be used for everything. It can be a little too soft for caning though and isn't as strong as the Classic. Fimo Effects is the glitters, translucents, glow in the dark clays, etc. Anything that is a little more 'fun' than the regular clay. It can be used like any of the regular clays.