November 2019 and this video is still helping beginners like myself. Thank you.

Online absolutely! I just don't schlep any more. I find the online experience much more satisfying. And with wonderful reviews like yours, I feel prepared.

Well done, answered my initial questions on this clay -- once I actually work with a brand of clay and get familiar with it's properties I like to buy online - the range of brands is much better - big chain stores do not know much about any polymer and their stock proves it

very helpful video. Thanks Cindy

Thanks Cindy, another great video. Great!

I buy most of my art supplies online, so buying Pardo online would not be a problem for me. Thanks for doing the comparison, and thanks for all of your videos.

I just ordered 28 colors of Pardo from Poly clay Play. Love the trans but the jewel tones are beautiful also. The mica is to die for and the more you buy the cheaper it becomes. Very happy girl.

thank you for this video and doing all the legwork for us! I can't wait to get my hands on some of this clay. I've been looking for something with super transparency to use on some fun new applications! I prefer to buy my crafting supplies in person but actually buy 90% of them online... just lazy I guess!

I have learned from experience (before I found Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutuor) to not purchase clay on line in the summer months. Price wise it was a great deal, but each time I use a block from that order I think of how hot it must have been during transit in that UPS truck, etc. because it arrived practically half-baked! They say "Experience is the best teacher." but I would have saved myself a lot of conditioning work and clay softener had I first gleaned from Cindy's experience.

Awe thanks for the tips!!! I have some Fimo and Premo on order now. Michaels and Joann's in my area seem to have a spotty selection of Premo... Anyway, can't wait to get some more coins saved up so i can get your introductory course before joining to receive your monthly vids. Your tuts are by far the best, I love that the words you use are always of importance and not wasted on babble, it makes things go much smoother when watching and crafting!

the real question is like when you use beeswax in off loom bead weaving it yellows overtime. and will this stuff yellow over years.

Hi Cindy, I buy my clay online mostly, especially when I can get it on sale. Thanks for the video.

Thank you for this video. I just ordered the tutorial from The Blue Bottle Tree and am awaiting the download. They mention that Hobby Lobby carries the Pardo Translucent but not at my local store and not online. I too tried PolyClayPlay and the next shipment is due mid October. Creative Journey store says it is in always in stock so I will probably use that source. As to buying in person or online, alas, it is unusual to find all colors of Premo, Sculpey II or especially Kato at our stores. I do find that Hobby Lobby has a large selection online, Joanne's a smaller online selection. That said, it is usually more economical to order online even with shipping charges. I am new to Polymer Clay work and always looking for good tutorials, and have a huge selection of books available at our library,and have ordered many for my personal library.. Obviously I am already hooked. Again, thank you Cindy Lietz. When I get a bit further into this new pursuit I plan on joining your membership group.

Thank your this terrific video, and for all your vids!! I live in a vary rural area, so I actually buy all of my clay and claying items online. So, I buy clay via Etsy shops, Amazon, Poly Clay Play, etc.

I buy online, especially with the pandemic with us. Nice video & you have great presentation skills.

Trying to find Pardo in Australia took some time and the online place was out of stock. Finally found a place online and they shipped almost overnight.... which was totally amazing because it came from a tiny town across the continent in Geraldton, Western Australia. Can't wait to make something.

Thanks for doing this. I prefer to buy in person, especially anything in color. The translucent would be ok to buy online now that you've shown just how clear it comes out. Thanks again.

Thank you so much !!

We have mostly pardo, cernit and fimo in Sweden. Fimo is the biggest brand and cernit the cheapest. Pardo costs a lot more then the others, around 6,50 euro. I usually order sculpey and premo online, since they don't sell them in stores here. Love your tuts btw. Keep up the good work:)

I have bought Pardo clay at amazon. I have also purchased 1lb blocks of premo translucent and gold for pretty good prices. Although I like buying in store because it is hard to see the exact color online. And for me as a novice I find all the colors in store overwhelming. I would love a tutorial or product demo on Pardo professional Mica Clay, I bought platinum and Gold and some tips would be great. Thanks Cindy, love your tuts and the classes from your site :)

Great video, Cindy! As for where I like to buy clay, I appreciate the best "bang for my buck." Usually, the sales at Michaels makes the price of Premo affordable. The cost of shipping adds to the cost (and I sympathize with international customers who must also pay duty fees), so as local as possible for me! Unfortunately, they don't carry Kato clay, so I'd probably order from Munro's. Now, if Munro's would get Pardo (esp. the art translucent), that would be heavenly!

Thank you for the video. Because of your previous one, I picked up Premo translucent. So much better than Kato, my current clay of choice. I order large amounts from Munros and get a beautiful discount. I only purchase clay in the stores if I am out. My twins are starting to clay, so online is more cost effective.

I just ordered Translucent Pardo from Walmart on line, Sold by Stuff4Crafts. I am using it for sculpting water effects and smoke. Also, if I had the chance I would rather buy polymer clays at a store in person. I just got some Super Sculpey from Walmart [free pickup at my local store, but it had been shipped] Either it was past its shelf life somewhat or got heated in the truck or dock during shipping. I live in a small rural town in Indiana, and there are zero art stores or model shops here. I used to live in LA where everything in the world is available within a few minutes drive. While I am on a yap here, I wanted to note that I made some miniature plants for a Universal Tours maquette layout with LED bulbs inside. I boiled the clay hard rather than put it in the oven...thinking I would likely melt the rubber off the wires and perhaps burst the LED bulb at the standard oven heat. The boil hardening works great for smaller pieces, and the LEDs lit up perfectly. I made some light-up earrings for my wife at that time. The wiring and batteries ran to a shirt pocket, she also stuffed it in her bra once when wearing a gown out to a party. \\][//

I'll have to try that sgfluellen960. Thanks for the suggestion!

Hi didier4renewed, I haven't worked with Cernit, so I don't actually know. If you ask this question on my blog (link in description), someone else may be able to help you there. Thanks for commenting!

I like buying in person because I can get in on sales more readily...but, who the heck doesn't love, love, love, getting a package from UPS with all the goodies you order! I agree with Michelle (below) about the shipping costs...I was able to buy the Pardo at PolymerClayExpress.com...but the shipping ***did*** hurt. Michaels has been carrying less and less in the way of clay fun. When I started out, there were so many new things coming on the scene. I have purchased the Artway polymer clay extruder for a hundred bucks and haven't used it since I got it in 2011..! The disks are crazy expensive!

I use to buy online when it is cheaper than in shop. Thank you for your video.

I am New at polymer clay.....thank you for tour videos....very helpful !!!!! Id prefer to but online.

That's a good question bryancmcguire! I have no idea. That would be a great question to ask the manufacturer. I haven't heard of any issues with the clay yellowing over time (though that isn't always a bad thing), but I think the clay is relatively new to the market so maybe it hasn't been around long enough to find out. If you do ask the company, let us know what they say. Now you have me curious!

Thank you for your comparison review! I'm pretty new to polymer clays, so I found your video most helpful. I read somewhere that if you take translucent clay pieces directly from the oven and drop them into ice water, it improves the translucency. Have you tried that? I also have seen pics on the internet of flat beads made from Skinner blend canes that were almost as clear as glass---I wonder if ice water bath after baking was how they got that effect...do you know?

Great comparison, so it is a bit clearer but the Primo still looks very good. I have no problem buying clay online, it's the only place I can find 1 pound blocks of the colors I use the most of like black, white, pearl and trans. Online is also the only place that I can get the discontinued colors that are still use in older color recipes.

I generally buy online from reputable stores due to lack of availability in my area. I make sure to pick things up on sale but often can't afford to get more than the basics (for me that is red, blue, yellow, black, white, translucent and pearl white, sometimes silver, gold and copper if I catch a good sale) which I mix to get as many different colors as possible. I do wish I could find more than Sculpey III in my area though since I like testing the softness of clays in my fingers due to my carpal tunnel making it difficult to work with harder clays. Generally I prefer to work with Cernit and I'm hoping to catch a sale this weekend on the new Souffle clay. Wish me luck!

(continued) ...I've wound up with quite the assortment of dry crumbly clay from Michaels the latest being Premo white trans :/ -- OK enough of that :) Very Happy to hear that you are going to test cure Premo and Pardo Together !! If it works that would be Awesome for your latest faux labradorite (sp) top layer :) Love All the work you guys do for us.

Would like to try this..would perfer to buy it in person though

Very informative. I heard pardo becomes more clear in higher heat. Will you be trying that?

I trust Poly Clay Play online purchasing. The owner is a great person, professional and determined to please. Delivery is amazingly fast. Her clay products are fresh and she sends them in thermal padded envelopes to keep them that way. I also love the way she organizes the clay choices online so they are easy to pick out the ones you want... I find at the store, I end up standing in the clay section forever, looking back and forth and not being able to choose anything and I get physically exhausted and give up without buying any. I guess I get overwhelmed by the variety but alot of them are brands I really don't even want to try. I just find I don't get so distracted or exhausted viewing it all online. As long as the site organizes them well. At the moment Pardo Clay, is 15% off on her site, and I find she has the most reasonable prices even without the sale. Coupon code PardoTrans. Happy Claying Peeps! Amy

At my local Micheal's craft store they have allot of fimo and premo so for now i love shopping in person :D I'm still not that comfortable shopping online but only when i'm desperate to buy something i'll use the internet shopping option.

Hi Jason! Here are some tips... Try the firmer brands like Kato Polyclay, Fimo Classic or Premo to start. Leaching some of the polymer from soft clay can make it easier to handle. Keep an icepack close by to rest the clay on. Work on marble or stone since it stays cool. And dipping your hands in ice water can also help. Go to my blog (link above in description) and search on these topics for tons of helpful posts. Good luck!

Cindy did u ever mix this or back fill canes w this and if so is it ok

Just getting started with polymer clay but do lots if other arts/crafts. I buy most things online although I will sometimes check out products or get ideas in a store. Second time I buy... always online.

Have you reviewed and compared Cernit translucent Cindy? I use it a lot

Hi Cindy,I actually buy my clays both online and in stores. However, I never buy polymer clay online during the summer months because chances are my order will spend some time in a hot vehicle during its journey to my home and may arrive to me already cured. Some online companies even say that they will not accept returns of these items during those months. They even have warnings on the site stating so. I actually had this happen to me. I had ordered some liquid Fimo in early May thinking that it should still be cool enough to arrive at my home uncured. Unfortunately there was a heat wave during the time my item was being delivered and my liquid Fimo arrive in solid form. Polymer clay is not the only product that you can have problems with buying online during the summer months. Any kind of products that contain chemicals that react with heat can expand and the container they are in may rupture during shipping, thus spilling all over the inside of your package. So if possible it's best to purchase these products locally during the hot months. I hope this helps. Take care, Dee😊

It does make perfect Sea Glass Sharon. I am playing with a few of my own ideas on that, and will see what I can come up with. Thanks for your comment!

I buy all my clay online in the cooler months. I stock up in the spring and let that carry me through the summer. How easy is Pardo to condition?Are there any tricks or tips you could share?

I JUST TODAY bought 4 blocks of Pardo Translucent at my local Hobby Lobby in Phoenix, AZ. All clay is currently 30% off (so only $2.09 each) so at that price I decided to experiment. Apparently Hobby Lobby is going to start introducing more colors to locations that show interest. Hint: It was hard to find and I passed it several times... its hanging on the wall above the Sculpey clays near the doll clays. They are pretty small. Have you done testing mixing this with other brands? Thank you again for your videos!

Cindy I have to buy all my clay online! No stores stock premo or pardo on kids sculpey. I was wondering if you could do a video on faux sea glass. I have heard about how great it is with the pardo clay

Another helpful video, thank you, Cindy. On-Line purchasing is ideal for me IF I can get the seller to guarantee freshness. Otherwise I’m a little stuck because my disability is a bit messy. Have you noticed that all clays except Premo and Sculpy are difficult to buy? Maybe I’m looking in the wrong places?

I always prefer to buy my clay in person but if I can't find a certain kind - like the Pardo - then I will buy it online keeping notes of how good the clay was when I got it. I have received some very hard dried out clay from ordering online but that is rare. - Heidi

I buy everything on line as I live in a remote place in the Pyrenees mountains. I have not considered the consistency of the clay, and I buy it regularly through Amazon.fr, although the conpany I nainly order from is Obbo which is based in Germany and at the moment (June 2014) is by far the cheapest.

Cindy, I buy my clay almost exclusively on line. Occasionally I will buy in Michaels or JoAnns, but I usually cannot get all the colors I want.

I will buy online or in person, whichever is cheaper for the exact pc brand and colour I need. When Michael's has a sale then it's way cheaper to get it from them. The only thing I don't like about ordering online is that I live in Canada and have to order some brands from the US, which means long shipping times, higher postage costs, and possible duty added on at the border.

I prefer to buy my clay in person. I like to feel the packages and make sure that I am not getting "old" clay. Plus, I usually want/need it right now rather than in a week. I have purchased clay online in the past, but the order ended up being incorrect and then I had to wait additional time to get the correct items. I just prefer taking charge of my purchase.

I usually buy from Polymer clay express. Great prices and fast service there.

i would muuuuch rather buy in person. i'm super picky on color and i'm an instant gratification kinda person. in the case of this though online is fine. i actually had a question about the clarity. would you be able to see thing fine through it from a distance? i need some glasses for a costume that are kinda an odd shape and color, and i'd rather not go for acrylic that's i've never used before.

......sooo whats going on w/ the pretty blue and green flower canes in the background? Love looking at all the stuff on your table - it's like an adventure :D

I love viva decor products so i would buy it online

Did you compare it to Cernit, Cindy?

What about Cernit? How does that clay compare for clearness & whiteness?

Depends if I need a color right away. If I do I drive about a mile away(Yeah I got it like that) to my friendly neighborhood Hobby Lobby. If I am buying in bulk just to have on hand I buy online.

My answer depends on the physical store and the online supplier. Some stores, Hobby Lobby for instance, don't sell better quality products, Pardo in this instance, very well and end up discontinuing them. Our local Hobby Lobby, the only ones to sell Pardo locally, stopped carrying it. Much of the Pardo sat on the shelves until it was crumbly, which doesn't take all that long (less than a year). I wouldn't buy Pardo off of Amazon dot com because multiple sources have cited crumbly Pardo and I suspect the clay wasn't kept in optimal (for polymer clays) conditions. So it all depends. I'd prefer to buy it in person from a reputable store simply because of the lack of shipping charges and possible opportunity for clay sales.

I would prefer to buy it in person however I looked at a lot of clays an the pardo seems like the best for me so it worth buying it online but if they can get it in store that would be perfect. The website said that it can be damaged during shipping due to weather an I would rather elimate the risk of it being damaged an get it at a store

I buy my clay online because I have to and I have no complaints. :)

I like to buy all of my clay in local stores because you can feel the consistency or softness of the clay. Plus, you can check if the clay is old or new. Also, sometimes buying it online, the colors shown are not 100% accurate. Sometimes when you buy clay online, it's sometimes crumbly or way too sticky. Shipping can dry up the clay or make the clay sticky and squishy; it all depends on the season. In conclusion, I like my clay right when I want it!

Do you think that if I seal it with modge podge, the clay won't bend at all (the 1 hour thin one)?

I prefer to buy it in person but there aren't many stockists where I live and they are more expensive so I buy it online from a company here (in Australia) that seem to have a big turnover. Haven't had any bad experiences so far. :-)

How does the website poly play clay work? I was on there but i don't see any buying menu's. Its just sweepstakes, class offers, and shipping instructions :s

I usually buy online as my area isn't too great for getting fresh polymer.

can I make folds with it? I am making a human sculpture wearing a dress... is it possible to sculpt it into a skirt???

I would prefer to buy in person versus online as I have found some purchased online (Amazon) I believe we’re old and harder. Blueberry Beads in Washington state sells Pardo.

I have been looking for Pardo clay. Where in South Africa, Western Cape, will I be able to buy it. Please, please, even if it is available anywhere in South Africa!

I buy all my clay supplies online. Our craft stores in South Africa are overpriced. I prefer to support small local online businesses.

I prefer to buy it in person first, then after i'm okay with purchasing online. Esp if the sale is good and I can get decent shipping. I'm very new to PC... my hands get extremely hot with friction. Can anyone tell me a clay i might enjoy working without having to stop for it to cool every 5 min? :-O Thanks Cindy, great vid

At the moment I am preferring Premo Sculpey.

Premo is good :)

Mine is so crumbly and dry. I guess it's old? I ordered it online. I can't seem to get it to soften.

I'm totally okay to buy clay online. I'm in Germany and don't speak the language very well and buy almost ALL my clay online. I also order plenty of it in America and get friends and family to bring it when they visit or pick it up when I visit them.

They sell this at walmart.you can get it on their website too

I like to buy it in person better actually, but with my transportation as it is buying online is my only other option.

I order online a lot but Joann's doesn't carry all the colors.

You can get good deals online for polymer clay like BLICK.com but it's is a must to get free shipping or the savings goes out the door. I do a bit of both online and in store.

Great information on the Pardo clay as for your ? I'd just as soon buy my clay from Polymer Clay Express for a couple of reasons a) I've never rcvd any 'bad' (too dry, crumbly ...) clay from them after many years of doing business there b) PCExpress offers a lot of the Premo colors in one pound blocks c) the cost to ship my order evens out when I consider how much gas it take to get to the nearest Michaels d) all though Michaels does offer good sales though out the year, I've wound ......

Buying on line is preferable because I live up in the mountains.

I would prefer to buy on line, much better selection, shops tend to have a limited choice.

You can order it at Walmart too !!

I was wondering, I have Sulpey lll, Fimo, Premo, and Bakeshop clay And I have experia

I buy all my clay in store from either Joanne's , michaels or Hobby Lobby. This way I'm sure to get clay that isn't old and hard, I can use a coupon and I don't have to pay shipping.

Purchasing online is usually a last resort for me. I prefer to touch the packages and see if they are fresh.

Just did a search for Pardo clay and WOW! is it expensive! Around $6-$10 for 2.1-2.7 oz. Too much money for me to spend on a hobby. I buy my clay in person and many of my tools and molds and stamps online. I am lucky to have Michael's and JoAnn's here, although they have tiny areas and fewer selections than they used to. We have Hobby Lobby but I never go there. I may have to get a P.O. Box so my hubby doesn't realize I took out a second mortgage to buy my supplies. ;D Only kidding.

I buy it online due to my remote location.

I don't mind online... I was able to get pardo on Amazon

Amazon sells Pardo clay

hmmm I wonder if those canes were Easter Lily canes? Isn't Easter coming up soon? ;)

I prefer to buy in person so I can check for freshness.

Buying online is ok for me especially if buying translucent

Online!!!

im ok to buy online.

cernit is the best translucent in my opinion

I prefer online because there is no choice. All we have is Michaels and they are always years behind.

I prefer to buy in person, Then I can see the true color and not a image.

I gave my sculpey away i hate it lol