Cleanup:
by Sherry

I am not sure if ya'll have this problem, but not just any soap will get the clay off. I found that the antibacterial hand soap from Disney in the shape of Mickey Mouse works wonders. All you have to do is wash once and the clay is off....no harsh chemicals.....just clean!

Of course, I bought the soap for my daughter...<G>

— Sherry

Pasta Machine Handle:
by Judi Maddigan

Here's a fix for that pasta machine handle that's always falling off - remove the handle, wrap a 1/2" wide piece of duct tape around the part that inserts into the machine, and then push the handle back on. Just one thickness of tape should be plenty. You can still pry the handle off again when necessary, but other than that, it should stay put.

— Judi

Cool Tool:
by Antoinetta

One cool tool that I use is the inside of a Bic pen. The end of the plastic tube that holds the ink is great for poking a hole in a pendant. A needle or toothpick pushes the clay out, but the ink tube works as a mini-mini-mini round cookie cutter, and removes the clay from the hole.

— Antoinetta

Clay Catcher:
by Patty Barnes

To collect the clay when I roll it thru the pasta machine, I cover a styrofoam meat tray that is the exact fit width-wise with aluminum foil (for newbies: clay really HATES styrofoam - eats right through it!). Anyway, this tray slides under the rollers and catches any little pieces that might fall off. It can either be wiped clean or a new piece of foil can be wrapped around it when you want a new surface. I do this for my students at school, and I use small enough sized trays to be able to slip into a gallon Ziplock bag with their name on it. This helps them to keep up with their clay project.

— Patty

Multiple Baking Tips:
by Beanster

I bake some of my creations several times. To attach a raw piece of clay to a baked piece, I apply diluent to the baked side and let it sit for a few minutes, and then attach the raw side, gently "rubbing" it on. Right before I bake again, I take a small amount of diluent and brush it into the crease where the two parts meet. This seems to hold the pieces together.

I find that baking in stages helps prevent "nail scars" on faces and other parts. I always bake my people faces first, and the diluent allows me to atttach things like arms and wings firmly without distorting the main the main body.

— Beanster