Fimo or cheaper polymer clay?

[NeedSleepNow]

I loved fimo as a kid and think my daughter who is 10 would really enjoy using it to make jewellery and little trinkets etc. so I would like to get her a really nice starter set for Christmas.

I have had a look on amazon and they have lots of other cheaper non brand polymer clay sets. Does anyone know if these cheaper ones are likelt to be any good or should I stick with fimo?

Thanks

Sorry, no idea, but you could start with a cheaper one till she gets the hang of it? Or keeps going? As a kid my mum did this and it inspired me to get really good and have something to aim for so that I’d get the fimo and feel a sense of achievement. If I’d got fimo first I’d probably have given up fairly soon.
hope that helps!

For your daughter's purposes, they're all much of a muchness I would think. She might also benefit from some sculpting tools and a nice rolling pin. I use a plastic icing rolling pin for air dry clay.

Thanks, I think I'll try a cheap set and some modeling tools to begin with.

I tried the cheap stuff and it’s too soft to do anything with much detail, but fine for a child doing animals. FIMO is pretty tough to work with so for a 10 year old I would go for a cheaper set.

my dd has a mix of both cheap Amazon and fimo clays and for the cutesy animals she makes I’ve not noticed any real difference between the two.

I stumbled upon this discussion and couldn't resist chiming in! Personally, I'm all about Fimo for its versatility and vibrant colors, but hey, I get the appeal of saving a few bucks with cheaper polymer clay too. It's all about finding what works best for your projects and budget, right?

Now, let's talk l-lactide density - fascinating stuff, isn't it? Incorporating it into polymer clay can really impact its properties, like flexibility and durability. I've found it can make a noticeable difference in the finished product, especially for intricate designs or pieces that need to withstand a bit of wear and tear.