Fimo kids Fairy Form and Play Set

This is a level 3 out of 3 in the Fimo kids range. Go for a level 1 set if the child this is for has not used Fimo before. The polymer clay is very soft, softer than plasticine or new clay, perhaps as soft as Play Doh. Unlike Play Doh it is easy to stick bits together and you bake it hard in the oven at 110 degrees C for 30 minutes.I use Fimo myself and so I was able to assist my daughter in explaining the instructions, but I do think the instructions were very good and well illustrated. It would be best to start with a level 1 if you or your child has no experience using Fimo though. Because it is very soft, it is easy for small hands to work with, but it is also unforgiving! As you assemble the fairy with pieces shaped first, there is a tendency to press the pieces on to firmly and also to squeeze it somewhere when you are holding it. Consequently by the time it was finished, the fairy had been squashed to half her height and had lost all shape becoming more the smoothed shape of a Russian doll. If you make a mistake it is best to leave it. The more you do to it to fix it, the worse things get!I baked it in my gas oven at 110 degrees C, but left it in far too long. It had an hour and scorched a bit. The white was very browny pink and the pink flesh colour was brown. Green and yellow seemed to keep their colour. Gas ovens are not great for baking polymer clay as the flame is below and the baking tray gets too hot and scorches the bottom of your figure. You can try to put the figure on something like an ceramic/stone tile (check oven safe) or piece or oven safe silicon baking tray/mat (that you will not later use for food) to prevent it scorching where it touches the baking tray. I usually use my  Andrew James halogen oven  which gives a more accurate and even heat. I would recommend a halogen oven for baking polymer clay to avoid scorching your sculpture and minimise discolouration. If you do use a food oven, I would suggest covering the figure loosely (ideally not touching) in foil to avoid residue lining your oven. It does sweat as it bakes and this condensates somewhere, better on some foil you can discard than all inside you oven. The Staedler website says you can use "ordinary household oven" with a photo of a mother and child placing a tray of fimo creations into a kitchen oven, but personally I prefer to use a non food oven or a foil covering to be safe.I am giving it very good rating because my daughter very much enjoyed it and it is my fault that I started her off with a level 3 set, so I am sure the results would have been much better with a child that has experience with FImo. Moreover, it is not about what you make or how close to the picture on the box it is, it is all about your child having fun!

Good value for money, great for imaginations. Quick delivery time.

Nice price, nice gift. Slightly smaller than expected.

Very small

Very fun. Good quality product with very clear instructions too.