Polymer Clay Extruder Ideas | Beyond the Basics

Do you pull out your polymer clay extruder often, or is it one of those tools that gathers dust in your craft stash? If it’s the latter, don’t worry—you’re not alone. This magical little gadget has so much creative potential that it’s practically begging for a spotlight in your next project. From creating custom texture tools to designing intricate canes, let’s explore some polymer clay extruder ideas that will take your crafting game to the next level.

Extruders 101: What’s the Big Deal?

A polymer clay extruder is essentially a tool that pushes clay through a shaped disc, transforming it into a uniform rope, sheet, or shape. Think of it like the ultimate Play-Doh upgrade for grown-ups. Whether you’re making earrings, home decor, or sculptural art, this tool can help you achieve precision and creativity with ease.

Why Invest in a Quality Extruder?

If you’re serious about your clay game, investing in a high-quality extruder is a no-brainer. Cheap ones might work in a pinch, but they wear out quickly and can be tough on your hands. My personal favorite is the Lucy Clay Tools Czextruder.* It’s a bit of an investment, but trust me, it’s worth every penny. Pair it with a drill adapter for even more ease, and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

*Note: As of this writing, the Lucy Clay Czextruder is currently out of stock but will hopefully be back soon. My previous extruder was a Walnut Hollow brand—it was good, just not as good as my Czextruder. And although I’ve never tried the Makins brand, I have heard good things about it.

Pro tip: Drill adapters for your extruder are great but if you don’t have one a piece of rubberized shelf liner can help save your hands while cranking. I keep a piece handy to wrap around the barrel for both cushioning and extra grip.

Don’t forget about the discs that shape the clay! Most extruders come with a basic set of shapes—squares, circles, triangles—but there’s a whole world of specialty discs you can get your hands on. And as a bonus, most disks are interchangeable between extruders so you don’t have to stick to one brand.

polymer clay extruder ideas--combine disk shapes for fun patterns — A tooth brush holder and soap dish. The extruder cane used a half hexagon & a round disk for the pattern.

Ready to discover some polymer clay extruder ideas that go way beyond the basics? Let’s dive in!

Creative Polymer Clay Extruder Ideas to Try

1. Adding Texture with an Extruder

Who knew that your extruder could be the key to creating custom texture tools? One of my favorite ways to take advantage of my extruder is by creating texture rollers. Thin ropes of extruded clay can be wrapped around scrap clay tubes, which you can then use to add textures like a pro.

For instance, you can use these homemade tools to amp up techniques like mokume gane or mica shift, giving your designs depth and interest. And the best part? You’re not spending a fortune on fancy texture mats that everyone else is using. You’re going full DIY, which is way cooler (and more satisfying).

Playful Tip: Who needs store-bought texture mats or stamps when you can just grab whatever’s on your desk? Try different patterns and experiment with what works best for you. Your extruder is your new secret weapon.

polymer clay stamps made with scrap clay. some of the textures were created with extruded ropes of clay — A set of texture stamps I made from scrap clay. Extruded ropes were used to create some of the patterns.

2. Making Borders and Frames

Extruders are also perfect for adding those little touches that make your projects stand out. A simple extruded snake of clay can easily turn into a border or frame for your designs. It’s a small detail, but it makes a big difference.

For jewelry, like earrings or pendants, a single extruded snake can be a perfect frame to accentuate a pattern or design. Or, for larger pieces, try twisting two extruded snakes together to create a rope-like frame. It’s charming, it’s stylish, and it’s all thanks to your trusty extruder!

twist together extruded strands to make a rope effect — Twist together extruded strands of clay to create a rope effect border.

3. Faux Techniques Using an Extruder

Do you ever look at other crafts and think, “That would be cool if I could make it out of clay?” Well, with an extruder, you can! It’s like having a whole arsenal of techniques at your fingertips.

Make faux candy sprinkles by extruding thin strands of clay in different colors. Separate them on a baking sheet or tile to cure, and chop them up afterwards for adding sprinkles to your mini food creations.

Create a basket weave look by weaving together extruded strands of clay, either round or flat extrusions would work. You can also mimic the look of knits with creative twisting, braiding, and weaving of extruded strands.

A woven basket made with extruded clay from the Lucy Clay Tools' Instagram — A woven basket made with extruded polymer clay ropes from Lucy Clay Tools Instagram.

4. Unique Canes with an Extruder

Alright, let’s talk canes. Sure, you can use your extruder for basic shapes, but why stop there? If you get creative, you can use the extruder to craft the most unique canes that will make your projects pop.

You can start with simple pixelated canes by extruding solid colors, or add some flair to retro canes by incorporating Skinner blends. If you want to take things even further, get funky with other disc shapes. Instead of just the usual square, try circles, hexagons, or triangles for a totally different look. Your extruder isn’t just for the basics—it’s for pushing the limits of your creativity.

Pixilated peach blossom cane earrings by Good Mornings by Stephanie. Be sure to scroll through Stephanie’s Instagram for even more polymer clay extruder inspiration such as these colorful woven earrings.

And don’t forget about borders! Extruders are perfect for creating border canes that can add that extra bit of wow to your projects. These little touches can take your designs to a whole new level of awesome.

polymer clay border cane used as an accent on a trinket bowl — A simple extruder border cane adds that little bit extra to a trinket bowl.

Pro Tip: If you want to reduce your extruder cane give it a couple hours to cool down before doing so. Freshly extruded clay will be warm and quite soft, leading to distortion if you try reduce the cane right away. Letting the clay cool down and firm up with lead to more satisfying results.

5. Scrap Clay Play

We all know that with polymer clay comes a pile of scrap clay. And let’s face it—those scraps don’t always make the best color mixes. Sometimes they end up looking like mud, right? But don’t throw them out! Turn them into something fabulous using your extruder.

One of my favorite ways to deal with scrap clay is by making swirly scrap clay slabs. I chop up the scraps, squeeze them into a log that will fit the extruder, and extrude thin strands. Coil the strands on a thin base, and then shave off the top layer. Check out this reel on my Instagram for a quick tutorial.

polymer clay extruder ideas--use extruded scrap clay strands to make a coordinated photo prop — An example of the scrap clay swirls. I used the leftover cane scraps to make a coordinating photo prop for the earrings.

Conclusion: Take Your Extruder Game to the Next Level

If you’ve been sticking to the basics, it’s time to upgrade your polymer clay extruder game. This tool is way more versatile than you might have thought, and I hope these polymer clay extruder ideas inspire you to try new things. From creating custom texture tools to making intricate canes and unique borders, the possibilities are endless.

So, grab your extruder, have fun, and let your creativity take over. And don’t forget—if you make something amazing (or even slightly weird), I want to see it! Tag me on Instagram @bysandracallander and show me what you’ve been working on.

Want even more polymer clay inspiration? Join my Facebook group, The Polymer Clay Collective, where you’ll connect with a fabulous community of makers just like you. Let’s get creative and clay it up together!