Polymer Clay Color Recipes | Picnic at Golden Hour
You know that moment right before the sun dips too low and everything gets bathed in buttery light? That’s the heart of this palette — a warm, whimsical mix of late-afternoon sunshine, fizzy laughter, and wildflowers nodding along in the breeze.
Inspired by blooming cosmos doing their thing in full sun, this color collection is equal parts nostalgic and flirty. Think blush-pink lemonade, peachy daisy petals, sun-warmed grass, and that perfect golden glow you wish you could bottle.
If you’ve been on the hunt for polymer clay color recipes that capture a bit of that golden-hour magic, you’re in the right place. Ready to mix a little sunshine into your stash? Let’s get to the recipes!
A Quick Tip on Mixing
When I share polymer clay color recipes, I use parts to measure the ratios. You can grab whatever cutter you like—just stick with the same one and keep your clay thickness consistent for every color in the recipe.
Personally, I prefer to use squares. They’re super handy for slicing into smaller portions, and if you cut corner to corner, it’s accurate enough even for those of us who couldn’t eyeball a measurement if our lives depended on it. Seriously, I’m terrible at eyeballing, so I’m all for keeping it foolproof!
Tools & Materials
To recreate this dreamy palette, you’ll need:
- Fimo Professional polymer clay in these colors:
- True Magenta
- True Red
- True Yellow
- True Blue
- White
- Pasta machine dedicated to polymer clay use — I use an Atlas 180 but you can improvise with an acrylic roller and playing cards if you’re pasta machineless.
- Shape cutter of your choice (but squares are the VIPs in my opinion)
- Polymer clay blade or craft knife
Step 1: Prep your clay
Give your clay a little warm-up stretch! No need to fully condition it just yet—mixing will take care of most of that. Just make sure it’s soft enough to cut without any fuss.
Step 2: Roll it out
Roll out all your clay to the same thickness. Whether you’re using a pasta machine or your favorite acrylic roller, consistency is the name of the game.
Step 3: Cut your pieces
Grab your cutter and cut out the parts for each recipe. Need fractions of parts? Slice and dice with your blade or knife until you’ve got just the right amount.
Step 4: Mix and mash
Combine your colors by squishing them by hand or running them through your pasta machine. Blend until you’ve got a smooth, even shade.
Step 5: Make magic
Now it’s time to create something amazing with your gorgeous new palette!
Color #1
- 6 parts White
- 3 parts True Yellow
- 1 part True Magenta
- 1/32 True Blue
Color #2
- 6 parts White
- 1/2 part True Magenta
- 1/16 True Blue
- 1/16 True Yellow
Color #3
- 4 parts True Magenta
- 3 parts True Red
- 3 parts White
- 1/4 part True Yellow
- 1/4 part True Blue
Color #4
- 35 parts White
- 1 part True Yellow
- 1/4 part True Magenta
- 1/8 part True Blue
Color #5
- 2 parts White
- 1 parts True Yellow
- 1/4 parts True Blue
- 1/8 part True Magenta
I’ve done my best to match these colors while staring at my screen, but keep in mind, colors may vary slightly depending on your screen settings (phone, tablet, laptop, etc.) The colors you mix should be super close, but don’t stress if there’s a tiny difference—it’s all part of the creative journey!
If you want to make a large batch of a color recipe and have a kitchen scale weight your parts rather than cut them out. See this post for a run down on how to use weight to measure your parts.
Your Turn to Play
Which color are you itching to try first? I’d love to see what you create with the Picnic at Golden Hour palette — whether it’s a floral cane, a funky pair of earrings, or a veneer that’s begging for texture.
These polymer clay color recipes were made to spark joy, not collect digital dust. So tag me on Instagram @bysandracallander or pop into the Facebook group and share your swatches and makes. Let’s fill our feeds with flowers, sunshine, and maybe a few crumbs from the imaginary picnic blanket.
More Color Recipes to Try
