Can i bake regular clay?

[Johanna]

I have regular art and craft clay and we want to make it hard. Can i bake it or something?
thanks!

[Jann in TX]

You cannot bake or harden modeling clay.

Some types of play-dough can be hardened--but it usually cracks.

Sculpty and Fimo are two craft clays that can be baked in your home oven to harden.

Crayola makes 'Model Magic' that is an air-dry clay--it dries out VERY quickly and then feels sort of like 'fun foam'.

If you used regular modeling clay then it may be possible to make a 'cast' of your artwork...but the item itself cannot be preserved.

[Claire]

Unless the clay says specifically that you can bake it in a home oven, I wouldn't do it because of the likelihood of toxic chemicals being released into the air.

[Johanna]

Thats what i thought. We will have to go get the sculpty stuff!