Try a hand-held battery operated shoe polisher to buff your clay creations. You can use the brush to get into grooves and tight spots; the buffer to shine. It speeds the buffing time and eliminates arm strain. They are relatively inexpensive and can be adapted with your own replacement buffing pads.

Scouring pads can be used to buff your baked items and can be purchased in a 10 pack for one buck at any dollar store. You may want to purchase them with a sponge attached to make the job easier. If you begin buffing when the item is cool enough to handle, it brings out a pretty good shine. This eliminates the need to wet sand in many cases.

Turkey skewers can be used in many ways. Use the pointed end to detail your clay, make holes in beads and create texture. The rounded end can be used to smooth or scrape. See the Featured Tool Creation Section for more project ideas.

Aluminum foil is the best way to stretch your clay supply. I have made at least 100 pieces by using foil as an armature or base. It cuts down on the amount of clay used on those bulky items.

Brayers used to roll out clay, can be made from hard core spent adding machine paper rolls and a plastic-covered wire hanger. You can find both at dollar stores. The hanger can be formed into a handle and the unfinished ends can be covered with aluminum foil followed by a cover of clay. Or you can slip a krazy-glue cover tube over the ends of the hanger to form a handle and decorate with contact paper.

Wooden dowels and 1 inch pvc piping purchased from hardware and craft stores make nice mini-rolling pins. You may need to sand the wooden dowel to a smooth finish with a 1,00 grit sand paper. I use a 1/4" dowel to smooth small areas on my work.

An inexpensive manicure set ($5.00 or less) is an excellent starter set for working with clay. Many come with an implement that resembles a small spoon. I use this one for scooping out interference powders.

Inner liners from cereal boxes can substitute when waxed paper is not available. Clean them out, cut into squares and use to roll out clay. This eliminates sticking to your roll out surface.

Index cards, file folders and spent cardboard in assorted sizes can be accordian folded and used as baking racks for beads and other odd shaped pieces.

Create a neeedle tool cleaner by using an empty Super Glue container. Simply stuff 0000 steel wool into the tube until you reach the top. Use an exacto blade to cut a hole in the red bottom cap. Replace cap and insert needle using a twisting motion. It not only cleans off super glue's well, it also sharpens the needle.