The tools used to work with polymer clay can come from anywhere. Just remember that any tool should be used only for clay and never touch food again.

There are some tools that should be of good quality to be sure you have good results in your projects. The oven should be one that can hold a steady tempter. An oven thermometer to make sure your oven tempter is steady and correct. Pasta machine will make sure you have even sheets of clay.

The rest of the tools can be innovative. Anything can be used for a tool as long as it gives the result you looking for. Some of my favorites are toothpicks, clay shapers, dental tools, knitting needles, green pot scrubbers. If I can't find a tool among my stash of tools I'll make it out of clay.

Keep in mind tools do not have to be expensive. Watch yard sales, flea markets and your local dollar store. The best find of all my tools is a convection oven. The inside is as big a medium size microwave with a removable rack for those larger projects. It keeps a good tempter. I picked it up at a yard sale for 5 bucks.