I was never particularly fond of Playdoh as a kid. It was messy. It got under my fingernails. None of my creations looked anything like I wanted them to. The length of time it took to clean up seemed to rival the play time. It irritated me that my little brother felt free to mix the colors. It also irritated me that my sense of order only allowed me to use one color at a time. And the few times that I managed to create something true-to-life (worms, balls and pancakes were my specialties) were short-lived, since I had to stuff my works of art back in the Playdoh container as soon as I was finished.

This past July I taught a weekly class for 2- and 3-year-olds. Everything from the curriculum to the craft supplies to the “play time” materials was provided, including the Playdoh. It only took one chaotic class for me to decide that the poor kids wouldn’t enjoy Playdoh again until August. I guess some things are difficult to outgrow.

When Cultivate built a microsite for Polyform Products, the company responsible for Sculpey oven-bake polymer clays, I discovered that sculpting wasn’t limited to those who are under the age of six or who own a kiln. Apparently there’s a whole world of “in between” polymer clay enthusiasts–neither preschoolers nor professionals–who attend conventions, showcase projects, swap techniques and pepper their homes with hand-crafted baked clay decor.

Studio by Sculpey, the latest in a long line of polymer clays, tools and accessories, was created for people like me. Coinciding with an education program led by Sculpey-savvy Donna Dewberry, Studio by Sculpey provides step-by-step project instructions for those of us who disliked Playdoh for the reasons I previously mentioned.

In a crafting league of its own, Studio by Sculpey received its own microsite rather than joining the other clay lines on Sculpey.com. The site is filled with projects specially designed for the Studio by Sculpey product line, and an online video delivers personal testimonies from crafters who have fallen in love with the product. Fans of the clay can look to the microsite for color scheme suggestions, clay tips and projects submitted by fellow Studio by Sculpey enthusiasts.

The Studio by Sculpey microsite acts as both a marketing tool for the clay line and a gateway to the array of other clay lines and products featured on Polyform’s primary site. The dual-purpose microsite might just be one in “a world of bright ideas” that Polyform Products deserves credit for.