Thousands of Kiwi kids have tried Klay Master in school holiday programmes. Now we bring it to your home! Presale open, $139
FAQ
Answers about the Family Series, making and baking, the competition, and running sessions for groups.
The Family Series pack
When will my pack arrive?
Presale packs post from 8 December 2026, in time for the summer holidays. NZ postage is included in the price.
Can we choose our own colours?
Yes. When you order on the Morris & James website, choose six colours for making and one spare for decorating, from FIMO Soft and the soft FIMO Effect range. The Nightglow block comes in every pack.
How many people can use one pack?
There is enough clay for six makers. It is designed for two people, such as a parent and child, to make all three activities each. It works just as well for six people making one activity each.
My child is under 5. Is this suitable?
Yes, it is possible, but expect to give a lot more hands-on help and guidance. Under-fives are still developing the fine motor skills and patience the activities need. Packs are not suitable for babies or young toddlers, although younger ones often love it when you make one for them and they help you customise it, pressing on the eyes and details.
Making and baking
Is the clay non-toxic?
Yes. We use FIMO polymer clay by Staedtler, which is non-toxic and carries the AP Non-Toxic seal for art materials. There are no toxic glazes or finishes, and the gloss varnish is water based. As with any craft material, it is not for eating, so keep an eye on little ones and wash hands after making. Bake at 110°C and never overbake, as burnt polymer clay gives off harmful fumes.
The clay feels hard. How do I warm it up?
Warming the clay is how every Klay Master activity starts, and it is an essential step. Break the block into small pieces and roll each one into a ball between your hands. The warmth of your hands softens the clay. Once the pieces feel soft, press them back together into one ball, ready to start. It takes a few minutes, and it is a great way to keep kids busy while you get set up for the activity.
In winter, give the clay a head start by sitting it on a hot water bottle or a warmed wheat bag for a few minutes before you begin. Keep it gentle: warm, not hot, as too much heat can start to cure the clay. Never microwave it.
If clay is crumbly, it is usually old or has been stored somewhere warm. Small crumbly pieces still work well for details like eyes.
How do I bake it?
Preheat a home oven to 110°C. Lay the pieces on baking paper on a tray and bake for 30 minutes. An oven thermometer helps, as oven dials are not always accurate. Leave the pieces to cool fully before handling, as FIMO firms up as it cools.
What happens if it overbakes?
Never go above 110°C or past the baking time, and always set a timer. Burnt polymer clay releases harmful fumes, so if it scorches, turn the oven off, open a window and air the room. We learnt this the hard way: during a family workshop our oven thermostat failed and the oven overheated, and every creation was ruined.
How do I store FIMO once it is open?
Wrap opened clay in cling film or keep it in an airtight container, somewhere cool and out of the sun. FIMO does not dry out in the air, but heat and sunlight can start to cure it and dust sticks to it easily.
Any tips for better technique?
Yes. Watch our moulding techniques video and read Top tips for technique.
The competition and prizes
Can anyone enter the competition?
No. The competition is for people who have bought a Family Series pack, as entry comes with the pack. Details on how to enter are included in your pack.
When can we enter the competition?
Any time. The competition runs every month, so make your piece when it suits you and enter it in whichever month you like. There is no deadline to use your pack.
Can we enter more than once a month?
Yes. Enter as many pieces as you like in the same month, and each one goes into that month's round.
Do we have to make all three activities?
No. Enter any activity from your pack. Make all three, or if someone falls in love with one model, make it again and enter the new piece. It is up to you.
Can I submit the same design twice?
No. Every unique design has one entry. You are welcome to make the same model again, and a new piece with its own design can be entered as a new entry.
How should I photograph my entry?
Use a plain background and good daylight. Take five photos so the judges can see the whole piece: front, back, left side, right side and from above.
How do the prizes work?
There are two. Five winners are picked from each month's entries and sent a small bronze Morris & James emblem with a magnet for the fridge. Separately, anyone who completes three activities, at any time in the year, is posted a Finisher Magnet. Prizes are posted separately from the pack.
How does the Finisher Magnet work?
The Finisher Magnet is about progress: sticking with it, finishing what you start and picking up new skills along the way. Anyone who completes three activities at any time during the year gets one. They can come from one pack or from different packs. It does not matter how they get there, only that they finish three.
Do I pay postage for prizes?
No. Monthly winner emblems and Finisher Magnets are posted to you free within NZ.
Are there age categories?
No. Everyone is judged together, but the judges always take the maker's age into account.
Who are the judges?
A panel of judges: past staff of Morris & James Pottery, and Amanda Penton, head Klay Master tutor. Guest potters occasionally join us on the judging panel.
For educators
Do you run the session for us?
Not at the moment. We now live and work more remotely, so we are not able to get to our favourite holiday programmes around the country the way we used to. Instead we provide the teaching materials and support, and you run the room. Everything you need is in the teaching framework, and we are only an email away if you get stuck.
How big can the group be?
Groups of 10 to 40, with one adult for every 10 kids. When you are starting out, it is easier to split larger groups into groups of 10 to 15.
How long does a session take?
Each activity is designed to last about an hour. Allow 1 to 1½ hours for the whole session.
What do we get?
Each student gets an activity pack with FIMO clay, a printed 12-step instruction card, a baking paper placemat, a biodegradable knife, and a take-home box with baking instructions. You also get a finished example model, glow-in-the-dark clay for the end of the session, teacher’s tips videos and our step-by-step teaching framework.
We don’t have an oven. Does that matter?
No. Each piece goes home in its box with baking instructions, so it can be baked at home.
Can a session be a fundraiser?
Yes. Klay Master workshops can raise money for a school, daycare or club. Ask us how it’s done, and we can provide all the marketing materials to use. Read: Fundraising with Klay Master
How much does it cost?
Pricing depends on your group. Send us an enquiry and we’ll be in touch with materials and pricing.
Still have a question? Contact us.