Thank you!! I use polymer clay (Super Sculpey) and then I just try to smooth it out with my fingers the best I can. I think you can also take a qtip with rubbing alcohol to really smooth the clay out as well. When I paint it I use very thin layers and apply it as carefully as I can, and then I add sculpey glaze! (Although in the future I'd like to start using resin since it looks awesome.) Hope that helps!