I've found that newer clay is much easier to work with. The older it is the more dried out it is and harder to work with. But you're right, certain colors are softer too. Translucent is a difficult one.
Charleen, I use "Preserve Your Memories II' to spray my clay.
http://www.precision-blue.com/ It's a little expensive but a little goes a long way. This stuff is great! You can spray just about anything with it - wood, leather, paper, pictures, clay, plastic, etc. I like that it's a UV protectant and waterproof too.
A small pasta machine for clay is pretty cheap. You can usually find them for about $15. They save soooo much work and I think are well worth the price. I've spent $15 on a lot dumber things than that!
