I changed the oil and found a small piece of blue hard plastic and some white/off white colored gritty looking stuff on the pan that I drained the oil into. Could the blue plastic be part of a valve seal/guide? I am going to change it again, I am trying to get rid of a ridiculous ticking sound, I'm thinking I have a sticky lifter/valve.

Have no idea what that might be. Valve guides are brass. Seals are silicone rubber and typically will not harden. Not to the point of feeling like plastic at least.

Can you post a pic of it?