New Custom Order Completed

I received a request to make some custom needle tools. If I say so myself, they turned out fabulous !! Sort of a faux batik look that was completely unintentional.

And while I was at it, I covered my own needle tool and my craft knife handle 🙂

In case you were wondering, the needle tools are $9.99 ($11.99 if you want them varnished).

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Free Tutorials You Just Have To Try !

First on my list was Bettina Welker’s cane she calls “Pixelated Retro Blend Cane”. It’s a twist on the extruded retro “Klimt” cane that has become so popular. Here is what I made using her tutorial.

Next I want to try Marie Davis’ border cane

The next is a fun, funky bracelet and I believe was written by Anna Anpilogova. It’s in Russian ) I think) but the pictures say it all 🙂

I use this tutorial by Valerie Wallace to make tile beads a few years ago. It sure helps keep the bead holes even!

I recently did a variation on this tutorial to make a quick and easy pendant. The tutorial will soon be on the Polymer Clay Central website.

A great faux bone or ivory tutorial written my Desiree McCrorey

This is a really cute way to make faux denim. It’s also in Russian ( I think LOL) But he pictures are great.

Yep, another one I can’t read. Good thing the pictures tell me what I need to know to make this fabulous extruded bracelet.

It’s a Russian invasion !!! Just kidding 🙂 But these gals are so talented. Just saying 🙂 Here is an amazing Poppy cane

Last but not least, I love this use of scrap clay to make a Magic Swirl Cane

If you want to see more great polymer clay tutorial both free and for sale join us over at the Facebook Group “Just Polymer Clay Tutorials”.

Fun polymer clay projects to keep you busy this Winter

Golden Polymer Clay Beads

Spring Bouquet Tutorial

Songbird Eggs

Rough And Tough Polymer Clay

Radiant Mica Shift

Persian Beads

Faux Enamel

Butterfly Cane From Basic Canes

Earth Toned Mokume Gane Beads

And a cool tip 🙂 Inside bottom of pop can makes a great curved surface to bake on. Just be careful of the sharp edges.

Faux Mother of Pearl Tutorial

Check it out over at Parole de Pate’s blog !!!!! Love this technique. It looks so real.

http://paroledepate.canalblog.com/archives/2011/05/16/21026713.html

How Do They Do That?

Techniques I really Want To Try – if I can figure out how they did it 🙂

The first technique on my list is Lisa Pavelka’s faux batik.

Second is Sarah Shrivers reverse inlay veneers.

And the third has me very intrigued. Sylvie Peraud’s faux denim which can be learned over at Craftedu.com

There is also a crackle technique I have seen around that looks different than the one I have done in the past using a crackle medium that was brushed on the clay. I have a tutorial at Polkadot Creations showing how I did it. This newer technique has a lot of depth and I love it. While searching for a picture example to share I found this tutorial 🙂 https://www.cottagefever.com/Crackled%20Polymer%20Clay.pdf A heat gun is the key !!!!

You can also do a really nice crackle effect using paints and inks that are brushed onto a raw sheet of clay, left to dry and then stretched to make the paint or ink crack.

Using pearlescent paint

using paint

Here is a tutorial using pearlescent ink by Daler Rowney http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/faux_ammolite1.html

And another using silver leaf and inks http://people.delphiforums.com/ananda37/pentutorial.html

Smooshers Featured Artist: Vixen Jewels

One of our newer Artfire Smooshers members is Polly Dobbs of Vixen Jewels. She has a whole lot of beautiful polymer clay jewelry in her shop but these 2 are my favorites.

Hmmm, or maybe it’s these 2 🙂

Be sure to drop by Polly’s Artfire shop and take a look around.
You can see more examples of her work in her Flickr gallery and follow her blog

Freely Sharing Ideas

A list of recent free tutorials from the blogs I read. Lot’s of great ideas here. 🙂

Carolyn shows us how to turn a large tube bead into a Fan Pull And her tips on texture for those tube beads. Carolyn also has a good idea for making your own texture plates.

Marie Segal did a series of cane tutorials on how to make African Trade Beads out of polymer clay.

Here are the following parts 🙂
http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/03/african-trade-beads-part-2.html
http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/03/african-trade-beads-part-3.html
http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/03/african-trade-beads-part-4.html
http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/03/african-trade-beads-part-5.html
There may be more parts, so keep your eye on Marie’s Blog. She actually has a lot of great free tutorials on her blog, so read all the back posts 🙂

Zuda Gay has a couple nice floral tutorials on her blog.
sculpting a little leaf
how to make a hibiscus flower

I used Google translator on this French blog, but you know how accurate that is LOL It a tutorial on how to a hollow bead make hollow beads using what I believe is a cotton ball bead covered with clay, baked, then drilled and de-cottoned. *G* Here is a picture of her finished bead used in a necklace.

Cristalline always has wonderful tutorials 🙂 This watermelon cane is no exception.

Here is a whole list of tutorial on her blog.

Another French blogger that always seems to have something fun to learn on her blog is Parole de Pate. This month it’s Extruded Whirlwinds, Imitation Mother of Pearl, and a Caged Bead

And yet another French blog with a fun Faux Knit design.

If you need to translate any of these links use Google Translator. Paste the web address into the box, choose the languages and click translate.

Having trouble getting that prefect wire wrapped loop? Tina can help 🙂 Try this free tutorial.

My New Etsy Gallery – Imitation Is The Best Form Of Flattery

Faux techniques showing off the versatility of polymer clay.

My Clear Stamps in Action

Some of you may know I sell clear stamps in my Etsy shop. I recently made a batch to my friend Moe and sent them off to Hawaii. I love to see what people were inspired to make with my stamps. 🙂 Moe posted some pictures of her faux cinnabar on her blog, Moeart.

Flickr Finds For Jan 26th

I love browsing Flickr to see everyone latest creations. These a just a few of my favorite finds this week.

TreeWingsStudio / Rebekah Payne

Stories They Tell / Christine Damm

River Valley Design / Christina Uliczny

polymerclaybeads / Ponsawan

Knii Knii