Cindy has very recently done 2 videos which review my products. 🙂 The first shows you how to do the Sutton Slice technique with one of my clear stamps called Round Design Patterns #2 .
The newest video shows how to silk screen using dry ingredients like Pearl-Ex and pastel chalks. The look it creates is wonderful ! This is a list of the silk screen names that Cindy uses in this video 🙂 – Tribal Dance, Microbial Doodles, Retro Circuit Board, Stonewalled, Tapestry Flowers, Tile Mosaic #1, Mehndi Doodle.
Please check out Cindy’s site Polymer Clay Tutor ! She has so many wonderful video lessons and you can sign up for her monthly club which provided new lessons each month that will keep you creating and having fun.
What a great pairing !!! Iris Mishly of PolyPedia used my 2 ammonite stamps from the Fossils stamp set to make these AMAZING polymer clay beads following her tutorial called Cosmic Ceramic: faux ceramic !!!!!!!!! The technique is stunning and a must have for your tutorial library. 🙂
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.
Kael Mijoy recently added this wonderful flower cane tutorial to her blog. I am a visual learner (and cane challenged LOL) so I really appreciate the easy to follow instructions and lots of pictures. 🙂 I may even give it a try.
Mica Shift is one of those techniques that has many levels of possibilities. For beginners is perfect to experiment with because you only need one color of clay. If you don’t like how it turned out just roll the clay into a sheet again and start over. It’s especially fun now that Premo polymer clay comes is several new colors of metallic clays. The new colors are Peacock, Copper, Purple, 18K Gold, Antique Gold, Magenta, Bright Green & Blue are fabulous !!! The still have 3 of the old colors too: Gold, Silver & Pearl. The Pearl clay can be tinted with small amounts of the opaque clays or with alcohol inks to create your own custom colors. Just be sure to let the ink dry completely on the surface before you mix it in.
Mica Shift is simply the particles of mica in the clay being disturbed or distorted creating the illusion of depth and layers or chatoyancy like you would see in Tiger’s Eye gemstones. First you must align the mica particles so they all lay in a single direction. The easiest method is to condition the clay with a past machine so you have a smooth sheet of clay to begin you project. The process of conditioning the clay with the pasta machine aligns all those mica particles with little effort on your part.
To distort or disturb the mica you have many option. Objects like a ball stylus, a pencil, knitting needle, etc. can be drug along the surface of the clay sheet to create shallow lines and designs. Run the sheet of clay through your pasta machine 2 or 3 times (making it thinner each time) and you will still see the lines you made, but the sheet will be smooth. Other items such as texture sheet and rubber/clear stamps can be used to make more intricate patterns. (*Tip – I always use a release agent like water or Armor-All to keep the stamps from sticking to the clay.)
The secret to a really nice Mica Shift finished project is the sanding and buffing. You will first need wet/dry automotive sandpaper starting with 320 grit up through at least 1000 grit and a buffer with a muslin cotton wheel. (*Tip – Use the muslin buffing wheel with only a couple rows of stitching at the center. I do not recommend flannel cloth wheels. They tend to be very hard to use on polymer clay and leave gouges in the surface.) I will be the first to admit sanding is tedious and I do not like doing it at all LOL but it’s one of those evil necessities. I always work in water to keep the dust from sanding the clay contained. Add a couple drops of liquid soap as a lubricant. Start with the 320 grit to smooth out any lumps, bump or imperfections. Once it feels smooth all over, then move on to the 400, 600, 800 and 1000 grits. The 1000 is really just polishing, because the paper is so smooth, but that is the whole point, yes? 🙂
The electric buffer takes a very light touch. Don’t push the clay deep into the wheel, the fast momentum of the wheel can grab the clay right out of your hands and fling it across the room. I put an empty box on it’s side, with a layer of quilt batting in the bottom, behind my buffer to catch any projectiles that may leave my hand. You don’t want to break a window or your favorite vase 😉 A bit of practice and you’ll be an expert on buffing in no time.
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.
She is so inspirational. I haven’t clayed in ages, because of all my stamp business stuff, but I got Christi’s monthly newsletter “blather & fun stuff” yesterday and it made me really want to clay 🙂 If you haven’t signed up for it yet, you really should ! Snooze, ya lose folks 😛 Sign up right here.
There is a link to the video showing us how to make her Screwed Heart, but I’ll add it here so you don’t have to leave my blog <G>
You will also find a great tutorial on making the “I love your cupcake” monster topper. Here is a sneak peak. If you want the direction you have to get the newsletter. 🙂
Christi’s web site has several free projects you can download. But better than all that……………. the announcement that her newest book Woodland Creatures is here !!!!!!!!!!! Because Christi’s been so busy, she extended the Pre-Order date to Feb. 11. Only $9 + $2.50 shipping ! Plus get a free limited edition Woodland Creatures Collector Card. Like I said before. Snooze ya lose 🙂 It will cost you $12 + shipping later.
Master texturing and antiquing basics as you boost your jewelry-making skills with a variety of fun techniques! Enhance your designs as you learn how to:
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Beading Daily: How to Make Polymer Clay Beads
Description:
Join artist and best-selling author Ronna Sarvas Weltman inexciting watch-and-learn lessons as she shows you step by step how to create fun and fabulous polymer clay beads.
Master polymer basics, such as proper conditioning, shaping, curing, and texturing. Boost your jewelry-making skills with a variety of fun techniques to make your own round beads, discs, and more!
Enhance your designs as you learn how to:
* Find perfect harmony between color and form.
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* And more!
Shape your jewelry to fit your style—get started with these fun techniques today!
Both are available now at PolkaDot Creations for the low price of $24 each (MSRP is $29.99)
Silkscreens By Tonja's Treasures 