Polymer Clay Workshop

Polymer clay sunflower magnet tutorial

Posted on August 15, 2013 by polymerclayworkshop

Swirl up the colors, roll them into a log, and then fold them in half. Repeat this process until there are streaks of color running through the clay.

Sunflowers tend to have a lot of petals and a large center. To make the petals, pull and pinch sections of the streaked log of clay. You don’t have to use all the petals. It’s important that the petals are a little random in size and color. Let them twist a curl slightly.

Add one or two layers of leaves to the back of the center. I should have added the texture after I put the leaves on! The pressure of adding the texture would have helped to squish the petals on.

Add the leaves. Bake the clay and glue a magnet to the back.

For more adorable projects and tips check out my kids’ clay e-book on etsy.

Posted in Free Tutorials | Tagged craft, DIY, fall, magnet, polymer clay, tutorial | 4 Comments

Pictures in Polymer Clay

Posted on August 14, 2013 by polymerclayworkshop

I love collaboration! This concept designs for these pictures are by my brother, illustrator Chris Newberg. Soft pastels will stick to clay, and when it’s finished baking, it doesn’t even have to be placed behind glass! You can crush chalk pastel sticks and paint the powder on with a paint brush. My favorite tools are the sponge-like applicators that come with pan pastels.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, bas relief, Clay, Online magazine, pan pastel, Pastel, polymer clay, soft pastel, Visual Arts | 1 Comment

The Power of Synthesis in the Creative Process

Posted on August 7, 2013 by polymerclayworkshop

All the pieces of your next brilliant idea may be all around you at this very moment. All you need to do is to combine them in a meaningful way. This idea generator can be used in countless ways. It will allow you to quickly synthesize the components of design in ways you never imagined before.

Here I have applied the idea generator to combine canework techniques (listed on the inside circle) with various uses for cane slices. (listed on the outside circle). Each time I rotate the spinner, I read twelve new combinations. I could also use this for color schemes, bead shapes and jewelry patterns, themes and projects etc. This post shows how I used the idea generator as a creativity prompt with my elementary art students.

Just so that I can brag, here are some of the examples made with faux wood inlay canes.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, creative process, creativity, polymer clay | 5 Comments

Polymer clay earrings tutorial

Posted on August 3, 2013 by polymerclayworkshop

I made these earrings for my roommate’s wedding. Sometimes simple is best. It took me a long time to figure out how to make a strong hook for the cane slice. I kept trying to slide a head pin all the way through the cane slice, but it would always get messed up! Finally, I decided to sandwich the headpin between to slices! Worked like a charm, no pun intended.

Posted in Free Tutorials | Tagged earrings, free tutorial, polymer clay, polymer clay cane, tutorial | 6 Comments

How to cut perfect polymer clay cane slices.

Posted on August 2, 2013 by polymerclayworkshop

I adore making gorgeous polymer clay canes. I think I could make them for the rest of my life and be happy! Here is a list of some of the things I make with canes. There are also tutorials, unbaked canes, and ideas in my etsy shop. However cutting even, consistent slices has never been easy for me. I often waste half my cane with ruined slices. So… here is a tool for slicing canes that you can make yourself! I made the whole thing out of mixed-up scrap polymer clay. I added lines where I would want to measure the thickness of each slice. Next I’ll make one with a rounded bottom for round canes. Remember three things that are still very important! 1) Squishy canes won’t slice well. You have to let the set for awhile. 2) Use a sharp razor or tissue blade. 3) Hold the blade at a slight angle pressing the sharp edge against the walls of the tool as you slide it down. This might even push the slicer back if its not heavy enough. in that case you’ll have to back it up with a book or a wall etc. I hope you’ll be able to make one yourself with these pictures.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Arts, craft, Etsy, Modeling Compounds, polymer clay, polymer clay cane, Supplies, tool | 12 Comments

Polymer Clay Damask Cane

Posted on July 27, 2013 by polymerclayworkshop

Black and white canes are great for beginners. Beautiful cane work almost always relies on good contrast and you can’t get more contrast than black and white! It can be very helpful to focus on one thing at a time. Using black and white clay allows you to focus entirely on the pattern and not worry at all about color. One block of white and one block of black and you’re in business! No blending or mixing. You don’t even waste as much clay, because the scraps can be blended into a nice, dark gray. I’ve spent this past month trying to find the simplest way to make a damask pattern. As always, the tutorial has one, straight forward technique to make it work!

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Polymer clay canework on wine glass

Posted on July 16, 2013 by polymerclayworkshop

My last post on baking wine glasses was a hit. I thought I’d make one with canework. Here I have three canes from July’s Cane Builder e-zine. As you can see, the last cane is only half of a cane. You could use any arrangement of square canes you choose. Here is another fun example of clay on glass. This is glass bottle i picked up from a craft store. Both of these projects have been sanded.

Posted in Free Tutorials | Tagged Bottle, Business, craft, glass, Glass bottle, Online magazine, Recreation, Shopping | 3 Comments

How to make a polymer clay hair barrette / french clip

Posted on July 9, 2013 by polymerclayworkshop

Today I made a french clip barrette from one of my new color schemes. This particular cane comes from this month’s issue of Cane Builder e-zine. Since I can never slice my canes evenly, I lay the slices out on the table, squish them together, and flip the entire sheet over. That way the cane slices lay evenly.

If you take time to wipe away your finger prints, you may not even have to sand the finished product.

Posted in Free Tutorials | Tagged barrette, canework, french clip, how-to, polymer clay | 5 Comments

Polymer Clay Board Games

Posted on May 29, 2013 by polymerclayworkshop

We have two days of polymer clay kids’ summer camp down. The students have been making 3D board games! I bought some white mat board and drew a basic board game template. The students came up with their own theme, painted the boards with acrylic, made game pieces, and then sculpted a 3D world for their creations. I bought dice for them in the toy department.

Some of their ideas included a bakery, under the sea, pirate ships in an ocean of rocks and serpents, forest animals, library, and a castle.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, Board game, Clay, craft, Modeling Compounds, polymer clay, Sculpey, Shopping | Leave a comment

Polymer clay wine glass

Posted on May 8, 2013 by polymerclayworkshop

For this wine glass, I place the clay right onto the glass. I tried to interlace the clay so that even if a little part detaches from the glass, it will all stay held together. Place it in the oven while the oven is pre-heating, and leave it in another 30 min. after you turn oven off. Wash by hand and pat dry with a paper towel.

Posted in Free Tutorials | Tagged butterfly, cane, craft, DIY, glass, polymer clay, polymer clay cane, tutorial, wine, wine glass, wing | 6 Comments