cbspolyworks

How Did You Make That?

2010-11-10T15:29:00.000-08:00

Today's how did you make that post will be about how I made the candy cane ornaments as shown below. These are great ornaments for a Christmas tree as unlike real candy canes they will never melt nor rot. Also good for those who don't like the strong sent of mint.

How Did I Make it?

1) Pick out one color of clay as well as transparent clay. I used the traditional green and red colors but any colors can be used. Condition clay well

2) Roll out colored clay into a long skinny log. Cut to make several skinny logs.

3) Repeat step # 2 with transparent clay. Logs should be same length as colored logs

4) Twist one transparent log with colored log, bend top of twisted log into hook like shape.

5) Bake and enjoy!

Final Words:

Twisting two colors together is a fun technique for a variety of projects. One can make twisted log beads, or even a twisted border on a photo frame. You can also twist more then two colors together for a different look. Braiding logs is a lot of fun too.

You can find more pictures of my own candy canes by clicking here: Candy Cane Ornaments

Generosity Award

2010-10-29T06:44:00.000-07:00

Around this time last year I made up a special award, the generosity award. I gave gifts to a couple people and they in turn gave gifts to others and so forth until the spirit of generosity was spread throughout the blogger world. Well I am doing it again today!

The Generosity Award

To give a gift is a gift within itself.

I Give This Award To:
These people have all been kind to me in some shape or form. They are also very active in their craft of choice. I wish I could give this award to hundreds of my fellow blogger as they all deserve it. I am only able to choose a few though, so enjoy! :) Click their names to links for their blog and/or website.

1) Kristen whom has been following and commenting on my blog since the beginning. I am awarding her for all her sweetness.

2) Duni another older follower and commenter of my blog. Duni has always been kind.

3) Veronica Lee is a newer follower who is very upbeat in life.

4) Cara is another oldie but goodie. She has a lot of blogs, Cara makes is my favorite.

5) rkdsign88 I have always admired her cute style.

6) Cindy a fellow polymer clay user who will probably know exactly how I made the item she will receive.

Award Rules:

1) Show generosity towards others in the blogging community by giving a small gift of appreciation. This can be free advertising, a card in the mail, or anything else your imagination takes you.

2) Send this award to at least three others. If you wish to send the award to more then that, feel free to. Generosity has no limits.

3) Link back to the person who sent you this award.

4) Copy the rules as well as the award into your post.

5) Enjoy yourself and have fun!

Artfire: Find Santas to Win Big Prizes!

2010-10-27T06:23:00.000-07:00

Santa Is Lost!

Moonstone on Artfire is hosting a very fun contest that over one hundred Artfire shops are participating in. In all of these shops are hidden Santas. These Santas have numbers on them that you submit. Don't worry shop owners will be giving out clues. ;) The three users with the most found Santas win great prizes.

PRIZES

For more the rules and updated postings click here: Lost Santa Contest

My favorite Goals and teaching

2010-10-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

Goals Game:

Well it's been a week since I started the goal game so it's time to post the winners. If you want more information on this click here: Goal Game.

My Favorite goal:
"Happy smile no matter what situation" by yeevon

I like the positive, upbeat attitude of this goal. It's something that can be applied to everything. :)

Yeevon does some beautiful illustrations, many of them have a whimsical look. She includes her illustrations as prints or on cards. One of my favorites from her shop is the image below: "Trick or Treat Print."

You can find yeevon on her blog by clicking : blog or etsy shop here: Whimsy Whimsical.
I wish everyone lots of luck on their goals. ;)

Teaching:

Starting this Saturday I am going to be teaching polymer clay classes at the Dexter, Michigan Art Center. The art center had it's grand opening in October of this year so the art center isn't even a month old yet. There will be other artists teaching classes as well from pottery clay to mosaic art. I am really excited about this, and will be teaching almost every Saturday 1-3pm.

If you want more information on the Art Center feel free to go to: www.dexterartscenter.org.
If you live in the area they are looking for more artists, as well as students. :)

Monday: How Did you Make that?

2010-10-04T07:27:00.001-07:00

I decided to start doing posts describing how I made certain polymer clay items. This could also be just describing specific techniques. Above is polymer clay cat magnet I made recently. You can find more pictures of it in my shop here: Cat Magnet

How Did I Make it?

1) I used mica powders, glitter, liquid polymer clay, paint, magnet, and glaze for this colorful cat magnet.

2) I started by cutting out black polymer clay in the shape I wanted (a cat). Then outlined the outside with more black polymer clay.

3) I added various shapes to the inside using an extruder and black polymer clay.

4) Liquid polymer clay was added in these shapes along with glitter, and/or colored mica powders.

5) After it was baked I added a touch of gold paint as a trim, then put glaze on top of everything.

Other Ideas

This technique can be used in lots of different ways to create different polymer clay items. You can also paint it different colors to give it a unique look. I have also left it plain black, the colors really pop out against black. On the left is a switchplate where I also used this technique. In this instance I made rectangle shapes, almost like a border around the switchplate. I also used less glitter proportion compared to the liquid polymer clay. This gives it a more transparent look with just a dash of sparkle. The more glitter or mica powder you use the more solid the color will look when mixed with the liquid polymer clay. You can find more pictures of this swithplate here: Switchplate

Final Words:

I love this technique because you can make it unique every time. It does take a little bit of trial and error to figure out the different ratios of mica powder/glitter and liquid polymer clay to get the effect you desire. Practice makes perfect, and a pad of paper with a pen to write it all down is handy too. It is also very messy and brings me back to my childhood playing with glitter and glue. ;)

Etsy, Baby, Artfire, Hubby, Blogger and Me.

2010-10-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

It's been a long while since I have posted on this, nearly a whole year in fact. During these recent months I have finally started working on Etsy again doing my polymer clay. I am also going to start working on doing posts here too. :) Add in a baby, starting Artfire supply shop, and my husband to the list of things I'm doing. Basically I have a nice new full plate.

To kick off my reopening I thought I would do a blogger game.

Goal Game:

The point of this game is to write down a list of goals on your blog of things you want to accomplish before 2011, which is only a few months away! ;) At the end of the game I will post a few of my favorite goals from others as well as link to their blog.

Rules:

1. Post at least four goals you want to accomplish before 2011

2. Post your favorite goals from other blogs

3. Have fun!

My Goals:

1. Have 100 items listed in my Etsy shop

2. Finish making those longies for our daughter

3. Have a date night with my husband

4. Have at least twenty items in my new Artfire shop

5. Have sales, don't we all want that? :P

I hope everyone has fun with this, and later on I may do the generosity reward game again as well. Christmas is coming. ;)

Updates: Still Alive

2009-06-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

Firstly I apologize for my absence as of late. Funny thing is as I recall my last post was about how I wouldn't disappear because of baby planning. Apparently I fibbed just a little. ;)

Lately I have been having troubles getting online, as well as typing on the keyboard. Unfortunately, with my pregnancy has come lots of blood work, and I have very tiny, slow healing, veins. They can take up to a week to fully heal, mostly because the nurses tend to miss a few times. I am happy to report though that next week should be the last of my blood work, at least that's what the doctor tells me. :)

Generosity Awards:

In other news my hubby and I setup the crib as our first big baby project. I know this is a little late, but do you remember the generosity award? I was given two gifts.

This beautiful pen by Kat. I actually made a holder for it out of polymer clay and it is used for all my note taking at my work table. As a fellow polymer clay worker, I know how much work it took so I thank you very much.

I also got this painting by Kristen. It is hanging above my babies crib as his/her first painting when the baby is born. I love the bright colors and the hearts are just me, thanks a lot!

Polymer Clay Tutorial News:

I will be starting a 3-D flower tutorial just as I promised long ago this week. I am going to get back into the swing of things. ;)

Technique Time: Flower Power Part 1

2009-03-23T14:07:00.001-07:00

This post is the start of my flower power series. In this set of tutorials I will look at various ways of making flowers, as well as different flowers, in polymer clay. Spring is near where I live so I thought it would be fun to do. :)

This specific tutorial is about how to make a six-petaled flower cane.

Why Make Six-petaled Flower Canes?

First off these are pretty easy to make once you know the basic shapes involved, try looking at a flower outside or an image online. Also they are pretty common, and great for beginners to start doing flower cane work with.

They can be a great way to use up scrap colored clay or left over canes as well.

How To Make A Six-petaled Flower Cane?

My flower cane is actually made up of other canes, but one can start off with solid colors. ;)

1) My petals are made from a rainbow skinner blend. Yes I am using the Cindy's Teardrop technique still.

As you can see above I used a ripple blade to give the rainbow skinner blend an interesting look to it, swirling the colors together.

Tip: If you don't want to go through the trouble of making a skinner blend then just use a solid color that you wish your petals to be.

2) I made a long snake from my rainbow skinner blend with my palms. Then cut that into six shorter snakes. You can see one of my shorter snakes below.

3) Gently shape your snakes into petals by pinching one side of it with your thumb and index finger.

As you can see from the picture above my petals are now shaped like a teardrop.

4) Set your petals aside for a moment to rest and you can now begin the center of the flower. This can simply be a rolled up snake of another color, with a thin sheet of a contrasting color around it. This snake should be smaller then the petals.

The picture above shows my center, which is a checkerboard cane that I made round instead of square. I reduced this cane until it was small enough to be used with the petals.

5) You may or may not need to do this step, depends on how you want your flower to look like. For my flower though I decided to wrap each petal with a small sheet of black so the petals would not blend in together when the flower is complete.

6) Now you may slowly put the petals around the flower's center, be careful not to distort the petals' shape.

7) Once step # 6 is finished you may decide that this is how you want your flower to look. If that is the case feel free to reduce your cane, the picture below shows my flower up to this point.

8) For my flower I added another step. I decided to wrap it with a two sheets of transparent clay. This gives it a nice look when it is cured. Make sure to blend the sheets ends nicely.

I used the #5 setting on my pasta machine for the two sheets of transparent clay as shown above wrapped around my flower. On my pasta machine, #9 is the thickest, yours may vary.

9) After the transparent sheet was put on I reduced and this is my completed six-petaled flower cane:

My Final Words:

Flower canes are really fun to do and can be put on a number of items such as glass, beads, wood, and so forth. One can also use any color combination, or canes to make them truly unique.

My next post for this series shall be about 3-D flowers.

Updates on Me + Future Postings

2009-03-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

Updates On Me:

Not many here know this but I have been trying to start a family with my husband for the last four months. Today a digital test confirmed that indeed I am pregnant! I wasn't really sure this day would ever come, she/he will be our first so we are more then just a little excited. What I thought was interesting is what I got from my pregnancy tracker lol.

According to it:

"
Ovulation date: Tue, March 3rd ,2009
Conception date: Wed, March 4th ,2009
Implantation date: Thu, March 12th ,2009
Due date: Wed, November 25th ,2009
Still to go: 252 days to go

Your pregnancy begins at conception. (Wed, March 4th ,2009) Your due date is 266 days (38 weeks) later. (Wed, November 25th ,2009) We will use the more popular numbering, starting 14 days before your conception. According to this, you are already 2 weeks pregnant at the time of conception, making your total pregnancy last 40 weeks, or 280 days. "

First off this means I probably won't be eating Thanksgiving, also implantation date is my birthday! This is the best belated birthday gift. :)

Future Posts:

I don't want anyone to worry about me not making posts for the next nine months or so. I will continue to do so. :) In fact my next series of posts will be tutorials on different flowers you can make either as a cane or 3-D flower. ;) I thought this would get us all in the mood for Spring.

Number 26 + Number 100 equals...

2009-03-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

1) I will start with the "number 100." This is amount of times I have probably watched a video from Cindy aka PolymerClayTutor. She is very helpful in the polymer clay world, and has even discovered a new way of making the ever so complex skinner blend! She calls this the "Teardrop Method." I have tried it out myself and it is very simple, and a lot less time consuming. As an added bonus no math is involved. ;)

Cindy is also kind enough to have her full video of this technique up for free for a limited time. Hurry up and watch it by clicking the link below, and have fun experimenting. :)

1) Video of Teardrop Method

Make sure you post a comment on Cindy's website. Click on the article 4 link to find the video.

Below is a picture of my skinner blend using this technique:

My skinner blend is purple, red, and orange. For some reason my camera turned purple into blue though. I probably could of done a few more rolls on this one to get it more blended as well. ;)

2) "Number 26" is how old I am today. I was born March 12th, weighing only five pounds and nine ounces. I am now one year older and past the half-to-thirty mark hehe.

Final Words:

I guess you could say I have a lot of time on my hands today because 26+100= 126, and that is a lot of time. :P

Blog Contest Winners

2009-03-06T19:43:00.000-08:00

Congrats To The Winners:

Second place goes to....DesertSoapstone! You win 1000 EC credits, plus three weeks of advertising on my blog. Since you don't have Entre-card on your blog, I will give you an additional week of free advertising. ;)

I think my polymer clay would make charming charms for your soap.

Third place is held up by...Duni You shall get 500 EC credits :)

Very creative way to use my clay with your purses!

Fourth and Fifth place also get 500 EC credits they are.....Kat, and rkdesigns.

Kat: Our polymer clay babies probably would take over the entire world of blogging lol.

rkdesigns: Our crafts combined would make cute babies. ;)

*Drum Roll Please*......

The person with the most creative response and the taker of first place is.....Caraspace!

Caraspace I really liked seeing my blog as a cartoon through your eyes. I love the playful words and descriptions you used, great job!

You will win free advertisement on my blog on your shop or blog (choose one) for a month and get a special feature on your blog/shop.

Final Words:

I did this contest just to have fun, so I hope you all enjoyed it. :) Tomarrow I shall hand out the prizes, as well as put up a spot on my blog for the free advertising!

Generosity

2009-03-03T13:01:00.000-08:00

This is a couple days late, but this is my second surprise of last week, a blog award! A different kind of blog award that is....

The Generosity Award

To give a gift is a gift within itself.

I Give This Award To:

There are two bloggers who have stayed with me since the beginning. They will be getting a special polymer clay surprise by me as appreciation for all their sweetness. :) They are:

* Kat and Kristen * I hope they like penguins!

I also wish to give this award to everyone else in the blogger community who is reading this post. If you want to advertise your shop or blog, let me know in this post, and I shall tweet about you on twitter. ;) This is only in effect until I post a new post.

Award Rules:

1) Show generosity towards others in the blogging community by giving a small gift of appreciation. This can be free advertising, a card in the mail, or anything else your imagination takes you.

2) Send this award to at least five others. If you wish to send the award to more then that, feel free to. Generosity has no limits.

3) Link back to the person who sent you this award.

4) Copy the rules as well as the award into your post.

5) Enjoy yourself and have fun!

"Let's Be Friends" Award

2009-03-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

Last week and this week I got the "Let's Be Friends" award from two bloggers. :)

1) Kat's Blog

2) Kristen's Blog

These two have been way too sweet to me since I first joined the blogging community, and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart.

This is what the "Let's Be Friends" Award represents:

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

I pass on the award to this wonderful bloggers:

1) Lovely Purses

2) Cara Makes

3) Linda

4) Rock Creek Creations

5) SHI

6) RKDesigns

7) Digital Rose

8)Miss Gina

Congrats to you all, your blogs are truly lovely. :)

Contest: Win Free Exposure, Advertising, EC credits!

2009-02-26T19:56:00.000-08:00

Remember a couple days ago I said I had a couple surprises planned for later this week. Well this contest is one of them. ;) In this contest everyone will at least get some free exposure.

Rules:

1) Answer one of the questions below either through comments on this post or at my email (christina_kerr@msn.com)

Question A: What do you think would happen if your blog married my blog?

Question B: How would you mix your craft with my polymer clay?

Question C: If someone made a cartoon out of my blog it what would it be called, and what kind of cartoon characters would there be?

2) You may answer all three questions if you want to, but please only answer one question once. Meaning if you answer "question A" then you can't answer "question A" again. :)

3) Please try to do at least five full sentences for your answer.

Entry Deadline:

You have until Friday, March 6th midnight eastern time zone to complete your answer.

Prizes:

1) First place: 2000 EC credits. Plus I will advertise their blog or shop (you choose) on my blog for a month for free, this includes a special featured post on your blog and/or shop.

2) Second place: 1000 EC credits, plus three weeks of free advertising on my blog.

3) Third, fourth, and fifth place: 500 EC credits. If you do not have entre-card then I shall advertise your blog for a week.

4) Everyone else: Free exposure on one or two big posts. When I announce the winners of this contest all entries with links to blogs will be put up.

My Final Words:

I am looking for the most creative answers to the questions. Have fun! :)

Technique Time Basic Beads Part 2

2009-02-25T20:24:00.000-08:00

This is the final part in my series about basic beads. You can find the first part by clicking on the link below:

1) Technique Time Basic Beads Part 1

In this post you will learn different ways of making those basic beads really look great. For the most part I show pictures of the round bead, but what I show can be put on any sized or shaped bead. :)

Why Should I Spruce Up Beads?

There is a time that a plain bead goes perfectly, especially if your pendant is already very colorful. There is also a time when one wants to make a colorful necklace made simply out of beads. In this instance one may want more then just a plain black polymer clay bead strung up on some cord.

Another reason is it's a lot of fun. You think just polymer clay beads are addicting wait until you start decorating them! ;)

How Do I Spruce up Polymer Clay Beads?

There are several ways of making a beat look different, many times one simply has to change materials. I shall explain some of these ways below, but remember there is always room for experimenting.

1) Two Colored:

a) Take two contrasting colors, such as black and white. Blend them either using your hands or even a pasta machine. The point is to blend the two colors so that both colors show.

Tip: With my hands I like making snakes, one for each color, then twisting the snakes together to get a blended look.

b) Form the blended colors into any shape you desire for a bead. In the picture below I made an egg shaped bead that is black and white.

2) Sparkle Beads:

There are a few ways of getting a dash of sparkle onto your bead.

1. Glitter it Up:

a) You will need heat resistant, very fine glitter for polymer clay, so it can bake in the oven.

b) What I do is make the thinnest sheet of transparent clay on my pasta machine as I can, then with my finger I spread glitter over that sheet. Here is an example of my gold glitter sheet:

c) Form a bead of any shape and size, and put put parts of the glitter sheet on the bead. This makes for a very sparkly bead, especially in the sun.

2. Fooling With Foils:

a) A lot of foils can be put directly on a bead without making a sheet of it first with transparent clay. I do like making sheets though, as it can be easier to put the foil on the exact spot I want it on.

b) You prepare a sheet with foil on it the same way you do a glitter sheet. Only with some foils you will rub it on the transparent sheet all at once, instead of sprinkling bits on one at a time like the glitter.

c) As you can see from my foil sheet above, this not only will add a little sparkle, but also colored foils reflect their colors in the light. This makes for a very shiny, colorful bead. :)

3) Twisted Beads:

a) Twisted beads look especially well as tube beads, it is similar to the "Two Colored" only you keep a twisted look of two or more colors.

b) Start by taking two or more colors and rolling them into snakes.

c) Twist the colors together, if more then two you may wish to braid them.

d) At this point you can leave it as it is to get a more twisted look:

or you can roll the twisted colors with your palm to blend in seams to get something that looks like this:

e) One can cut these twisted colors to make interesting looking tube beads. One can also curl it up, or even wrap it around a round bead. Experiment and have fun with it. ;)

4) Slicing Canes:

Cane work is much more complicated then what I have on here, but since I already have a tutorial on canes, I thought I would make it short and sweet. :P

a) Make a cane, any shape, size, and colors. Then slice them to make some colorful and interesting looking beads. Below I have a very colorful bead made from a jelly roll cane.

b) One can also slice very thin slices from a cane, then put it on a bead. Blend all the seams together. Using the same jelly roll cane, I got this look on a black bead:

My Final Words:

This is really just a small fraction of things you can do with beads, but I don't want to give them all away. It is much more fun to experiment with different materials, and techniques. Off the top of my head mica powders, micro beads, stamps, and inks come to mind. :)

Blog Changes

2009-02-24T22:37:00.000-08:00

As you can see I am changing my blog, finally putting a layout on it. I procrastinate way to much this was something I was planning on doing months ago. I do need to do a few minor adjustments though, so don't worry if my blog looks a little odd in the next couple of days. Just think of it as growing pains. ;)

Tomorrow I shall post "Technique Time: Basic Beads part 2." :) It shall be all about making those basic beads really stand out using various materials, and techniques.

I also have two surprises planned for later this week, one involving something new I have been doing with my polymer clay. At least it's new to me. :)

Quizes: Just for fun!

2009-01-28T20:20:00.000-08:00

I was on kat's blog today and came across two fun online quizzes. They are fun to do and quick as well. To go to Kat's blog click here.

1) You get to pick what tarot card you are. For example I am....the link to take this quiz in on the bottom of mine.

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

2) The second quiz you determine what word you are. I am....again if you want to take this quiz too feel free to to click the link on the bottom! :)

Your Word is "Peace"

You see life as precious, and you wish everyone was safe, happy, and taken care of.

Social justice, human rights, and peace for all nations are all important to you.

While you can't stop war, you try to be as calm and compassionate as possible in your everyday life.

You promote harmony and cooperation. You're always willing to meet someone a little more than halfway.

What's Your Word?

Hope you like these quizzes and feel free to post your results in comments. :)

Technique Time: Basic Beads Part 1

2009-01-28T12:00:00.000-08:00

Polymer clay can be very easily used to make a variety of beads. I will be doing different parts for this as there are so many things to learn when it comes to polymer clay beads! For this first part, I will show you how to make some common, and basic beads.

Why should I use Polymer Clay Beads?

Many people would rather just make a pendant, and not have to make lots of beads to go with it. Making beads though, especially from scrap polymer clay from a pendant, is an easy way of making sure you have coordinating colors on a necklace. The beads can also make a necklace all on there own for a bold, chunky look. They are great as rings, and bracelets as well as parts to sculptures.

How Do I Make Polymer Clay Beads?

There are several different shapes one can make with polymer clay for beads. We will start out with the most basic, a round bead.

A) Round Bead:

1) To make a round bead one simply takes a chunk of polymer clay and rolls it between their palms, until it is round and smooth all seams blended well.

From the round bead above you can make other beads easily, it is our base bead as it were.

B) Flat Round Bead:

1) Using the round bead you just made you can now make a flat round bead. You will need something flat with an even surface. I used an acrylic sheet, so I could see the results underneath. Tile or glass would work too.

2) Carefully press the acrylic sheet, or whatever you are using, onto the round bead. You do not want to press too hard or else it will be too flat.

Tip: Make sure you press with both hands with even force so the surface of the bead is also even.

3) Lift the acrylic sheet, and you should now have a flat round bead. Put a needle through it to make a hole and you are set to go.

C) Oval Bead:

1) Using the finished flat bead, carefully pinch the sides of the bead with your index and thumb as shown below.

2) Some spots will rise, and make the surface uneven, time to get out that acrylic sheet again! ;) Very gently press the now oval bead until it is even.

3) Put a needle through it once done pressing, and you now have a oval bead! These look great when paired with round beads.

D) Square Bead:

1) Starting with a round bead, one can make a square bead.

2) Pinch the sides of the round bead in with your index and thumb as shown below.

Now pinch the other sides still using your index and thumb until the shape is that of a square.

3) Put a needle through it to make a hole and you have a finished square bead.

One can also make these into diamonds simply by putting the hole through corner to corner, or try making a hole through the top to bottom. Square beads can be very versatile based on how you string them. :)

E) Tube Bead:

1) A tube bead is a skinny, long bead that looks like a tube. You start by rolling clay with your palm into a log or snake.

2) Then cut off a part of your rolled snake. Poke a hole with a needle and you have a basic tube bead.

These really help take up space in a necklace, and at times look like pasta. ;)

F) Twisted Bead:

1) Using the tube bead from above you can make a twisted version. Using your index finger and thumb on both ends of the tube bead twist it, and you shall get a twisted tube bead.

One can also take a different color of polymer clay and roll it into a skinny snake. Then wrap it around a tube bead. The picture below shows a partially wrapped tube bead.

My Final Words:

Polymer clay beads are very addicting, and can be easily made. Now the ones I did in this post are pretty plain, in the next part I will show how one can spruce them up using different materials, tools, and techniques. :)

Blog Contest: Win layouts, EC tokens, and more!

2009-01-27T20:33:00.000-08:00

COME ONE, COME ALL, EVERYBODY IS WELCOME TO JOIN!

A JOINT BLOG ANNIVERSARY GIVE-AWAY CONTEST
JANUARY 25 to FEBRUARY 10, 2009
for the rules click here: Contest Rules

The list below is a copy of the wonderful sponsors of this contest, they deserve lots of appreciation so give them a hand!

1st PRIZE
$25 - c/o Random Thoughts
Customized Blog Layout (blogger platform) c/o My Web-Blog Designs
1 Swarovsky Bracelet c/o Yen's Handmades [Click here to see the ITEM]
$20 + 2000 EC credits c/o Windmill on the Hill
$10 + 500 EC credits c/o My Life's Journey to Success
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2nd PRIZE
$20 - c/o Mira's Web Journal
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20GB Web Hosting c/o http://angelic-melody.net + 500EC credits
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3rd PRIZE
$15 - c/o A Moment to Exhale
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4th PRIZE
$10 - c/o My Barefoot Journey
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7th PRIZE
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8th PRIZE
1000 EC + 1 month 125x125 ad space from My Daily Sunset
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9th PRIZE
1000 EC + 1 month 125x125 ad space from Lovely Pink
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1000 EC + 1 month 125x125 ad space from Hobby and Such by Carlota
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11th PRIZE
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12th PRIZE
1500 - EC credits c/o A Moment to Exhale
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Art Fire and Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T20:30:00.000-08:00

I have been awfully busy lately, you see I have decided after a long time to sign up with art fire. I still will list on Etsy of course, but art fire has a lot of things Etsy does not. For example, art fire gives you tools for stats. Right now they are running a promotion that if you get ten people refered to the site you get unlimited listing for free. This is normally $20.00 per month, which right now is $7.00 per month for a different promotion.

I'm really excited, and hey if you are interested in art fire feel free to use my refer link. Yes a little shameless promoting haha! ;)

My referal link:

Register on ArtFire.com

I wanted to let everyone know that I will be busy this coming weekend with Thanksgiving and all. I did get my first custom order from my Husbands work too. I am making a custom black bear family Christmas tree ornament, so excited. :)

Happy Thanksgiving, and I shall be back on Monday with new tutorials, techniques, and lots of giggles.

Featured Etsy Seller: 1337art

2008-11-20T20:32:00.000-08:00

I've been busy this week learning how to sculpt dragons. Hopefully I will be able to show you all a picture of my first dragon. Right now she, my hubby decided it's a girl dragon, is at my Husband's work climbing up his cubical wall.

Actually the subject of dragons does bring me to 1337art's shop, I'll explain later haha. :)

Who Did I Discover:

A shop with a variety of items with the motto: "Elite art for those elite at heart." This shop includes jewelry, men accessories, hair accessories, key chains, and bookmarks in it's inventory.

Who Is 1337art?

1337art or rather leetart meaning elite art is a female from Washington. She is also a licensed business as I'm sure many people on Etsy are.

You can fine 1337 shop by clicking here.

My Top Picks are:

1) With such a variety in 1337art's shop it was difficult to narrow it down to three, but I did. My first pick are these very pretty magnets called Flaming magnets.

I am partial to red and black, so these did grab my attention right away. Plus they magnets are very handy in my house. :)

2) Next up would be dogs and bones pewter bookmark. The pet lover in me couldn't resist. ;)

I do not have a dog myself, these are still just so cute! I am also warming up to pewter, good combination here.

3) My most favorite item from 1337art's shop is well, remember how I said that dragons brought me to 1337art's shop? Here is, dragon whisper masculine necklace:

Okay so this necklace is in the "men accessories" section, but I would buy it in a second if I could myself. ;) I love the detailing of the dragon, as well as the fact that it's pewter. Gives it more of an aged look.

1337art's Advice To Beginners:

" Start out small and learn from your mistakes. Experiment with techniques and materials until you find out where your niche is...never give up; we're in a competitive market. "

My Final Words:

1337art's shop has a variety of different items for both men and women. I believe that's an important quality in a shop to gear towards different people. Also I do like her pewter. I hope you enjoyed this feature! :)

BTB: Which Polymer Clay Type is Better?

2008-11-15T00:43:00.000-08:00

I have decided to start up a new series of posts called "BTB" or rather Back To Basics. These posts are not just for beginners, they may have valid information for more experienced polymer clay workers too! ;)

To Discuss:

Today I thought I would touch upon a very important question that most ask when researching polymer clay. This question would be "Which Polymer Clay Type is Better?" I know this was a question I had, that required a lot of independent experimenting by myself. I do believe that experimentation is a good thing; however, saving money on not buying all the types of polymer clay is also good. :P

Types of Polymer Clay:

There are many types of polymer clay and it is important to know their names, before you just grab the first one on the shelf at the local craft store. ;) Below are pictures, as well as titles to different types of polymer clay.

(The above picture is not mine! It belongs to "Garies Shop," a link is found under the tests section :) )

From the picture above you can see several types of polymer clay, most of these are the more popular brand names that you will see in common craft stores. The exceptions being Cernit and Kato, I have only seen them in Hobby Lobby once.

Under some of the brand names there are several different sub-categories, for lack of a better word, of polymer clay. Below I have organized them under the brand name.

Fimo:

1) Fimo Classic: This was the first of polymer clays to hit the market
2) Fimo Soft: Softer then classic, formula changed.
3) Fimo Effects: These usually include glitter, and metallic effects built into the clay.

4) Fimo Puppin: This was made specifically with doll makers in mind. It comes in several "skin colors."

5) Fimo Decorating Gel: This is actually Fimo liquid clay. It is transparent, and good for transferring as well.

Sculpey:

1) Studio by Sculpey: Has lots of colors for decorating.
2) Sculpey III: Very soft, made for sculpting
3) Premo Sculpey: Lots of colors and different effects to be made.
4) Sculpey Liquid Clay: Transparent in nature, can be used like Fimo's liquid clay.

The Tests:

Now that you know most of the polymer clay types out there, I can now show you some tests that have been performed by fellow polymer clay workers. :) These are all unscientific tests, meaning not done in a lab; however, very informative! Below I will summarize, as well as link, to different tests that have been done.

1) The first set of tests are from "Garies Shop." They did a test on flexibility, and strength by stetching the clay with a weighted scale. They also bent each cured peice of clay 140 times, unless it broke before 140 times were up.

Garies Shop Results:

"After the above tests, the contender is Cernit Polymer Clay, next Kato Polymer Clay, then Sculpey Studio, Fimo Classic, Sculpey Firm, Fimo Soft, Sculpey Premo, Super Sculpey and Sculpey III."

Here is the website to their test:
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/shop/tension_test.htm

2) The next test I found on gigagraphica's site. There tests were on conditioning time, needle poke, finger pressure, and the noodle. The noodle test consisted of making each type of polymer clay into long "noodles" then curing them. After curing each noodle was then bent, and stretched to determine flexibility. ;)

The picture above is from gigagraphica's site, and shows the noodle test. :)

Gigagraphica's Results:

"Cernit was the most flexible after curing. It bent and stretched quite a bit without breaking.
Durability rating: very good

Fimo Soft was extremely durable after curing. It was flexible, not breaking when bent, but finally breaking when stretched. Durability rating: excellent

Premo was durable and flexible after curing. It flexed without breaking, and stretched a bit
before breaking. Durability rating: good to very good

Sculpey III was not durable after curing. It was brittle, crumbly, and stiff, and took very little bending to break. Did not stretch at all without breaking. Durability rating: poor

Super Sculpey was somewhat flexible but broke and crumbled when tested with mild abuse. Durability rating: fair to poor"

Test Link: http://www.gigagraphica.com/poly/polyclay.html

My Final Words:

I have to say that these tests are amazing to look at and I wish I had thought to look online to find them before I started experimenting. Really each test is to be taken with a grain of salt; however, I find them to have lots of information. These tests can help one to make a final decision, but that decision in the end is still yours to make. :)

Technique Time: Inclusions

2008-11-08T17:07:00.000-08:00

Inclusions are very fun to work with when it comes to polymer clay. I will only be showing just a small sample of what materials one can use, be creative and experiment. ;)

What Are Inclusions:

For polymer clay inclusions are materials that you can put into the clay, and then bake. These materials may change the texture, color, or simply the look of the polymer clay. Some inclusions include glitter, mica powders, sand, shells, glass, foils, and much more.

Why Should I use Inclusions:

Inclusions can be used for varies looks including for making faux materials. It can give your polymer clay a more diverse look, not to mention it's a whole lot of fun!

How Do I Use Inclusions:

I am actually going to discuss a few of my favorite inclusions that I use in my polymer clay items. I often mix and match these materials to get great results. :)

1) Glitter:

A. Glitter can be used in two ways one is to have heat resistant glitter and simply mix it into the clay, then bake. The glitter should also be ultra fine, as the picture below shows.

B. The second way of using glitter is to use transparent liquid clay. First you put on the transparent liquid clay, I use fimo liquid, covering all areas you will be putting glitter on. Then you simply mix the glitter into the liquid clay. Since the liquid clay is transparent, you can really see the glitter sparkle! You may wish to mix it in with a Popsicle stick as well, it can get sticky.

Here we have a plain sheet of transparent clay:

Now to compare is the sheet of transparent clay with glitter and transparent liquid clay. Love that sparkle:

2) Mica Powders:

Mica powders are very fine particles that can be baked directly into the clay. I love using Pearl-X mica powders.

Tip: One will want to wear a mask so you do not breath in the fine particles, as it can get into your lungs. Also, you may want to work with it away from children and animals.
This material can be used in the same way glitter is, either into clay or used with transparent liquid clay. In the pendant below I used both techniques with different colored mica powders.

The blue and green clay is actually mica powders mixed into transparent clay, while the silver-ish colored dots is mica powder mixed with transparent liquid clay. Mica powders mixed with liquid clay can give it a glass like look.

3) Foils:

Foils can be put into clay, as well as be used as on top of clay. When it is in clay it is considered an inclusion. The foils I use are "John Tones." In the pendant below I used colored foil with transparent clay.

This pendant actually includes all of the inclusions I have mentioned in this post to give the look of faux dichroic glass. :) The purple lines, and white teardrop shapes is the foil.

Question to answer: Can you find the rest of the inclusions in my faux dichroic glass pendant?

If you need more pictures of this pendant it is listed here:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16939092

My Final Words:

There are many more inclusions to experiment with, I'm sure I haven't even found them all. Some of them do get a little messy, and soon your work space will be colorful and sparkly with glitters and the like. ;)

Updates on Mom + Featured: Spazzy

2008-10-31T12:39:00.001-07:00

Hi everybody. First off I just wanted to thank everyone who has given your thoughts towards my mother. I really appreciate it. :) Oh and kat, I am putting you on my blog list *points to the right.*

Right now she is apparently waiting for a "packet" from her doctor via postal mail. She has no ideal what is in this "packet," but it may explain a little more about her situation. She is feeling a lot better, and in fact is back to her old routine this Halloween. She has bought doughnuts and apple cider for her grandchildren. ;)

On that happy note, I bring you today a new featured Etsy Member!

Who Did I Discover:

I found a little shop ran by Spazzy! Spazzy's shop is full of beautiful hand-spun, and hand-dyed yarn. Plus a little section called "gifts and more."

Who is Spazzy:

A stay at home mother of two, who loves to spin yarn. Her interest with yarn began at a young age when she was given vintage knitting needles by her Nana. Many of her yarns are also eco-friendly (animal free), giving a variety of choices for those who knit. :)

You can find Spazzy's shop by clicking here.

My Top Picks Are:

1) "Build Your Own Gift Basket: Brown and Blue"

I love the color blue and these brown goes especially nice with it. Also it's something I could make myself! ;)

2) Next up is...."Reflection: Handdyed Yarn"

The green, blue, and yellow swirls mellow me out man..(kidding :P). In all seriousness though, the colors really compliment each other well. Also one can't even tell this yarn is handdyed it was done so beautifully.

3) My most favorite item from Spazzy's shop would have to be the "Angel Wings Handspun Eco Yarn."

This yarn just looks so fluffy and soft. It makes me wish I knew how to knit, so I could make a warm soft blanket with it. :)

Spazzy's Advice To Beginners:

" My advice would be to take your time and not expect your first tries to look like yarn. "

My Final Words:

For those who knit or do other crafts with yarn I would recommend Spazzy's shop. She is very creative with her yarn and everything is done by hand. All of her yarn looks very professional as well as soft and comfortable. Sometimes I wish I could make blankets with yarn, especially since it's winter and Etsy is way too tempting. ;)

My Appologies/ Cancer Awareness

2008-10-10T22:10:00.001-07:00

I wish to give my apologies for not being able to post most of this week. Unfortunately life happens, and not always for the better.

A month ago my Mother was having dizzy spells to the point where she could not walk without bumping into walls. She ended up doing an MRI and they found a lump. They decided to make another appointment for a second MRI to get a better look. The wait for the next MRI appointment was horrible and I would not wish it on anyone. Fortunately the lump is on the protective film that covers the skull and spine. This means that the lump isn't touching her brain. They have now decided to wait another year to see if it grows before they do another MRI, because the dizzy spells have ceased and my Mother has been feeling better for a while. If it is growing then my mother will need brain surgery to remove the lump, at this time it is unknown if the lump is cancerous.

My Mother and I have always been close, our personalities are a lot alike and I owe my own values and morals to her. During this entire situation I have been back and forth to my parents house along with my Hubby, we live two hours away so it was impossible to be online much except late at night for a couple hours.

I will try to post a new post regarding polymer clay this weekend. I wanted to post this to really encourage you all to be tested if you have similar symptoms of my Mother. Cancer awareness is something I have always supported, and even more so since this event has happened.

Please send your thoughts out to my Mother and Father.

~Blessed Be

Technique Time: Poly +Others

2008-10-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

Today I have been boiling sticks, soaking sticks, peeling bark, putting a wood finish on the sticks.....oh and yes this does have to do with polymer clay! Polymer clay can be used with many other materials to get interesting and unique looks. :)

Why Should I use Other Materials and Polymer Clay?

Well first of all it's a lot of fun. ;) Also using different materials with polymer clay will diversify the craft, polymer clay is so flexible when it comes to how to use it.

What Kind of Materials can I use with Polymer Clay?

Here is just a short list of materials you can use with polymer clay to give you item(s) a look all it's own.

a) Glass (Dichroic glass is a good example)

b) Wood

c) Fabrics

d) Paper

e) Metals

f) Silverware

g) Foils

h) Glass beads

i) Marbles

and the list goes on and on and on....! ;)

How Do I use Other Materials with Polymer Clay?

1) With many materials you would simply be gluing polymer clay to it after the clay item(s) are cured. This holds true for materials that can not stand the heat of an oven such as paper, wood, and fabrics. I suggest using Soba glue for these porous materials as shown below.

2) Other materials that you can bake into the clay are called inclusions. They include all items that can stand the heat of the oven, some testing may be needed! Most glass, and metals should do fine though. I will discuss inclusions in a future post.

3) Today I am going to show you how to prepare wooden sticks to use with polymer clay. First thing I did was check the lawn for sticks. Then I boiled the sticks up in a pot for 30 minutes. Then soaking them in this very hot water with a little bleach for another 30 minutes.

As you can see from the picture above I gathered several sticks of various sizes, and thicknesses. If your sticks have any growth on them (fungus, moss, mushrooms, etc.) please throw these away.

4) Then I peeled the bark off with this cheap (dollar store brand) carrot peeler.

Now you will want to cut off any sharp ends, I used a garden cutter.

Sanding the wood is also important, careful of splinters!

5) After the stick was peeled finally I applied a few coats of wood finish,one of the finishes I use for my polymer clay actually. ;)

6) Now the finished sticks can be used in multiple projects. Just a few ideas off of the top of my head are:

a) Hanging polymer clay pieces off of it to create a door hanger.

b) Gluing polymer clay pieces to it, adding some ribbon, to make a wand.

c) Making a wooden stick frame decorated with polymer clay, but of course.

7) Not all materials take a lot of preparation when it comes to mixing it with polymer clay. For example, I am using fleece on the back of polymer clay, that shall be dangling, so the item does not make a loud bang noise if it hits a wall, door, etc. It also protects against scratches.

8) One can also decorate glass mirrors, and candle holders by simply gluing the polymer clay pieces onto the glass or baking them while on the glass.

9) As you can see from my final door hanger I have used several different materials with polymer clay these include, wood, fleece, ribbon, and wire. Just in one item! ;)

My Final Words:

Using a variety of materials along with polymer clay can really inspire your creativity. It's interesting to see what you can make, and I recommend everyone to at least experiment. :)

Featured Etsy Seller: SweetRoxs

2008-09-29T13:40:00.000-07:00

Yupe it's that time again! ;)

Who Did I Discover:

This Monday I found SweetRoxs who's etsy shop is full of bright jewelry, and warm wearable knitted items.

Who Is SweetRoxs?

SweetRoxs is actually made from Lully (the sweet one), who knits diligently and Roxy (the silly one) who loves making jewelry. Roxy uses a combination of colors, glass beads, and Swarovski crystals to make her unique pieces of jewelry. Lully uses warm and soft wool to knit with. :)

You can find SweetRoxs shop by clicking here.

My Top Picks Are:

1) If you do not like snakes then you may wish to skip this pick. ;) This is after all the "Beaded Ceramic Snake necklace."

I tried to warn you! I really like how the beads and cobra snake match. The colors are very deep, dark, and earthy to me. :)

2) This one doesn't include snakes..."Precious Purple Drop Glass Bead Earrings"

The contrast of the multiple shades of purple combined in this one pair of earrings is wonderful. I also love the pattern on the bottom beads.

3) My absolute favorite item from this shop is...."Black and Red Thick and Warm Scarf"

With this up close photo you can really tell the craftsmanship that went into this scarf. Also the contrast of red and black is priceless in my book, I like the way that the red pops out at you! :)

SweetRoxs Advice To Beginners:

" My advice would be to get a good pair of reading glasses, since you will be doing close up work. Then practice and test your items on friends and relatives. "

My Final Words:

SweetRoxs' shop has some very unique items, and I absolutely adore the pictures! They are so bright, clear, and crisp that it makes me want to redo all of my own. :P I wish you good luck. :)

Technique Time: Cane Work Part 3

2008-09-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

This will be the last part of my cane work series. I may do other posts on cane work later on, but they won't be part of this set of posts. ;) Today's project is pretty important when it comes to cane work, to make your cane from your own unique image/drawing.

I highly recommend reading the first two editions of this series if you haven't done so already. The links to them are below. :)

1) Cane Work Part 1

2) Cane Work Part 2

How Can I Make A Unique Cane?

1) First, find or draw an image that is the same size that you wish your cane to be. I actually drew my own image, since Halloween is coming I decided to do a face of a black cat.

Tip: It may be easier to color you picture in so you know exactly what colors of clay to use.

2)Place this picture flat so you can see it as you are working. It is easier to work from the inside of the picture out. For example, I am going to make my cat details first (eyes, mouth, nose) then make the ears last.

Tip: Think of your image as different shapes put together, it makes it easier to create it in clay.

The cat's eyes will be white with black dots in the center, thus I begin by making two simple bullseye canes.

First I roll out two thin black sheets and cut them into a rectangle.

Then I make two white middle thicker sheets and cut into rectangle (one per eye)

Finally I make two black snakes. They are wrapped with the white sheet, then the black individually: Click picture below for bigger picture. :)

Reduce the eye canes to the desired size and the eyes are complete!

3) Now you need to do other details inside your image.

For my cat I will be doing the cheeks. As shown above they are two round black canes with white on the outside as a border.

The mouth is one black cane curve shaped with white on outside as border. As you can see from the picture above the cheeks and mouth are hooked together, mouth is in the center on the bottom of the cheeks.

The nose will also be completed for my black cat simply by using two snakes of pink "flesh" polymer clay and shaping it into a triangle. It too will be hooked onto the cheeks and mouth, on top of the cheeks centered point of triangle is down.

4)Once the inside details of your cane are finished you can start filling in any gaps you may have with your background color, to make it round. Make sure to hook the eyes on as well, as shown below.

Use black or white sheets of clay to make the borders, and begin to fill in the outside to make that round shape once the gaps on the inside are filled as shown below.

Now at this point your image could be completed, if that is the case then feel free to reduce your cane and you are done. :)

For my black cat; however, I still need to make ears. After filling in the gaps around my cat using black clay with white borders, I reduced my cane, as you can see it's starting to look pretty good. ;)

Finally, I created two ears by rolling a black sheet of clay over triangle shaped "flesh" colored clay.

I attached the ears to the rest of my cane to complete the look.

Now my black cat cane is completed!

My Final Words:

Making your first cane from your own image can be very challenging, but don't give up. Start with simpler images with easy shapes such as the orange circle of a pumpkin. As you become more familiar with cane working, the more complex it will become. ;)

Also feel free to experiment with different shapes, patterns, and details to make your own unique cane. If you have any questions ask away in the comments. :)

Polymer Tool Of The Week

2008-09-23T18:09:00.000-07:00

Nearly another month has gone by, I can't believe it's almost October! Anyhow, this weeks polymer clay tool is....

Pasta Machine!

More specifically, a manual pasta machine with different thickness settings and a clamp. The one shown above is one I bought for $25 USD, it was on sale at a craft store. You can also find cheap buys online. :)

Why Use A Pasta Machine?

A pasta machine is one of the more important buys you can make when it comes to polymer clay. It saves a lot of time, and the project ideas are only limited by ones imagination. Pasta machines also make inclusions, patterns, and blending easier.

How Can I Use A Pasta Machine?

1) Whew, this question is like opening up a can of worms. Before one should use your pasta machine you may need to get to know it a little better.

a) First thing to do is clean it, you can do this by running alcohol wipes through the machine several times. This gets rid of any residue that you do not want on your clay.

b) Finding a sturdy table or ledge to clamp it down is key. Many craft store pasta machines come with a clamp, as the picture shows below.

c) Having lots of space, and a non clay sticky surface to work on is also important. You will need plenty of space for those long pieces of clay, I use a folding table covered in wax paper. The wax paper ensures that the clay will not stick.

d) The only accessory I have for my pasta machine is the feeder tray. This feeds the clay directly to the rollers, good for a large amount of clay being put into the pasta machine.

2) Now that you have gotten to know your pasta machine a little better it is time to actually work with it. ;)

Pasta machines come in different settings, mine starts at 9 (thickest) and goes back to 1 (thinnest). The picture below shows pieces of clay that I put through the pasta machine, after it was conditioned, on each of the different settings. From left to right is the thickest setting to the thinnest, your machine may vary.

3) The thicker setting can be used in a variety of projects that need a thick background, or stand. For example, I used the thickest setting on my Haunted Pumpkin Patch as shown below for the grass.

4) The thinnest setting is used a lot with transparent clay, and faux materials. When using the thinnest setting you may need to sandwich the clay between two sheets of wax paper, so the clay does not tear.

In my Hungry Coco above I used transparent clay on the thinnest setting so one can see the blue water and to get an "ice" look.

5) One can also use the pasta machine to blend colors. I used red, and black clay on one of the middle settings. The red piece of clay was smaller then the black piece and thus when stacked and rolled through the pasta machine I got a blended look.

6)Inclusions become pressed into the clay with a pasta machine as well, one could use very fine glitter and brush it onto flat piece of clay then roll it through the machine. The glitter will be firmly pressed into the clay, and will have a larger chance of staying. Don't forget to glaze each piece that has inclusions to seal it in after baking. ;)

7) Patterns from cane work can be easily enlarged simply by putting them through a thinner setting on the pasta machine. This will also distort the pattern a little. This pendant's original cane was actually no bigger then a dime while on the pendant it's about an 1 inch long!

My Final Words:

Pasta machines are a definite must for those who wish to work with polymer clay. I really only gave just a handful of uses for it, as it would take years to explain them all. :P

One thing to note though is you will need to clean your pasta machine often if you do not want residue from old clay sticking onto your new project. Again, just roll some alcohol wipes through the rollers a few times and you are good to go. :)

Featured Etsy Seller: designsbybrie

2008-09-22T17:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my second post on a new etsy seller. :)

Who Did I Discover?

Today I ran into the shop of designsbybrie who makes colorful and cheerful personalized hooks and hair bow holders.

Who is designsbybrie?

Located northwest in PA she is a mother and wife before anything else. :)

She uses colorful acrylic paints and embellishments to make her own unique designs on hook plagues as well as hair bow holders.

You will find her etsy shop by clicking here.

My Top Picks Are:

1)The first item to catch my eyes was this personalized hook:

My favorite two colors happen to be blue and green, so the colors she used here really caught my attention. I also love that each item can be customized, so it's fun to think of all the possibilities.

2) Another favorite item of mine in designsbybrie's shop would have to be this personalized hair bow holder as shown below.

I like how she uses different shapes for the plague, and this shape pops out at me.

3) My most favorite item by far in her shop would have to be.....

I love the color combination in this hair bow holder. The grey, and bright red goes perfectly together. That's a lot like my own style, dark with splashes of color!

Designsbybrie Advice To Beginners:

" My advice for someone just starting out is to make sure you know how much all of your supplies are before coming up with the price of your item, as well as considering the time you spend on it and be fair with pricing! "

My Final Words:

I enjoyed wandering around designsbybrie's shop. The best part of her shop to me is that everything is customizable, it's up to the buyer what colors, and design they want. Also the price is more then fair for the hard work she puts into these items. :)

Technique Time: Cane Work Part 2

2008-09-20T17:51:00.000-07:00

Boy did time fly by this weekend! Anyhow, I am still doing some cane work techniques, this next one is also by using a bullseye cane. Last time I showed you how to make a very simple bullseye cane, this time I will be doing a more complex pattern. Also I will show how one can use this pattern to make a pillow bead. ;)

For those of you who did not read Cane Work Part 1 I highly recommend it before going forward. :) You can find my post by clicking here.

How Can I Make patterns With Cane Work?

1) You will first need to make a basic bullseye cane as I described in "Cane Work Part 1." Use any colors you wish, be creative. :)

I shall in fact be using the exact bullseye cane I used in that post for this one as shown below.

2) Next you will need to cut this cane into four sections.

3) Now you need to reduce each section by pinching the middle until it looks a little like a hourglass. Roll each side of the hourglass with your palm against your work space until each side is even.

Remember to do all four sections, so we end up with four skinnier versions of the original cane.

4) Cutting, yupe that's right you will need to cut those four skinner versions in half. Making a total of eight small canes.

You will need to stack the eight small canes on top of each other, so they are somewhat round and look like the picture below.

5)Roll this newly formed cane until all seams blend together with your palm.

6) Again reduce this newly formed cane (please see step #3). You may need to cut off the ends, and as you can see you have a unique pattern!

How To Make Pillow Bead?

1) Using the cane you just made above pinch the sides in carefully with your thumb and middle finger as shown.

2) Now pinch the top in between your thumb and middle finger to make the cane square.

3) You should now have a square cane, which is perfect for making pillow beads. Next take a scrap of clay and roll it into a ball. The size of your ball should be slightly smaller then the diameter of your square cane.

4) Flatten the top of the ball with your thumb and middle finger. Do not flatten the ball all the way as you will be turning this ball into a square.

5) Pinch both sides of the slightly flattened ball, it should turn out looking like a square in the end.

6) Now pinch each of the corners of the now square clay, it should look something like this:

This is where pillow beads get their name, they make a shape similar to that of a pillow. :)

7)Remember the square cane we made not too long ago? You will be using this square cane to cover up your pillow shaped clay.

Cut a thin slice from your square cane and cover one side of the pillow shaped clay. This slice of the square cane should be cold by now and easier to not distort the pattern.

8) Now cut another thin slice from the square cane and cover up the other side of the pillow bead. You will need to carefully blend in the seams at the side and make sure the corners stay put. Some adjustments can be made until you are happy with the results. ;)

You now have a completed pillow bead, all you need to do now is put a hole through the bead with a needle.

My Final Words:

Cane work, like pillow beads, are very addicting. I really suggest you experiment, even just with the left over square cane I found a new pattern. I simply cut the cane in half, the long way, and inside was a different swirled pattern. ;)

Next technique time I will be doing another cane work part; however, this one will be far more complex. I will show you how to make your own unique image into a cane. :)

Polymer Clay Tool of the Week

2008-09-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

I am a little behind posting so Thursday (tomorrow) will be the technique post. I will be doing the polymer clay tool today. :)

This weeks polymer clay tool is...*insert drum roll here ;) *

Images!

When I say images I mean from the past or present. You could be looking at pictures from online were taken years ago. You could also be walking outside and see a beautiful leaf color.

Why Use Images?

Working with polymer clay allows one to be creative in your own way. Many times are creativity is influenced what what we see, or in other words images that surround our lives. Since we all live in different areas of the world and have experienced different sights using images gives a personal touch to each item made.

How Can I Use Images?

1) The easiest way to use images with polymer clay is to simply look around where you live. As individuals we are all attracted to certain objects, colors, patterns, etc. Pick your favorite item(s) and study them. Try to put something about that object into one of your polymer clay projects.

For example, I love color, and lots of it. I also like it when different colors are woven together to form swirly like patterns. In my house we have a blown glass tube to water our plants with. I picked this object myself online a year ago, and I adore it's look. That is why I decided to use those colors in a pendant I made.

As you can see from the pictures above I used many colors and gave it a swirled effect in the pendant to match the blown glass tube. I also added in blue clay as the base to match the main color of blue in the glass.

2) Other images may not even be from objects in your house, but events in your life that you found amusing, special, emotional, etc. Using your own memory of such events one can make personal projects. I have made two such projects myself, neither of which I will ever sell.

The picture shown above is something I created in memory of one of my birds. I had two love birds, Prince and Princess, when I was about ten years old. Prince was a bit of a jokester, and could get out of any kind of lock. Meaning he would escape the cage every night, only to sleep with me on my pillow. :) I was terribly upset when he died. With this project I wanted to capture the happy moments in Prince's life.

This other picture is of my kitten, Lance sleeping in his cat tree. When we first adopted Lance he couldn't climb up that cat tree, even though he tried for hours at end. Finally, the first time he made it, after about five jumps, he was so exhausted he just collapsed and fell asleep, his head held high.

3) Other images you may find outside of your home. For example, the internet is a great place to start! If one searches on google for images you can find many different things to influence you. I was actually influenced by the image shown below, and thus made my candy corn. ;)

4) Stepping outside of the house, literally, one can find many different sights. Many of my items were made in season because of what I saw outside. For example, I made these pumpkin buttons, as shown, because near our townhouse is a pumpkin patch.

I also decided to make this very funky looking orange and black necklace because of a orange neon sign I saw while we were driving home one night.

Final Words

Images of color, patterns, shapes, etc are everywhere one looks. Since becoming involved with polymer clay I can't help myself but taking a closer look around me. If something does appeal to me then I will try and create something, whether it be abstract or an exact replica of that color/shape/pattern etc.

I leave you with a few images of scrapbook paper, I find these influence my choices as well with different patterns, and color combinations. ;)

Featured Etsy Seller: dapperden

2008-09-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

Well starting today I will be featuring users from Etsy every Monday.

Who Did I discover?

This Monday I discovered dapperden's shop. Dapperden makes several different types of jewelry, purses, and even has a separate category just "for the boys." Daperden also uses several different materials including wood, leather, metal, and fabric to create their unique style.

Who is Dapperden?

Located in Australia, dapperden strives to have a timeless style while using different textures, and colors.

Dapperden's etsy shop can be found by clicking here.

My Top Picks Are?

The first item that really caught my eye was the "Green Envy Spiral Diamante Ring", as shown below.

I love how the green diamantes are contrasted with the black. The pictures really show the sparkle as well, and I do like shiney things. ;)

Another item that tickled my fancy is the "Foxy Lady Pewter Necklace."

The fox's head is very detailed and I can tell a lot of thought and work went into this item.

Finally my favorite piece from dapperden would have to be the "Bird's Nest Earrings."

These earrings are very styled with the weaving of the steel wire and I personally think it's gorgeous.

Dapperden's Advice to Beginners:

" Well, if anything I learnt so far, its that...sometimes a design / creation takes a whole new turn and we should embrace it cos there will be someone out there who will appreciate it. :-) "

My Final Words:

I enjoyed my time looking at these items in this particuliar shop. Also I wish dapperden lots of luck on Etsy. :)

Technique Time: Cane Work Part 1

2008-09-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

I decided to do several posts about doing canes with polymer clay. Today I shall focus on a more basic cane, the bullseye cane.

Update: There are two other parts to this series.

You may find part 2 here:
http://cbspolyworks.blogspot.com/2008/09/technique-time-cane-work-part-2.html

What is a bullseye cane?

A bullseye cane is one of the most simplest and most forgiving of all canes. It is a simple matter of rolling polymer clay sheets and/or making several snakes.

How to make a bullseye cane?

1) For this post I thought I would use the example of how I make my candy corn. First you will need to make a snake by rolling clay either on the palm of your hand, or down on wax paper. This snake will be the inside color of your bullseye cane, so think carefully of what color to use.

For my candy corn I first used white transparent clay and rolled it into a snake as shown below.

2) Next you need to flatten a sheet of clay either with a pasta machine (on thickest setting) or with a roller. This sheet will need to be big enough to wrap around your snake. If you are using three colors this color will be in the middle.

I used a sheet of orange and wrapped it around the transparent clay.

As you can see from the picture some of the transparent clay is sticking doesn't have any orange around it. I did this on purpose to give myself some wiggle room when applying the orange sheet. This will now be cut off.

3) If you are only using two colors then you will not need this step; however, if you are following my example read on...

Next I added a yellow sheet of clay around the orange.

Again some orange clay does show through and will be cut off once the yellow sheet is placed how I wish it.

4) At this point you will need to reduce the cane. To reduce pinch the middle of the cane to make an hourglass shape as shown.

This picture is not mine! I obtained this picture from this great source: Desirees Desired Creations I used this source often when I first started out. ;)

Now you will need to roll both sides of the hourglass separately until your cane is equal in thickness on both sides.

5) After reducing the inside of my cane looks like this:

6) Now I simply cut off a slice. This slice can be used as a bead itself, simply by putting a hole in it with a needle. For candy corn though you take a different route.

7) I first slice the original slice in half.

8) Then slice that in half at an angle, as you can see the smaller slices look a lot like candy corn, but candy corn is more round.

9) Round out the candy corn with your hands.

Bake it and this is what the completed candy corn piece looks like:

10) I have used this technique to produce individual small pieces of candy corn for my witch Kia as shown below. There is about fifty pieces of candy corn that I did have to round out by hand. That was a lot of work! :P

Kia is in my etsy store at this moment. You can find her by clicking here: :)

Final Say

Now bullseye cane can be used to make various patterns. I will be talking more about that next time in part two. Part three will be a much more complex way of making your very own canes. :)

Tool Of The Week

2008-09-09T20:21:00.001-07:00

Well it is time to present you with the tool of the week. This week I am featuring...

"Shaving Gel Can!"

Oh and before saids anything this is a brand new shaving gel can, has never been used, and has been wiped down with cleaning wipes on the outside. It is important to not mix polymer clay with shaving gel, as I highly doubt the chemicals are safe when combined in an oven. ;)

Why A Shaving Gel Can?

I know at this point many of you are thinking about not reading the rest of this, I mean of all tools out there why pick a shaving gel can? I have found that the most versatile of polymer clay tools are not usually found in a craft store. This can has a few uses when it comes to polymer clay.

How Can I Use A Shaving Gel Can?

1) The first thing to do with nearly any object and polymer clay is to use it as a texture tool. This particular shaving gel can has large grooves around the lid.

One can press these grooves into clay and get the result as shown below.

Here is another picture of the grooves in the clay at a different angle. The shiny spots on the clay are the raised areas.

You can also use these grooves as accents on a pendant, or as a mold for future projects. Then the grooves can be antiqued (see post about antiquing here) to make a bold statement.

The other special quality about this shaving gel can is on the top there is a small flower design.

This can be stamped into clay.

One could also use inks (like stamp inks) to leave a more stamped effect onto the surface of the polymer clay.

Here is another picture of the stamped flower on the clay's surface. The flower design would probably come out better after is has been antiqued, or stamped on with ink.

2) Another use for this shaving gel can is as a template. One can use the bottom of the can to get a perfectly large round circle. You can do this either by putting the can face down on the clay and then cutting around it as shown.

You can also stamp the bottom of the can until it makes a small imprint of the bottom's circle and then cut around it. You shouldn't press to hard, just hard enough to make an impression as shown below.

This template is perfect for larger projects such as making lids for containers, or making the background for a door handle decoration.

My Final Words

With a little bit of creativity and imagination you can make almost anything a polymer clay tool. Thats one reason why I love working with polymer clay, it doesn't have to cost thousands of dollars to make beautiful pieces and one can be very open minded with how to create that piece. ;)

Question for you to answer in comments: What unique tool(s) have you used in your craft?

Tips: Keeping Blog Organized!

2008-09-06T21:22:00.000-07:00

I really like seeing all the feedback on my blog, talking to others, and reading their blogs. The world of blogging is a lot of fun, but can still take a bit of work too. This is why I decided to better organize my blog today, as well as give people tips to organize their blogs with. Now don't worry I will try to keep this short haha!

Why Organize My Blog?

I believe a blog that is organized will be easier for all to read. Also people know what to expect when they see your posts. Not to mention as the person posting on this blog, it makes it easier for me to plan my blogging days.

Tips to Organizing Your Blog:

1. Find a layout that suits your needs.

For example, I am in the process of changing my layout to one with columns on both the right and left, so I have more space for links, ads, and what not.

2. Have a layout that conveys a message.

A layout should convey what type of blog you have. If it is about your art then it could have pictures of your art in it.

3. Have a schedule and stick to it.

As someone who tends to a little lazy in life I have procrastinated in this tip. Finally, I have a schedule for this blog, as shown below!

One should have a schedule that fits in their routine, you don't have to post every day. Also it shouldn't be too difficult for you or your readers to follow.

4. Don't clutter blog too much.

If all a person sees when they enter your blog is link after link after link, then you have way too many links. :P The space where you post should be clutter-free, meaning keep your posts about the topic at hand and even doing sections within your post might help. I usually do sections by making titles bold, and questions in red. Also describe pictures with brief text.

5. My Final Say:

Keeping blogs organized is something one has to work on, especially people like me who procrastinate and get lazy. ;)

Question to answer in comments: How do you keep your blog organized?

Technique Time: Antiquing Fun!

2008-09-02T21:11:00.000-07:00

Well my hubby's sister is having a birthday soon so I decided to make her a pendant. While making this pendant I used the technique of antiquing and in this post will share any tips I may have. :)Oh and yes I even "made" my husband work on this project too. :P

What Is Antiquing?
Antiquing is basically using a darker color to age or antique a creation. For polymer clay this means to create an illusion that something is antique.

Why Should I Antique?

Many may feel that I will never use this technique, as many times it is used for only certain creations, or occasions. This isn't really true. Antiquing a creation gives it a unique look all it's own, it can be quite the bold statement.

Also this technique is great for faux creations such as bone, and jade. Many faux creations look better when antiqued, feel free to experiment. ;)

How Do I Antique?

1) First condition some clay, any color will do, and make sure to have some way of texturing at your disposal. I used a texture sheet as shown in the picture below.

2) Shape the clay in any shape you so desire. For this pendant I decided to make it a moon. Next you will need to texture it.

With my texture sheet I sprayed it with a release agent...water. ;) This is to prevent the clay from stinking to the texture sheet and making a very sticky mess. As you can see from the picture on the right part of the texture sheet has a bit of stuck on clay. I forgot to do the water the first time around and had to start all over! This was also very hard to get off the texture sheet later on. :P

If you don't have a texture sheet handy, make your own textures. One can carve textures directly into the clay, or even use textures around the house. For example, I have a nice shaving can lid with a beautiful flower engraved into the top. This makes for a great stamped flower into clay.

3) When you are done texturing and your creation is complete its time to bake it. Please bake according to the clay's instructions, I use Fimo Soft often thus my settings are shown below.

4) After your creation cools you will now need to antique it. For this I recommend using a small paintbrush. One can antique using acrylic paints, inks, glosses, transferable antiqued images, or even antique backings.

For this pendant I used "burnt sienna" brown acrylic paint. You will want to brush over the entire piece and it may end up looking a bit like a blob like mine. *points* ;)

Do not let the paint dry like this though!

5) Finally wipe the excess paint, or whatever you used to antique with, with a paper towel, or even a slightly damp cotton ball. When you are done, your creation may look a tad like this:

6) You will need to sand it lightly, especially spots that may have dried paint on it where it isn't suppose to be. Now, remember how I told you I "made" my husband work on it well here are the little charms he made, antiqued, and sanded. These charms will hang from the moon pendant later on.

This only proves that even someone who has never worked with polymer clay can use the technique of antiquing! I'm so very proud. :)

7) As a final step, you may want to put a thin coat of glaze over your creation to protect the paint from rubbing off if it is used on a daily basis. I personally use "Pledge Floor Finish with Future Shine." I love to use this as a glaze, because it is very thin and makes things glossier, while protecting them. It can be found by the mops in a regular store. I found mine in Meijers. ;)

For example this is a picture of two ring napkin holders I have made with a thin coating of glaze over them.

8) I do hope you all have fun experimenting with antiquing! Also I leave you with one good resource on the subject, take a look. :)

http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/cyclopedia/antiquing.html

PS: My hands are no longer purple, thanks for you comments on this. I really enjoyed them hehe. :P

Question to answer in comments today is....

Q: Which one of these items do you think were antiqued naturally, and which one antiqued by hand?

You have either A) the belt:

or B) the compass:

Technique Time: Art of Tinting :)

2008-08-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I have been experimenting today with Tinting and thought I would share my findings with you. ;)

Question for you to answer: What creations have you made using tinting or after reading this article will you now try tinting?

What is Tinting?

Tinting is generally making an original object darker by adding something else to it (think Car window tinting) or colorizing something that is white (Easter eggs anyone).

For polymer clay tinting usually involves making white or translucent clay in different shades by adding something to it.

Why Should I do Tinting?

Tinting is a great way to make different shades of the same color, for example if you wanted several shades of green, but don't have the money to buy all that polymer clay simply tint.

Also tinting makes color combinations you may not be able to find in polymer clay that you can use to make many Faux materials. Many shades of green (from dark to light) can make a very pretty Faux Jade. ;)

How can I do Tinting?

1) Use either white (on the right) or translucent (on the left) clay as shown below. One can even mix white and translucent clay for a different look. Now roll your clay into balls, how many depends on how many shades of colors you trying to get.

2) You can tint with many things including inks, paints, powders, and dyes. Personally I like using food coloring dyes. The reason I use them is because they have nice droppers on the top of each container. This makes it easy to blend colors to make new ones. The picture on the right shows the food coloring dye I use. :)

For example if I wanted to make brown I can simply do:

two drops of red + two drops of green = brown

Now if I wanted a deeper reddish brown then all I need to do is:

Four drops of red + two drops of green = reddish brown.

The dropper heads make it very easy to control.

The other reason is well....I'm not rich haha. You can get a pack of food coloring dye now days for less then a $1.00 while getting all the colors you will ever need for tinting!

3) You will want to put the food coloring dye into different containers, mix colors to get the desired shades. You can use any container, as long as it's not plastic! I used small glass containers as shown below.

Sorry, but when it comes to tinting you need to say no to Tupperware or else you will forever have a very blue or green tinted container that will also stain your food. :P

4) Once you have all the colors you want in separate containers it's time to get well... colored. ;) Dip a ball of clay into the dye and blend the dye in so the entire ball is now tinted. When I was experimenting I did five balls each of a shade of green. Some darker, others lighter. When I was done they looked like this:

I later used two balls of two different shades of blue then mixed the clay together to get this color:

This kind of reminds me of a turquoise blue.

5) Now that you know how to properly use one technique of tinting I hope all of you will experiment as I did. Find what is right for you. :)

I leave you with one small, yet helpful, advise. Please use gloves, as uh tinting can be rather messy.

Lets just say I really hope by next week I have non-purple hands again :P

Farewell all!

Polymer Clay of the Month!

2008-08-23T01:30:00.001-07:00

Well I decided this would be a good time to introduce a new polymer clay to you. Every month I will be posting information about a color of clay. If you want to determine the next month's clay color, as well as tips of how to use that color, answer this small poll in the comments section!

Q: What color of clay would you like to see for October?

A: "Night Glow"
B: "Light, Flesh"
C: "Tropical Green"

For the month of August I give you:

"Glitter Blue Fimo Effect"

I love glitter and blue is my favorite color thus it shouldn't be a surprise that I picked this clay. Glitter Blue Fimo clay gives a little sparkle and it makes a great base for pendants or use it to make faux metallics!

Here is an example of what this clay looks like on a pendant I made that I am now selling on Etsy:

This picture really shows the sparkle!

With other colors Glitter Blue Fimo Effect looks great, I would highly recommend it to anyone who needs just a hint of blue sparkle. :)

Messy Workspace Tips

2008-08-19T23:05:00.000-07:00

If any of you are as unorganized as I am then you know how hard it is to keep a workspace clean. For polymer clay crafting this can be very difficult indeed. I often find myself surrounded by beads, unfinished projects, and sharp objects all pointing at me. Here are a few things I've learned about keeping my workspace a little cleaner.

My Question for you to answer: In what ways would you like to keep your space neat?

Tip # 1: Keeping Beads Under Control:

When one first starts with polymer clay beads are very easy and addicting to make. In fact one usually ends up with beads rolling all over the place as more are being made. This was a situation I was in not too long ago. Fortunately there is a certain little tool that not only can help keep beads on the table, but also can be used to bake them on!
This tool is the bead rack, as shown in the picture to the right, it can be bought in any craft store and usually comes with needles to collect those pesky rolling beads. :P Then you can also use it to bake the beads without them rolling off and getting burned (trust me burned polymer clay smells really bad!)

Tip #2 Clay Under Wraps:

In the beginning you may start off with just a few 2oz chunks of clay stacked neatly in a pile, well that won't last long. Polymer clay comes in so many different colors that soon you will have twenty chunks of clay in a not so neat stack or two or three or even five stacks...it goes on and on.

A great storage container for unbaked clay, or even unfinished creations, are plastic tackle boxes with movable slots. The picture on the right shows what one looks like. This is also pretty cheap to buy, at Walmart I have seen a set of three for $5.00.

Tip # 3 Sharp Blades, Needles, and Cutters!

When working with polymer clay everyone will deal with something sharp at one point. For example, you should use a tissue blade to cut clay with, this is a very sharp blade indeed and any unattended blade can do a lot of damage when you are busy working away. A good storage container for all these sharp objects is a small three drawer plastic chest.

Since this chest has three drawers you can put your blades in one, and still have two drawers left over for other tools. I found mine at Biglots for only $5.00 though I believe it was on sale originally being $10.00.

Tip # 4 What to work on:

Polymer clay sticks to many surfaces, so picking the right one is essential of course not spending too much money is also good. I use one of those cheap fold up tables, and then wrap it with wax paper. The clay would stick to the plastic on the table otherwise. Once the wax paper is too dirty I simply change it, for me this works well in my budget. An alternative would be to use tile, but this can get a bit on the pricey side.

Oh and here is one more picture to show a small part of my workspace covered in wax paper. Before anyone asks, yes there is clay in the background, even I can't be 100% neat all the time. :P

Final Say:

Now after all this organizing you may feel as tired as a kitten, in fact why don't you go take a cat nap like my Lance here. :)

What is CB's Poly-Works?

2008-08-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone as I'm sure the first question that comes to mind when one sees my blog is "What is CB's Poly-Works?" For my first post I have decided to answer that question. Lets break it down some.

CB is actually the incials of my name. I am a twenty-five year old woman whom is married to a wonderful Husband has two pet rats (Smudges and Squeakers), and one pet cat, (Lance). I have also lived in Michigan my entire life so I know that state pretty well and I would like to stay here with our future children.

Now then "Poly" is actually the beginnings of the word polymer as in polymer clay. Being the crafty person that I am I do a lot with polymer clay and even sell my creations online.

"Works" is what this blog is all about. I want to show others how polymer clay works, how fun it can be, and giving tutorials.

In a nutshell this blog, CB's Poly-Works, shows off my love of working with polymer clay while giving others tutorials on specific techniques, and answering any questions one may have. If anyone has any questions at all about polymer clay feel free to leave a comment. :)