Polymer Clay Canes for Beginners

27 videos, step by step, beginner cane workshop beginner Cane Tutorial What people are saying about this tutorial. jennifer rose Just finished this first workshop on how to make canes, and I must say I learned so much. This is exactly what I have been looking for, someone who could explain cane making in a step by step that process that I could replicate. I watched the videos, went into my studio and began to create all of the canes Alice showed. I finally have results I can be proud of, and I say thank you so much for doing this workshop. My only question now is when do we get more workshops. If you are only going to take one online class let it be this workshop. Thank you Alice for your hard work, and your dedication to helping others learn the joys of polymer clay.

Online Workshops with Alice Stroppel

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Polymer and Silver Upcycling at it’s Shiniest

silver polymer clay pitcher

I’ve been away on retreat and experimented with several things while I was away. I’ll post more about that as I finish up another project I’m working on, I’m excited about it.

Before I left on my retreat I picked up this silver plated pitcher at a thrift store. The inside has lost some of it’s finish but I think it could be polished up and still used. However, I already have a silver pitcher along with several other so I’m dedicating this one to flowers.

I covered parts of it with polymer clay leaving quite a bit of silver showing. I really like it and will be looking for more silver to pair with polymer.
Pitcher-flowers2w

A couple of years ago my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I couldn’t think of a thing, then an idea came to me. I told him I would love flowers at least once a month and they didn’t have to be expensive.

pitcherwhite3w

So now at least once a month, sometimes more, I have a pretty bouquet of flowers to brighten my day. He doesn’t ever have to worry about a birthday present again. I feel loved and special.  Win – Win!

Pitcherwhite2w

Now a I have a dedicated vase just for my special flowers.

I can’t decide if I want to add more clay, I love the way the silver shines through.  I decided to give it a day or two of looking at it from every angle and then make up my mind.

pitcherwhite1w

Can wait until you can see what I’m working on now…always fun.

 

Circles – Polymer Clay Painting

Circles--polymer clay - AliceStroppel

 

Frame  20″ x 20″, design mounted on white mat board. It’s an interesting piece in that the metal leaf makes it pop and shine differently from every angle.

Still having fun just doing.

Here Comes the Sun – CBS Sunday Morning Inspired

I record and watch CBS Sunday Morning every weekend and love the suns that mark each segment. I’ve always dreamed of having a sun featured there someday. Just one of those fantasies that are fun to have. I haven’t made many suns, so how I thought I could have one featured, I’m not sure.

My core belief is this …thought, word and deed. First you have to think of it, then you talk about it, then you do it. So I’ve made my first sun, I’ll just put “Sun Man” next to Apple Man on my shelf and dream.

I still have to finish the inside , but that’s part of the fun.

WIP – Polymer Clay What?

I’m working on a project purely for the joy of it. Can you guess what this is going to be? Hint, it’s kind of like Appleman but not.

An Apple a Day, A Polymer Clay Sculpting Experiment

You might have to look twice at this apple, my husband did. He came into my studio and said, ” oh I thought you had an apple in your hands, oh it is an apple, oh it has a face! That’s cool.”

Now you have to understand that for years all I could get out of him was, “what were you thinking?”. But in the last few years his comments have gotten more complimentary and “that’s cool” is amazingly high on the list of compliments so far. Hehehe…..I’m wearing him down.

He loves that I love what I do, and he’s oh so supportive, but I’m not sure he has ever understood my crazy way of thinking. But that’s okay I don’t understand his obsession with cars either, so we’re kind of tied. I’ll take “that’s cool” and love it.

After the sculpting workshop I taught last weekend, I decided to play around with some ideas I’ve had in the back of my head for a long time. I started this apple man with the idea of making him an ornament like The Baker Man ornament I made when shooting my found objects video.

I can’t believe that was almost 2 1/2 years ago. It just proves that no idea is ever lost.

Well apple man  quickly turned into something entirely  different. He is a work in progress so you’ll have to come back to see him finished. I think this idea is pretty “that’s cool”, so keep your fingers crossed that my experiment works.

And once more, thank you Judith Skinner.

Pink Bathroom Update

B&W tile counter

I’m clapping my hands…………the tile came yesterday and we laid it out on the counter top and on the shower floor. Now all we need it the tile man to come and do his job.

B&W shower floor

I’m going to replace the knobs on the drawer with black and white checked polymer clay maybe or flamingos or I don’t know what. I do know I’m going to smile every time I go in there.

PS please excuse the awful color on the bottom picture, just couldn’t get it right. But that’s kind of what happens to your eye when you walk into this PINK bathroom. But it really is more like the top photo. The tile and the flamingos are going to make it happier for me.

Polymer Clay on This Gate Leg Table

Gate-leg Table ready for polymer clay

I’m still waiting for the black and white tile to be delivered for my pink flamingo bathroom…see the post below. While I’m waiting, I thought I’d show you my other project.

This is a cute little gate-leg table I found about 6 years ago at a thrift store. I think it’s probably from the 20s or 30s. It just screamed to be taken home and covered with polymer clay. Then poor little thing, it’s been sitting in the corner for all these years and just last week got a good coat of black paint on the legs.

So now I just have to design something for the top. I’m so torn between putting several of my girls on it and doing something serious. Okay I can hear you and I agree, why try to be serious now? Okay so help me here, tell me should I put lots of girls or make a new giant cane and add two large girlfriends? I can almost see it now can you?

Here’s the table closed. Isn’t it cute?

gate-leg table closed

Experimenting With the First Slice of Polymer Clay Face Cane

 Polymer Clay Angel on Canvas - Alice Stroppel

Polymer Clay Angel on Canvas Part 1

I didn’t have as much time today as I wanted to spend with my face cane. Had to help with some yard work. It felt good to be outside in the wonderful weather. I did have time to paint this canvas and mess around with her neck and blouse. Colors still aren’t right, but I’m just going ahead with her and after she’s baked I’ll shade in under her chin with some wash.

I need to add wings and I want to do some flowers or something. I’m going to cure what I have so far and then add the other elements. I’m finding because I’ve been handling this one so much I need to get it cured.

I have been inspired by several folk artists and am trying to create my own folk angels. One of my favorite artists is Campbell Jane, I just love her work.

Anyway, more to come………..

First Sales Made for Tutorial – Profile Face Cane

Profile Face coverThanks to all of you that ordered my first face cane tutorial. I’d love to hear from you after you watch the video and make your first cane.

The Profile Face Cane Tutorial is for sale in my Etsy Store.

Polymer Clay Fish Bracelet

Polymer Clay Fish Bracelet

Polymer Clay Fish Bracelet

I used the same canes to create this bracelet that I used on my mermaid in the last post. And again, I layered the cane slices instead of butting them side by side as in the video. However, I did draw a pattern and built the fish first before putting it on the bracelet.

Laying Out The Design

Laying Out The Design

You can just see the pattern between the two fish. I’m fitting the fish on a piece of glass. To see my video that explains how to use a pattern and a piece of glass, just sign up for my newsletter. It’s free.

Bracelet Covered With Black Polymer Clay

Bracelet Covered With Black Polymer Clay

I covered a bracelet with black clay, then laid my fish on top. I made sure everything was securely down and baked it.

Side View of Fish Bracelet

Side View of Fish Bracelet

Notice the tail on this fish, there is another slice of this cane on the other side. In fact, these are the last two slices of  the cane.  In the last post I told you that this cane was made from left overs and I was only able to get 6 slices out of it. Four I used for my mermaid’s hat and these two for fish tails.  I didn’t waste that little bit of Skinner Blend.