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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[caption id="attachment_102" align="aligncenter" width="100" caption="Member IPCA"]Member IPCA[/caption]

Abstract Polymer Clay – About Having Fun!

I love doing my girlfriend bracelets and pins. I laugh while I’m making them and I’m delighted when someone else likes them as well. I left one with Debbie at my dentist’s office, she bought it right off my wrist. She was going to give it as a gift, but by the time I left, I think she had decided to keep it for herself. Made me feel really great.  Granted, the visit costed more than the cost of the bracelet, but every little bit helps.

Debbie continued to smile as she wore her girlfriend bracelet and that made me smile. She even gave a me self addressed stamped envelope for me to send her more business cards because she gave her card to another patient while I was having my teeth cleaned.

I swear, I’ve never had that happen to me before. Thank you Debbie for brightening my day even though I only went there to brighten my teeth.

Wall Art - Polymer clay

Wall Art - Polymer clay

Yesterday, I wanted to try something different. I’ve always wanted to do wall pieces with polymer so I decided to just begin. This piece is 10″ x 6 1/2″. It can hang just like it is, but I am considering mounting it in a frame. What do you think?

It is actually a snap shot of how my brain works I think. Full of color and gong in several directions at once.

This one is much smaller and I think I’ll finish it as a bib necklace. The one below is 2 1/4″ x 2 and is finished already as a pin.

I love the versatility  of  polymer. I can’t imagine ever getting tired of creating with this medium.

Polymer Face Cane Workshop with OAPCG

OAPCG Profile Face Cane Class 2010

OAPCG Profile Face Cane Class 2010

Yesterday I taught my profile face cane to some of the women of the Orlando Area Polymer Clay Group. What a great group of clayers and a fun group to teach. Sandy and Nita hosted the class in the meeting room where they live, it was perfect. Thank you so much.

Thanks to Crazy Nancy Welch for inviting me to teach. ( You better watch out though CN because your fabulous dream machine pasta machine might just turn up missing one day, *G* geez now I gotta work hard to afford one just like you)

The group each brought a dish for a pot luck and let me tell you it was better than we could have bought anywhere. Thanks ladies, I loved everything and ate way too much.

OAPCG Profile Faces 2010

OAPCG Profile Faces 2010

Look at these girls, even bald they have character.  Each clayer finished a face and watched how to apply them to a bracelet or pin or even to a container. Charlene brought a vase along with her and before the end of the class had already applied a face with hair and flower. Mary had hair on her girl and Nancy’s girl ( the one with attitude) was placed on clay ready for hair. Linda used her extruder and leftover clay to give her sassy girl a wavy do.

I hope they all send me pictures of what they make. Hair makes a big difference with these characters.

Thanks again all you OAPCG women, I loved it.

Polymer Clay Project Storage

If you know me at all, you know I love to keep my canes organized. Well I found this photo storage box on sale and stood there for a long time trying to figure out just how I could use it for my canes.

Well it’s better than that. It makes a perfect portable project container. I used it for the first time last Tuesday for my beginners class, placing each step of each project in separate boxes. It made the presentation so much easier.

Yesterday I loaded it up with the steps and components for my Profile Face Cane class that I’m teaching tomorrow in Leesburg for the Orlando Area Polymer Clay Guild. Everything is laid out and in proper order. I can’t believe myself! Kind of scary I guess.

I still use the plastic drawers that I’ve featured in my video “How to Store Polymer Clay Canes“, I’ve just added another wonderful way to carry my canes with me.

Here is another thing I found on sale about 3 months ago and really couldn’t live without now. In fact, they were on sale again when I bought the photo boxes and I bought another set.

The little party favor boxes are perfect for holding the smallest of my smallest canes. It keeps them from getting lost and sticking to all the other canes. I use them for other things too.

It’s been a busy week but I was so glad to spend the day on Wednesday with a friend from high school, Nancy Bryant. She and I came across each other on Facebook and when she knew she was coming home for a few days, we met for lunch. She ‘s an artist and she enjoyed spending time in my studio and I enjoyed seeing some of her work when we finished up the day at her mother’s house.

I do want to thank her for taking so many of my pieces home with her. I always makes me feel wonderful when friends like what you create.

To all who are taking my class tomorrow, get ready, we’re going to have a great time.

Bib Necklace Finished with Bracelet to Match

Bib Necklace - Polymer Clay

Bib Necklace - Polymer Clay

New Items for sale in my Etsy Shop!

I finished the bib necklace and made a bracelet to go with it. The colors were fun to create and I loved making the canes. I really enjoyed figuring out how to make the bib part too. I used the largest round pastry cutter from a set I purchased from a restaurant supply house in Tampa. Cut the bottom, then moved the cutter up and cut the inside curve.

I think I’ll make a short video next week or if I have time this week, I’ll try to fit it in.

I have to laugh at myself because a have suddenly gotten very busy, both with polymer, and personal. Maybe it’s just that the summer is over and things always seem to move faster then. Whatever it is, I’m not complaining, I’m having a great time.

Bracelet - Polymer Clay

I have to tell you that Friends on Facebook have been so complimentary about the bib necklace. It’s really great to get such feed back. I wish it were here…. but Facebook make it so easy and everyone is there. So it works well and it helps to get super encouragement from other clayers. Thanks guys.

Well I’m off to get my clay conditioned for my Profile Face Cane class with Orlando Area Polymer Clay Guild. Can’t wait, they are so much fun.

Polymer Clay Bib Necklace

Bib Necklace - Polymer clay

Bib Necklace - Polymer clay

Far from finished, not even baked yet, but I’ve not blogged in a week and was having withdrawals. I’ve been teaching, getting ready to teach and creating new canes. All the Halloween colors inspired me for these I guess. Still playing around with them for other applications.

I made this a bib necklace because I wanted to see all the canes together. I also wanted to show my class what they can create, besides beads, with the canes they are learning to make.

I’ve also been walking. I promised myself that as soon as it cooled off a bit, I’d get up from my clay chair and get moving. Well, it’s still 90 in the afternoons, but in the morning and at dusk, there has been a great breeze and the humidity is down, so I’ve had to keep my promise. Let’s see if I’m still motivated when it’s 30 out. (now come on, for me that’s really cold)

What have you been working on?

Girlfriends Galore Meeting in My Etsy Shop

Girlfriends Galore 5 - Polymer Clay CuffI’m beginning to upload the girlfriend bracelets I made last week to my Etsy Shop. I’m going to have to take the time to make more face canes. I’m still working on the tutorial for this full face, but keep getting distracted. Lately, distracted in a good way, selling, doing demos, meeting other clayers, teaching, and enjoying the summer. So no complaints from this girl.

This is just an aside…. one of my friends, contacts actually, on facebook wrote something that made me laugh. I don’t remember who it was, but I know she had to have been very young. She was ranting about “all these woman that are over 40, sometimes even in the 60s calling themselves “girl”. Why don’t they just grow up and realize that they will never be “girls” again.”

I will always be that “girl” who is just waiting for the next cool thing to jump into my life. I wish I could be around when that young girl crosses over into the land of the “older girl” and she finds that she doesn’t grow up either.

Girlfriends Galore 5 - Polymer Clay CuffYou have to venture over to my Etsy Shop to see all sides of this bracelet. Each one of the Girlfriends Galore bracelets have 7 individual faces, I’m thinking a lucky number.

Thanks for stopping in today.

Salt and Pepper Shakers in Polymer Clay

Salt and Pepper

Working on a couple of salt and pepper shakers for a customer. I’ll have to see which one she’ll buy. The other one will go to my Etsy shop.

Salt and Pepper Back

As always lots of fun figuring out what colors to use. Now just have to finish the second set.

If you’re in the Sebring area, I’ll be giving a demo at Highlands Art League tonight from 5 until 8, stop on by……

New Girlfriend Bracelets – polymer clay

Every one of the last group of “Girlfriend Galore” bracelets went to new homes last week. Two traveled all the way around the world to Cyprus and one went to a friend. I was thrilled.

Girlfriends Galore

Girlfriends Galore

Plus another single girl sold to a high school friend. How nice is that. When friends buy things from you when you least expect it, it’s a good feeling.

So these are several new bracelets I’ve made for the first friend who wants more. As soon as she takes what she wants, I’ll post the rest in my Etsy shop.

Best Girlfriends – Polymer Clay Bracelet

Best Girlfriends

Still working on bracelets as I work on other ideas. this one is now for sale in my Etsy shop.

Martini Anyone, Polymer Clay is Star of The Party

Margarita Mango

Margarita Mango

Okay, I’ve done it now, I’ve gone back to “big”. This is  a full size cocktail shaker. I love making things that you can see from across the room and you say to yourself (I hope) “Wow, what is that? I love that, it’s so cool” that’s my goal I guess …………cool………

The hair goes all the way around

The hair goes all the way around

Okay may the word is interesting, or different…oh….. I think I have that one covered. Her hair goes all the way around the shaker to almost meet on the other side.

She's almost catching up with herself

I spent a month picking, peeling, slicing and freezing from 30 to 100 mangos a day. Thank goodness they are all gone and won’t be back until next year. I’ll have mangos until next summer.

I made the best frozen margaritas and had them on my mind as I made my choices for this cocktail shaker. Lime green for the margarita part and a mango color for her hair. Here’s another something that I just might have to keep for myself, then again I have a friend that just might like this for her birthday. Besides, my kitchen is getting to look alot like my studio.