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]

Happy Holidays – Cyber Monday Sale!

Bib Necklace - Polymer Clay

Bib Necklace - Polymer Clay

From this bib necklace to my tutorials on Profile Face Canes and Tropical Leaves, everything in my Etsy Shop is on sale for 25% off on Nov. 29th 2010. From 9am to 9pm Eastern Standard Time.

I wanted to thank my blog readers, Facebook, Etsy and Flickr friends for the support I’ve experienced over the last few years. I enjoy being able to share what I do with you all and treasure the friendships I’ve made.

To receive your 25% discount

On Monday, Nov. 29th from 9am to 9pm

simply choose the items you want in

Alice Stroppel’s Etsy Shop

add them to your shopping cart

then enter the code below at check out.

POLYMERCLAYETC2010CM

I hope your Holidays are bright and you get everything you’re dreaming of.  But most of all, that you are surrounded by those you love.

Thanks to you all…..big hugs and kisses for the holidays. (this bracelet is on sale too)

Lips

Lips

Etsy Treasuries

I hope everyone here in the states had a fabulous Thanksgiving, I know I did.

I’ve been featured in several Etsy Treasuries and wanted to show them here. I know I’m several days late with this post, but I’ve been busy having fun.

Thanks so much to HiGirls, Lisa featured my work in two treasuries. First was my Funky Girlfriend Business Card Holder  in PCAGOE gift guide and second was my Queen of it all ornament  in Ornamental.

Etsy TreasuryThanks to 11BOLDstreet for her under $50.00 treasury featuring my black and white cuff.

And…….thanks to Laurabeestudios for adding my Purple Face Cuff to her Hey Big Spender treasury.

Now, back to work for me.

Notecards From Polymer Clay Illustration and Some Etc.

Illustration cardIllustration card

Illustration card

Today in the mail…..or UPS I received a package with my illustration made into a card. I’m excited. What fun this is. I’ve listed them in my Etsy Shop. You can buy them one at a time or in groups.

While I was waiting for the cards to come, I started playing around with some paper bags I had and painted some girls to add to my Etsy Shop too.

girlfriend gift bag

Girlfriend Gift Bag

So I decided to include this bag with 4 of the cards. Fun! I made so many bags, I was having the best time. So now I’m adding single bags as well in my shop.

Plus, I had a girlfriend magnet printed as well, what a funny little something to give to a co-worker, sister or best friends.

I’ve been busy, but “The Big T ” is coming and I’ll be gone for days before so this year I’m leaving it up to my husband and the kids, I’ll be home in time to eat. (first year I’ve ever done this, but a girlfriends get away is calling………and I just can’t help it……..

P.S. my “kids” are grown ups……and coming home for the holidays. I read this post again and it sounded like I was leaving my little kids to fend for themselves, so I thought I’d clear that up for those that don’t know me.

Balancing Act – A Polymer Clay Figure

Balancing Act

Balancing Act

This week-end, I continued to stick to my resolve to begin (and complete, hopefully) projects that I have been thinking of for what seems like forever. This project is actually at least 7 years in my head. This is figure #1 in a series of 8.

Balancing Act Here’s a shot without the experimental background, that’s another story. But this story begins in 2003 when I was director of the Highlands Art League. We were having a children’s furniture painting class one summer and I was in a thrift shop looking for inexpensive chairs and I found these beveled glass light shades.

There were 8 of them and only $1.00 each and I couldn’t walk away. We were restoring 3 old houses from the 1920s and I thought maybe we could use them somewhere.  I also saw bases for figures in my head. Mixed media art dolls if you will. Maybe a class when I had time?

I bought them and donated them to the cause.

I left the art league for a couple of years around 2004 and didn’t return until 2006. While cleaning and sorting, I came across them in a box on a shelf. A volunteer said, “We have no idea what they are or what to do with them.” I laughed and decided nothing was ever going to happen with them there, so a took them home with me a create  those figures in my head.

Her nose is kind of big and there’s a reason. It’s been awhile since I’ve done any sculpting and on the second baking, I covered her with tin foil again, but not well enough and her nose got very, very brown.

I had to cut off her nose to spite her face and build a new one. It ended up a tad bit bigger and not quite as nice, but I save her I happy to say.

Then next baking I remembered to cover her nose with polyfil after first heat setting with my heat gun.

I’m still playing around with what will be inside the beveled glass, but I just wanted to get her picture up and start another one. Practice, practice, practice.

Thanks for stopping by today.

More Fun From Profile Face Tutorial

I’ve been enjoying seeing all the profile face canes that people have made using my Profile Face Cane tutorial. It’s amazing how different they all look and what each person adds to the faces to make them their own.

Kem Eid

Kem Eid

This is a necklace made by Kem Eid. Kem was in my face cane class in Orlando. She added her face to a great necklace and is already enjoying wearing this girl and getting lots of compliments I bet.

Donna Ingram

Donna Ingram

Donna Ingram was one of my first customer. She bought the tutorial, downloaded the pdf and watched the 40 minute video. Donna added a hand and a cell phone to her girl. What a great gift for a girlfriend that never gets off the phone. It could be a pin or a magnet. Great idea Donna.

Bonnie McIntyre Craig

Bonnie McIntyre Craig

Bonnie already has these bracelets ready to go……lucky girlfriends at Christmas time. It looks like she’s coated these and made them sing with a bit of shine. And I think Bonnie is having a great time with these faces. Making her smile I hope.

Thanks to all who have purchased the tutorial and sent me pictures. If you are wondering if this tutorial is for you, here are some reviews from my customers that might help you make up your mind.

“Super easy to understand and great pictorials to watch and follow off your computer.”

“Fabulous tutorial. The video is awesome and very easy to follow, I am looking forward to making these. ”

“This tutorial and video are very detailed and easy to follow. The graphics in the printed instuctions are excellent. Alice your video adds visually to the printed directions beautifully. Either way you win with this tutorial. Fast and easy transaction. Thank you Alice”

“Great tutorial and great service – I would recommend this tutorial to anyone wanting to learn face caning – very detailed pdf and video. Would purchase again.”

So, are you ready to make so fabulous gifts for christmas? Only 44 day left, but more than enough time to make some fabulous faces.

Best Friend Forever

Best Friend Forever

Don’t forget about covering ornaments for your girlfriends. Write a funny or meaningful phrase on the back and you’ll make em’ all smile.

A Pretty Picture?

Illustration -polymer clay

I started out yesterday to continue to list more items in my Etsy Shop, but ended up here instead. I had this idea…..I know, so what else is new? I’ve been wanting to make larger items to hang on the wall for quite some time. The clay part of this one is 8″x 10″

It was another one of my wild ideas that turned into The Most Fun. I find that when I let go of the goal of making something to sell, I enjoy myself so much it makes me laugh out loud and realize that I should Never, Ever, Worry about sales. There are many things that I would do differently, but I learned alot and had a ball.

But taking sales out of the equation is a hard thing to do since it’s what I’ve done all my life. And now is really no different, I have to sell things, it’s just the way it is.

I’ve always known that letting go is the best way to create, I just have to keep remembering it. This one was for me…..however, I was thinking about turning this into a greeting card…….(grinning here) ……….. what do ya’ think?

Tons of New Listings Mean Great Gifts for Christmas

It was a busy day yesterday as I uploaded item after item to my Etsy Shop.  This Flame Necklace is an interesting piece with large unusual beads.

It will prove to be the same tomorrow I believe.  Most of the items I’ve made in the last few months and just haven’t taken the time to do all the legwork needed to get them ready for Etsy.

Another crazy girlfriend bracelet. She’s a single lady.

This is one bracelet in a series of 13. I really want to make more of these interesting face canes. Maybe after Christmas.

One of My Girlfriend Bracelets Featured in Etsy Treasury by MIRAKRIS

Etsy Treasury by MirakrisThanks to Mira Pinki Krispil for featuring my girlfriend bracelet in her “like like like A Virgin” Etsy Treasury. Lots of fun and funky things in this treasury.

Mira is an amazing polymer clay artist and you can see her work in her Etsy Shop and on her website. She also posts pictures of her work on flickr. Grab a cup of coffee before you click on any of those links, you’ll be there awhile.

Two Ruby Red Lips – Business Card Cases

#2 Pen and Ink Lips Business Card Case

#2 Pen and Ink Lips Business Card Case

I’ve finished two business card cases with black and white canes and pen and ink lips. These are really fun to do and I might have to do one just for me. These two are for sale in my Etsy Shop.

Pen and Ink Lips

Pen and Ink Lips Business Card Case

I have three more bracelets ready for drawings, so I’d better get going. Oh….by the way, my new motor got here last week and I’m very pleased with it. Only has one speed, but it’s high, so that’s perfect for me.

Seriously, if you don’t have a motor for your pasta machine and do alot of claying, you should really consider a motor. Your neck, arm and wrist will thank you.

Pen and Ink – Lips and Eye – Oh My

Pen and Ink

Pen and Ink

I sold the last pen and ink bracelet that I listed in my Etsy Shop in less than 24 hours, I was thrilled. I’ve made a few more with white blank spaces and this is the first I’ve drawn on today. The rest are just sitting there waiting for me to pick up the pen again.

Lips

Lips

This one is a bit different. It has the face in the front, lips on one side and an eye on the other.

Eye

Eye

I also made some business card holders like this. They both have lips only drawn in pen and ink. I’m having quite a bit of fun with these.