Polymer Clay Canes for Beginners 27 videos, step by step, beginner cane workshop
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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For a couple of years now, I’ve been using a “light box” that I made myself out of an old cardboard box, paper, and muslin. It really has worked well for me but it began to be worse for wear and I decided to order a “real” one.
Cynthia Tinapple mentioned something on her blog, Polymer Clay Daily, or maybe in her newsletter, StudioMojo, (couldn’t find it on either) about a portable lightbox that people were using. I put it on my Amazon wish list and to my surprise, I got it for Christmas. I should have posted it to my shopping list instead….
Anyway, when I opened it, it was huge and wouldn’t fit in my photography space. I should have taken a closer look at the size. Anyway I sent it back and continued to look. I found Modahaus and their tabletop set up. The really cool thing is that I can take photos with my iPhone or my camera. Sometimes I just want a quick picture for my blog and sometimes I need a more professional photo.
There are several toppers that allow you to use different devices. The one in this picture is for an iphone. I do have a set of lights that I use, one on each side, that I’ve had since my sewing pattern days.
I have both a Steady Stand and a Tabletop Studio. I just wish I would have ordered the next widest Tabletop Studio. I might just have to anyway.
I think the price is reasonable and I’m very happy with the quality and the performance of this product. You can see all their products on their website Modahaus.
The other cool iphone helper is this iphone tripod adaptor from Studio Neat. When I first wanted to video a few things with my iPhone, I found that there wasn’t any way to attach it to a tripod. I found this cool adaptor and now I take my videos with my iPhoto. A far cry from the $1,000 plus camera I had a few years ago and now doesn’t take such great videos.
There’s also a snap app for iphones editing videos, it’s iMovie. I have the full version on my computer, but this little app is perfect for small projects. Sorry, put I don’t know about any other editing apps for other phones. Been a Apple girl for over 30 years and not switching now.
go have fun…
I was messing around with a large Stroppel Cane a couple of weeks ago and came up with this idea. This is actually my second one like this because I wanted to make a simple necklace to match. They are both simple and quick to make but the possibilities are endless.
I left the black surfaces lumpy-bumpy just because, but those surfaces could be smooth or covered any way your imagination takes you.
I used a square cutter to cut the hole in the middle but had to go back and trim again with my blade because the cutters aren’t sharp enough. I used my blade to trim around the outside. Of course you can use oval, circle or square cutters.
Tomorrow I’ll share the new camera phone light box set up I just ordered. Actually you can use it with a regular camera too. Very cool.
I’m thrilled to have a piece of my working included in Christi’s new book Flourish. On another page, Christi also uses the Stroppel Cane to make a swirly, twirly, flowery thingy, which is exactly Christi-like and so much fun.
My piece in Christi’s book is a piece I made using some of the tropical leaves from my…wait for it…Tropical Leaves tutorial that I have for sale in my Etsy shop. It’s both a video and a detailed pdf.
Here it is in the book and thank you Christi.
One thing I’ve noticed with artists that self publish is that their publications are crammed with information. It reminds me of myself when I’m teaching. I want to share and show you everything I can in the short time we have together. The other recent book that I’m thinking of is Helen Breil’s Shapes.
Each of these books are so full of information, photos and techniques that each new owner will have projects to last them weeks and enough inspiration to start ideas popping in their heads like fireworks on New Years Eve.
I’m getting ready for Synergy and looking forward to a very exciting, inspiring time. Along with all the talent gathering in one place, I’ll get to spend time with old friends and meet in person friends I’ve only met online. I hope to see you there.
 Mary, Andree, Sue, Lori, Earnestine, Alice, Niki, not shown, Ruby and Audrey I was so excited to welcome some of the members from the South East Florida Polymer Clay Guild to my studio. We spent two days playing with clay and enjoying each other’s company. Thank you all for coming……
I’m sorry to say that I did not take any pictures on the first day and Ruby and Audrey had already left by the time I remembered my camera. This time I was lucky to get in the picture because my husband happened to drift through the studio and I enlisted his help, a bit blurry, but hey!
Oh and our wonder dog Ceasar is shown at the bottom of the picture, okay, “kind of ” shown, really blurry…but he was so happy for the company.
We made face canes and then we made Flamingos. Not everyone wanted to make bracelets, so we have Lori’s punk candle ring and Andree’s sculpt to go on a mirror frame. Lori’s needs some feathers and Andree’s needs some skinny legs, they’ll finish up at home. Everyone else is going to be sporting a funky new bracelet. I think everyone did a fabulous job and enjoyed working with Ultralight.
Thanks so much to Mary Marzano for all the time she put into organizing the weekend. I’m not sure who had more fun, me or everyone else, I think maybe me!
To find out more about this guild, when they meet and where, visit the SEGPCG website or join them on Facebook.
The group came on a great weekend. It was downtown Sebring’s second Friday event and my good friend Janet King was the featured artist at Highlands Art League’s Yellow House reception. So we all met at the hotel and went to Janet’s reception then back to the hotel for dinner. There was Jazz on the circle and all the shops were open downtown. The next day was the Roaring 20’s craft show downtown, but we were busy in my studio with clay.
 Janet F. King Janet’s work is incredibly beautiful and I’m lucky to own a piece or two. Once you see her work, you’ll want to own a painting of her’s too.
If you’re in Sebring, be sure to take the time to visit the Yellow House, if not, visit Janet on her website at Janet King Watercolors. com
What a great group and what a good time I had in the Palmetto at their monthly get together. Thanks so much everyone and especially Sydney Carter.
I’m just sorry that as usual, I forgot to take a picture before some of the group had to leave. I did manage to get one of Sydney and me, yay.
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