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.
Okay, here’s the last of my creative streak this week. Actually these paperweight rocker girls are the start. I had this idea to cover rocks with clay and my face cane slices, I made the black haired girl and smiled the whole time. (that’s when I know I have an idea that at least I think is fun)
These are rocks out of my French Drain behind my porch. The blonde is about 3″ x 2″, black haired girl is 2″ 1/2″ x 2″ and the brunette is 2′ x 1 1/2″ . All perfect sizes for a funky addition to your desk as a paper weight or just sitting around on a shelf or counter. They make me laugh.
It was hard to make the clay stick to the rock. (the next girls I made I covered with craft glue and let dry, then it was fine, I was just too much in a hurry for the first girl)
Because the clay wasn’t sticking, it made me think of using my old clay as the core, so I made a girl with clay instead of the rock. Half way through I had the idea to make this business card holder. So I made the slit for cards to fit and there you go.
I had a plastic business card holder on my desk and I had this idea to make something that used less clay. After all, not everyone has tons of scrap clay.
Business Card Holder
So there you have a peek inside my strange mind. Not that anyone really wanted to look…:) Thanks for stopping in today.
P.S. All of these would make great projects for kids.
My playing around yesterday resulted in the business card holder from the last post and this one that was glued on a plastic holder. It was easy breezy and maybe a great gift for kids to make for the adults on their list. Any design will do, it doesn’t have to be a girlfriend. Geometric, flowers, or more manly designs for the guys. You could match any profession.
I googled the plastic holders and found tons of them from .50 on up. Office Depot had them for .99.
Make your design, cure it and glue it to the holder with super glue. Do not bake the holder.
I put this girl on the wrong side for my cards, I didn’t realize it until it was already baked. But I’m not keeping it anyway, I’m keeping the one from the last post.
Tomorrow? The last idea from my day of the clay. Hint…..remember Pet Rocks?
I have a couple of things to talk about today. The first thing is this too funny for words business card holder for your desk. I love this girl, she makes me smile, I loved making her and now that she has joined the other memorable items on my desk, I love looking at her. It was one of those moments when I was making something else and that led me to this holder and then on to another holder design.
I’ll show you all of these things tomorrow. I have hurry up and get this posted because I have to finish preparing to lead my book club discussion tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it, but I have to make sure I’m ready. Plus the other pieces are in the oven and I can’t take pictures until they cool down.
I was very excited to create this card holder. It’s solid clay, probably about 3 oz. I have 20 or 30 packages of Sculpey III that I will never use and have wondered what I was going to do with them. Now I know I’m going to use some of it for the base for some more of these card holders. I covered the base with black clay and then made the indentation to hold the cards, then add the face. Covered the edges of her face with more black “hair”, added her simple hat and she was ready for the oven. The whole time smiling……I love my “job”.
The second thing today was..my pasta motor died. I should have known it would happen sooner or later but I was just thinking that I haven’t ever had trouble with MY motor. There was a thread on Polymer Clay People yahoo digest about motors and people were talking about motors stopping on them. I thought HA, not mine. Then yesterday…it happened.
So today I had to order another one. I really wanted to buy the Dream Machine from Polymer Clay Express, but as I already have 9 pasta machines, I really couldn’t justify another.
Now I have to wait until my new motor gets here. I know, I can crank the pm by hand, but come on, after all these years, I’m just too spoiled.
Okay, I know I won’t be able to wait 4 or 5 day so I guess I’ll just be cranky. See you tomorrow.
Two more crazy girlfriends join in the fun. I used the same new face cane that I used on the business card holder in this post from the other day. Just goes to show you that each slice will look a little different.
I like these in black and white and I’m happy with this new face cane. I have some really cool new things in the oven right now. Can’t wait to see how the turn out and share them with you.
Going to list one of these girls in my Etsy Shop right now. Hmmmmm just can’t decide which one.
Just listed this in my Etsy Shop. Did quite a few black and white items yesterday. Many went on to galleries per request.
I love black and white! It’s so visually demanding and bold that it’s fun to work with. It’s a great way for the new clayers out there to really see the effects of the canes they are experimenting with. Mine are never perfect, therefore I will probably never be a shining example of a great kaleidoscope caner. I don’t mind that my canes are a bit wonky, it’s what makes me enjoy what I do. (I don’t think wonky is a real word, kinda like my canes are crazy originals once I get through with them, wonky just suits them)
If you’re new to clay and want to cane, what would you like to learn first?
I know, I’ve gone crazy. Okay I was already crazy, I’ve gone over the edge then, the “how many of those things are you going to make?” edge. Well I’ve made so many over the last week that I lost count. I’ve given some away, sold some and claimed some for myself.
The rest of these are going to The Creative Native Gallery in Tampa and Highlands Art League here in Sebring. I don’t think I can sell them easily in my Etsy shop, each one needs to be tried on and each one is a different unique shape. I am having a blast with these guys.
I made a new face cane today, a bit different than all my other girls, but that’s the fun of it all. I’ve put the first face on this business card holder and given this girl a funny hat to go with her funny blouse.
I’ve been busy with more bangle bracelets and just life. Enjoying the cooler weather and keeping up with Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. You can follow me on any of these sites, and I’d love to follow you back.
A couple of girlfriend pins went to The Creative Native Gallery this week along with the girlfriend ornaments. I see a mother and daughter in the one and a very funny character in the other one.
I’ve been busy with bracelets and ornaments. Claying away and keeping the oven busy baking load after load of colorful, funky, fun, things. While others are making witches and goblins, I’m thinking of line green, turquoise and fuchsia. Funny how life changes without you even realizing it. I was a halloween queen when I was younger, with children at home. Love everything about it, made things and patterns and decorated the house….all great fun.
Now we live far from town and not one trick or treater has ever come to our house in 15 years. Kind of sad I guess, but on the other hand, I can turn my focus to other things. Actually, it’s kind of freeing to be out of step sometimes.
Now back to my clay table and the non Halloween bracelets……
I’m thrilled…my Coco-nut girl is famous and she’s making people laugh. Thanks to Pat Carlson, who by the way makes the most adorable mini books you ever saw, Coco-nut girl is in the treasury, “Smile, it makes people wonder what you’re doing”.
Pat’s books actually open and you can read the stories. If you have a doll house or a miniature collection, you have to take a look at Pat’s shop, Skywind on Etsy. I mean really…….. look at this.
I’ve been working on the finishing touches to ornaments going to The Creative Native Gallery in Tampa and while they were in the oven I needed to make a birthday present for a friend. I have already given her dozens of girlfriend things, vases, ornaments, salt and pepper, etc…..so I decided to make some fun bangle bracelets. Here are three and there are two more in the oven.
Ornaments are finished, packed and ready to be delivered, the weather is beautiful, dog and cat are asleep on the porch and I have another hour before I have to make dinner. All is right with the world.
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