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.
More bracelets. The crazy one is made from scrap slices that I cut and didn’t use on other projects. Maybe I cut too many or maybe I decided that cane just didn’t work.
I can never bear to smash perfectly good slices of cane, so I just put them on a piece of deli paper in one of my clay drawers. (See this video for clay drawer ideas)
When I have enough, I make something crazy out of them. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you have an adventurous spirit, maybe you should try it. If nothing else it’s kind of a record of your canes.
Today I made more canes using the Skinner Blend method. Judith Skinner invented this way of blending polymer clay in 1996 and is working on a book with Sarajane Helm. I can’t wait for it to come out.
It is one of my favorite techniques. If you don’t know what a skinner blend is or have just never tried to make one, there are many sites out there with instructions. I think the best written tutorial is by Desiree from Desired Creations. She has some wonderful information on her site. You should spend some time there. I learned how to clean my pasta machine from Desiree’s site. Eugena from Eugena’s Creations also has clear picture instructions.
I’m working fast and furious on all kinds of bracelets for the galleries that show my work and to stock my Etsy Shop. thanks for stopping by today.
I had a favorite cane, like the coral leaf on the bracelet above. I made it a long time ago and have used it on many of my projects. It’s a simple cane using the Skinner Blend method for both the coral and the silver of turquoise in the middle. I wasn’t sure if I would remember what colors I used, but it was simple. Cadmium Red and white and turquoise and white. They make quick and easy, beautiful, tropical blends.
Color Chart
This time I’ll make a record of the color. For the last year or so, I’ve been making color records of my blends. I mix my color and then run a piece through the pasta machine at about #6 (very thin). I cut a small circle from that and heat set it with my heat gun, then glue it in my color book. Then I make Skinner blends from it and do the same thing with bits of the blend. I like being able to write on the pages and make notes if I want to.
Color Rings
I’ve tried lots of other ways to record my color experiments like the color rings above. On the one on the right, I carved the recipe on the back. The one on the left, (I must have been out of my mind) I made these little circles with the recipe typed on the computer. I had to set them up on the computer, print them, cut them out and then glue them to the samples. After a couple of years, some of the recipes fell off!!!
Today, I like my book the best.
There’s lots of information out there about color charts, the most recent is by Maggie Maggio on her blog Smashing Color. The Article Documenting Your Color Mixes is very informative.
Oh, by the way, the bracelet is going to my Etsy shop.
This is my second polymer clay with pen and ink. The first was the other day in this post, Can You Guess? This one I combined some of my Zentangle canes with my drawings.
I finished it last night and wore it all day today. My husband and I went to visit our son in Orlando, so it was in and out of the car, out to lunch and etc. By the end of the day all was well except with the lips of one of the side girls, they had smeared. I should have taken a picture of her before I sanded her mouth off.
That sounds pretty funny actually, looks pretty funny too.
Correction
I sanded way the ink and I’ll start again. I think I simply didn’t heat it enough with my heat gun. I think the answer is to pop it back into the oven for a few minutes. That way I will be sure that everything gets heated. Then I’m going to test wear it again.
I have some other things I want to try too. Some layering techniques. I’ll post more later.
I was decorating my tree today, I know I’m late getting started, but I came across this ornament I made and had to share it with you. I didn’t date this one, I always date things, so I’m unhappy that I didn’t.
Years ago I was in a cane swap and I was very new to polymer clay. I can’t even remember what canes I sent, I’m sure they weren’t anywhere near as cool as the ones I recieved. But I do remember is was with Nora Jean Gatine’s group. Thanks Nora Jean, your animal skin canes that came with the rest were great.
I received some other wonderful, inspirational canes, one of which was the guy above. It was just the face, no hair no hat. but the teeth and the beard just sent me over the edge. I thought, wow, I can’t believe you can do that with clay. I think the artist’s name is Mel, I can’t remember which Mel, I know there are a couple in Nora Jean’s Yahoo group CITY-o-Clay. So if you’re out there Mel, and recognized this guy, please leave a comment. If it wasn’t Mel that made this crazy cane, well, I’d love to hear from you to set the record straight.
I know he looks like a “bad” santa, but I just think of him as needing some teeth work. Each time I take him out to hang him up, I laugh and remember the fun I had because of this group. Thanks to all of you from back then. The back side says, “HO HO HO”
I made this face cane this morning, she’s a girl of color. A step closer to adding color recipes for different nationalities. I have tried in the past and failed. This time I’m closer. I would love some feedback from ya’ll. Especially if you are a woman of color. Just the first of many.
Next week, I will be working on another short video to add as a bonus to my face cane tutorial. I will be showing how to add a neck and tips on adding hair.
If you have already purchased the tutorial, don’t worry, I’ll send you the link.
This face is the first slice I took from the cane I made during the filming of the Profile Face Cane Tutorial. I finished her hair and hat today because I have her sold. I’m doing some faces for a shop in New Orleans. How fun is that?
If you think you might want to make some face canes, look up to the left and the link will take you to my Etsy Shop where you can order your tutorial now and watch it before the day is over. It really is kinda fun.
Another Red Head
I also finished this redhead for the New Orleans Shop. She was a slice from the profile face cane I made months ago. Remember that post?
I still have the other two girls waiting too. It may take me awhile, but I usually finish things I start. Sometimes, maybe, depends. Oh shoot, I have tons of things sitting around waiting to be finished. But they will have to wait. I have an order to fill!!!
Getting ready to take tons of artwork to a gallery. Been working to get my stock up. I’m taking bracelets and bottle stoppers, perfume pens and face pins. Salt and pepper shakers, letter openers, and card cases. I am trying some different things, I show you when I get them finished.
I also made smaller tags for my items. 1″ x 1 1/2″, half the size of the ones I use for direct sales to customers. They really look better on most items for galleries. I can’t use my information anyway, so I don’t need as much room.
Still having fun after all these years! I’m still amazed that there are so many people that don’t know anything about polymer clay. Have never even heard of it. But I guess there are hundreds of things I know nothing about. Okay thousands……Millions? But polymer clay is such apart of my life and has been for the last 15 years, with it the main focus for at least 10, that it’s hard to imagine that there are people that haven’t heard of it.
Even when I wasn’t “into” pc, I had tried my hand at it. In the ’80 I made fruit ring candle holders. I know I have them somewhere and I’m going to look for them and see if they are anything like I remember them.
Anyway, I’m always so happy to hear from people who have found my blog and say they want to find out more about pc. The more interest we have the more related product there will be. Besides, it’s such a satisfying art form. Anyone can do just about anything with pc. So if you’re new to pc, go get yourself a few ounces and just play. Find a class near you or online. Do a search online and you’ll find hundreds of free tutorials for you to try.
The bracelet in the photo is a Skinner blend, roller into a plug flatten out and cut into two equal parts and formed into a cane. I cut this cane into four equal part to form the final cane (shown below). I covered a bracelet with a thin layer of black clay, then cut and place slices of the finished cane on top of the black, covering the whole bracelet.
Skinner Blend Cane
Okay, cheerleading over. Go forth and have fun! Christmas is coming, gifts to be made. But if you want, I have bracelets for sale on my Etsy site. Just in case you run out of time…….
I’ve been really busy making bracelets and pins like this one. enjoying myself. My mother has been here this week and I’ve enjoyed spending time with her. Worked on more black and white bracelets and pins. Just having a good time. The weather has turned and it’s cool today. What a relief.
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