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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Stand Ups – Different Clay – Alice and the White Rabbit

Alice and the White Rabbit

 

I’ve always love fairytales and Alice in Wonderland, ( I wonder why) so I’m playing with some of the characters.

I tried some Sculpey original white clay for the rabbit. It takes the alcohol ink differently than the white Premo. I need to play with it more to see which I like better. There are pros and cons to both it seems.

I’ll let you know.

 

 

Hey Snow, An Apple a Day….Just Sayin’

 

 

 

I’m having a great time with these Stand Ups. Snow's Queen

Another Stand Up

Still playing with Stand Ups. 

Stand UP Girl 2

Stand Ups – Polymer Clay Characters

Polymer Clay figures

 

Okay, I’ve been working on an idea using white polymer clay and alcohol inks in both liquid and marker form. I wanted them to be free standing and collectable. Tallest one, the guy, is about 4 1/2″ tall. The small singing head is about 2 1/4″ high and has a removable, exchangeable saying bubble.,

 

The girl was the first one I made and I wanted the white face with black wash and color for the hair and clothes. Polymer clay girl

I think the black wash was a bit too much, so I made this guy and didn’t use as much black, I like it better. Looks more like ceramic or stone.

The dots in the background are from a new technique design block by Sculpey.

Polymer clay guy

Both of the larger figures are made with scrap clay, (yes I do have real scrap clay that looks like mud, some scraps are  just not Stroppel Cane material hehe) covered with white Premo. But even I will run out of muddy scraps at some point, so I made a smaller one made entirely from new white clay. Needless to say I’ve ordered more white clay.

Happy Birthday figureI thought how much fun it would be to be able to use these as little greetings. Happy Birthday, Mother’s Day, etc, etc. I even make it so that you can remove the saying and replace it with another. (no it’s not my birthday). How about crazy funny off the wall humor?

This one I decided to try a little bit of color on her face, and it’s okay, but I like the other finish better, for a signature “look”.

I’m still playing and wondering if it would make a good class. I think most of the people that took my Sun class at Fandango made some great faces and I know these faces would be just as successful.  I’m having a blast and my head is full of all kinds of new ideas with these stand alone, Stand Up, characters.

More later.

 

Old Polymer Clay Mistake, But I Love Her Anyway!

Inspired by Circus de Soleil

Inspired by Cirque du Soleil

I was asked this week about experiences I’ve had while sculpting. I scanned my studio and really looked at things that I haven’t paid much attention to in quite sometime. I found several things that I couldn’t give away to anyone, like most of the things I make then, because of some giant mistake. What I like to call “significant learning experiences”. :)

I’ve always been entranced by Cirque du Soleil and was trying to create my own character. She doesn’t stand straight up but lays side ways balancing on her tip toes and hands. She can face either way.

She has fabric pants and a green bobble earring on her forehead. A fabric hat with fabulous feathers sits on top of her head. She has glass eyes.

I was really happy with how she was coming along, then I placed her in the oven for the last time, I burnt her face. She was so brown, not a nice brown that I would have been happy with, but a burnt brown. I don’t remember exactly what I did, but there’s no mistaking that she stayed to long in the oven. Like staying to long at the fair…….

I think that might have been when I began to cover everything I did with aluminum foil. Watch my video about baking polymer clay to see what I mean.

 Inspired by Cirque du Soleil

Inspired by Cirque du Soleil

I decided that I had invested way too much time and energy in her and I wanted to save her. I painted her face gold and called it a day.  Not the greatest solution, but I’m happy I didn’t pitch her in the trash. I certainly learned a significant lesson that time.

So if you make a mistake, like we all do, remember, it’s significant. And don’t throw them all away, it’s fun to take a look later.

Maureen Carlson Featured on The Figurative Artbeat

Storybox #15

Storybox #15

I have another blog that is just for my pleasure and the entertainment of whoever wants to stop by. It’s called The Figurative Artbeat. It’s loaded with figurative artists in every medium.

I don’t usually post here every time I add another artist there. I do however let my polymer clay friends that visit me here know when I’ve posted about a polymer clay artist on The Figurative Artbeat.

I’m pleased to tell you that I’m featuring Maureen Carlson on The Figurative Artbeat. She has new work on her site and Storybox #15 (above) is probably my favorite.

Family and Friends

Family and Friends

After Maureen read her feature, she said it was funny that I should mention her book Family and Friends as it was about to go out of print. If you don’t have this book and would like really easy to follow instructions for making pc figures, you should make sure you pick up this book before it’s gone.