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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I sold the last of my girlfriend galore bracelets at Fandango and needed to make more and here’s the new gaggle of girlfriends.
I was honored to be asked to donated something to the International Polymer Clay Association retreat this year and I’m sending one of these cuffs. I only wish I could go this year. I would love to meet all the other wonderful clayers that are going to be there. Maybe next time.
I’ve also made the largest GG bracelet yet, showing in the photo above are all sides of this 1 1/2″ wide cuff. It really looks great on a large girl like me. This bracelet is listed in myEtsy Shop.
It’s hard for me to decide which size I like the best, I like them all I guess. Someday I have to save one for myself. Maybe it’s one of these because I’ve used the last of at least one of my face canes and so these really represent my faces over the last few years. Kind of a road map of my journey.
The next group of bracelets will be welcoming some new faces because I’ll be making more this month. I can’t wait to see the new personalities that show up. That’s really how I feel about my face canes, each one kind of decides who they are going to be and sometimes I don’t have alot of say in the matter. Kind of fun.
I’m doing two trades with two incredible mosaic artists, Laura Pattison and Doreen Bell. It all started when I saw the rainbow mosaic above that Laura made for a trade with Doreen. Polymer Clay canes are similar and have long been compared to glass millefiori canes so it’s no wonder that I was drawn to their work. Laura is living in Spain and Doreen is here in the U.S..
I loved the rainbow, it was so colorful and fun, I asked Laura if we could trade too or if I could buy one. Happily she agreed to a trade, she wanted my funny girl business card holder below. I’ll post a picture of my rainbow when it gets here.
Laura does some really wonderful work, you should see the cat she’s making for her parents, plus check out all the other cool things on her flickr pages.
 Funny Girl Then Doreen emailed me about buying some of my girls for a project she has in mind. I had already seen her work and loved all her crazy women and off the wall pieces, so I was delighted when she said she’d trade.
I sent her the 7 girls below to use in her work and I am so excited to see how she’ll do that. How interesting to be combining the two mediums. It certainly has my head spinning with possibilities.
I’ve seen a few pictures of my prize from Doreen, but will wait until it’s completely finished before I post her here. You can check out Doreen’s so cool work on her flickr site
Thank you Laura and Doreen for making these trades a highlight for me. You are making me laugh and giggle and that’s the most favorite thing I do. But most of all I’ll own some wonderful pieces of artwork from two incredible artist and make some terrific new friends. What a great experience.
 Rocker Girls 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.
 Business Card Holders 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.
Every one of the last group of “Girlfriend Galore” bracelets went to new homes last week. Two traveled all the way around the world to Cyprus and one went to a friend. I was thrilled.
 Girlfriends Galore Plus another single girl sold to a high school friend. How nice is that. When friends buy things from you when you least expect it, it’s a good feeling.
So these are several new bracelets I’ve made for the first friend who wants more. As soon as she takes what she wants, I’ll post the rest in my Etsy shop.
Still working on bracelets as I work on other ideas. this one is now for sale in my Etsy shop.
 Girlfriends Galore 3 Another bunch of girls going to my Etsy Shop. These bracelets have 7 girls in 7 different hats arranged around the length of the bracelet. So colorful and fun to wear. No problem matching whatever you decide to wear that day.
 Colorful and Fun to Wear Still have to find time to finish the idea I have for my tropical leaves necklace and am working on profile face canes for a workshop I have coming up. I also have to plan a three week class for beginners.
I’ll be demo-ing polymer clay at Highlands Art League on the 2nd Friday Gallery Walk in downtown Sebring. Sept. 10, 2010. It’s always a fun evening and I’ll be demo-ing in the visual arts center down by Lake Jackson. It’s a building I worked on as Director for the Art League so we could have classes there. It’s a wonderful space, if you’re anywhere near Sebring, come on over.
 Girlfriends Galore 2
Girlfriends Galore 2
I’ve uploaded another girlfriend bracelet to my Etsy Shop. I’m trying very hard to get ahead of myself. I’m going to be teaching more this year and have to create more stock now.
 Girlfriends Galore 2 I’m also trying a new background. I spend alot of time cutting out my items in Photoshop and am trying to find a way to cut down on that. I know the other looks better, but does this work too? Opinions, be honest.
 Face Beads I made 9 face beads, had so much fun, and now I’m selling them one at a time. I’m showing them here before I list them on Etsy. I started taking pictures of each of them, front and back, cutting each one out, putting them in separate files and decided that it was way more work than I wanted to do and not as much fun as making them. I rather spend my time making them…………
So here they are for a day or two before I start listing them on Etsy. They’re $8.00 each, about 1″ around and slightly flattened from front to back, not completely round.
If you think you might be interested in purchasing one or two or all, email me. alice@polymerclayetc.com. I’ll send you more information and pictures. If you have a paypal account, it’s easy.
Thanks to all those who shot me a quick email or left a comment on one of my post here on the blog. I heard from a lot of you after my newsletter, it nice to know you read it.
And thanks to all of you who have ordered from my Etsy shop, it’s greatly appreciated.
 Three Girlfriends Another pin listed in my Etsy Shop. I’ve been working on small pins, beads etc. I’m back to having that fun I’m always talking about.
On Saturday I’m going to visit the Florida Gulfcoast Polymer Clay Group in Palmetto. It’s only about an hour or so away and I met Sydney Carter and some of the other women at Orlando Clay Fandango this year. They are introducing about 20 kids to polymer clay and I’m going over to see if I can help and enjoy this group.
I’ll let you know how it goes….taking my camera as always.
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