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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Member IPCA

Member IPCA

A Bracelet to Match – Polymer Clay

I made this bracelet and another, to match the necklace in yesterday’s post. I wore them both last night and got quite a few compliments. but the necklace was really the star. It hangs in this wonderful large cluster and you can’t miss it.

I made the canes, baked, put together the necklace and two bracelets in one day and baked them and wore them that night. I LOVE that about polymer clay. The instant gratification.

You know the famous line, “oh this old thing” when someone compliments someone about what they are wearing? Well that’s what I feel like when they ask, “where did you get that?” and I say “Oh this, I made it today”

Play with clay, that’s what I say!

Black and White Cuff Bracelet

Black and White Cuff Bracelet

Black and White Cuff Bracelet

I’ve produced quite a few things in black and white in the last week or so. Here’s another bracelet going to my Etsy Shop. Black and white is very popular and continues to be a good seller with or without one of my faces.

The little black dress, black slacks, suits and t-shirt will always be a go to staple in our closets. I like working with graphic polymer clay elements and creating these pieces that are bold and eye catching. I’ve used both canes and extruded snakes and dots for this bracelet.

I want to thank everyone on my email list for all the super responses to this last issue. Thanks you guys!!!

Another Treasury and It’s My Favorite Subject – Smiling!

Etsy Treasury - by Skywind

Etsy Treasury - by Skywind

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.

Skywind - Thumbelina

Skywind - Thumbelina

Girlfriends Galore Meeting in My Etsy Shop

Girlfriends Galore 5 - Polymer Clay CuffI’m beginning to upload the girlfriend bracelets I made last week to my Etsy Shop. I’m going to have to take the time to make more face canes. I’m still working on the tutorial for this full face, but keep getting distracted. Lately, distracted in a good way, selling, doing demos, meeting other clayers, teaching, and enjoying the summer. So no complaints from this girl.

This is just an aside…. one of my friends, contacts actually, on facebook wrote something that made me laugh. I don’t remember who it was, but I know she had to have been very young. She was ranting about “all these woman that are over 40, sometimes even in the 60s calling themselves “girl”. Why don’t they just grow up and realize that they will never be “girls” again.”

I will always be that “girl” who is just waiting for the next cool thing to jump into my life. I wish I could be around when that young girl crosses over into the land of the “older girl” and she finds that she doesn’t grow up either.

Girlfriends Galore 5 - Polymer Clay CuffYou have to venture over to my Etsy Shop to see all sides of this bracelet. Each one of the Girlfriends Galore bracelets have 7 individual faces, I’m thinking a lucky number.

Thanks for stopping in today.

Lime Green Cuff Bracelet

Lime Green Cuff Bracelet

Lime Green Cuff Bracelet

While mixing colors and making canes for my canister, I decided to make this fun bracelet for sale. Added it to my Etsy shop.

Girlfriends For Life – Cuff Bracelet

Girlfriends 2

Girlfriends 2

Another bracelet for sale in my Etsy Shop. I’m in the faces/girlfriend makin’ mood. I have a couple more already baked and ready for pictures. That’s the part that is a chore for me. I can do it, it’s not  hard, it’s just that I’d rather be making something else. Like the rest of my leaf necklace.

Oh well, just have to do it. I still haven’t taken pictures of the individual face beads to put in the shop. I sold a couple to my neighbor from across the lake, thanks Karen…..and I think some others are going this week, so I might not have to post them on Etsy, we’ll see.

In the meantime, take a look at this girlfriend bracelet, it really could be the perfect gift for a special friend. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Girlfriends – Polymer Clay Bracelet

 Girlfriends Forever

Girlfriends Forever

I was delighted that the bracelet I put up yesterday sold last night, it’s going to live in Cyprus. I love it when my work goes somewhere else in the world, it’s exciting. I have several more in the works, and I’m still trying to finish the Tropical Leaves necklace.

The Other Girlfriend

The Other Girlfriend

I’ve posted this girlfriend bracelet in my Etsy Store. One is a blonde and one is a redheaded woman. So much fun to make, to decide what they’re going to wear and what kind of hats to put on their heads.

Okay off to work on the necklace.

What to Make Using Canes From Tropical Leaves Tutorial

Tropical Leaves Cane Bracelet

Tropical Leaves Cane Bracelet

I’ve been using the canes from my Tropical Leaves Tutorial to make a couple of bracelets. This is first one over a brass blank. I was getting my blanks from the Clay Store, but alas…they are no longer in business.  But I’ve found another site that has the blanks for a reasonable price. Beadwork-Supplies. I haven’t ordered from them yet, I have quite a supply, so let me know if you do and how you like them.

I’ve used most of the canes I made in my tutorial plus other small canes with pops of color. The Tutorial gives you the basic leaves, all you have to do is add other accents or change the color palette for the leaves. I’m making beads for the other bracelet and I hope to get it finished tomorrow.

Tropical Leaves Cane Bracelet - the other side

Tropical Leaves Cane Bracelet - the other side

I wanted to hurry up and get these pictures up because I have to clean up my studio for a clay day with my friend Sherry. We’re going to take apart her pasta Machine and give it a good cleaning and get rid of those pesky covers. Find out how to take your apart on Desiree’s How To site. She has lots of wonderful things there. You’ll learn a lot.

New Polymer Clay Bracelet Listed In My Etsy Shop

I am so happy to have figured out my new phone that is now my hotspot for connecting to the internet. Actually it wasn’t the phone that I had to figure out, it was the adapter for my Mac. Three weeks of round and round until I found the right tech guy that knew that all I had to do was change one little setting. Man, sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it all. Then right away, I decide it is. So Yea, back to normal maybe.

Here is the newest listing to my Etsy Shop.

Sonia - polymer clay bracelet - Alice Stroppel

Sonia

I’ve been making some different flowers and leaves lately and you can see some of them on this bracelet.

Sonia side2 - polymer clay bracelet - Alice Stroppel

Sonia side 2

This Bracelet and the ones from the last month or so are more dimensional than my other bracelets. I kind of like them chunkier. They are interesting to wear.

Sonia side1 - polymer clay bracelet - Alice Stroppel

Sonia side1

I like the soft colors for a change too. I like how Barbara McGuire creates that soft look. However I don’t use as much translucent as she does. I used her newest stamp sheet on this, it looks so good and adds just the right touch. Of course, this is the face cane I made in Barbara’s class.

Polymer Clay Face Bracelet Listed in My Etsy Shop

I’m trying to take pictures and post to my Etsy Shop all the bracelets that I have finished and ready to send off to live with someone who will love them. It’s not my favorite part, I’d rather be making more canes and finished pieces.

But I’m not really complaining, if it’s the worse thing I have to do, well…..life is pretty good.

This is one of my face canes that I reduced and while I was reducing I made the face longer and thinner. So that a face cane that I have used before to create a rounded face, is now transformed into a totally different look. Fun!