Cane Builder Monthly Publication

Every day I'm coming up with new cane patterns and canework innovations. Take an exclusive look at all the innovations coming out of Polymer Clay Workshop before they can be found anywhere else! $5 per month through Paypal. Cancel any time.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Polymer Clay Grapevine Heart Wreath Valentine Tutorial


I made wreaths like this with my second grade students last week!  They did a terrific job!  Here are some of them.


Also check out the butterfly cane post and the leaf cane post.  These are weekly tutorials from my facebook page, Polymer Clay Workshop.  The gingham ribbon tutorial is available from my etsy shop.  Can you believe clay could look so much like ribbon?


Friday, January 25, 2013

Free Leaf Cane Tutorial in Polymer clay

If you like this post, please subscribe to the Cane Builder Ezine!
If you have trouble reducing this cane you can watch as I reduce a fall leaf cane in this video!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Slice and Bake polymer clay Valentine cane tutorial

 When I was little, I had a huge sticker collection!  Now, slice and bake canes are my new favorite!  They can be made in multiple sizes and custom colors.  


















Heart Canes can be built out of any square cane! These canes were made from the "fabric" tutorial in my etsy shop.

Please like my facebook page, PolymerClayWorkshop to see weekly tutorial pages like the one below!



Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Printable Valentine coloring pages for Scrapbook paper cards


Do you ever see a sheet of beautiful scrapbook paper that you had to have, but you just didn’t know how to use it?  Or maybe you thought you had a plan, but it didn’t quite seem to work out that way?  

These interchangeable paper-puzzle cards are the perfect way to use any extra sheets you have lying around.  Or treat your self to a trip to the paper store and know that you can make lots of beautiful cards for a dollar or two without wasting hardly any paper.

I can’t tell you how peaceful and therapeutic it is for me to arrange all these gorgeous papers!

Step 1: Print out the pattern of the whole card on card stock.  This can be colored or   
             painted as is.  These are great for kids to use as coloring projects.

Step 2: Print out multiple copies of the design on different papers of you choice. For  
             each design, 3 colors will create 3 cards.  5 colors will result in 5 cards etc. 

Step 3: Cut out all the pieces with scissors, an exacto knife, or any cutting tool of your    
             choice.  Do your best to slice right through the black line.

Step 4:  Mix and match all the pieces and put them together again on the original card.  
             I find that glue stick  works well.

Tips:
Use contrasting colors and textures (light and dark, smooth and textured)
If you don’t want the black lines to show, use the reverse pattern and print it on the back of the paper. This can get confusing!  Think it though ahead of time.  I often mess this up!
If your paper won’t go though the printer, just print out the pattern on plain paper and glue or spray mount it to the back.  Again, make sure you print the reverse patten!!!
Sometimes you DO want dark black lines to bring out the pattern, or make it look like stained glass.  In this case, you can re-enforce the lines with permanent marker or 3D paint!









Better than stickers for scrapbook embellishments!  Check out this post about how to build slice-and- bake valentine canes. (or buy pre-made from my etsy shop)


Thursday, January 17, 2013

Faceted checkered pattern beads out of polymer clay






Or stack them three by three using nine sections.







Slice off all eight corners.


You will have a lot left over, so it's best to use colors that will mix up well to use again.  Use warm colors, cool colors, or primaries together.  Use complimentary colors only if you need to mix up a ball of brown!



I post single-page tutorials like the one below on my face book page all the time.  Please like Polymer Clay Workshop to keep up to date on the latest clay innovations.