Hard to believe another year has passed and we are coming to the close of our first Polymer Clay Adventure virtual retreat and about to start another for the year 2016. Its been so much fun and we have learned a ton! We hope you have too! There is still time to join in the fun, you can check it out at http://www.polymerclayadventure.com
Today I share how to use the new swirly acrylic rods and give some ideas of what you can do with them. I also share one of our new fun mold conversation heart molds. I am in love with these new tools and I have only scratched the surface of what you can do with them.
You can find these fun tools in our shop. http://polymerclaytv.indiemade.com
We also wanted to wish everyone a very happy, healthy new year filled with all your dreams coming true!
Today Kira talks about the kit and mixes up a color recipe from the color card included.
First thoughts:
There should be black in the kit! The color chart needs black to create half of the colors, so if you want to mix any of the shades, you have to buy black separately.
The clay has a nice consistency- softer and easier to mix than classic Fimo, so that was great.
The color chips on the chart are not really exactly what you are going to get. Unfortunately, ink and clay are not a direct match. But you still can mix loads of colors precisely by following the directions, you may just want to make up your own clay color chips just to see what you are actually going to get.
Watch this quick video and learn how to create bangle bracelets- this technique is so easy you can use it to make lots of bangles in no time! Perfect for craft shows, boutiques and gift giving, or to create a stack of bangles to take you back to the 80's. Enjoy! All the tools and supplies are available at the shop at PolymerClayTV, just click the link. www.createalong.com
We really enjoy using these little shrines to pull together an idea, and to support the polymer clay pieces that sometimes you just want to glue onto something!
The thin material is lightweight but sturdy and provides a surface you can paint, silkscreen, or cover with clay. Several of our design team members have also made some very nice winter shrines using this kit, so be sure to check out the blog for pictures of those.
I even included a candy-cane tutorial so you can make realistic looking "candy" in any shape and size!
I love angels and goddesses and I knew I could make a fun polymer clay one by combining lots of different bits and parts of molds and stamps. You can find most of the molds in our shop. The stamp is a Lisa Pavelka stamp and I also used a few Polyform molds too. Create along with me on Polymer Clay TV. www.createalong.com shop
Mason Jar gifts are everywhere- you can even buy books that feature recipes you can put in a mason jar (peanut butter cookies, anyone?) So here is a beautiful way to give the gift in a jar that they will keep! Use your cutters and stamps to create decorative patterns and they will reuse the jar over and over. www.createalong.com
To make this exact project you will need the three tools shown, plus a mason jar. I used one of the smaller ones that has a patter on the jar, but you can use any size and get similar results, just add or subtract flowers to the side of the jar to get the number you need!
Making this snowflake shrine was so much fun! It took me out of my comfort zone. I don't usually do holiday decor but I have to admit I did enjoy creating the shrine. Come create along with me on Polymer Clay TV. www.createalong.com
Learn how quick and easy it can be to mold your clay and add decorative accents to create a small bunting you can use to decorate or accent your home, altar, front door, and more. It's even a great technique to make pendant jewelry as an office or hostess gift! Check out the online art retreat at www.AdventureArtRetreats.com. www.createalong.com
Today on Polymer Clay TV Ilysa shares her experience with Swellegant dyes and metal coatings from Christi Friesen's line of products. Ilysa tests the products to see how they work with polymer clay.
What a beautiful and easy-to-make gift for yourself or someone you love- create these earrings in under 10 minutes, to match any outfit. They are lightweight and pretty, and require very little "work" and supplies. Enjoy! www.createalong.com
I absolutely love this time of year especially here in northern Florida where we get a break from the 90+ degree temps. I live in the country surrounded by trees so that was definitely the inspiration for this pendant tutorial. I wanted to find a way to combine a bunch of leaf molds to make something whimsical and fun. Create a long with me while I show you how I made this fun polymer clay leaf pendant.
Check out these fun ideas for Autumn and Halloween from the design team!
Let's start with a really interesting interpretation of the Fleur Fancy mold. Chris's mind really took this one for a spin! Remember we've talked in the past about seeing and using your molds in new ways and this little owl really shows how you can do that.
When I was young, my mom did a Holiday tree that we left up all year long. She would decorate it for every little holiday and birthday, graduations and events, you name it. Pat's SpookyTree reminds me of that. She used the Happy Fall plunger cutters to make easy cute ornaments.
For those of you who are more interested in the darkly romantic Gothic side of the season, check out Klavdija's jewelry, created with Wing & flower molds and Fleur Fancy.
And for some more Halloween fun, here's another use of the Shrine kit and cutters to create decor and jewelry from Suzanne!
There are classes in soldering, torch fired enameling, resin, metal clay, quilling, sutache, wire work, molding, mixed media (painting, stamping, etc) shrink plastic, and epoxy and polymer clay. We have tried to keep it down to materials you can easily get and nothing requires a kiln- so maybe you might need to pick up some things you don't have if you want to try something new, but the most "exotic" thing you might need is a butane torch.
Today's tutorial features some tools that you can translate to lots of different projects! Even if sugar skulls aren't your thing, there's something to learn. I featured a domed bead with a silkscreen done in a non-traditional method using pigment inks, molds and cutters. Enjoy!
Supplies:
Happy Fall Silkscreen
Sugar Skull Mold
Small Skulls from the Happy Fall Kit (everything included- mold, silkscreen, and other fun stuff!) www.createalong.com
We are so excited to announce that the 2016 Polymer Clay Adventure virtual retreat is being presented this year by the folks at Polyform the makers of Sculpey. Its going to be an amazing year full of fun class projects, events and happenings. We hope you will join us this year on the adventure
Purchase your entry into the retreat within the first 3 days and get entered to win one of our super fabulous goody bags. We have an amazing line up of teacher and classes. You can check them out on the video below.
First I wanted to share with you a fun project I made this week, it was quick, easy and took just a little time but boy was it fun to make! Come create along with me and see how fun it is to make for yourself. This piece is made entirely out of polymer clay.
BIG Announcement!!!!!!!!!
We have just officially announced that we have partnered with Polyform the makers of Sculpey to bring you Polymer Clay Adventure virtual retreat 2016. This is super exciting for us, we are big fans of the products and have been for years. We look forward to working with them to bring you an amazing adventure. So stay tuned for more on that. We have also announced the teachers for the 2016 PCA and you can watch this video to see their wonderful projects. When you come on the adventure with us you get every single class we offer as well as live events, swaps, prizes and giveaways and you join a community of new friends and kindred spirits. We hope you will join us in 2016. Tickets to the adventure go on sale this Sunday October 11th. Make sure to sign up to be notified because the early bird catches the worm. You can sign up at this link. http://www.adventureartretreats.com
Check out these fabulous ideas featuring molds from our shop, from our Design Team members! www.createalong.com
Deepa created a beautiful jewelry set- her specialty is fabulous, colorful, textural jewelry design.
She used the Fluer Fancy mold to create the raised designs in the center.
Cory used the Fancy scroll mold and Large Wing mold to make this gorgeous cuff bracelet. Look at the beautiful antiquing.
It is hard to believe 2015 is coming to an end it seems like yesterday when we launched the very first Polymer Clay Adventure Virtual Retreat and here we are introducing our second year. It has been an amazing year full of creative energy and fabulous classes and meeting wonderful new friends. Hope you will join us this year too. The early bird catches the worm so get on the list so you don't miss out.
Today we've got an awesome fun holiday tutorial to get you in the mood for autumn. Make cool polymer clay embellishments for a Halloween decorative shrine you can put anywhere.
On your mantle, on your table, in a cool holiday vignette you can show off to your Pinterest followers... you get the idea!
I have entered this challenge before, and somehow I keep making it a goal but I don't often achieve it! So this month I decided I really needed to, and I got really inspired by the muted color palette and organic shapes in the artwork.
Here is the palette I made from the art:
I foiled my clay with Jones Tones and Lisa Pavelka foils- using Premo Bronze as the base clay color so that it would be a nice dark "antique" brown where ever it peeks through the foil.
Then I raided my *extensive* bead stash for some natural and glass beads that would go with my theme, and finally used Art Wire in Gunmetal (which is actually an antique gold color) to create a bead linked chain. www.createalong.com
Pat created this using the Large wing mold, butterfly 2 part mold, and mini flower plunger cutters. All you need is a base and Pat frequently uses little pieces of wood for that. Then just make your polymer clay pieces and glue them on using a strong glue such as Weldbond.
Cory created this bead set using the Border Cutters and Round floral stamps. Remember to always make the backs of your pieces look nice, especially jewelry! To make these beads you just need to create a basic shape, then cut strips using the border cutters and lay them on in different colors. So easy and fun!
This is such a great project as the gift-giving season is upon us! All you need is something with a slight dome shape, and a couple of simple tools to make something really nice.
What we used: www.createalong.com
Isn't this beautiful! We just love Deepa's sense of color. She used our Round Floral Stamp set and Fancy Scallop border cutters to create this design. www.createalong.com
There are so many ways to use your polymer clay tools. Thanks Deepa!
I love adding inspiring words and quotes to my artwork but its hard to get stamped letters to be straight. I have the perfect tip to help with that so you can have words that are straight and not all over the place. www.createalong.com
In today's free polymer clay tutorial, Kira shows you how super easy it is to use polymer clay molds and little letter stamps to make magnets to stick up your important things on the fridge or a magnetic board!
Klavdija is one of our talented Designers and this project is so pretty! Look at what you can do with - round stamps: with darker shade of red stamp pad and embossing powder
- bunting with white and red Kato Liquid
- flower punchinella with red shades stamp pads www.createalong.com
