How Did You Make That?

Today's how did you make that post will be about how I made the candy cane ornaments as shown below. These are great ornaments for a Christmas tree as unlike real candy canes they will never melt nor rot. Also good for those who don't like the strong sent of mint.

How Did I Make it?

1) Pick out one color of clay as well as transparent clay. I used the traditional green and red colors but any colors can be used. Condition clay well

2) Roll out colored clay into a long skinny log. Cut to make several skinny logs.

3) Repeat step # 2 with transparent clay. Logs should be same length as colored logs

4) Twist one transparent log with colored log, bend top of twisted log into hook like shape.

5) Bake and enjoy!

Final Words:

Twisting two colors together is a fun technique for a variety of projects. One can make twisted log beads, or even a twisted border on a photo frame. You can also twist more then two colors together for a different look. Braiding logs is a lot of fun too.

You can find more pictures of my own candy canes by clicking here: Candy Cane Ornaments

My favorite Goals and teaching

Goals Game:

Well it's been a week since I started the goal game so it's time to post the winners. If you want more information on this click here: Goal Game.

My Favorite goal:
"Happy smile no matter what situation" by yeevon

I like the positive, upbeat attitude of this goal. It's something that can be applied to everything. :)

Yeevon does some beautiful illustrations, many of them have a whimsical look. She includes her illustrations as prints or on cards. One of my favorites from her shop is the image below: "Trick or Treat Print."



You can find yeevon on her blog by clicking : blog or etsy shop here: Whimsy Whimsical.
I wish everyone lots of luck on their goals. ;)

Teaching:

Starting this Saturday I am going to be teaching polymer clay classes at the Dexter, Michigan Art Center. The art center had it's grand opening in October of this year so the art center isn't even a month old yet. There will be other artists teaching classes as well from pottery clay to mosaic art. I am really excited about this, and will be teaching almost every Saturday 1-3pm.

If you want more information on the Art Center feel free to go to: www.dexterartscenter.org.
If you live in the area they are looking for more artists, as well as students. :)

BTB: Which Polymer Clay Type is Better?

I have decided to start up a new series of posts called "BTB" or rather Back To Basics. These posts are not just for beginners, they may have valid information for more experienced polymer clay workers too! ;)

To Discuss:

Today I thought I would touch upon a very important question that most ask when researching polymer clay. This question would be "Which Polymer Clay Type is Better?" I know this was a question I had, that required a lot of independent experimenting by myself. I do believe that experimentation is a good thing; however, saving money on not buying all the types of polymer clay is also good. :P

Types of Polymer Clay:

There are many types of polymer clay and it is important to know their names, before you just grab the first one on the shelf at the local craft store. ;) Below are pictures, as well as titles to different types of polymer clay.



(The above picture is not mine! It belongs to "Garies Shop," a link is found under the tests section :) )

From the picture above you can see several types of polymer clay, most of these are the more popular brand names that you will see in common craft stores. The exceptions being Cernit and Kato, I have only seen them in Hobby Lobby once.

Under some of the brand names there are several different sub-categories, for lack of a better word, of polymer clay. Below I have organized them under the brand name.

Fimo:

1) Fimo Classic: This was the first of polymer clays to hit the market
2) Fimo Soft: Softer then classic, formula changed.
3) Fimo Effects: These usually include glitter, and metallic effects built into the clay.

4) Fimo Puppin: This was made specifically with doll makers in mind. It comes in several "skin colors."

5) Fimo Decorating Gel: This is actually Fimo liquid clay. It is transparent, and good for transferring as well.


Sculpey:

1) Studio by Sculpey: Has lots of colors for decorating.
2) Sculpey III: Very soft, made for sculpting
3) Premo Sculpey: Lots of colors and different effects to be made.
4) Sculpey Liquid Clay: Transparent in nature, can be used like Fimo's liquid clay.


The Tests:

Now that you know most of the polymer clay types out there, I can now show you some tests that have been performed by fellow polymer clay workers. :) These are all unscientific tests, meaning not done in a lab; however, very informative! Below I will summarize, as well as link, to different tests that have been done.

1) The first set of tests are from "Garies Shop." They did a test on flexibility, and strength by stetching the clay with a weighted scale. They also bent each cured peice of clay 140 times, unless it broke before 140 times were up.

Garies Shop Results:

"After the above tests, the contender is Cernit Polymer Clay, next Kato Polymer Clay, then Sculpey Studio, Fimo Classic, Sculpey Firm, Fimo Soft, Sculpey Premo, Super Sculpey and Sculpey III."

Here is the website to their test:
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/shop/tension_test.htm


2) The next test I found on gigagraphica's site. There tests were on conditioning time, needle poke, finger pressure, and the noodle. The noodle test consisted of making each type of polymer clay into long "noodles" then curing them. After curing each noodle was then bent, and stretched to determine flexibility. ;)



The picture above is from gigagraphica's site, and shows the noodle test. :)


Gigagraphica's Results:

"Cernit was the most flexible after curing. It bent and stretched quite a bit without breaking.
Durability rating: very good

Fimo Soft was extremely durable after curing. It was flexible, not breaking when bent, but finally breaking when stretched. Durability rating: excellent

Premo was durable and flexible after curing. It flexed without breaking, and stretched a bit
before breaking. Durability rating: good to very good

Sculpey III was not durable after curing. It was brittle, crumbly, and stiff, and took very little bending to break. Did not stretch at all without breaking. Durability rating: poor

Super Sculpey was somewhat flexible but broke and crumbled when tested with mild abuse. Durability rating: fair to poor"


Test Link: http://www.gigagraphica.com/poly/polyclay.html


My Final Words:

I have to say that these tests are amazing to look at and I wish I had thought to look online to find them before I started experimenting. Really each test is to be taken with a grain of salt; however, I find them to have lots of information. These tests can help one to make a final decision, but that decision in the end is still yours to make. :)

Technique Time: Cane Work Part 2

Boy did time fly by this weekend! Anyhow, I am still doing some cane work techniques, this next one is also by using a bullseye cane. Last time I showed you how to make a very simple bullseye cane, this time I will be doing a more complex pattern. Also I will show how one can use this pattern to make a pillow bead. ;)


For those of you who did not read Cane Work Part 1 I highly recommend it before going forward. :) You can find my post by clicking here.


How Can I Make patterns With Cane Work?

1) You will first need to make a basic bullseye cane as I described in "Cane Work Part 1." Use any colors you wish, be creative. :)

I shall in fact be using the exact bullseye cane I used in that post for this one as shown below.




2) Next you will need to cut this cane into four sections.







3) Now you need to reduce each section by pinching the middle until it looks a little like a hourglass. Roll each side of the hourglass with your palm against your work space until each side is even.




Remember to do all four sections, so we end up with four skinnier versions of the original cane.





4) Cutting, yupe that's right you will need to cut those four skinner versions in half. Making a total of eight small canes.

You will need to stack the eight small canes on top of each other, so they are somewhat round and look like the picture below.




5)Roll this newly formed cane until all seams blend together with your palm.



6) Again reduce this newly formed cane (please see step #3). You may need to cut off the ends, and as you can see you have a unique pattern!




How To Make Pillow Bead?

1) Using the cane you just made above pinch the sides in carefully with your thumb and middle finger as shown.





2) Now pinch the top in between your thumb and middle finger to make the cane square.







3) You should now have a square cane, which is perfect for making pillow beads. Next take a scrap of clay and roll it into a ball. The size of your ball should be slightly smaller then the diameter of your square cane.




4) Flatten the top of the ball with your thumb and middle finger. Do not flatten the ball all the way as you will be turning this ball into a square.




5) Pinch both sides of the slightly flattened ball, it should turn out looking like a square in the end.






6) Now pinch each of the corners of the now square clay, it should look something like this:



This is where pillow beads get their name, they make a shape similar to that of a pillow. :)


7)Remember the square cane we made not too long ago? You will be using this square cane to cover up your pillow shaped clay.

Cut a thin slice from your square cane and cover one side of the pillow shaped clay. This slice of the square cane should be cold by now and easier to not distort the pattern.




8) Now cut another thin slice from the square cane and cover up the other side of the pillow bead. You will need to carefully blend in the seams at the side and make sure the corners stay put. Some adjustments can be made until you are happy with the results. ;)


You now have a completed pillow bead, all you need to do now is put a hole through the bead with a needle.




My Final Words:

Cane work, like pillow beads, are very addicting. I really suggest you experiment, even just with the left over square cane I found a new pattern. I simply cut the cane in half, the long way, and inside was a different swirled pattern. ;)






Next technique time I will be doing another cane work part; however, this one will be far more complex. I will show you how to make your own unique image into a cane. :)