Saturday 19 October 2013

Polymer Clay - making simple canes (part 2)

The slices of cane are now placed on a piece of black clay (rolled out on the thickest setting of the clay roller), as closely as possible.
 Cling film is put over the top and the clay is smoothed out using the acrylic roller.  Putting cling film over it stops the patterns from distorting while being smoothed and joined.
 Here it is after rolling and smoothing.  Hopefully, no gaps left!
 Then it can be cut to shape using a cutter or the blades and is ready to bake.
 The next simple cane is a spiral cane.  I conditioned and rolled out a piece of black and a piece of gold on the thickest setting of the clay roller.
I cut the two piece to the same size, cutting the top and bottom edges with a bevel, so that the clay joins together smoothly.
Just roll it up!

Keep rolling!  You can see there are gaps at this stage.
 Once it is all rolled and the join is smooth, the gaps have all gone and here is the spiral cane.
 It gets rolled and reduced too.  You can make spirals with lots of different layers and colours.
 To create a pendant, I placed slices of both the canes onto a piece of black clay rolled on the thickest setting, covered it with cling film and smoothed the surface, as before.  I then used a cutter (going through the cling film as well), which pushed the pattern down the sides of the pendant.
 Here are the two pendants ready for baking.  They are on a piece of card, on a bead baking rack and then on an old baking tray.  The card stops the backs of the pieces from being shiny where they are in contact with the metal.  I bake them for 30 minutes on gas mark half - the coolest setting on my oven - but different clays will vary so check the instructions on the packet.
Polymer clay will keep for ages, providing it is kept in a plastic (Grade 5) box.  Some other grades of plastic will be melted by the clay.  Just check there is a number 5 in the triangle underneath the box and it'll be fine. Canes that have been made previously can also be stored and used in other projects - you can see some of mine above.  Scrap clay is kept to be used in other designs or as the bases of other beads - there is very little waste.  If this post has whetted your appetite for more, do go and have an internet search for polymer clay artists, as there are some amazing makers out there.  I love using polymer clay as it is very forgiving and can be used in so many different ways - the only limit seems to be the maker's imagination!


10 comments:

  1. You make it look very easy but I know that you have a flair for doing this type of thing. The pendants look very professional.

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    1. Dear Toffeeapple
      Thank you. It is easy! It is a really forgiving medium to work with and often things made with scrap clay turn out to be just as interesting as planned pieces. I am currently working on a pendant with a tassel and several components, which are made, but need assembling. Once I have made it, I'll post a photo.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. This is one thing I havnt tried I would love to have a go it looks beautiful. Might have to put that on my to do list

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    1. Thanks Sharon. It is great fun to do and to be able to design your own one-off individual pieces. There is a great polymer clay community on the internet too, so there is always help through tutorials and lots of books as well. Donna Kato and Lisa Pavelka are two names which spring to mind - both polymer clay artists who have gone on to develop their own ranges of clay and tools, but they demonstrate lots of techniques too.
      You can design and make a piece one day and be wearing it the next - I love it!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. It's so generous of you to share this process with us Ellie - I have thoroughly enjoyed finding out how you make these beautiful pendants and look forward to seeing your pendant with a tassel. You are very talented!
    All the best, Joy x

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    1. Thanks, Joy. You are very welcome. I am no expert, but I really enjoy working with the clay and being able to create jewellery, although, of course, polymer clay can be used for so much more and is starting to be accepted as an art medium in its own right.
      The tassel necklace is my next project - watch this space!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. Ellie I have so enjoyed seeing this process and would love to spend a day playing with you so you can teach me the tricks of the trade. You are so talented and livd these pretty pendants. Where do you buy your supplies from?? Xoxo

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    1. Thanks, Hannapat. It would be great to have a polymer clay day - if you are ever over in Lincolnshire, let me know! My supplies mainly come from www.jewellerymaker.com which has everything you could ever need for jewellery making with gemstones and also includes everything you need for polymer clay, metal clay, resin, jewel enamel, wire working, friendly plastic, aluminium etc. Just a word of warning though - it is an incredibly addictive website!! They also have a TV channel where yes, it is shopping, but they also have guest designers who show different techniques and they also have techniques on the website too. The polymer clay equipment is very competitively priced and they often have special bundle deals which are even better value. Normally, the clay roller is £14.95, but recently, it has been at £7.95 I think. I have always been pleased with the items and service I have received from them (no, I don't get sponsored to say this - it's just my opinion based on my personal experience!) However, if jewellery maker don't have the colours of clay I need in stock, I also buy from www.georgeweill.com who are a craft website and I often buy the wool I need for felting from them too. Hope this rather long reply is helpful.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. HI there, thanks for commenting on my recent post, I always love new people.
    I love the simple canes but having tried working with polymer clay I gave it up as a bad job and prefer to stick to fabric. lol
    Briony
    x

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    1. Dear Briony
      Hello and thank you for commenting. I think it is always good to try new things but there will always be some that don't quite feel right, so they can safely be left to other people to enjoy doing. Your work with fabric is stunning - good choice!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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