Did you know that you can make two petals canes using one Skinner Blend? It’s actually one of my favorite ways to use up scraps and make something gorgeous.
Reversible Petal Cane Technique
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Author: Katie Oskin
Skinner Blend Bullseye Cane Instructions for Polymer Clay (Beginners)
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Polymer Clay Tutorial
How to Make a Skinner Blend Bullseye Cane
One of the most basic skills in working with polymer clay is learning how to make a Skinner Blend. Once you know how to make a Skinner Blend, there are infinite possibilities of what you can do and accomplish with that blend. Today’s mini-tutorial will show you how to make a Skinner Blend and change it into a Skinner Blend Bullseye Cane or even a log/plug. This tutorial will walk you through some of the basic steps and show you exactly how that is done.
Continue reading Skinner Blend Bullseye Cane Instructions for Polymer Clay (Beginners)
Kim Detmers – ClaybyKim
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Introducing Kim Detmers
ClayByKim
I have been a fan of Kim’s for years and recently I was able to purchase a piece of hers just for myself. I love supporting other polymer artists by purchasing pieces of theirs I like or even purchasing their tutorials; after all, we’re never too old to stop learning (or collecting extraordinary art). It’s certainly my honor and privilege to have such a talented artist join me on the blog today! Kim is our featured artist for the month of June, so look for continued shout-outs to her talent on KatersAcres Twitter Feed.
Thank you Kim for being so gracious! From us to you, here’s a big welcome!
WIP Wednesday: Parker-o-rific Week
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Work In Progress (WIP) Wednesday
Busy Busy Busy, Just the Way I Like It!
Polymer Clay Tutorial: Ancient Artifact Pendants
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What is an Ancient Artifact?
When you think of an ancient artifact, what do you think of? I think of old rocks, ancient hieroglyphics, cave paintings and so many other things. So, how about we try to recreate a little bit of that with a faux rock type pendant with this polymer clay tutorial. Let’s get started!
Continue reading Polymer Clay Tutorial: Ancient Artifact PendantsB’Sue Boutiques
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B’Sue Boutiques Review
So what does B’Sue Boutiques have to do with Christi Friesen week you might ask? Well … Brenda Lansdowne, owner of B’Sue Boutiques was our host and sponsor for the Christi Friesen Weekend this past week. Not only is Brenda a wonderful person, but she is kind, warm, funny, & caring too. You can see the video that Brenda & Christi did together on YouTube. Brenda & Christi have some great things coming up in store for you in the future as well, so be sure not to miss it.
WIP Wednesday: A Christi Friesen Weekend
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WIP WEDNESDAY
A Christi Friesen Weekend
What does Christi Friesen have to do with WIP Wednesday? Well … I spent more time this weekend claying with her than I do in any normal week. So therefore, this weeks’ WIP Wednesday is all about the lovely weekend that I spent with about 40 other wonderful people and Christi Friesen!
Christi Friesen Week
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It’s Christi Friesen Week!
I spent the past weekend with a terrific group of ladies who spent two full days taking classes with Christi Friesen. Christi is just as wonderful as every email & phone call I ever shared with her. More wonderful in fact … I love her to pieces. In honor of her and all she does for the Polymer Clay community … it’s Christi Friesen week!
Tomorrow, for WIP Wednesday, I’ll share pictures of the journey & the weekend activities. On Thursday we’ll talk about B’Sue Boutiques and her awesome shop for findings and metals. And join me on Friday for some terrific giveaways, you won’t want to miss it!
The Polymer Arts: Gus the Gargoyle
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The Polymer Arts
Gus the Gargoyle Featured in Spring 2014 Issue
Getting Ready for a Weekend with Christi Friesen
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WIP Wednesday
Getting Ready for a Weekend with Christi Friesen
This coming weekend I’m going to a two-day clayathon with Christi Friesen (insert lots of exclamation points, hoots, & hollers here)! I’ve been making a lot of things in preparation. Why? Because I’m richly blessed and I love to share with others … so … that being said, let’s get on with it, shall we?! This week’s collage is more of a “look what I’ve done” as opposed to “here’s what’s half done” or “here’s what’s partially done.” (Clockwise from top left)
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Polymer Clay Rainbow Tutorials
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Polymer Clay Rainbow Tutorial
April showers bring May flowers
One of the best things about Spring are the thunderstorms & rainbows. In their honor, I compiled these mash-ups for you of different ways to make rainbow items from polymer clay.
52 Weeks of Canes: Polymer Clay Cane Tutorial – Static Cane
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Why yes, it has been a very long time since I did a 52 Weeks of Canes post, hasn’t it? First I should probably take a minute to tell you why. If you have followed my art for any length of time, you already know that the majority of my work is sculptural in nature. This being said, we spent all of last month making rose canes for the 52 Weekly Cane Projects. Here’s the problem, I will never use that many roses … and I’m stingy with my clay. This being said, I made 1 cane for the group in the past 4 weeks because I just didn’t need them. My ultimate goal in joining this team was that I overcome my fear of caning. Which, I can honestly & proudly say, I am not longer afraid and I venture to try any cane (that I have a tutorial for that is). Continue reading 52 Weeks of Canes: Polymer Clay Cane Tutorial – Static Cane
WIP Wednesday: Bear Junction Polymer Clay Wall Hanging
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Welcome to Bear Junction
Polymer Clay Wall Hanging on Wooden Base
Continue reading WIP Wednesday: Bear Junction Polymer Clay Wall Hanging
How to Clean Your Polymer Clay Tools
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It’s Tutorial Tuesday … and today I do have a polymer clay tutorial, but likely not the kind you were expecting.
We all have them, those grimy gross tools that have that “clay muck” residue from years worth of claying on them … or is that just me?! As I looked at them today in my studio, I thought, “ugh, these are disgusting.” And yes … they were. So … I guess it’s time to clean them. For those of you who have ever tried soap and water to clean your tools, you know that this just doesn’t work. Today I will share with you the best, quickest, and easiest way to remove that clay residue.
Continue reading How to Clean Your Polymer Clay ToolsTime to Rethink Your Pricing Model
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How Often Do You Reevaluate Your Pricing?
That’s a great question isn’t it? For many handmade artisans, shops set their prices and never look back, never reevaluate, never reconsider. After several years of Parker adoptions and having my Etsy store, one of the things that should be fluid (and not static) is pricing. Why? Well let’s be honest because the economy is in a constant state of flux. Some things go up in price and other things go down in price, but regardless, the cost of something is constantly changing. A great example are groceries! Are the prices in your store doing the same? To a certain degree they should be. Your business model, your costs, the hours you work, are in a constant state of flux. For your prices to be the same this year as last year is an old ideal that many businesses can’t follow. At a certain time, everyone needs to evaluate.
My New Polymer Clay Journal
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No, it’s not WIP Wednesday … Yes, this could have waited … but I’m just so excited to share it with you all!
Not What I Expected, But …
Have you ever made something that turned out really well despite the fact that as you were making it you kept thinking, “something is clearly wrong here?” Well … rarely does that happen to me. Let me clarify, if while I’m making something I keep thinking, “this doesn’t look right” then by the time it’s done it still doesn’t look right and it ends up waiting for more inspiration …