WIP Wednesday’s sometimes make me tired. Let me explain. Have you ever looked around at all the pictures you’ve taken throughout the past two weeks and simply been blown away? It’s no secret that I don’t do polymer clay full time, but that I also serve as a minister alongside my hubby. So when I flip back through the last several weeks of pictures and try to pull a few to interest you, my darling readers, sometimes I get tired. These past two weeks have been a flurry of activity, especially with last week being Holy Week. For this WIP Wednesday here’s a smattering of what’s gone on in my polymer clay studio including some helpful tips and tricks you might enjoy.

• Gesso. If you’ve dabbled in mixed media, you know first hand the power of good Gesso. My newest tutorial will show you some tricks with both black & regular Gesso.
• Those vibrant and bright spring clay colors and paints are just a preview of the gorgeous colors I’ve picked for you to sample this spring. Don’t miss my article tomorrow (4/20) on the Sculpey Blog.
• My current favorite painting tools include tiny brushes and a toothpick!
• One of my more popular instagram posts this past week included this polymer clay tip: “When you don’t know what to do with scraps, make some pretty blends! You can use them instantly in your next project. Just a bunch of skinner blends and others awaiting the time for their use!”
• When you are inspired by a theme, like this month’s Japanese Culture theme for Parker’s Clayful Tutorial Club, work with it in any form that comes to mind! This Kokeshi mixed media art page came from the inspiration of the Kokeshi Dolls tutorial.
• Like origami, rice, and chinyogami papers? My newest Koi Fish tutorial will show you how to use them with polymer clay.
• Here’s a lovely, fresh, bright, and vibrant blend I made for the fins of “Mr. Koi.”
• QUICK TIP: Don’t take paints out of the bottle if you’re using a small amount, just dip the tip of your brush into the lid!
• All those little scales were individually handmade for Mr. Koi. It was a lot of work, but well worth the end result.
• I have a ton of stamps in my stash, but I love collecting rare and unique stamps! I often buy stamps and cut them apart in their sheets so I can use them individually. The two stamps here are from Lisa Pavelka and Barbara McGuire.
• All our designs go out in custom bags. Someone has to make them. As always, I don’t do it alone. Mr. Katie is helping me stamp them.
• And because pretty blends deserved to be photographed every time … this blend eventually became the water for Mr. Koi.

Clay Community Notes and Tidbits:

• NEW Posable Chinese Dragon Workshop in Linesville, PA on June 14th! Get details and come join the fun! [Click here to see all available workshops]
• Polyform’s newest liquid clay: Sculpey CLEAR releases later this month, look for it this Spring, it’s going to be a hit! As soon as I can get some, I will review it for you.
• I’m the blogger this month over at Polyform. Be sure to look for my articles later this week and project later this month.
•  is all about Japanese Culture this month. There are two AWESOME tutorials you are NOT going to want to miss: Kokeshi Dolls & Koi Fish Mixed Media. Don’t forget that if you sign up to join the club anytime before the end of the month, you get BOTH tutorials for $9.95! That’s a HUGE savings over their list price.
• It’s week 17 of the #2017PCChallenge and it’s not too late to join the fun. Come on over and join the 2017 Polymer Clay Challenge.
• Need inspiration, encouragement, and a place to share your polymer clay work? Don’t forget to come and join us over at Parker’s Clay Tribe, a FREE FaceBook group.

Have You Seen It?

• Looking for something fantastic and all together wonderful? Check out gakman.e on Instagram. Ekaterina build stuffed toys with polymer faces, hands, and feet. Totally wonderful! Visit her Etsy shop here.
• Astrid from Makosla shares work in progress shots of her current dragons. She sculpts large dragons with gorgeous details. Don’t miss her on Instagram.
• Check out these gorgeous carnival beads by Kristin Halvorsen! Find them on Flickr.
• Christina Patterson is making a book of A-Z characters. Follow her progress on Flickr.
  
• What do you do with your scraps? Martin Pottjewijd of Martin Pottjewijd Creations has sculpted for so long he’s beginning to see things. (Personally I think he should bake his scrappy monster, name it, and make it a new studio mascot).

Want to be an artist of inspiration for the week?

Sometime I choose artists whose work has caught my eye during the week and share their work here during WIP Wednesday and on my FaceBook page, KatersAcres. How do you catch my eye? It’s simple … use social media. Here’s a few easy ways to catch my attention: become part of FaceBook groups, showcase your work on your FaceBook page, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Pinterest, or even tag me @KatersAcres in your photos on FaceBook.

Don’t Be Silent; Chime In!

What is inspiring YOU right now? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.