Book Details:

• Purchase the Book on Amazon
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books; September 24, 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581805713
• ISBN-13: 978-1581805710
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Amazon Rating: 4.6 of 5 stars

Book Promotional Text:

“Use the beauty and versatility of polymer clay to create elegant gifts your family and friends will adore. Lisa Pavelka guides you in creating 20 sophisticated polymer clay projects using the latest techniques for a variety of stunning gift ideas.

Inside you’ll find step-by-step instructions and full color photos to ensure success with each remarkable project. You’ll discover easy-to-follow techniques for creating tortoise shell effects, rich enameled surfaces, the marbled look of mokume gane, foil resists, faux mother-of-pearl and brilliant iridescence of diachroic glass. You’ll use these techniques to create gifts such as a toasting goblet, a key rack, a votive candleholder and more. A wealth of sidebars, hints and tips take the guesswork out of crafting each of these stylish gifts. A gallery of projects is included to inspire you even further.

Stretch your creative boundaries and explore the limitless possibilities of polymer clay.”

Text provided from Amazon.com

My Polymer Clay Book Review

This is one of 4 of Lisa Pavelka’s books she’s published on polymer clay.  “Elegant Gifts in Polymer Clay” is a great book resource for anyone who loves gifts that are unique, not the “same old,” and some that have become long time favorites in the polymer community, like the clay handled wine goblets. Just like Lisa’s other books, she does a great job covering polymer clay basics and all the things a brand new artist to polymer clay needs to get started.  The initial text covers just 4 name brands of clay: Kato Polyclay, Premo!, & Fimo Classic. The format covers topics of clay storage, baking clay, liquid clay, and fusing clay. Lisa also covers a “basic polymer clay kit” which is great for someone who has just started working in clay and needs the “bare necessities” to get started. Also covered is a section on working with clay including clay properties, polishing, burnishing, blending, c& cleanup. Also covered are Skinner blending and “outside the clay kit.” This intro is different from her other books, which is nice.

The book then opens into it’s sections of “His & Hers Gifts” including: pens, compacts, change caddy, & a pillbox. Techniques in this section include mokume game, rose cane, tortoise shell cane, & faux fabergé. Section 2 is “Gift to Wear” including a watch, photo bracelet, pendant, purse, & choker. Techniques in this section include floral millefiori, image transfer, faux effects, covering, and even more millefiori! The third section is one of my favorites, “Home Decor Gifts” includes a key rack, clock, keepsake box, magnet frames, & a bowl. Techniques in this section include punched clay decor, layering clay, clay weaving, sutton slice, texture & color. The final section of the book is “Anytime Gifts” and includes goblets, photo box, gift tin, votive, & inlayed tag book. Techniques in this section include extruding, rose making, painting & distressing, translucent liquid clay techniques, clay ribbons, millefiori leaves, colored pencil image transfer, embossing texture & pattern.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: Whether you are a newbie to polymer clay or an intermediate artist, there are some techniques in this book that will inspire you! All of these projects provide a wide range of instruction for many different areas of use within your home or would make fantastic gifts for friends & family, just like the title suggests. This being said, if you’re searching for some new projects & inspiration, this is a great jump start to your creative process that will help you think outside the box and create something special & unique.

See My List of “Top Shelf” Books You Need in Your Polymer Clay Library

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Thanks for joining me today,

Happy Claying,