Playing Around With Metal Pieces

I created a new line of chunky jewelry designs for my fall collection last year by combining large metal charms with snap bases.  These were not only fun to create but are so much fun to wear.  There is a snap base for interchanging the decorative snaps and the entire piece clips off the cord for interchanging onto different necklace chains or cords.

This year I decided to kick it up a notch and finally had some time to play around more with these large metal charms. There are so many things that can be done with them.  Here are just a few examples of which I will be sharing some tips on a little later.

Creating faux gemstones with resin:

Or filling in with a faux enamel look:

Adding smaller Swarovski crystals or rhinestones to the small bezels in the pieces.

For another look, back-filling the pieces with polymer clay.

And finally, creating a mold or texture -- then creating your polymer clay pieces from it.

I find the metal charms quite appealing but I am more drawn to color over the plain silver.  Working the design into clay completely transforms it!  And the sky is the limit to how you want to create.

I have a selection of these large charms available in my online store under the DIY supplies section.  Over the next week I will be sharing some tips on how to work with these beautiful pieces using various materials like polymer clay, resin and inclusions.

Clay Recipes for the Pantone Spring 2019 Colors Terranium Moss, Pepper Stem and Aspen Gold

This spring season, Pantone includes two shades of green - Terranium Moss and Pepper Stem.  Both lean towards the yellow side of the color wheel which I am more partial to.  Aspen Gold is a soft yet still vibrant golden yellow and combines beautifully with the two greens.

Here are some samples I made using these three colors.

Interchangeable Earring Pieces in Terranium Moss & Pepper Stem

Earrings in Terranium Moss & Pepper Stem

Terranium Moss, Pepper Stem & Aspen Gold Combination

Earrings in Aspen Gold and Terranium Moss

So here are the recipes for the Pantone colors Terranium Moss, Pepper Stem and Aspen Gold using Kato clay.

Terranium Moss

Follow the clay recipe for

Forest Green #7-7 *

adding 1 part Kato Black

Pepper Stem

10 parts Kato Yellow

1/2 part Kato Green

1/2 part Kato Gold

Aspen Gold

12 parts Kato Yellow

1/2 part Kato Gold

5 parts White Mix #1-2 *

* Note:  These clay color recipes are created using Kato Polyclay.  Any of the base color "mixes" used are from my Clay Color System. 

If you do not have my Clay Color System tutorial, I have extended my special offer for one more week (ending January 27) of 30% off!

Use the coupon code:   COLOR30

This offer is good for both my Etsy shop (US pricing and instant download) and my Online Store (Canadian pricing and sent to the e-mail address you provide).

Clay Recipes for the Pantone Colors Jester Red and Sweet Lilac

The Pantone spring 2019 color Jester Red is more a burgundy or crimson.  It follows along from past seasons but has a bit more red than the Tawny Port, Chili Oil or Red Pear.  It combines beautifully with the Sweet Lilac which is a soft shade of pink and a hint of lavender.

I have been playing around with creating some new earring designs and love using these new Pantone colors for my experimenting.  It is also a great way to see how the colors look when they are combined.

These earrings can be worn various ways and in different combinations.  The charms are reversible and can be hung on my interchangeable ear wires.

They can also hang from the post earrings at the back of the ear which create this cool swivel effect.  I think this design is worth experimenting a little more.  For the post/studs I used the stainless steel bezel frames which are not only easy to fill but give a real professional finish.  I have them available in my online store along with the button shanks as well.

So here are the recipes for the Pantone colors Jester Red and Sweet Lilac using Kato clay.

Jester Red

8 parts Kato Red

1/2 part Kato Blue

2 parts Kato Pearl

Sweet Lilac

2 parts Kato Magenta

1/4 part Kato Violet

1 part Kato Yellow

10 parts White Mix #1-2 *

* Note:  These clay color recipes are created using Kato Polyclay.  Any of the base color "mixes" used are from my Clay Color System. 

If you do not have my Clay Color System tutorial, I have extended my special offer for one more week (ending January 27) of 30% off!

Use the coupon code:   COLOR30

This offer is good for both my Etsy shop (US pricing and instant download) and my Online Store (Canadian pricing and sent to the e-mail address you provide).

New Clay Recipes for the Pantone Spring 2019 Fashion Colors

All my clay in the new Pantone Spring Fashion colors are now mixed and I am ready to share them with you!  These colors are so vibrant and just scream spring and summer!

I will start with Living Coral which is the Pantone color of the year for 2019.  It is a lovely shade of a peachy pink orange combo.  I love the fish with the coral in the water photo sample Pantone uses for this color, as it really shows off it's true nature.

The other clay color recipe I will be sharing is Mango Mojito.  Pantone describes it as a "golden yellow that feeds our craving for pleasant comforts."

I was playing around in combining these two colors and experimenting with color blocking in a minimalist style.  These earring beads are reversible and can be worn several ways when hung on my interchangeable ear wires.

So here are the recipes for the Pantone colors Living Coral and Mango Mojito using Kato clay.

 Living Coral

1 part Kato Magenta

1 part Kato Orange

2 parts Kato Yellow

4 parts White Mix #1-2*

 Mango Mojito

20 parts Kato Yellow

1/2 part Kato Orange

1/2 part Kato Gold

1 part Kato Pearl (optional)

* Note:  These clay color recipes are created using Kato Polyclay.  Any of the base color "mixes" used are from my Clay Color System. 

If you do not have my Clay Color System tutorial, I have extended my special offer for one more week (ending January 27) of 30% off!

Use the coupon code:   COLOR30

This offer is good for both my Etsy shop (US pricing and instant download) and my Online Store (Canadian pricing and sent to the e-mail address you provide).

Merry Christmas & New Scarf Rings

I finally seemed to outgrow my trusty laptop computer and had to bite the bullet and get a newer model with more capacity and speed.  Unfortunately transferring all of my important files and getting things functioning properly has been a slow process.  I guess this is one of my poor excuses for not keeping up with my blog.  The other is that I have just been extremely busy with Christmas shows, the Shuswap Artisan Market, delivering product to the stores that sell my work and clay production in between.  I am actually relieved to see the Christmas holidays as I can finally take a few days out just for myself, which does not happen very often.

In the meantime, I have listed some new items in the store which are very exciting.  I know many of you love scarves and are always looking for new ways to add your polymer clay beads or accents.  I have now added some new scarf rings/slides to my shop that have a snap base.  These are available in three different styles.

These are perfect for adding your own snap designs for interchanging.  You can add a regular size snap:

Scarf Ring with Interchangeable Snap in Resin with German Glass Glitter

Scarf Ring with Interchangeable Snap in Art Deco Design

Or be more creative and add a larger size piece with a mounted snap for interchanging:

And many of you have asked where you can purchase some nice scarves.  Well I have now added some to my supplies category and the good news is that if you have your own personal "Snap" discount code, it will now also work in the Accessories & Jewelry Supplies category as well.

If you have purchased my Snap Decisions Tutorial (both parts 1 & 2) and do not have your own personal discount code and would like one, please contact me and it can be arranged.  Since it is now the holiday season, I might not be able to have it for you until after New Years, so please be patient.

So I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!  May you all have a fun and inspiring holiday season!

Huge Sale on Snap Supplies!

I can hardly believe that winter is starting to set in and that Christmas is just around the corner.  My first Christmas show for the year is already this Sunday.  I will be at the Kamloops Craft-a-Fair in the same location as the past 8 years.

If you are working on your Christmas shows or thinking of making your own gifts this year, I am having a huge Flash Sale of 35% off all my Snap Supplies! -- but hurry as this does not happen often and it is only for a few days!  Sale ends Friday, November 2, midnight.

* Use Coupon Code:    SNAPS35OFF

at the checkout in my online store.

* Prices are in Canadian currency

* Shipping is a flat fee --
-- no matter how much you purchase!!

* Free shipping with a minimum purchase

(after any discount codes have been applied)

If you haven't purchased my Snap Decisions Tutorial but have been thinking about it, that is on sale right now too!  The price has already been reduced so no coupon code is necessary.  As a bonus, if you purchase the Parts 1 & 2 tutorial package, you will receive your own personal and permanent discount code for 25% off anything in our snap supply section.

Notice:  If you have purchased this tutorial and never received a permanent discount code and would like to receive one, contact me with your request.

Pantone Fall 2018 Fashion Colors Summary and Clay Recipe Cards

Here is a review of the Pantone Fall 2018 Fashion colors.  Click on the photos below to see the clay recipes using Kato clay.  If you would like to see more clay recipes for the past Pantone fashion colors, go to the color recipe page at the top of this blog.

Would you like some recipe cards with these Pantone colors ready to print out on 4" x 6" index cards?  They have the colored dots on them but are ready to add your own baked clay chip samples.

If so, click here to download and print out by following the instructions included.