Special for Father's Day

Father's Day is just around the corner and if you are looking for something special for him we have some unique jewelry in our men's section of our online shop.  We have cuff links, tie clips and leather necklaces all with an interchangeable snap base.  You just need the basic pieces and add a selection of decorative snaps to create several looks.

And now until midnight, June 9 (next Friday) take 20% off any items purchased from our Men's Snap Collection.  Enter the coupon code shown in the photo below:

And if you would prefer to make your own Father's Day gift or would like to start making your own interchangeable snaps from clay, we have another deal.  All of our Snap Decisions tutorials are half price for the entire month of June. 

Plus when you purchase your tutorial, you will receive your very own coupon code for 20% off your first order of Snap bulk supplies!

This offer is through our online store only.  The good news is that any of our tutorials purchased will be sent directly to your e-mail address as a PDF file which means if you are from Europe you will not have to pay any extra tax.

Turn Your Clay Designs into a Scarf Clip - Tutorial

A few years ago I shared a tutorial on how to attach some metal scarf clips to your clay.  These clips turned out to be so popular that the supplier had run out and could not get any more.  We were very disappointed and I know many of you were as well.  I said that we would let you know if we ever came across more of these findings and now here we are bearing the good news!

Polymer Clay Scarf Clip

These clips are different from the originals we used before so I have been working with them to create a new lesson for you on how to attach your clay designs.   The clips are now available in our online store in the jewelry findings section in 5 or 10 packs.

Note:  I have added this mini lesson as a bonus pdf file to my Scarf Accents tutorial.  If you have already purchased our tutorial and would like a downloadable copy of this, please contact us (click here) and we will e-mail it out to you.  We will just need the date of purchase, e-mail address or some type of info identifying yourself as proof of purchase (through Etsy, etc.).

So now on to the lesson:

These clips have a strong spring action and come in two parts --   The flat pad with a clip on the back and a curved 'sieve'.  This sieve is for adding beaded designs but also comes in handy for adding your clay and creates a curve at the same time.  I will share with you two methods for adding your clay designs to these clips.  One is using the sieve part and the other without.

Method 1

# 1 to # 4 - Attach the sieve to the clip base by fitting it between the 4 prongs.  Bend each of the prongs down so they are flat and the sieve is secure.  To do this, grab a prong with your pliers (#3) and pull it downwards then squeeze both pieces together.

# 5 – Prepare your clay design or veneer so it is a medium thickness.  Cut a circle that is the same size as the scarf clip base.

# 6 – Place the clay circle over top of the scarf clip (the sieve portion) and press it on so it is smooth and level.

# 7 to # 8 – You can add any embellishments such as rhinestone crystals, at this point.  Here I am adding a Swarovski crystal (hot fix) to the center. 

Bake your piece for at least 30 minutes at the temperature recommended for the type of clay you are using.  Allow it to cool before going on to the next step.

# 9 – Add some liquid clay around the outside edge so the raw clay will adhere when baked.

# 10 – Roll out some clay for the back at a medium-thin setting.  Cut a circle that is slightly larger than the scarf clip and cut across into two pieces (about ¼ of the way down).

# 11 – With an X-acto knife or small square cutter, cut a notch out to fit around the clip portion at the back.

# 12 – Fit the two clay circle portions onto the back of the clip and blend the seam together with a shaper tool or your finger.

# 13 – Bring the clay up to the front of the clip, pressing it firmly against the sides so it fits nice and snug with no air pockets.

# 14 – With a sharp tissue blade, trim the excess clay so that it is flush with the front and creates a frame around your piece.

# 15 - Texture the back and sides to camouflage any marks or fingerprints.  Bake your piece for at least 30 minutes at the recommended temperature for the brand of clay you are using.

Method 2

This method is for adding the scarf clip to an already baked clay design and without using the sieve portion.

# 16 – Roll out a medium thin sheet of clay and cut out a circle the same size as the scarf clip.

# 17 – Place the clay circle onto the front of the clip making sure no air is trapped in between.

# 18 - With some pliers, bend each of the prongs down and into the raw clay.  This will anchor the clay into place and not move after it is baked.

# 19 – Apply some liquid clay to the back of your baked clay design.

# 20 – Position the scarf clip down onto the back of the clay design and press it in so it makes good contact.

# 21 – Roll out some clay for the back at a medium-thin setting.  Cut a circle that is slightly larger than the scarf clip and cut across into two pieces (about ¼ of the way down).

# 22 – Place the bottom clay circle portion onto the back as shown.

# 23 and # 24 – With an X-acto knife or small square cutter, cut a notch out to fit around the clip portion at the back.

# 25 – Trim any excess clay around the outside edge.

# 26 – Blend the seams together and the outside edges with a shaper tool or your fingers.

Texture the back and sides (see step 15) to camouflage any any marks or fingerprints.  Bake your piece for at least 30 minutes at the recommended temperature for the brand of clay you are using.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and have fun with it.  If so, we like to hear from you and leave a comment.

To see how to wear these clips, you can check out a few ideas on our website.  We will be updating with new photos and ideas very soon!  

My Tutorial at the PCA Retreat 2016 Goes Live Today!

I can hardly believe how time has been flying by.  It was a whole year ago when I first announced teaching in the Polymer Clay Adventure Retreat and my video tutorial will finally be going live today.

If you already signed up, I hope you drop in and I will be available to answer any questions.  I am also looking forward to seeing your finished projects as well.

We have some supplies and kits listed in our online store to create the Kite Necklace and Earrings.  You will find them listed on our polymer and jewelry supplies page here.

My Tutorials Now Available In Our Canadian Online Shop

Designing our own online store and website has taken a lot of hours to set up and is still ongoing.  If you noticed that the prices appear to be higher than in our Etsy shop, that is because they are listed in Canadian dollars.  We have provided a currency calculator at the bottom of our site for your convenience.

I  am happy to announce that my tutorials are now available through our site as well which is good news for our fellow Canadians.  The pdf tutorials are not available as an instant download, but will be e-mailed directly to the address that is provided so you can save them on your computer.  Until our site can be upgraded, we can not have the shipping charges removed for these items so if you purchase tutorials only, the shipping charge will be refunded back to you.

Because our tutorials are not an instant download, it is also good news for our European friends and customers since they will not have to pay the extra VAT tax.

If you are looking for a fun new way to make your polymer clay designs interchangeable, my Snap Decisions tutorial is for you!  My tutorial is broken into 2 parts and we offer a special price if you purchase my Parts 1 & 2 package.

Here are some new snowflake snaps we made in new designs and colors for this year.

And now, until Christmas we are offering our Snowflakes in a Snap Tutorial plus snowflake charm with a minimum purchase from our Snap Supplies.  This tutorial is not for sale but only available as a bonus offer.

If you already received this tutorial check out the other bonus offer available on our site.

How to Make a Roll Up Scarf Slide or Ring in Polymer Clay

A few years ago I shared a free tutorial on how to attach an old vintage scarf ring finding to create a scarf clip.  It was a big hit but unfortunately, the supplier who sold the metal scarf ring piece ran out and was not able to get any more.  I searched everywhere and was not able to find any and if I ever do, I will let you know.

In the meantime, I have been working on different scarf clip designs and came up with a new way to create a simple scarf ring or slide.  I was playing around making some "roll up beads" and the idea came to me.  Why not roll up the clay on a larger form to create a scarf ring?

I know this is quite different than the original scarf clip but I feel I owe you a new tutorial as a replacement, none the less, and I hope you find this one useful.  The nice thing about making these is that you do not need any commercial findings.  All you need is clay and maybe embellishments such as rhinestones.

So now for the tutorial:

The first thing you need for the scarf slide is a tube-like form that is in the right diameter or thickness to fit the size of your scarf.  You want to be able to slip a double thickness of your scarf easily through the slide hole yet not have it too loose or it will not stay in place while wearing.

These are form samples shown in the above photo.
A -- Tubes we made from scrap clay.  You can make them in any size you want.
B - A whisk fell apart on me so I saved the handle and it makes a perfect size form.  I like how the paper covering slides off easily (see step 11).
C - A cardboard tube that I cut a piece off for easier handling. 

#1 - You will need some type of paper to use as a base for your slide.  Parchment paper works but I find that glue does not stick to it very well.  I have this roll of kraft paper tape that has a water activated paste.  It is very useful and I have baked with it over and over again.  This is what I used to make my cardboard bead rack for baking shown in the photo below (see picture/step 12).

#2 & #3 - If you are using the paper tape as I have here, you do not want the glue part sticking to the form so cut a piece long enough to wrap around your form several times.  Fold part of it over so that the glue is inside and will not be in contact with the form as you roll it on (#4).

Note:  You do not want to roll the paper on your form too tight -- you want it just loose enough that it can easily slide off to bake.

#5 - Cut a triangle template from paper or quilter's grid.  I like to use the quilter's grid as it has lines marked for measuring and is also transparent.  The measurements of your triangle (with a cut off end at the narrow part) depends on the size of the slide you want to make.  The slide I am making here is for a lighter type scarf so my form is 5/8" (16mm) in diameter (thick).

I want to be able to wrap the clay around the form twice and I want the width to be 1" (25mm) and at the narrow end 1/4" (7mm).  To find out what the length should be, rolled out some clay on a medium-thin setting and wrapped it around the form twice.  Unwrap the clay and measure the length.  For the 5/8" form I am using here, the clay needs to me about 5" (127mm) long.

I then cut out a triangle-like shape that is 5" (127mm) long, 1" (25mm) wide at one end and 1/4" (7mm) at the opposite.

#6 - Texture a sheet of clay.  I am using one by Lisa Pavelka here and ran the clay together with the texture sheet through my Dream machine on a #2 setting so the clay came out quite thin.  Cut out a triangle from your textured clay using the template you made as a guide.

#7 - Wrap the clay triangle around the paper on your form.  When the clay begins to wrap onto itself, add a bit of liquid clay to create a better seal.

# 8 - This is how the slide should look after it has wrapped around the form twice.  You will see how both ends meet.  If it is too short, there might be a weak point in between and too long will make it bulky.

#9 - This is a good time to add any embellishments as the form provides a solid backing when pressing in items such as rhinestones.  I share tips on working with rhinestones earlier here and here.

#10 - You can also add any mica powders if you wish.  You could also add the powders before wrapping onto your form if that is easier.  Just be sure to use the liquid clay in between to seal.

#11 & #12 - Slide the clay piece along with the paper off your form and bake it right on the paper.  You can lay it on soft batting or here I have them suspended on my handmade bead rack.

#13 & #14 - After the pieces are baked and cooled, remove the paper by gently pulling it away from the clay.  If the papers are in good shape, they can be used again.

Apply any glazes to seal the mica powders if used.  You can see my tips for polymer clay at the top page of my blog if you need more help with this.

Variation 1:

For a larger scarf ring I like to make it slightly flattened or the opening oval so it doesn't stick out too much and sits nicer while wearing.  You can flatten it after forming but it is a little difficult as the paper tends to resist and bounce back.  The other solution is to make a form from clay.  I rolled the thickness that I wanted and then flattened it with a piece of plexi-glass.

Variation 2:

Instead of creating a roll up slide, you can make a plain tube.  Here I added a clay embellishment where the seam is to not only hide it but add more strength at that spot.

Art Deco Buttons in Black, White and Red

Here are some more buttons I made using my new "Art Deco" technique created from left-over clay scraps.  In my tutorial, I share a simple method for framing your designs which can show off the pattern even more.

This is one of my favorite color combinations made from the scrap pile shown below.  If you are one that doesn't do very much cane work, other scrap clay such as left over blends also work well for this. No matter what, we always seem to have so much left-over scraps and always looking for more ways to use them.

Left-over cane pieces and "scraps"

A New Tutorial to Start off the New Year

The new year has been off to a slow start for us but we've been able to spend some time with family we hadn't seen in a while so that is nice.  I traded in some of my claying time over the holidays to do some baking and cooking up a few special meals instead which Dave has really appreciated!

We have accomplished a few things, however, this year so far though.  We've managed to list more items in our online store and I finally published my new tutorial, "From Scrap Clay to Art Deco"!

We always end up with so much left-over clay that we call scrap but it is never wasted.  We will sometimes mix it up to create new colors or use it as filler for beads.  We also love making Natasha beads or creating with Stropple canes and one day while playing around I discovered this fun new way to create bold and funky Art Deco patterns.

In my 16 page lesson I share my new technique along with a Kaleidoscope variation and tips on combining your scrap clay to achieve the best results.

Art Deco Kaleidoscope Variation

I also show an easy method to frame your designs to create buttons or jewelry pieces plus 2 full pages of photos for ideas and inspiration.

I promised this tutorial as a complimentary bonus gift to the those who signed up for the 2016 Polymer Clay Adventure Retreat through me by the end of the year.  If you were expecting a copy and hadn't heard from us yet, then contact us and let us know as it might have gotten lost in cyber space or your spam box and we will resend it to you.

My new tutorial is now for sale in our Etsy shop as an instant download or if you do not want to pay the extra VAT tax, you can purchase it from our Artfire studio and we will e-mail it directly to you.

This is a fun new way to create new designs from your scrap.  We like to use the Art Deco patterns to create bracelet tiles, buttons, cabochons for our interchangeable "Snaps" and even create Tessellation patterns.

Bracelet Tiles

Tessellation variation

Interchangeable Fashion in a "Snap"

"Snap" Jewelry Video

Launching our new interchangeable jewelry line is one of the most exciting things I have done since discovering polymer clay.  I am always receiving compliments on whatever pieces I am wearing (usually a necklace, bracelet or ring -- even hair barrettes) and love seeing their reaction when I pop one of the "snap" art beads out to show them how they interchange!

The next exciting thing I did was write and publish my tutorial to share with you.  We have received a lot of positive feedback from other polymer clayers who are just as excited about this new concept and the wave is growing and getting bigger!

My tutorial is available in two parts.  The first part is creating the actual "snap" art beads.  I show several methods for this as well as other tips and tricks so you can be creating your own snap designs in no time!  The second part is creating your own snap bases from clay.  This is especially cool for those who don't want to use a lot of the commercial type snap bases and would like to create their own unique look.  You can also purchase both parts 1 and 2 together at a reduced price available in our Etsy shop (as an instant download) or in our Artfire Studio which is sent out by e-mail but perfect if you are from Europe and do not want to pay that extra VAT tax.

If you are curious about the new "snap" jewelry and how you can use it to create your own polymer clay designs but still not quite sure about it yet, my friend Wendy Orlowski from Shades of Clay made this video that gives you a bit more information and a short little demo to make a simple "snap" cabochon.

We have received another large shipment of snap supplies and our online store is fully stocked up again along with a few new items.  Thinking of buying some of the supplies but still not sure what to get yet or probably need some more?  Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to receive updates on new items, sales and special savings!  (click here)