polymer clay beads, take 2

[AllegroRondo]

so heres the latest try. My daughter's friend mentioned that she liked butterflies, so I attempted a pendant and earrings to go with a brown dress. It turned out more green than brown, but not bad.
I figure I can string it on a chain with brown/green beads and make it work.

[Katherine Brengle]

1. I've been thinking of trying polymer clay --

if you don't mind my asking, was it costly to get set up with the supplies you needed? I have jewelry making supplies, but nothing for this particular craft.

[AllegroRondo]

3. surprizingly cheap

the most expensive thing I bought was a pasta machine, which is normally $20 but I got on sale for $14.

clay - $2 per 2oz block, occasionally on sale for 99cents
tissue blade (like a long razor blade) - $5
small acrylic rolling pin - $4
clear epoxy - $3
cutting board (you dont want to do this on the kitchen table) - $5

needles and wire - I have from jewelry making anyway
how-to books - free from the library


I am looking into buying a clay oven, about the size of a toaster over. Theyre around $50, but I'm waiting for a sale.

[eridani]

2. Excellent! n/t

[eleny]

4. Your amazing for a beginner!

These are lovely. I think they'll be fine with a brown outfit, too. They're earthy and will probably make a lovely contrast.

You're amazing. I think you've found a hobby that suits you.

[AllegroRondo]

5. Thanks!

My wife says I should try making more of these to sell at her sister's hair salon. She thinks the old ladies there would love pins with butterflies, ladybugs, and flowers on them. We'll see how much I can get done, though.

Next up, my daughter hinted that she wants a dragon pendant, I'll have to see how that works out.

[eleny]

6. This is really taking off for you

After all, who doesn't like a ladybug?

[AllegroRondo]

7. thats what my wife said

"all those little old ladies just love ladybugs! do some pins and earrings with ladybugs climbing on flowers and they'll sell right away."

we'll see what I can come up with.

[Left Brain]

8. You have a wonderful talent with those!

I can't believe this is only your second try.

I have to ask -- what was your time investment for the large butterfly/pendant?

[AllegroRondo]

9. total time, about 3 hours.

most of that was mixing the colors and making the big cane for the wings. the wings are actually slices from a long cane of clay that I made by rolling out snakes of color, wrapping them in a thin layer of black, and stacking them up.
once that was done, it went pretty quickly. slice off some wings, lay on the pendant, and add a body and some leaves. the earrings are slices from the same cane, just stretched out to make it smaller, and laid on a single leaf.

[Left Brain]

10. Much less than I would have thought.

Can't wait to see your next creation!

[eridani]

11. You are really an inspiration!

I haven't messed around with canes very much. I've mainly used the clay as background for decoupaged images and as a support for faux dichro. You've really motivated me to start something with canes.

[stillcool]

12. wow...I'm impressed...

I bought the clay, and played with it but nothing of value came out of my first attempt. Just some gray, kind of thick, round discs with holes in them. They didn't even come out as hard as I suspect they should be. I might wait for a pasta machine for my second attempt. I'm a little discouraged.

[AllegroRondo]

13. definitely get the pasta machine

and some books on clay from the library.
I get some good beading magazines that inclued a clay article or two each month, and they really helped.

did you bake them long enough? that may be why they are too soft. you can always re-bake them, too.

[stillcool]

14. thanks...My gas oven is screwy...

and at such a low temperature it's kind of hard to regulate.. so I think I compensated by taking them out too soon. I'm going to take your advice and hit the library, before I fork over the dough..hehe..for a pasta machine. Your's are gorgeous..makes me want to try again!

[eridani]

15. Do get an accurate oven thermometer

The one on my old electric stove is off by 50F.

[stillcool]

16. This stuff should have a ...

warning label on it...Highly Addictive!...I got the pasta machine and have done very little else since. I love this stuff!

[AllegroRondo]

17. post some pics of your work!

we'd love to see what you've come up with.