Member Benefits 024-1: Sand Buff Shine

It’s amazing how sanding and buffing transforms the clay. I like how Cindy emphasizes the need for doing it. Jade always has a very polished surface but sometimes we don’t see the obvious until some one points it out. I love Fridays!!! ~Koolbraider >> This comment was originally posted here: Faux Jade Technique

Dear Cindy, I wanted to say thanks for the tips in your videos, I’ve been working with Polymer Clay for years, I make my own custom cake toppers. I do caricatures of real people from photos, cartoons and even animals, cartoon and real. I really enjoy it and have gotten quite good at it, but I didn’t know how much of a difference sanding and polishing my pieces could make, and I now make sure I work my clay completely before I start. Thanks again, ~Kelly-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Techniques

Ahhh, thanks for that tip. I did make a biggish one. I can trim it back. I’ve used it a lot since my last post and am very, very happy with it. The $10 I spent buying the back issue video where you made the felt wheel saved me more than $200 as I was very close to buying the expensive jewelers buffer. This one is set up in a small vice, takes only a few inches on my table, and works just great. ~Rose-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Buffing

Cindy my sore fingertips thank you for this video. I only wish I had seen it earlier before I made a bunch of pendants for our church bazaar. Oh well, there’s always next year! ~Maria-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Rock Tumbler

OK, in addition to being a guru, color genius, you must also be a mind-reader. I have just made my first beads with polymer clay and have already wondered, a couple of times, if I really needed to sand them. Since I am lying in bed, right now, doing the treasure hunt and my wonderful, yet exhausted husband is asleep and has to get up and work tomorrow, I am going to have to wait until the a.m. to sand, but trust me, it will be number one on my to do list, right after my coffee! Thanks. ~Karen-O >> This comment was originally posted here: Sanding Polymer Clay Beads

Wow, wow… I read somewhere on here that we can use latex type gloves to keep the fingerprints off of the clay and it saved me from ditching polymer clay forever. I was so frustrated I was about to become a postal worker with a machine gun… and right before I snapped… wallah! I read that and also something about water on the fingers to rub the fingerprints out. Now I see this cornstarch idea… I will try that, as those gloves do get old and I feel like a hospital nurse. This site is so fab… I bow down to the polymer goddess! ~Peggie-F >> This comment was originally posted here: Fingerprints and Polymer Clay

I just came back from the store, unable to find Future Floor Polish. I am glad to know that the name has changed to “Pledge with the Future”, and that it has worked for others with polymer clay. One difference I noticed was the smell — “Future” smells much better than “Pledge with the Future” — I do most of my polymer clay work with children, so that makes a difference. BTW, I have been using “Future” for years–I always ‘cure’ it by baking the glazed item again at 250 F for 15 minutes — and I have never had a problem with anything yellowing. Thanks for the info here! ~Diana-B >> This comment was originally posted here: Future Floor Polish for Polymer Clay Beads

I’ve been working with polymer clays for about 15 years, I made little frog pot sitters about 9 years ago, and used Future Floor Wax, and they still look as good now as when I first made them. ~Betty-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Finishes

Thanks for the new added suggestions. I never had much luck bending my blade without gouging out too much in some areas.  It’s a fun technique. What did you use for a final finish? ~Anna-S >> This comment was originally posted here: Shiny Mica Shift Finish

Tiffany – I have fibromyalgia and my hands and wrists both don’t mix well with sanding. I just recently bought a tumbler and I don’t think it takes the place of sanding by hand but it does cut down on how much you have to do. If you want a really high shine I at least feel you need to do a little hand sanding after you run the beads through the tumbler. I myself just use 600 and 800 grit sometimes 1000 but it will take a lot less sanding time and finish with buffing then SHABAM. So to me it was worth the tumbler. If you don’t want the super shine finish you can do with just tumbling. My opinion is that you will be happy if you buy the tumbler and save on your hands, I sure was. ~Peggy-B >> This comment was originally posted here: Making Faux Turquoise Beads

I must say, careful sanding and buffing is way better than sanding and Future-ing. Cannot get over how nice my Jupiter pendants turned out, and the lentils, and the mica shift pendants. I was busy this week. ~Katie-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Shiny Polymer Clay

I’m in… inlays can be used in so many different ways. The container not only looks great, but the finish seems as though it would feel nice just to hold. What a nice gift for your dad Cindy, lucky guy! ~DJ >> This comment was originally posted here: Faux Turquoise and Crackled Gold Leaf

I love the Jupiter beads; my friend happened to see them and before I told her what they were she remarked how they resembled Jupiter. They don’t have any varnish. Just tumbled and buffed with a dremel. I’ve made other beads too, with left over clay. It’s such a wonderful medium; each bead is different and every little scrap can be used. I’ve been dreaming polymer clay! You have me hooked Cindy. ~Cheryl-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Beads

Ditto what Melinda said — I’d also love to get my hands on Cindy’s beads. I’m sure they feel extraordinary to the touch, and they look so beautiful, beckoning to me… I love the feel of beads of all kinds, the way they feel running through your fingers is fantastic. Polymer beads have a different feel that is newer to me, but I love it so much especially since I’ve made some myself — I feel very “in tune” with them. Ah, but to have and be able to touch the beads Cindy herself made. Wow, that would be so amazing. ~Phaedrakat >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Bead Photos

Malinda, I also use Fimo and it does stick to your hands, especially the strong colors and black is the worst. I always have hand sanitizer (has alcohol to help remove the clay) and wet wipes near by. And Cindy is right, it may be muddy on the outside but just a little sanding and the design is crisp again! I truly rejoiced when I figured out sanding is my best friend! ~Melinda-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Lentil Beads

Thank you so much Cindy! I can’t wait to get started making these amazing faux opals. I had never heard of plunging the baked clay into ice water to clarify the translucent clay until I discovered your site. Thank you very much for that also. ~Cheryl-V >> This comment was originally posted here: Faux Opal Bake and Bond Technique

I love the faux-jade video (Vol-023-2) so much, that I made two shades of green in one evening. I made the dark green first, using Stream and Butterscotch Adirondack Alcohol Inks and verdigris embossing powder. I liked it, but I wanted a lighter color… so I tried using less Stream Adirondack Ink and adding Citrus Adirondack Ink, again with verdigris embossing powder. Voilà! After sanding and buffing, I added a patina of gold acrylic paint and a coat of Future Floor Polish. ~Cindy-G >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Faux Jade Technique

REGULAR COLOR RECIPE (A): Stargazer ** B-SERIES COLOR RECIPE (B): Purple Wallflower > Polymer Clay Tutorials Guest List VIDEO: How to Make Ivy Leaf Charms Patterned from Real Ivy Leaves