Member Benefits 018-1: Techniques Tools

Just like Peggy in a previous comment I had been looking around here for quite awhile, not realizing there is so much more for you when you really join. So I joined only a few days ago, and like Peggy I found Cindy to be on top of everything and couldn’t do enough for me,and yes I feel I have found a like minded friend in Cindy. As you say Peggy I don’t know when she sleeps, because as soon as I had emailed her she has come back with a reply which I needed to know about even tho we are in different time zones. How she does it all I don’t know I am so glad I have joined and have already made use of the content I have in my paid for videos. I have a Makins Extruder and am having fun with it as I had only used it warily before now I’ve got beautiful mod canes I didn’t know I could do. I have been Polying for about 4 yrs on and off , but being here has made me want to focus on becoming really good at what I do and with Cindy’s on going tutoring I sure will. It is so much better to see the videos and see how someone else does things. Thank you Cindy for being who you are and having such a passion for Poly clay and inspiring so many people. Keep up the good work I cant wait to get to the computer every day now. From another Aussie down under Madly passionate Polymer Clayist. Thank you Cindy. ~Elizabeth-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Beads How To Videos

Thanks for the videos Cindy.  I wish I would have known about this site before. Thanks for the tips on using the dremel Rotary tool. I learned how to properly hold the tool to polish my beads. I agree with everyone else, keep the videos coming. Thanks. ~Lupe-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Polyclay Beginners to Advanced

I can’t wait to see how you incorporate these supplies into polymer clay. I also have lots of mixed media items that I need new ways to use. This could be another whole world for us. Thanks again for always sharing your ideas with us. You rock! ~Susan-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Projects

Hi Cindy, While purchasing my tools to get started in this wonderful hobby I found so many wonderful cutters in the bridal section at Michael’s. It is really worth the “walk down this aisle”. There are never enough “Thank yous” for all you share with us Cindy. Thanks. ~Joyce-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Tools

Cindy, what a coincidence! I went to sleep last night thinking about stamping words and names into faux stone clay pendants with the alphabet stamps I received last week, and today you posted about that very thing! My idea was to try to backfill them in a contrasting colour clay. Have you ever tried that? I know it would be finicky but not any more so than many other jewellery techniques. Maybe worth a try! I’m going to sign up for your videos as I’ve found so many helpful hints on your site. Thanks for being so thorough in spreading your knowledge. ~Sue-W >> This comment was originally posted here: Faux Stone Dog Tags Jewelry for Boys

I just picked up alcohol inks last week and I’m very excited about giving them a try. Your 5 suggestions were like – Oh! Oh! and Ooooh! ~Aims >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Alcohol Inks

Thank you SO MUCH for the rubbing alcohol tip! I just used it on some pieces that had too much acrylic paint patina and it helped tremendously. Now they look great! ~Dawn-I >> This comment was originally posted here: Using Acrylic Craft Paints with Polymer Clay

Hi, Cindy! I read your latest articles but I didn’t have anything clever to say and my opinion in this case is to simply shut up than to say something stupid. And the remark I’ll make about your pillow beads isn’t clever either, but I simply had to say that they look fabulous! In fact scrumptious was the first epithet that came into my mind. So shiny and appetizing! You really know how to make a lazy clayer to want to clay again! I don’t know how much filling you use to make them, until now I’ve tried the totally filled ones with squares and as I finished a kaleidocope cane adequate for this purpose, I intend to make hollow pillow beads when time allows me. This shape is time-consuming (smoothing all the seams etc), but also very rewarding. It’s so good to hold a shiny pillow bead in your palm and simply enjoy the fact that you could make it right. And because yours are perfect (that pirate bead is one to kill for IMO), you must feel much joy to have them around you or see them worn. Have a nice weekend! ~Squash >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Pillow Beads

What a great idea!!  I’ve been designing some bookmarks with beads and this would be something I would love to try. ~Cheryl-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Beaded Bookmarks

Great idea! I save every little dab of scrap clay. Nothing is wasted. That’s one of the things I love about this medium. Everything gets used. Thanks, Cindy, for such a fabulous website. I’ve learned so much over the past couple of months from visiting here. ~Bonnie-B >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Canes

Hi Cindy, I read all the messages you send and I’m sure you get tired of hearing this over and over, but I can’t express how much I like getting my e-mail saying that another one of your videos is ready for viewing. I received the one about making the clasps, and I thought “no-no-no I want you to teach me polymer clay, not metal work”… but as usual, I watched it and it contained extra information I had not thought of and hadn’t learned in the class I took. I thought the same about the texture video… “I don’t use those and don’t like them” but after watching, I got all these other ideas that I could do.  I checked out the Tim Holtz site mentioned somewhere in your site and got new ideas about stenciling and inks! Thanks so much for making these tutorials… they are definitely worth the money! ~Kim-E >> This comment was originally posted here: Ghost Cane Polymer Clay Tutorial

Hi Cindy, another great guide here. Thanks for your insights about adhesives! ~Dave-R >> This comment was originally posted here: Craft Glue for Polymer Clay Beads

Hi Cindy! Thanks for stopping by abeadaday! What a cool idea for adding things to clay. Very interesting. Hope you don’t mind if I mention it on Twitter and facebook this week. Take care. ~Lisa-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Dried Flower Jewelry Bead Techniques

Thanks for this – I learned the hard way, and thought that half a block of blue FIMO had gone to waste because it wouldn’t mix properly. Now I know there is something I can do about it :) ~Nathalie-S >> This comment was originally posted here: Storing Polymer Clay

I don’t know much about working with polymer clay. But it seems such a fun thing to try! Thanks for sharing this! ~Soyun-A >> This comment was originally posted here: Learning Polymer Clay Techniques

On the other side of the argument, I LOVE my motor and in fact, have more than one, LOL.  The noise doesn’t bother anybody at my house.  When I first got it, it was because I had had shoulder surgery, so I had an excuse for the first one, LOL.  Now I’m just spoiled. Plus, I am a caner and go through A LOT of clay. Although it still doesn’t bother me to use the crank, either, I just prefer the motor.  When we have a class or I have people over for a clay day, I choose not to use the motor, but when it’s just me, I use the motor exclusively, I wouldn’t want to be without it.  My second one is because I have a “mini studio” in our Fifth Wheel trailer for taking clay on vacation with me and my DH spoils me by not making me lug all the equipment back and forth. Hugs. ~Sue-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Pasta Machine Motor

I love the raku look so much, that I have bought myself a small kiln so that I can make ceramic raku beads. I love the fact that many things I have learned using polymer clay can transition very nicely to ceramics. ~Carol-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay How To Videos

What a great idea for rolling extra-thin sheets of translucent clay! I’ve seen something similar before, but the folder is a really great addition to the technique. I’ll definitely try that next time. ~Sue-F >> This comment was originally posted here: Crackled Gold Leaf Polymer Clay Tutorial

I’ve been wanting to make stone beads and now I’ll have the info to do it. I don’t have any sand, but I can use a little dirt or spices. I was wondering how it would be to mix a little kosher salt in to make craters. The salt would disappear either in baking or from washing after baking and there would be craters in the bead. ~Freda-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Faux Pebble Beads

Cindy, what a surprise to see my email to you! I’m still going slowly with the polymer clay, and it’s still a source of great enjoyment. (Of course, now that I have my brand-new pasta machine, I’ll be able to do more. The old one was ancient – and when I took it apart to clean, thanks to instructions in your library, I found it to be all rusted inside. What a mess!) ~Linda-D >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Beads

Awesome post Cindy!  My pasta machine has been black streaking my sheets something fierce lately. I tried to find a way to easy fix that up and well here’s my answer! ~Kelly-P >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Rubbing Alcohol

REGULAR COLOR RECIPE (A): Wild Geranium ** B-SERIES COLOR RECIPE (B): Vibrant Fall Red > Polymer Clay Tutorials Guest List VIDEO: Holly Leaf and Berry Canes Perfect for Winter Jewelry Collections