Member Benefits 026-1: Techniques Tools

I can’t wait to have a go at this extruder flower cane – you make it look so easy!  Many thanks for yet another wonderful technique so clearly explained. ~Susan-B >> This comment was originally posted here: Extruder Flower Mod Canes

This has fast become one of the few things I must do every morning. Coffee, email, Cindy’s polymer clay site just to see what’s new… sometimes I don’t even do the email… just coffee and Cindy to calm my hectic whirlwind. Cindy Lietz’s talent, know-how and willingness to share it all, combined with this supportive, inquisitive group of artists, new and old makes an incredibly unique, enjoyable, need-to-have-in-my-life place. I can’t thank you all enough! Fabulous!!! Terribly interested to actually see how someone else makes a flower cane… especially you Cindy. Incredibly excited about the graffiti beads… trying to figure it out before tomorrow but just can’t seem to do it. I know that as soon as I see you do it, it will seem just so easy and I will smack my forehead and utter the proverbial “duh”. Until tomorrow! :) ~Melinda-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Graffiti Beads and Flower Canes

Wonderful tut Cindy. I have struggled to shave the top of mica shifts in the past, with not so good results. How did you think to curve the clay on a bottle? Wonderful! I am off to attempt it. Thanks. ~Claycass >> This comment was originally posted here: Mica Shift Technique

Hi everyone. I have finally managed to do the deep raku technique and I have sent the pics to Cindy. I was so chuffed that I did it again and made pendants and now I have made some more just to prove to myself that it wasn’t a fluke. Isn’t it wonderful the feeling of achievement when something turns out like it should. ~Carole-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Bead Giveaway

Wow! What a fab technique video this week! I am another one who really looks forward to the Friday video, and as usual I am amazed by all the different things you can do with polymer clay. Thanks Cindy, and keep up the good work:) ~Rachel-W >> This comment was originally posted here: Crackled Gold Leaf

There you go making me want to do some more beads.. LOL and you make it look so dang easy. I will show you mine when I can get to them. ~Donna-I >> This comment was originally posted here: Making Calla Lily Beads

Cindy, I am excited too about the mica shift.  I have read about it and tentatively tried it but it will be great to see a video demonstrating it. Thanks for all your help and for always seeming to be able to read our minds. :) ~Laurel-B >> This comment was originally posted here: Mica Shift Polymer Clay

I love this, I got a couple books for one of my challenges and was wondering how they did it, now thanks to Cindy I know! ~Tina-A >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Book Beads

Thanks to you Cindy, I am now becoming obsessed with wire working. Just went out to a “real” jewelry/watchmaking supply place (felt like such a pro!) and purchased several different gauges of sterling silver wire. I’m making pendants with it. Even my, usually critical of my work, husband likes them :) ~Maria-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Calla Lily Beads

Since my supply of scrap clay seems to be multiplying like rabbits!!! I am always looking for cool ways to use them.  You can only use so much of the “mud” clay I get when I mix scrap clays together so this looks like a cool solution.  I’ll be waiting to see the video on Friday.  And since it’s a HOLIDAY (YEA!) I’ll be at home where I can check it out instead of here at work trying to get my polymer clay fix via the internet (BIG GRIN). ~Arlene-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Jupiter Planet Beads

Dear Cindy – again another fantastic method – can’t wait to try it. I have been crackling clay this week with the perfect pearls method. But yours is a much easier method and I think you have more control. Thank you again. ~Cara-L >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Faux Raku

Polyana, I love the rustic handmade look of your beads..!!! I can’t decide which I like best – they are all so pretty! I can appreciate the extra effort that goes into working with Kato… I work with Kato also. :) Your canes are beautiful too!  Since I’ve only just become a member, I may have to buy the back issue with the raku instructions – you’re beads have made me even more interested!!! ~Lisa-W >> This comment was originally posted here: Faux Raku Polymer Clay

Gold, Silver and Copper (you can also get Bronze) wire is cheap compared to buying the findings already made and you can make them look however you want. They are an important part of the jewelry and I love seeing any techniques I can. I think one video or a portion of video a month for metal work is a great idea. I’ve enjoyed the ones Cindy has done so far. ~Kathy-B >> This comment was originally posted here: Making Findings for Polymer Clay Jewelry

The polymer clay stuff is great, but it’s also good to learn what to do with all those wonderful beads we’re making. I love the idea of your doing a video on this technique. I took a beginning class in wire working last summer, so I have the basics down, but seeing a video that refreshes what I learned would be very helpful. So yes, I vote for the video! ~Darlene-N >> This comment was originally posted here: Focal Bead Pendants

I have just finished three of Cindy’s little book beads they are so interesting to make. Now onto the next on my list mica shift beads uhmmm a challenge me thinks. ~Ritzs >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Creative Art

What a beautiful technique! That does look incredibly real – so glossy and gorgeous! I can’t wait to learn it. I have quite a few polymer clay books that show various inlays and fauxs, but I never tackled them. I’m so happy this will be in the February videos. I know Cindy will simplify this so that I will actually do it!  But first, Kaleidoscope Canes. Hehehe… ~Phaedrakat >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Inlay Technique

Love your earrings. I began making earrings last summer & right away got into simple wire projects, so I’m torn about using video time to make ear wires. Selfishly I feel, been there, done that – they’re easy to learn on your own. But the unselfish part of me thinks you should if others want to see it because it is so easy & everyone should be able to make them if they wish. It’s really nice not to have to depend on what the stores sell. ~Rose-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Making Your Own Earwires

Finally, I know how to make “swirlies”! I’ve spent three years trying to do this on my own. Found this site and have spent the morning making great ones: crisp edges and real swirled colors. I found that I could keep track of the roundness of the lentil by watching the contact area between the clay and the clear acrylic. To make a round bead the moving, revolving shadow has to be the same all around while moving the acrylic square. ~Koolbraider >> This comment was originally posted here: Getting Lentil Beads to Swirl Properly

A great technique with a beautiful result, Catalina! I really like how you’ve taken aspects of quite differing techniques and combined them into something unique and your own. I also love faux stones, and can see how the components could be varied to give either more realistic or more stylized versions too. Many thanks for your generosity and for sharing your secret with us. :) ~Sue-F >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Turquoise

Phaedrakat and Jill – I absolutely agree with you. I have searched online too for a lanyard tute. I did find one but it wasn’t very clear with the steps at all. With Cindy’s tutorials you can go along with her every step. I think Cindy should give us what she thinks is best as I’m sure there will always be some who may not be so interested in a particular tutorial. Cindy is so talented and very professional and she would know what are good tutorials for us – what items would sell well etc. As her tutorials are so inexpensive, I feel she should teach us whatever she decides and has filmed for us. ~Cheryl-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Beaded Lanyards

REGULAR COLOR RECIPE (A): Straw ** B-SERIES COLOR RECIPE (B): California Poppy > Polymer Clay Tutorials Guest List VIDEO: Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing Cane for Making Earrings and Pendants