Member Benefits 027-1: Sand Buff Shine

Cool!!!! I’m going to order the micromesh pads right after leaving this comment. Thank you Cindy and Doug for being our research department for new products, just as you’ve made the mistakes so we don’t have to, which saves us money on clay, your researching of anything new that could be beneficial to us and make our projects easier is SO much appreciated. Thank you SO very much. ~Ken-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Micro Mesh Abrasives

I just got my Lortone this evening. I popped my beads in with the smallest river rock I could find at the store (sorted for light color and smoothness), threw in a few squares of wet/dry sandpaper, and maybe like 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water for about 4 hours. I know you guys keep saying nothing beats a hand-sanding but I know MY hand-sanded beads never looked half this amazing. 20 seconds of polishing with my dremel and I have the nicest looking bead I’ve ever created. I used to spend 15 minutes to a half hour on a focal bead. I just cut that time down to 30 seconds of hands-on work. THANK YOU LORTONE and thank all you guys for your excellent tips and suggestions. ~Vladeska >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Beads

I love looking at all the pretty beads people have made. Before I even started making beads and before I became interested in polymer clay I LOVED looking at beads and feeling beads and playing with beads. I didn’t make jewelry, I didn’t even wear jewelry but I loved beads. I would go looking at beads with my mom and I couldn’t wait to get home and start touching the beads. Now I just want to touch these beads that you and your site inspired! You let your light shine on us and I am so grateful! ~Melinda-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Bead Photos

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

Well it just shows how great this site is, doesn’t it? A few suggestions from “Cindy’s Girls and Guys” and Cherie manages to create some beautiful faux stone beads! I love how everyone’s so happy to share their expertise and ideas and experiences to make us all better clayers. Keep it up, everyone! They look awesome Cherie, can’t wait to see them when they’re sanded and polished! :) ~Silverleaf >> This comment was originally posted here: Faux Unakite

Koolbraider: I love your enthusiasm! Have you already made some of this jade? The way you’re talking about the sanding… I know it makes all the difference, but I sure hate to do it! I guess I’m lazy, but it is hard work. Still, when I get to the buffing stage, and that shine comes up? Whew, that’s when you know it’s all worth it! Actually, I don’t mind pendants and larger items. It’s the round, little beads that drive me crazy. I need to get a rock tumbler, then my problems will be solved (well, some of them!) ~Phaedrakat >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Faux Jade

My LOVE of polymer clay has a lot to do with the incredible feel of the finished product. I tend to “pet” my finished works, and enjoy the silken feel, and this is only possible if it is sanded. ~Kody-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Sanding Polymer Clay Beads

The first time I made clay beads before signing up with a membership to your videos, I just took some clay rolled it into beads, baked and buffed them a bit. I had absolutely no idea of the whole process. I made a necklace and it looked alright but when I look at it now compared to the beads I submitted to the recent bead giveaway contest, gosh – what a difference! ~Cheryl-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Crackled Ink Technique

My first attempt at Jupiter beads looked worse than something a child would make in kindergarten. But once they were sanded and buffed they looked pretty darn good. Not sure what I will put with them but the are pretty cool looking. ~Anna-S >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Beads

Thank you cindy for the suggestion to paint the studio by sculpey glaze on the raw clay and bake it… it did make a difference… the finish is much harder and more durable. I am about to finish my first necklace… it’s going to be exciting! ~Peggie-F >> This comment was originally posted here: Best Polymer Clay Finishes

Wow, the drywall sandpaper is a new trick for me and a great tip. Thanks. ~Sue-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Flay Polymer Clay Sheets

Faux agates… Another cracker Cindy, and it uses old canes too! I can’t wait to get started. Don’t you just love the magic moments when sanding and buffing this type of bead when it goes silky, then all the colours suddenly appear? Very satisfying. ~Judy-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Faux Agates

I just finished sanding & buffing a couple of puffy beads. I love them. I was surprised at how easy it was to stretch the clay into the puffy shape. Thanks much for a great tutorial. ~Rose-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Tutorials

Hi Cindy, I have NEVER been good at mica shift. I normally screw it up by slicing too deep. Your technique made me like it a lot better. And MAN the sanding and buffing really makes the pattern pop. I am so excited. I am going to be a mica shift fool for a while. Attached are three of my first pendants I made from this technique. Thanks for showing me and the entire group a better way to do this fascinating technique. ~Kriss-J >> This comment was originally posted here: Mica Shift Video Tutorial

Cindy, I have been using micromesh for about a year, and have not yet needed to replace the pads. I absolutely love this product! I was lucky that a hardware store near me actually carries it. I bought it on a whim to see how it would do, and was surprised at how well it worked. ~Crystal-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Sanding with Micromesh Abrasives

Catalina Turquoise  – What a beautiful name! It’s great how you combined techniques and came up with this beautiful stone. It’s also wonderful not to have to sand it. ~Cheryl-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Turquoise

Hi Cindy and all,  just watched the Resin Video. Very interesting. Great to see some one who knows how to do it , makes one feel not so afraid to try it.  It is certainly a lovely finish to a project. ~Elizabeth-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay UV Resin Tutorial

Peggy, you’re such a sweetie to offer to mail Bake and Bond to people. You’re a lovely person. Always so upbeat and cheerful, too! I wish you luck with sanding your opals in the tumbler. There has to be some way to make the process easier for you. You deserve some gorgeous opals without hurting yourself further! Let us know how the tumbling media works for you. ~Phaedrakat >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Faux Opals

Kat, I needed the advice about not using Future on unsanded beads when I made my first 2 big batches of beads. I can see every little ridge from my finger tips perfectly! Of course, I didn’t even know about this site then, dog-gone it. Now I’m trying to play catch-up, LOL! ~Tanya-L >> This comment was originally posted here: Wet Sanding Polymer Clay

REGULAR COLOR RECIPE (A): Snapdragon ** B-SERIES COLOR RECIPE (B): Monkshood > Polymer Clay Tutorials Guest List VIDEO: Blend & Switch Technique – Create Complex Mosaic Designs, Easily