Vol-051: Firetruck A-Palette (4 Premo Color Recipes)

1-A: Firetruck 2-A: Running Boards 3-A: Emergency 4-A: Painted Ladder

Firetruck represents the deep rich red found in the crevices of the firetruck, where the color had deepened over time and was spared from the bleaching sun. Running Boards is the timeworn black with just a hint of brown from the years of rolling over sidewalks and dirt piles, heading to imaginary fires. Emergency is a the yellow pinstripe found on the side of the vintage fire engine. And Painted Ladder is the creamy white color of the aging paint on the firetrucks ladder and the hood of the cab.

To download the 4 color recipe cards, click here: Firetruck Palette

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Member Benefits Vol-051: Jewelry & Projects

Hey Cindy, great question. I started making polymer clay beads and continue to, because I always found myself looking at a piece of jewelry and saying “I could do that”. Especially if it was an art piece that I felt I couldn’t afford. I can afford polymer clay and just love the feeling I get when someone exclaims “You made that??” It’s a great feeling.  So for me projects that are one of a kind, for me to wear are what I am looking for. Thanks. ~Susan-K >> This comment was originally posted at: Your Reasons For Making Polymer Clay Beads

Cindy, this is a wonderful tutorial. It never ceases to amaze me how you come up with your tricks to make things happen! I found your site a short time after I decided I wanted to learn how to work with polymer clay. I’ve been a teacher my entire adult life, so I know a good teacher when I see one. I also know an outstanding value. I watched your three free videos and immediately signed up for membership. You give us far more for our money than any other site – most single tutorials at other sites cost more than our monthly membership, which gives us 4 tutorials and 12 color recipes each month. After only a few months of using your techniques, I was already selling my polymer clay jewelry. ~Linda-K >> This comment was originally posted at the following link: Leopard Cane Tutorial Video

Today I sold several sets of beads (my sets range from 5-12 beads a piece) including the faux bone beads….  it went well. I feel great because my beads will be “out there” being used and loved. We settled on prices easily. I definitely settled on a lower “hourly rate” then I make at my “real job” but I figured right now it’s all good. If I can just make enough to keep my hobby going then that’s good enough. After all, I don’t have years of experience, yet. All in all, I’m happy with the sale of my beads today. Thank you all for your help and your generous and kind words. ~Melinda-H >> This comment was originally posted at the following Beads And Beading link: Wholesale Pricing Tips for Your Polymer Clay Beads

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Video 050-4: Hand Torched Headpins

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Recipe 050-4A: Shale

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Member Benefits 050-4: Tips Baking

Cindy – I wanted to thank you for the tip on curing for an hour instead of the normal recommended time and also for putting it in card stock. I usually would have had problems with white burning or getting darker but that idea worked perfectly and the clay is really strong. I am making miniature snowmen yard art for a swap on a group I belong to. I didn’t want to fool around with trying to cut out 10-15 snowmen out of wood. So I cut them from white clay and just got done painting the first one. It came out quite cute. I really appreciate all the sharing you do. Look forward to each Friday. Have a great day!!! ~Kathy-H >> This comment was originally posted at the following Beads And Beading link: Snowman Beads for Christmas

Anthea B: It’s great you were able to find lots of info using the Search feature. I love using it, too. I’m relatively new to using polymer for jewelry, so I always find I have a “heavy hand” with small items like beads, especially when I use Premo. I have had much better results when I pierce AFTER BAKING. Sometimes I put in tiny pilot holes before baking. Maybe, with time and experience, I will develop a lighter touch and be better at piercing the unbaked clay. As a bonus, I am not limited as to how to string my beads as I would be by piercing before baking. Keep experimenting! I was resistant to “wasting” clay at first, but now I am trying to enjoy the process as much as the result. (I thank Cindy’s wonderful, playful attitude for that!) ~Monique-U >> This comment was originally posted at the following link: Polymer Clay Tutorials

Thanks, Cindy! Another well-done video from you and your talented hubby. Some smart tips here, on how to attach a veneer or other cane to a baked piece. This addresses how important the “grain” is in wood-grain. As Cindy mentions in the tute, beginners may want to start with a solid heart/shape… or take her advice to “heart” (LOL) – by taking your time, and being patient with it! I’m inspired. Thanks again! Hope everyone has fun with this… I’ll be watching for other member’s projects at the Face book Gallery page. ~Phaedrakat >> This comment was originally posted at the following link: Faux Wood Veneer Video

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Video 050-3: Texture Texture Texture

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Recipe 050-3A: Sage

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Member Benefits 050-3: Fun Events Contests

Wouldn’t it be cool if we could all get together! Thanks to Cindy’s wonderful way of teaching we each have something different to share. She gives us the basics of the various techniques and then encourages us to ‘go for it’ on our own. I’d wager that everyone who participated in this contest would say that they have grown artistically because of it. Thank you so much, Cindy, and thanks go to each of you who submitted such fabulous work! ~Carolyn-F >> This comment was originally posted at the following link: Polymer Clay Tutor Contest

Hi Cindy, Just wanted to say I was moved to tears hearing about your wonderful dream now becoming reality of the PC roadtrip around North America. It is a brilliant idea and I only wish it was happening in UK! I was moved because I remembered your lovely blog about your flower essay and how your teacher crushed your burgeoning creativity and then you showed us the interview with Sir Ken Robinson. I found myself totally agreeing with him and you about how important it is to encourage and honour the creative spark. You have done this and with such generosity. You are a wonderful example to us all about the value of following your dream, because then, somehow the universe rewards you tenfold. I wish you a hugely successful and enjoyable roadtrip (am so-o-o envious in a nice way!). I wish to add that I believe every polymer clay artist becomes an addict and therefore none of us can  resist buying Premo in every colour, Perfect Pearls, Lisa Pavelka foils and texture sheets, Makins extruders and cutters, Rangers alcohol ink etc etc not to mention the pasta machine, the tissue blades and all the jewellery findings (and I’ve only been doing this for a year!).  Love and best wishes to you, your family and all your fellow polymer clay addicts. ~Helen-M >> This comment was originally posted at the following link: PcT Roadtrip Virtual Petition

A BIG THANK YOU INDEED Cindy you and Doug are so thoughtful and giving. I love that the two of you make such a wonderful team. I probably would be on to another craft by now if it wasn’t for the two of you. Now I just have to take those good days and turn them into clay days. With this type of timeline even those who don’t have many good days still have a chance to get into this contest. You have thought of everything. Many Hugs and Uuuuuugggs to you and Doug from the bottom of my heart. ~Peggy-B >> This comment was originally posted at the following link: Polymer Clay Bead Giveaway Contest

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Video 050-2: Ranunculus Flower

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Recipe 050-2A: Stonecrop

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Member Benefits 050-2: Beyond Beginners

It was such a treat to spend a bit of time with you, and I came away so impressed by your enthusiasm and dedication to polymer artisans the world over. You provide an amazing source of information and inspiration, and it’s all presented with that sweet smile of yours! ~Julie-P >> This comment was originally posted at the following link: Julie Picarello Polymer Clay Meetup

Cindy’s website is bursting with tips and tricks for polymer clay beadmaking, and she runs a successful business, selling video tutorials on the subject. Recently when I was needing a refresher about an aspect of transferring photos onto polymer, a Google search brought me straight to Cindy, who had a very clear description of the process. It answered my question (and I few I hadn’t thought to ask). ~Lisa-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Morning Coffee with Lisa Clarke

Cindy, I may not be your average site audience but I’m around the craft community enough to see you’ve worked your butt off getting your name out there, doing research, asking respectful questions and then compiling the results. It’s easy to say nice things about that sort of hard work. ~Elaine-R >> This comment was originally posted at the following link: Polymer Cane Color Ways by Elaine Robitaille

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Video 050-1: Mermaid Scales

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Recipe 050-1A: Sedum

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