Polymer Clay Covered Tins

I finally finished my "Fantasy Vessel"  for the International Polymer Clay Swaps on Facebook.  It was my first time covering a tin and I also tried my hand at a little sculpting.  I can't show you that tin until it   reaches my swap partner in Italy. However when I was scrounging around I found a couple other tins that wanted to be covered , I can show you those.

I went with an "under the sea" theme.  The twinchie at the top is a reject, the one I swapped is much better.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

I made the fish to put on the tin but haven't attached it yet.  I may use it as a pendant or a brooch and put something else on the tin....

Close up of the fish.

Here is how it looks on the tin. What do you think?  Should I glue it on?  

Close up of the Seahorse tin.  They have a bit of a steampunk flair.

Back of the tins

I made beads with the left over clay.

More beads, I want to make more starfish beads but I have to condition more silver clay. My silver Kato  is to firm and the Premo is to soft so I will mix the two together to get the right consistency. 

Here is another twinchie and a folded pendant with some of the beads.

My next project is making 2 dozen inchies for another swap.... in the mean time I returned to my cane stash to make more beads.  Next time I post I will show you those. Right now I have a hoard of grandkids & other family members coming over. They will be arriving  soon and they will be hungry. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Polymer Clay Journal Covers

Every year when my daughter, Heather. flies off to Texas for the annual YaYa Sisterhood retreat. And every year  I send polymer clay gifts to her sister YaYa'ers.  I usually send jewelry but this year I decided to give them Polymer Clay Journals.  I had several journals made, only needed  two more.  Heather left thursday and my muse was not cooperating, she was in a jewelry mood ..... and then at the last minute she came through.... that was a relief.

Plus I had other distractions. The handyman was here bright and early wednesday morning to fix the gutters above my studio window.  For most folks this wouldn't be a problem but I am not a "bright and early" gal.... 10:30 or 11:00 is more my speed and I found it distracting to have a stranger just outside my window. Made me feel like a monkey at the zoo.  But I was glad to have the gutter fixed, no more leaks..... just in time too, we had a big rain today.

I tell ya I am talking to myself more and more these days..... thank goodness I have cats.... they think I am talking to them.  When I go from one room to another to get something..... the scissors,  the glue, a needle, my glasses, coffee.... I find if I say it out loud I have a better chance of remembering what I 'm after when I get to the other room..... and I won't spend an hour or two doing things in that other room,....the dishes, sweeping the floor,  taking out the trash, which leads to doing thing in the yard..... see how easily I get sidetracked...no wonder it took so long to make two journal covers.   Now what was I doing? Oh yeah, telling you about the journals.

Here is the first one.  I made the background fairly quickly.  I played around with scrap clay and then added strips textured with Jacquard ribbon. I highlighted the designs with PearlEx powders.  I tried different doodad and finally settled on a flying snake for the focal point.   This one is for Ginny, she likes my flying snakes.

Close up of the snake.  I textured his body with a plastic net bag that originally contained cherry tomatoes.  He has green rhinestone eyes, I textured his wings with my stylus.

I made a Skinner blend variegated background  for the second journal cover.

I stared at it for a couple days and then went through my "critter" stash and decided on the bird.

But what else?  I tried flowers and leaves first.... didn't like'em so I got out hunks of tinted translucent clay and made a couple designs.  The one at the top is accented with a flower and textured dots.

and the one at the bottom looks a bit  like a picket fence made of pineapple life savers.  Don't you think it looks yummy?  I do.   I secured the bird to the cover with liquid clay.

 It was good to have them finished... I hope the YaYa's like them.

I have also been trying to keep up with my flowers.  Fritz likes to hang out when I'm outside working. Here he is lounging by the flower  pots.....

and here he is taking a nap. He's a silly cat, when I turn on the hose he likes to use it as a pillow. I guess he likes the sound of the water or maybe it's cool?  who knows?

Here is my new chicken planter, isn't she cool?  I went to Rural King to get the fencing and just couldn't resist.  They had some cool horse planters to.... maybe next time.  You know what else they have a Rural King that I love.... salt water taffy.... cinnamon and vanilla.... my two favorite flavors.

My next project is to made a fantasy themed covered tin and a twinchie for the latest Facebook swap.  I've never covered a tin and once again my muse is MIA, nothing "fantasy" is coming to mind..... better come up with something soon, I'd like to get it mailed next week.  Any suggestions?

 In the mean time I'm making beads.

That is it for today.

Thanks for stopping by.

Polymer Clay Beads

I made a few beads but I haven't had time to blog.... I've been working in my yard and if i do say so myself it looks pretty darn good.  Or at least it did. We had a big storm come through last week that did some damage to my flowers but they are starting to come back.

Here's a photo of the corner garden before the storm. All the clematis blossoms were knocked off by the rain and wind but the vines are covered in buds and will be in full bloom once again in a few days.... the left side has lighter purple blossoms and the lilies below are a bright orange and will be blooming soon too.

Before I show you my latest beads here is the bracelet I made with the tube beads.

another view of the bracelet.

I seem to be on a green kick lately.... I made a focal bead with a gold "crater".....

and then green and orange beads to go with it.  I used a cane for the orange beads.

I call these my "Moon Crater" beads.  I highlighted the inside of the craters with gold and bronze PearlEx.

I made coin beads to use with the "Moon Crater" beads.

This is an assortment of beads I made from mostly cobblestone cane scraps.

These coin beads are from a small cobblestone cane plus 4 swirly beads from the same cane.  I used a watch gear to make the indent in the center of the swirly beads and then highlighted with PearlEx.

This is the back of the above beads.  I used a small border cane scrap to make the design on the back.

End pieces from reduced canes made interesting beads.

I used strips of scrap to make these.

I like to burn scented candles. I buy the little cheapy ones from Walmart. As a result I have lots of small empty candle jars. I can't bring myself to toss them in the recycle ben.....I keep telling myself  I will cover them in clay... and maybe I will.... but in the mean time I can use them to store my beads.

They look kinda cool.... hummmm ... I might even sell them in the jars....

I am now working on a couple journal covers and I have to make a covered tin for the latest Facebook Swap.... but first I am going to go out side and do a little tree trimming.

Thanks for stopping by.