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.

Polymer Clay Pen & Twinchie Swap

We just finished the latest International Polymer Clay Swap on Facebook, The theme for this one was "Polymer Clay Covered Pen & a Twinchie"   For those of you who don't know what a "twinchie" is (like my friend Moe)  it is like an "Inchie" only bigger.  An inchie is a 1 inch square tile and a twinchie is a 2 inch square tile.  The way they are decorated is up to the creator.

I used my scrap cobblestone cane to make the pen and twinchie for my partner Paula.

I made two twinches, couldn't decide which to send so I sent both..... along with matching beads so Paula can make a necklace if she wants to.  Here is close of up the first one with the beads.

This is the second one. I also used strips of a simple border cane on this one. It's a little funky, but I like funky.

And this is a close up of the pen.

Here is the gorgeous pen and  adorable twinchie I received from  Paula.   I love the Delft colors and design.

I have a cup of coffee when I first get up but the rest of the day I drink tea so the teapot and matching cup are perfect. Isn't it charming? I love it. She even has tea pouring from the spout.

And here is a closer look at the pretty pen.

The "International Polymer Clay Swap" group have  had 5 one on one Swaps  so far. I participated in 4, I missed the first one but you can bet I won't miss anymore.  It has been great fun to see what everyone makes, so many talented artist...  and it's been a joy getting to know folks from all around the world.

The theme for the next swap is "Fantasy Vessels &  a Twinchie".  If you would like to join in the fun  all you have to do is join the group and sign up for the swap.  For more information click here 

Heather and I have been hard at work planting flowers.... she does all the digging and I do the hard part... telling her where to dig.  I'm a darn good supervisor. My yard is looking good... yip, I will be posting photos soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Polymer Clay Beads

Here are some of the beads I made before our trip to Kansas.  I finally got around to editing the photos.

I have 100's of canes and I am running out of room to store them so I thought it a good idea to made beads....


This is a simple border cane I made with my extruder.  The colors are lime, charcoal gray and black.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

I trimmed the ends and used the scraps to make these beads.

I will use them with this mirror image tile to make a necklace.

I used the scrap Cobblestone cane to make these, the top three are textured with sandpaper.

Layered square beads made from a Cobblestone cane.

Back of the square beads.

This cane was a little crumbly.... so I gave up using it for beads.... I will try softening it with liquid Kato before I attempt more beads. I love the colors and the stained glass design.

It's good to have a ready supply of black and white beads.  I made these with a black and white cane.

I made tube beads from one of my favorite canes. I love these colors together. I used one of my Tiny Peg Stamps from Meer Image Stamps to stamp the little turtles on each end, aren't they fun? Steven  has an abundance of wonderful stamps, if you are not familiar with his site, give yourself a treat and check it out.

More beads from the same cane. I made a bracelet with the tube beads....I am pleased with the way it turned out.... so is my daughter, she glommed on to it before her sister saw it.  I will take photos soon.

I am making more beads from my cane stash. Plus, I am working on this mixed media necklace. The center of the pendant is made of layered and folded polymer clay framed with woven wire.  I created asymmetrical wire and bead components  on each side and will finish with either a hand made chain or  silk cord.

Okay, that's it for today..... I have to water my flowers and then back to making beads. See you soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

My Aunt Betty

I wasn't able to post on my blog last week.  My dear sweet Aunt Betty was critically ill and we made a quick trip to Kansas to see her before she passed.  We arrived tuesday evening, she had just been brought home from the hospital and was under the care of Hospice, It was a blessing to have time  with her, she knew who I was and I'm pretty sure she was pleased to know I was there.  She was surrounded by her loving family and went to meet her Maker the next morning.  I  know she was joyfully met by the love of her life, her handsome husband Gene.

Aunt Betty was a special person in my life.  She was my Mom's younger sister.  My Dad died in WWII. I was just a toddler and my brother was born 6 months after he died. My mom was devastated and Betty came to live with us. She was a great help to Mom and I bonded with Betty like a baby goose bonds with what ever it sees first. I followed her everywhere, I adored her and felt safe when she was near. That feeling has lasted throughout my life.....   We haven't seen each other often for many years but we always kept in touch by letter, phone and lately by email.  She was 82 years old and the computer gave her fits.... but she gave it the old college try.  Her daughter, Gina, tells me there are many emails meant for me that accidentally ended up in her draft box.

I know that she is in a better place but I miss her.

I love this picture of me.... about age 4.... and my beautiful Aunt Betty