Polymer Clay Mini Art Tiles ......

..... better known as Inchies.

We have been having such pleasant weather I couldn't decide if I should work in the yard or stay inside and play with clay.... the mosquitos helped me solve that problem.  I did do a little weeding and I have to water my flowers but I don't stay out for long, my arms are covered in bites,  the mosquitos seem to be particularly vicious this year.  You should have seen my poor black cats ears, they are covered in bites and he has scratched them bloody. I got medicine from the vet, kept him inside for several days and they are better now..... although he doesn't appreciate the salve on his ears (I bribe him with treats) and he doesn't like staying inside all the time.

I am taking part in an Inchie swap and once I finished the ones for the swap I was having so much fun I just kept going.  Here are the ones I've made so far.  I have plans to use them in many different projects which I will share with you when they are done.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

Set of 3 in purple and green.

I used PearlEx to give the gathers and folds a satin shimmer.

Shades of purple and orange with layers and textures.

Mostly purple, I used some of my canes to make these.

Closer look at the top 3 above. These have a modern art theme.

I used one of my extruded border cane on these. The top two also include stained glass window canes.

I textured the background with sandpaper and then decorated with a border cane and stripes of metallic green clay. I highlighted the strips with PearlEx.

Layered and textured little houses with a PearlEx shine.

Layers and textures mostly in shades of blue.

Layers and textures in reds and greens.  Highlighted with PearlEx metallic powders.

I like the darker colors on these.

I think these are my favorites, I like the design and colors on the background and the whimsy of the textured strips.

I ordered some bezel blanks so I can make pendants with some of the little tiles. I have one of Lisa Pavelka's bezel settings so I popped one of the tiles in to see how it looks.

I also got out my stash of Texture samples to see how the tiles would look on them.  This  texture was made with a Jacquard ribbon.

Same texture sample with a different tile.

More texture samples with complimentary tiles.

I can also use the tiles on journal covers, boxes, and all sorts of things. Or I can use them with beads to make jewelry.  I can use them with wire too.... or maybe I will sell sets in my Etsy shop.  I just like making them.

That's it for now.

Thanks for stopping by.

Polymer Clay Beads

So far it has been a busy summer, I've had difficulty finding time to clay. I have made a few beads in between gardening and other chores.

These beads are all from my scrap bin. I was attempting to make "bead guts" and instead kept coming up with colors I like, to good for guts.  First I made the  sage green I used on these half and half beads then I grabbed a handful of scraps and after kneading and twisting I ran it thought the pasta machine to finish the conditioning and it started producing these pretty stripes..... so they became the other half of the half and half beads instead of the guts.  I did finally manage a muddy brown suitable for guts but it wasn't easy..... a lot of the time I even like the browns.

I used canes to make these.

This was a square kaleidoscope cane in purple, white and sage green.

I had a tiny piece of a purple striped cane that I used to made these.

Mokume Gane Polymer Clay Pendants and beads made in silver and green.

Close up of MG Heart with coin beads

Back of heart pendant and beads.

The other pendant and round beads.

Assorted beads in blue and green

The larger oval bead has a textured design from a vintage button and I added little turtles on the side of the long beads.

The striped beads are from a striped cane

and the textured heart coin beads  have the same designs on both sides, one side has more silver

and the other side has more blue.

A couple flower pendants that have been sitting on my work table for months.... I finally stuck them in the oven. The top one is made from a flower petal cane and the other I cut ovals and textured the veins with my stylus.  I also added a touch of PearlEx to give them more shine. 

This is just an assortment of doodads. a stamped butterfly, a couple bug critters and a steampunk heart.

And here is a couple chunky twisted beads, I will add wire to these and make pendants.

And last is a couple pair of charms for earrings that I made with yet more scraps.

I signed up for another swap, I now have to get busy making 24 inchies. Took me  time to decide what I wanted to do. I think I will make zentangle inchies. 

That's it for this week.  I always look forward to your questions and comments. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

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.