Video #237: “I’d love to see some tips on how to patina different types of wire and metal.” ~Michelle-A

Although I don’t usually start out a new Volume Series with a tutorial that is not specifically about polymer clay, today’s lesson does tie in nicely with the last video from Vol-043-4: Fancy Rose Earwires. For the sample jewelry pieces in that tute, I used Liver of Sulfur to create an old-fashioned Patina finish on the metal earring wires.

Plus… I’ve received some recent requests asking for more information about how to use Liver of Sulfur for tarnishing metal in various types of jewelry making projects.

This may not be a question you are used to… but I want to use liver of sulfur for my chains and I have no clue what the best is to buy. I did find one for $10 dollars, and I would not use much of it. Can you answer this one? Hugs. ~Susan-P

There are a few ways to give metals such as copper, brass, bronze and silver an antique patina. One way, is to use Liver of Sulfur which is a naturally formed chemical that gives deep rich shades of patina ranging from golden yellow, red, bronze and gunmetal gray through a process of oxidation.

It is an easy and quick way to darken and give depth to wire and metal findings; to accentuate texture; or to give the piece a vintage feel. After antiquing a metal item, it can then be polished to bring back the original shine on the high spots, while leaving a beautiful patina in the crevices. This creates contrast and interest with stunning effects.

A liver of Sulfur treatment on the intricate wire work of the Fancy Rose Earwires, helps to accentuate the details of the rose petals and make them more visible.

Even though Liver of Sulfur is quite simple to use, there are definitely some tips, tricks and safety issues to learn, before using this chemical patination process.  That’s what I’ll be discussing tomorrow (Friday, January 6, 2012) in the Vol-044-1 members video at the Polymer Clay Tutor Library.

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Please Note: A general prerequisite for all of my weekly tutorials is that you have a good understanding of the polymer clay basics, including: conditioning clay, using a pasta machine, clay blade and other simple tools, making Skinner Blends or Teardrop Blends, baking clay, as well as sanding and finishing. If you need help in these areas, my Polymer Clay Beginners Course will get you up to speed quickly. There is also plenty of free information on this blog. Use the search box at the top of the page to find articles on specific topics.

Supplies & Tools: Video-044-1 Liver of Sulfur:

• Fancy Rose Earwires or any other Copper Alloy Metal findings, such as Copper, Brass, Bronze, Sterling Silver, Silver Plate or Silver Filled pieces. These should be non-ferrous metals (not containing Iron, so no Steel), as combining Iron with Liver of Sulfur can cause toxic gasses. Metals that do not contain any Copper, such as Aluminum or Fine Silver will not tarnish from Liver of Sulfur.
• Liver of Sulphur. I prefer the XL Gel (Extended Life Liver of Sulfur Patina Oxidation Gel ) formula over either of the dry Rock type or the Liquid Sulphur. See video for reasons why. As a slower and less effective but cheaper alternative to using Liver of Sulphur, you can patina your pieces by placing them inside a plastic Ziploc bag along with a chopped hard boiled egg (shell and all). The sulfur contained in the egg will darken the metal.
• Hot Water. Boiled water cooled slightly.
• 2 Glass or Plastic Containers. Not metal or enamel.
• Plastic spoon or stir stick.
• Rubber Gloves.
• Non-steel tweezers, tongs or spoon for removing pieces from the solution.
• Baking Soda.
• Towel.
• Rubbing Alcohol and Paper Towel, or hot soapy water for cleaning metal.
• Fine Grit Sandpaper or Metal Polishing Cloth.
• Coffee Cup Warmer (optional).
  

The full version of the Vol-044-1 Liver of Sulfur video will be posted in the Polymer Clay Members Library on Friday January 6, 2012.

Here’s a sneak peak…

Here’s That “Link Below” Referred To at End of the Video

Polymer Clay Tutorials

The full version of the “Liver of Sulfur” preview video shown above, is now avail for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Vol-044 Back Issue Pkg.

Customer Feedback About Membership Value:

I can’t believe I was able to survive all this time (over 5 decades) without this wonderful site LOL. Now I get why everyone is always so psyched for Fridays! Anybody out there still not a member? GET ON BOARD. Have a great (claying) weekend everyone! ~Monique-U

I bought Cindy’s Beginner Course tonight… now I have her with me all the time. I can correct all the little mistakes that were causing me so much trouble. Just watched two of the videos and I have made some corrections in my beading technique. Well worth the cost… don’t know why I waited so long. I guess since I got paid for a dozen snowmen I felt that I could put them money to good use. Cindy’s videos make working with polymer clay a lot more fun and productive. ~Natalie-H

If you are not a member – join NOW! This is the best site ever. Want to learn more? Of course you do. The price of $3.32 a month, is unbelievable – you get so much for so little. That is $9.95 every 3 months – what a bargain. Tutorials, color recipes, the most giving group of “clay family”, advice and lots of tips from Cindy and Doug, stories to go along with all the lovely pictures. What are you waiting for (maybe a Christmas gift… to you?) Please enter into our clay world. ~Patt-W

The following topics are included in this week’s Polymer Clay Tutor Library, Liver of Sulfur video tutorial:

• See examples of Silver and Copper Earwires and a Copper Cuff, antiqued using a Liver of Sulfur Solution.
• Find out how simple it is to create these wonderfully patina finishes.
• Learn important tips for mixing and using Liver of Sulfur in a safe and effective way.
• Plus, with some creativity and ingenuity, there are many ways to come up with other unique uses of your own.

By the way, if you did not already know, those “shopping” links I provided above for the various tools and supplies, are “affiliate” links. That means companies like Amazon pay me a small commission if you click on the links and end up making a purchase at their site. It’s not a lot, but every bit helps in keeping the cost of my tutorials so low… at only $3.32 per month ;-)

The full version of the “Liver of Sulfur” preview video shown above, is now avail for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Vol-044 Back Issue Pkg.

Video Tutorials:
1: Rose Petal Beads;
2: Fill Bezels with Clay;
3: Wax Polishing Your Beads;
4: Grape Hyacinth Cane:

Well another month has gone by and the Volume-034 Back Issue Videos have now been added to the Polymer Clay Library. If you missed your chance to see these tutorials as they were released each Friday during the month of March, now is your chance to add them to your collection as a convenient bundled package.

Today’s photo shows thumbnail images for the 4 videos included in this Vol-034 Package:

Video-034-1 Rose Petal Beads: Sometimes your jewelry creations have a much more important purpose than just looking beautiful. By incorporating the dried petals of Roses and other flowers gathered from a special occasion… such as a Wedding; Graduation; Birth of a New Baby; or the Memorial of a loved one; the beads you make can hold deep significance and meaning. Many Rose Petal Bead “recipes” suggest that you use the whole flower, boiled down to a dark, black/brown (and smelly) sludge, which is then molded into “traditional” rosary style beads. But polymer clay allows you to create a more modern, prettier version that will preserve the meaning and the beauty of any important event. Not only are these Polymer Clay Flower Petal Beads gorgeous, but they are easy to make as well… what could be better than that!

Video-034-2 Fill Bezels with Polymer Clay: With Mixed Media Jewelry being such a hot trend these days, there are many unique jewelry components becoming available in the marketplace. Metal Bezels for example. They allow you to showcase your polymer clay designs and techniques in very creative ways. Although bezels are relatively easy to combine with polymer clay, there are some tips and tricks for using them, that will make the process go a lot smoother. So if you like to use bezels in your jewelry designs, this is a must tutorial.

Video-034-3 Wax Polishing Your Beads: In my opinion, nothing is prettier and more professional looking than a silky smooth glass finish, on smooth-surface polymer clay beads. And the best way to achieve this is by sanding well and buffing… no finish coatings required. But sanding and buffing is time consuming… especially with tiny round beads, or sculpted and molded ones. An alternative to getting a nice sheen on your polymer clay beads, without having to do a ton of sanding, or finishing using heavy gloss coatings (i.e. Future Floor Polish, Varathane, Sculpey Glaze, etc.), is to use a paste wax such as Minwax. In this tutorial I will share with you my time tested tips and tricks for using a paste wax to make the chore of finishing beads, a whole lot easier.

Video-034-4 Grape Hyacinth Cane: The Grape Hyacinth is a tiny little flowering bulb that sends up a cluster of blue or purple flowers in the early Spring. It is the perfect image to capture in a stylized polymer clay flower cane. Because its triangular shape is echoed in other flowers as well, you can make several different flower cane designs from this pattern, just by simply changing the color combinations. That means you get 2… no 3… no 10 polymer clay cane designs for the price of one. Now that’s one pretty awesome cane!

Also included in this Volume-034 back issue package, are the A-Series recipe cards from the Bluebell Palette.

To read feedback from members who have already benefited from the videos and recipes in this Vol-034 back issue package, click here: Rose Petal Beads | Fill Bezels with Polymer Clay | Wax Polishing Your Polymer Clay Beads | Grape Hyacinth Cane

And, Sneak Peak Preview Clips are available for viewing here: Polymer Clay Tutorials [Videos]

If anyone else would like to add a review for any of the videos or color recipes in Volume-034, I would love to hear from you. Or if you have not yet purchased this back issue and have a question, ask away. In either case, use the comments section below.

***********************************

Vid #196: “Is there
any information about
using Minwax with polymer
clay? I tried it on a sample
piece. It looks good now, but
will it stay good?” ~Claycass

In my opinion, nothing is prettier and more professional looking than a silky smooth glass finish, on smooth-surface, polymer clay beads. And the best way to achieve this is by sanding well and buffing… no finish coatings required.

But sanding and buffing is time consuming… especially with tiny round beads, or sculpted and molded ones.

An alternative to getting a nice sheen on your polymer clay beads, without having to do a ton of sanding, or finishing using heavy gloss coatings (i.e. Future Floor Polish, Varathane, Sculpey Glaze, etc.), is to use a paste wax such as Minwax.

Is there any information about using Minwax with polymer clay? I found it at Home Depot. I liked the word “polyacrylic” on the label, so I purchased some. But I have not figured out how to speed up the time test of “does it get sticky several months later.” I tried it on a sample piece. It looks good now, but will it stay good? I would be interested in hearing other peoples’ experience with this particular product. ~Claycass

I have actually known about wax polishing for some time now, but didn’t want to talk too much about this finishing technique until I had a chance to do some testing for myself.

Those of you who have been around this site for awhile, know that I only pass along quality, trusted information. So if I am going to share or demonstrate a technique, I always try to test first hand, so that I know for sure it works.

When sharing ideas that I have not actually done myself, I will let you know that right up front. It is very important to me that you guys experience as much success as possible with your polymer clay journey… so being able to trust what you learn here, is key.

Well… awhile back I finally got the chance to use some paste wax as a way of polishing my polymer clay beads. Doug’s parents were downsizing and passed along some of their old cleaning supplies to me. In the box was a tin of Minwax Paste Finishing Wax. I took this as a sign that I should finally see if it would work as others have claimed, for polishing beads.

And since it is always good to give a fair amount of time for any finish you use with polymer, to react with the clay if it is going to, my “test” has been in progress for the last 6 months.

Now it is finally time to share my results and pass along some tips and tricks for getting a nice glossy finish, when wax polishing your polymer clay beads. So, coming up tomorrow (Friday, March 18th, 2011) in the Vol-034-3 video at the Polymer Clay Library, I will tell all.

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As a bit of an aside… I should point out that not everyone agrees when it comes to best practices, or preferred methods for finishing polymer clay beads… and that’s OK. Here are some comments that have been shared in previous posts…

Not everyone thinks shiny is beautiful. Of course if there are fingerprints and blemishes, then sanding probably is a good idea. ~Heha-M

I don’t use any wax or varnish or finish (I personally dislike such treatments, and few stand up to my stress tests anyway). I just buff them by Dremel or by hand depending on whether I want a glassy or satin finish. ~Sue-F

… not having to use a thick messy gloss coating is a bonus, and looks more natural I think. ~Elizabeth-K

I was pleased with applying Johnson’s Wax to my beads after tumbling. I applied the wax twice and buffed with a soft microfiber cloth from the Dollar Store. They had a nice shine on them when finished. ~Cassandra-W

I’ve had good luck creating clay sheets that mimic the appearance and feel of real Corinthian leather to cover altoid tins and pens. To finish, I threw on a sepia wash, wiped that down, baked again, then rubbed with Dutch floor Carnauba Wax, and buffed, buffed, buffed. ~Jocelyn-C

I love the finishing of the beads …how to make them all shiny and professional looking. Thank you for providing these awesome techniques. ~Rada-F

Can I ask if anyone has used wax to polish beads? I have been reading about Renaissance Wax and wondered if it is any good. ~Ritzs

Renaissance Wax smells horrible! And it only lasts for a short while. ~Koolbraider

Inevitably I have to write in defense of Renaissance Wax. For a start the smell is subjective – I love the smell! Secondly, it lasts. To quote one article about the wax “When thinly applied and rubbed out to full lustre, the wax film is (and remains) glass-clear, with no discoloration either of the wax or the underlying surface.” To quote the manufactures: “Renaissance wax polish was originally formulated in the British Museum research laboratories in the early 1950′s… The blend which emerged from (that) research was ‘designed’ for long term protection of all classes of museum exhibits. At last museum technicians and others caring for important collections could use wax polish that neither caused future conservation problems nor detracted from the intrinsic values of their treasures… The product was quickly accepted in the international museum world and has become a universally respected standard conservation material – probably the most widely specified – because of its almost unlimited uses.” And to quote another commentator: “It has a crystalline structure much finer than totally natural waxes, a property that confers a highly efficient moisture resistance. Countless statues and monuments in city streets are now protected by Renaissance wax from weathering corrosion.” (What you always wanted to know!) So, properties for us clayers? It provides a luster, easily (and the more coats you put on the more luster you get); it preserves if you want to use it for projects which will be outside (or indeed on windowsills and subject to light), it does not stain or darken (even white paper), and one uses such a small amount a small tin goes on forever. I love it! ~Penny-V

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Please Note: A general prerequisite for all of my weekly tutorials is that you have a good understanding of the polymer clay basics, including: conditioning clay, using a pasta machine, clay blade and other simple tools, making Skinner Blends or Teardrop Blends, baking clay, as well as sanding and finishing. If you need help in these areas, my Polymer Clay Beginners Course will get you up to speed quickly. There is also plenty of free information on this blog. Use the search box at the top of the page to find articles on specific topics.

Supplies & Tools: Video-034-3 Wax Polishing Your Beads:

• Unfinished polymer clay beads. Wax polishing is a particularly useful finishing technique for beads which are difficult or tedious to sand and buff properly, such as small round beads or molded / sculpted pieces. The beads you use for this tutorial can be sanded or unsanded, but should be blemish and fingerprint free. Please note, that that the “garbage in garbage out” principle applies. In other words, if you use polishing wax on a crappy looking bead, al tht you will end up with is a crappy looking bead that has a sheen to it :-)
• Minwax Paste Finishing Wax or equivalent. You can try other brands as well, including Carnauba Wax, Renaissance Wax, or other pastes which do not contain a cleaner in them. I have only worked with the Minwax brand, so you will need to do your own testing if you want to use an alternative. If should you decide to try other products, please let everyone know how things worked out. It is always helpful and appreciated here, when you share information about your own experiences. As far as where to buy the Minwax, I was able to find it online at the Home Depot website, so it is readily available. And if you like purchasing through Amazon, here is the link  to where they sell this product: Minwax
• Soft cotton cloth.
• Dremel tool with felt buffing wheel (optional).
• Larger Sculpey Etch and Pearl Tool or fine knitting needle (optional).

The full version of the Vid-034-3 Wax Polishing video will be posted in the Polymer Clay Members Library on Friday March 18th, 2011. But if you would like to see a sneak peek intro clip right now, scroll down the page a bit to the video player below.

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Here’s That “Link Below” Referred To at End of the Video
>> Polymer Clay Tutorials <<

The full version of the “Wax Polishing” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Volume-034 Back Issue Package.

Customer Feedback About Membership Value:

Cindy – I think what I enjoy the most – and what keeps your tutorials fresh – is the sense of curiosity and detail you share with us. With your own twists you create such beautiful techniques… as we preview the next lesson we can just hear the enthusiasm in your voice, AND it’s simple too!!? Can’t ask for more than that, a treasure trove of inspiration at such a reasonable cost. ~DJ

Wow, Cindy… I can’t believe anyone would email you about ripping them off! I still think the best thing we can do is spread the word. I know when I first came upon this site, and saw the preview videos… I wanted “more”, but was afraid to join. I didn’t know if the site was “legit” or worthwhile at first. I was ignorant of online tutorials at the time, and hadn’t purchased one before. There are people out there who just want to hear someone they know or trust, say it’s OK, and that you really DO get “all that” for under $10. I think Cindy has kept the price low because it’s easier for someone to commit $9.95 to something “unknown.” It worked for me, and now I try to tell everyone about it! ~Phaedrakat

Cindy, this is money well spent so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!!! ~Wendy-B

The following topics are included in this week’s Polymer Clay Tutor Library, Wax Polishing Your Polymer Clay Beads video tutorial:

• See examples of several beads polished using this Minwax product.
• Discussion of the tools and materials needed to create your own beautifully polished and professional looking polymer clay beads and jewelry.
• Learn about how to get that perfect finish on those difficult or tedious beads to sand and buff.
• And of course, tips on how to use this technique to get exactly the look you want!

The full version of the “Wax Polishing” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Volume-034 Back Issue Package.

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Video Tutorials:
1: Texture Plates;
2: Distressed Paint Finish;
3: Embossed Metal Stamps;
4: Pumpkin Canes:

With yet another month gone by, the Volume-029 Back Issue Videos have now been added to the Polymer Clay Library. If you missed your chance to see these tutes as they were released each Friday during the month of October, now is your chance to add them to your collection as a convenient bundled package.

Today’s photo shows thumbnail images for the 4 videos included in this Vol-029 Package:

Video-029-1 Sculpey MoldMaker Texture Plates: As a jewelry designer, you should always be looking for ways to give your beads that extra special, one-of-a-kind look. You want your work to reflect who you are as an artist, with designs that really speak to that originality. So how can you do that if everyone is using the same mass produced texture plates? Make your own of course!!

Video-029-2 Distressed Paint Finish: The versatility of this medium… Polymer Clay… never ceases to amaze me! One cool technique is distressed paint finishes, which look especially great on textured polymer clay surfaces. And since you just learned out how to make your own texture plates in the previous Vol-029-1 tutorial, this is the perfect time to show you how to add a distressed finish to your polymer clay beads and pendants.

Video-029-3 Embossed Metal Stamps: Would you like to make your own word stamp or signature stamp to use with your polymer clay projects? One way to do this is with the Sculpey MoldMaker technique that I taught in Video-029-1. However, with word images, you need to reverse them in your mold so they “read” normally when imprinted into your clay. That can get a bit tricky. So another method for making word stamps, is to emboss metal… using supplies that you probably already have in your recycle bin.

Video-029-4 Pumpkin Canes: No matter what time of the year it is, this tutorial on making Pumpkin canes will provide you with valuable tips and techniques for making ANY shaded polymer clay picture cane. The pattern or picture you use for your cane design, can be a simple line drawing that you sketch yourself, one you’ve found in a coloring book, or even a piece of clip art. So many possibilities!

Also included in this Volume-029 back issue package are the A-Series recipe cards from the Beach Pebbles Color Palette.

To read feedback from members who have already benefited from the videos and recipes in this Vol-029 back issue package, click here: Sculpey MoldMaker Texture Plates | Distressed Paint Finish | Embossed Metal Stamps | Pumpkin Canes

And, Sneak Peak Preview Clips are available for viewing here: Polymer Clay Tutorials [Videos]

If anyone else would like to add a review for any of the videos or color recipes in Volume-029, I would love to hear from you. Or if you have not yet purchased this back issue and have a question, ask away. In either case, use the comments section below.

***********************************

“It opens a wide
array of possibilities
for even more surface
treatments.” ~Koolbraider

On October 12th, I posted an intro preview clip for the custom Distressed Paint Finish tutorial.

Today, the full version of this video lesson (Vol-029-2) is available for viewing at the Polymer Clay Members Library. Here is the link: Adding a Distressed Paint Finish To Polymer Clay Surfaces

For anyone who is not yet a paid member, if you did not know, the cost works out to only $3.32 per month. This gives you 24/7 access to the full versions of my Friday video tutes. Plus you also receive four A-series color recipe cards. This week’s color is: Seaside (Vol-029-2A) from the Beach Pebble Polymer Clay Color Palette.

I want to chime in here and say I think $3 to $4 a month for the extremely high quality videos, the personalized help, the recipe cards, free tuts, the 24/7 access, and the list goes on.. is a bargain! All the work you and Doug do that saves US money is worth way more than that. I’m always singing your praises and telling people this is where I get my information and learn the things I do. ~Tanya-L

Overwhelmed after seeing the last three video tuts in a row, I can tell you. Cindy is the best teacher out there for my money. ~Jocelyn-C

Just want to say this site runs very, and I mean, VERY well! Cindy, you give more than our money’s worth! ~Catalina

If you want to become a paid member, here is the link:
Polymer Clay Video Library

Or if you are brand new to polymer clay, the best place to first learn all of the fundamentals is here: Polymer Clay Beginners Course

To browse other video tutorials that are available for purchase without becoming a subscribing member (in other words… just a one time fee), you can go here: Polymer Clay Video Back Issues

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Open Mic… Please use the comment sections of these Friday posts to discuss polymer clay challenges that you need some help with… success stories about your bead and jewelry projects… requests for upcoming video tutorials. In other words, it’s an open mic :-) .

Listed below are the topics that were discussed in the last Friday’s Open Mic comments:

• Amazing Mold Putty vs Sculpey Mold Maker.
  
• Stripping bark off trees.
  
• Robbing onions of their bag.
  
• Removing a casting before baking.
  
• Halloween canes.
  
• Molds with two halves for 3D projects.
  
• Silicon based molds.
• And more…
  

If you need to catch up, here is the link to the article where last week’s topics were discussed in detail: Texture Plates

Otherwise, you can use the comment section below to start talking about some new topics and ideas. Happy Friday!!!

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Vid #175: I purposely
leave little cracks and
scratches in the beads, then
use acrylic paint to antique
them once they’re baked &
sanded.” ~Silverleaf

The versatility of this medium… Polymer Clay… never ceases to amaze me! As I’ve said before, you can mold it, sculpt it, sand, it drill it, layer it, stamp it, make canes with it and even paint it. So far there is little I have found that you can’t do with it.

One cool technique is distressed paint finishes, which look especially great on textured polymer clay surfaces. And since you just learned out how to make your own texture plates in the previous Vol-029-1 tutorial, this is the perfect time to show you how to add a distressed finish to your polymer clay beads and pendants.

Cindy… I love your distressed-paint techniques… I’d love for you to show us! Thanks so much! ~Phaedrakat

This is absolutely awesome Cindy! Can we have a tut on this too?? Like, how to paint on the clay and add distressed finishes? ~Tanya-L

I would love a tutorial about how to paint on polymer clay. ~Cheryl-H

I am a newbie! I was wondering about painting polymer clay. Is that possible? ~Melissa-L

Can you use oil paint on PC? I have tons of oil paint from my painting days that I would hate to waste. ~Melinda-H

I’m a One Stroke decorative painter and one of the reasons I picked up polymer clay was to make pendants to paint on. I couldn’t find what I wanted at the stores, and what I did find was way too expensive. ~Joyce-R

What type of paint do you recommend to color/paint on cured clay? ~Paula-D

Well… on Friday, October 15th, 2010 at the Polymer Clay Library (Vol-029-2), I will answer all of your questions and more, about using paints with polymer clay to create distressed finishes.

Please Note: A general prerequisite for all of my weekly tutorials is that you have a good understanding of the polymer clay basics, including: conditioning clay, using a pasta machine, clay blade and other simple tools, making Skinner Blends or Teardrop Blends, baking clay, as well as sanding and finishing. If you need help in these areas, my Polymer Clay Beginners Course will get you up to speed quickly. There is also plenty of free information on this blog. Use the search box at the top of the page to find articles on specific topics.

Supplies & Tools: Video-029-2 Distressed Paint Finish:

• Baked polymer clay pendant or bead. I used a double sided textured pendant I made using the handmade Texture Plates we made in the Vol-029-1 tutorial.
• Acrylic Craft Paint. Use a decent quality craft paint such as Folk Art, DecoArt or Americana. Super cheap brands will flake and chip easily, and an expensive artist acrylic will have a rubbery feel. DO NOT use an oil based paint for this technique.
• Paint brush.
• Paper towel.
• High grade Micro-Mesh Pad such as 1800 or High Grit wet/dry sandpaper such as 600 – 800 grit.
• Dremel with buffing wheel (optional).
• Blow dryer (optional).

The full version of the Vid-029-2 Distressed Paint Finish video will be posted in the Polymer Clay Members Library on Friday October 15th, 2010. But if you would like to see a sneak peek intro clip right now, scroll down the page a bit to the video player below.

***********************************

Here’s That “Link Below” Referred To at End of the Video
>> Polymer Clay Tutorials <<

The full version of the “Distressed Paint Finish” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Volume-029 Back Issue Package.

Customer Feedback About Membership Value:

Cindy, I so enjoy your videos and look forward to every Friday to see what new thing is happening. I’m impressed with how you take complicated ideas and present them in ways that are easy to understand therefore making them easy for me to attempt to duplicate. I am a teacher also and I know what it takes to pull a lesson together… alot goes into each lesson just to get it to a proper presentation. ~Jayne-S

I always prefer a Cindy-video, since your tutorials are the best! Every video you produce is so well done. You cover every aspect of the technique, and throw in tips, tricks, and money-saving ideas. ~Phaedrakat

Cindy – Honestly, I would be willing to pay a lot more for my membership! You have so many innovative, creative, and time saving tips that are such a great help! Most of my best selling jewelry has been, in one way or another, inspired by at least one of your videos! ~Carrie-W

The following topics are included in this week’s Polymer Clay Tutor Library, Distressed Paint Finish video tutorial:

• See examples of several different pendants using the distressed paint finish.
• Discussion of the colors of clay and paints needed to make this technique really effective, as well as the types of paints that work best for this technique.
• Learn cool tips to getting the perfect aged look on your pieces, quickly and easily.
• And finally, find out how to get that nice contrast between the chalky paint and the shiny clay underneath, with very little effort.

The full version of the “Distressed Paint Finish” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Volume-029 Back Issue Package.

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Video Tutorials:
1: Butterfly Cane;
2: Rocker Beads;
3: Faux Dichroic Glass;
4: Micromesh Abrasives:

With another month gone by, the Volume-026 Back Issue Videos have just been added to the Polymer Clay Library, right on schedule. If you missed your chance to see these tutes as they were released each Friday during the month of July, now is your chance to add them to your collection as a convenient bundled package.

Today’s photo shows thumbnail images for the 4 videos included in this Vol-026 Package:

Video-026-1 Butterfly Wing Cane: Oh there is nothing more beautiful than a shimmering wing of the Blur Morpho Butterfly. So why not make your own out of polymer clay! This complicated looking cane is actually quite simple to make once you learn my techniques. You can use the wing on its own to create butterfly wing jewelry. Or combine it to make a full butterfly. You can even choose your own color combination to come up with the pattern of your choice. No matter how you do it, it will be gorgeous!

Video-026-2 Rocker Beads: This versatile bead shape was named not for how it looks, but for how it is made. It’s organic curves and elongated shape will add an original appeal to your jewelry designs. Make it large or small,  and combine with any technique you want. It makes a great looking toggle bead for your handmade polymer clay clasps. You will definitely want to make this bead… it is so much fun!

Video-026-3 Faux Dichroic Glass: Do you love the look of Dichroic Glass, but don’t have a kiln? Well, you can make a great look-a-like using polymer clay! Besides the clay, all you need is some mica powder, a stamp and jewelry resin. WAY cheaper and easier than working with glass! Plus, the potential applications are endless… a winning combination!

Video-026-4 Micromesh Abrasives: An alternative sanding product you are going to love. Micro-Mesh Abrasives work similarly to wet-dry sandpaper, but are much more efficient. Faster, easier and nicer to hold, these little pads will make your beads shine like glass. After using Micro-Mesh Abrasives you’ll never go back to your old ways again. I know I won’t!

Also included in this Volume-026 back issue package is the A-Series recipe cards from the Marsh Reeds Color Palette.

To read feedback from members who have already benefited from the videos and recipes in this Vol-026 back issue package, click here: Butterfly Wing Cane | Rocker Beads | Faux Dichroic Glass | Micromesh Abrasives

And, Sneak Peak Preview Clips are available for viewing here: Polymer Clay Tutorials [Videos]

If anyone else would like to add a review for any of the videos or color recipes in Volume-026, I would love to hear from you. Or if you have not yet purchased this back issue and have a question, ask away. In either case, use the comments section below.

“I have been using
the same Micromesh
pads I started with over a
year ago and they are still
very usable. LOVE IT!”
~Melinda-H

On July 20th, I posted an introductory preview clip for the Micromesh Abrasives tutorial. Today, the full version of this video lesson (Vol-026-4) is available for viewing at the Polymer Clay Members Library. Here is the link: Using Micromesh Cushioned Abrasive Pads for Sanding

For anyone who is not yet a paid member, if you did not know, the cost works out to only $3.32 per month. This gives you 24/7 access to the full versions of my Friday video tutes. Plus you also receive four A-series color recipe cards. This week’s color is: Cattails (4A) from the Marsh Reeds Polymer Clay Color Palette.

I am a member of Cindy’s Polymer Clay Tutor site. I stumbled on her accidentally while looking for a way to make poly clay faces for a beading project. She is not only responsive and amazingly generous with her information, but a fantastic teacher. I finally “get” some of the techniques I had been reading about and trying to grasp for a long time. I am a subscriber to her site and videos and feel her $3.32 charge per month to be a small price to pay for all the information available. ~Ritzs

Wow, the tuts have helped. I wanted to do advanced things with PC and had absolutely no knowledge of how to work with the stuff. I had just started experimenting on my own and was trying to watch youtube videos but I have found everything I need in this one location and for a reasonable price. The books aren’t very clear and the videos on youtube are hit and miss. I took the beginner course from Cindy and will now start viewing the library videos as well. Thanks!
~Lorrie-A

Hello Cindy, I am enjoying my in home tutor classes very much! While I started out with Sculpey III, I am still using it to learn with while waiting to grab some of the firmer clays. I had all but given up, thinking I was doing something wrong or just wasn’t a ‘clayer’. Thanks to you, I have rediscovered my love for clay. I’ve done many crafts over the years but making my own beads to add to my beaded works is just fantastic! Your instructions, tips and ‘you can do this’ attitude are wonderful. The videos are easy to understand and are not long and drawn out. You explain the process as it is listed in the title and then move right along. I also like that I can view them at any time from the comfort of my home, in any order. The price for your videos is fantastic, as well. I can’t go get books that describe all the things in your tutorials for that price – no way! Thank you for an excellent product, wonderful instruction and fantastic tips! If there was only a way to add a ribbon now… lol! Sincerely. ~Roberta-W

If you want to become a paid member, here is the link:
Polymer Clay Video Library

Or if you are brand new to polymer clay, the best place to first learn all of the fundamentals is here: Polymer Clay Beginners Course

To browse other video tutorials that are available for purchase without becoming a subscribing member (in other words… just a one time fee), you can go here: Polymer Clay Video Back Issues

Last week the Friday discussion topics included:

• Help… I didn’t get the Friday email!
  
• Accidental subscription cancellations.
  
• Spam… Yuck!
  
• No anxiety attacks allowed.
  
• Newsletter… like clockwork.
  
• Faux dichroic wins over real glass.
  
• Clear Effects product, from Stampin Up.
  
• Eye shadow, mica powder.
  
• Where to purchase flower stamps.
  
• Reversible pendants.
  
• Creating custom stamps and texture plates.
  
• Making seemingly complicated things, so much easier.
  
• Lino board.
  
• Meg Ryan, When Harry met Sally. Yes! Yes! Yes!
  
• Curing magic glos outside in the English sun.
  
• Michael’s dollar bin.
  
• Poor kiln… you may end up in the closet.
  
• Metal cores for making Pandora beads.
  
• Making your own buffalo snow
  
• Packaging and shipping your jewelry sales.
  
• How to enter bead giveaway contest.
  
• Sanding and sculpting figurines.
  
• Faux bone still rubbery after baking.
• And much, much more…
  

If you need to catch up, here is the link to the article where last week’s topics were discussed in detail: Faux Dichroic Glass Video

Otherwise, you can use the comment section below to start talking about some new topics and ideas. Happy Friday!!!

Vid #165:
“Those micro
mesh sanding pads look
very nice and easy to hold.”
~Jocelyn-C

Nothing is more beautiful or professional looking than perfectly sanded and buffed polymer clay beads. Now you can get that silky smooth, glassy finish on your beads, with a lot less effort… using Micro-Mesh Cushioned Abrasives.

Founded in 1966 (a particularly good year, since I was born in ’66 LOL) Micro-Surface Finishing Products originally developed their finishing products for the art restoration industry. Based in Wilton, Iowa, USA, they have expanded over the years into commercial and industrial products for finishing, repairing and polishing many materials such as acrylic windows in airplanes, specialty metal engine parts, stone countertops, ceramics, wood products and even fingernails.

They have also created kits for Polymer Clay Artists… Yay!

Because Micro-Mesh is designed differently than regular wet/dry sandpaper, it is more efficient, more even and does a better job, faster. Which is something we all need when it comes to the dreaded job of sanding our polymer clay beads. Am I right?

So on Friday, July 23rd at the Polymer Clay Library (Vol-026-4), the member video tutorial will teach you how to use the Micro-Mesh Abrasives for sanding your Polymer Clay Beads. Some of you noticed that I already showed an example of this unique sanding product last week in the Faux Dichroic Glass video tutorial…

Cindy, where did you get the micro mesh discs you used in this Volume 026-3 Dichroic Glass video? They look as though they would be so much simpler to use. ~Jayne-S

Loved the “sanding” part… that will help me with some things I have already tried where the mica powder sort of “took over” the clay! Thanks for the tips Cindy! ~Lorrie-A

I am most interested in the MicroMesh sanding pads. Where can I obtain these other than the website offered? Also, have you considered becoming a distributer for some of the more obscure tools/specialty items that you demonstrate in your fantastic how-to videos? Oh – and did I mention how much I look forward to Fridays ~Beadbroad

Please Note: A general prerequisite for all of my weekly tutorials is that you have a good understanding of the polymer clay basics, including: conditioning clay, using a pasta machine, clay blade and other simple tools, making Skinner Blends or Teardrop Blends, baking clay, as well as sanding and finishing. If you need help in these areas, my Polymer Clay Beginners Course will get you up to speed quickly. There is also plenty of free information on this blog. Use the search box at the top of the page to find articles on specific topics.

Supplies & Tools: Video-026-4 Micro-Mesh Abrasives:

• Baked polymer clay bead, pendant, sculpture or whatever clay item you want to sand and polish.
• Micro-Mesh Regular Soft Touch Pad Variety Pack
  (2″ x 2″ at $10.17 USD) or (3″ x 4″ at $20.34 USD). The kit comes with pads in grades 1500, 1800, 2400, 3200, 3600, 4000, 6000, 8000, 12000 – 9 pads total, 1 per grade. Primary Use:  Softer wood, plastics, paint.
• Container of cold water with a drop or two of dish soap.
• Piece of felt or denim for polishing, or a Dremel fitted with felt wheel for power buffing.

The full version of the Vid-026-4 Micro-Mesh Abrasives video will be posted in the Polymer Clay Members Library on Friday July 23rd, 2010. But if you would like to see a sneak peek intro clip right now, scroll down the page a bit to the video player below.

Here’s That “Link Below” Referred To at End of the Video
>> Polymer Clay Tutorials <<

The full version of the “Micromesh” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Vol-026 Back Issue Package.

Customer Feedback About Membership Value:

As a fairly new person to polymer clay, I have found the Polymer Clay Tutor to be an invaluable resource. I do subscribe to the member site and am glad to do so. Others with more experience may be better able to navigate all the information “out there”, but I too found it all to be overwhelming. Cindy’s courses and videos are well done, start with the basics, and then build as your skills increase. And, as another person said, it’s all there in one spot. If you have specific questions, Cindy is very prompt to answer questions on the blog or in separate emails. For me, the cost of membership is well worth what I am getting!
~Marsha-N

Well hellooo Cindy! So nice to meet you face to face as it were. What a nice video of you! You should make this video available for everyone who is considering a membership to your library. I know once they see the quality of the video and the very nice person who will be teaching them, they can’t help but sign on. Come on people! Sign up! You wont regret it! P.S. I agree with you on the make up part too LOL. Need it, wear it, dont like it! Although you look quite lovely in your video. But no make up can come close to showing what a sweet generous person you are, like a single smile can. XOXO ~Jamie-H

I have been subscribing to Cindy Lietz Tutor since about October ’08. Her daily blogs are free to all and I find them very informative. Cindy does not try to cram in too much information and is excellent in presenting in a concise, organized and informative way. Her video tutorials are very well done; picture quality and content are excellent. Cindy and husband Doug do photo editing before posting a tutorial and do a lot of close up shots in a variety of angles of a bead or project; I am sure a lot of footage “ends up on the cutting room floor.” As in her daily blogs, she does not repeat what others have already covered but does does research and tries techniques before posting a video showing what she has found to be most successful. As a paid subscriber, I love the color pallet recipes and don’t know where else to get anything like them. I am confident she has tried out recipes before posting them on her site. The $9.95 for three months is excellent value because of the above stated reasons. I have been following this site on a daily basis long enough to know the blogs, recipes and videos have saved me a lot of frustration, discouragement and money through techniques that save time and materials. ~Anna-S

The following topics are included in this week’s Miromesh Abrasives video tutorial:

• See examples of beautifully sanded and buffed polymer clay beads that would make you swoon if you could just hold them in your hands.
• Discussion of how the Micromesh abrasives work and how to use them.
• Learn tricks and tips for getting a perfect glossy shine on your beads with a lot less effort than regular sanding.
• Finally, reasons why the material works so well and how its design may keep your hands from cramping up and hurting, as often happens when you using regular wet/dry sandpaper.
  

The full version of the “Micromesh” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Vol-026 Back Issue Package.

Video Tutorials:
1: Ivy Leaf Charms;
2: Leopard Cane;
3: UV Epoxy Resin;
4: Zebra Cane:

With another month gone by, the Volume-024 Back Issue Videos have just been added to the Polymer Clay Library, right on schedule. If you missed your chance to see these tutes as they were released each Friday during the month of May, now is your chance to add them to your collection as a convenient bundled package.

Today’s photo shows thumbnail images for the 4 videos included in this package:

Video-024-1 Ivy Leaf Charms: This pretty nature inspired charm is created using a real Ivy Leaf or other leaf of your choice. The use of color blends and the texture from the veining in the leaf gives this charm a very realistic look and feel. Learn how to create a enchanting twisted vine as the bail for your charm, using a simple balled copper headpin. Use the tiny leaves as earrings, pendants or even home decor items.

Video-024-2 Leopard Cane: Go a little Wild with your polymer clay jewelry with this fun and creative animal print. I will show you how to create this fun and realistic leopard pattern in its natural color palette. But feel free to create the funky pattern in any wild color combination you desire. Purple Leopard Print anyone?

Video-024-3 UV Epoxy Resin: Take your polymer clay projects to a whole new level of shine with this easy to use UV Epoxy Resin called UltraDome! Since it is cured using UV light (sun or lamp), you have all the time you need to get it perfect without the worry of having it set up before your done working with it. Learn the simple tricks to getting a perfect glassy smooth finish to your flat polymer clay pieces that are really professional looking. You’re going to love this stuff!

Video-024-4 Zebra Cane: Hey if you’re going wild with leopard, you might as well go all the way and add zebra to your animal print cane repertoire! This bold graphic pattern is wonderful for your polymer clay beads, pendants, bangles and all kinds of funky jewelry projects. And just like the leopard cane, you aren’t limited by the colors you choose for making your zebra prints. So feel free to Go Wild!

Also included in this Volume-024 back issue package is the A-Series recipe cards from the Stargazer Lily Color Palette.

To read feedback from members who have already benefited from the videos and recipes in this Vol-024 back issue package, click here: Ivy Leaf Charm | Leopard Cane | UV Epoxy Resin | Zebra Cane

And, Sneak Peak Preview Clips are available for viewing here: Polymer Clay Tutorials [Videos]

If anyone else would like to add a review for any of the videos or color recipes in Volume-024, I would love to hear from you. Or if you have not yet purchased this back issue and have a question, ask away. In either case, use the comments section below.