If you click the link by my name, it will take you to a previous post on how to slice Fimo Nail Art canes. Hope that helps!

As far as your question about adding baked cane slices to raw clay, that will not work. The edges around the baked clay will not blend with the raw, and the whole slice will crack should you try and roll it out. You need to use raw canes for this sort of thing.

Resin is relatively expensive, so I would concentrate on making a good quality polymer clay product first before moving on to adding resin, since your budget is so tight. A good sanding and buffing will get you a long ways to a beautiful finish.

As far as getting the knowledge you need, there are currently 807 articles here at the blog (the count grows daily), that have free information in them… as well as over 15,506 helpful comments filled with valuable information. The links at the side, plus the search box at the top will help you tremendously with finding the information you need.

Eventually you will want to purchase some of the tutorial videos since nothing is quite as effective as learning by video. I have a beginner’s course, which I have linked to by my name as well there are weekly tutorials in the member video library (link at top of page) that will help.

Make sure to sign up for the free newsletter and receive three free videos and weekly color mixing recipes. (The link for the newsletter is the big green and blue box on the top right hand side of this page.)

Get involved in the conversations around here and come back as often as you can and you will be a polymer clay pro in no time!

My name is John Duck and I am 63 years old and live on Social Security Disability. I turn pens on a mini lathe but the dust from turning is beginning to effect my breathing. In my search for another hobby I discovered polymer clay.

I would like to learn how to make pendants and earrings. I have bought a pasta machine, a small set of polymer clay tools and a resin mold for a hart pendant and earrings.

I have found several sites for polymer clay canes buy my lack of knowledge will not allow me to order any. The ones that I like best state they are baked. I hope you might be able to help me out…

Can baked canes be cut into thin slices and run through my pasta machine to make them larger? Can I apply them over a clay backing, insert a hoop and bake the completed pendant?

Cindy, I honestly cannot afford to pay for classes or to join a group. Do you offer anything like this that is free of charge?

I have found a lot of videos on YouTube on polymer clay but most say to use their molds, their tools, and one type of clay. Can you please tell me one group of videos that I might follow?

Which type of resin should I use? What type of molds work best for pendants and earrings? What is the name of a clay tool set that has the most used tools?

I am a complete newbe to polymer clay and I would like to learn from one source to develop my skills.

Thank you for your time and any possible suggestions that you might offer me.

John

I’ve transfered your email question about cane slicing over to the blog here. This is so that others can benefit from the information as well.

First of all, I am so glad to hear you were able to finally access the Lentil Bead Making videos in Volume-001. They are a very cool looking bead that are addictive (in a good way) to make.

In regards to finding information about slicing canes, now is a good time to teach you how to use the search box at the top of the page. There is already a bunch of free information published on this topic in various articles.

Use search keywords like:
Slicing Canes
Cane slice
Cane Making
Etc.

If you still have unanswered questions after reading through the existing articles, then by all means post a comment under the article that matches the topic best, and either myself or some other helpful member will chime in.

There is a comments section under every article at this blog. Often there is more information in these guest comments that in the articles themselves.

Posting a blog comment is easy to do.
1) Simply put your name in the Name Field;
2) Add your email to the Email Field;
3) Type your message in the big white box;
4) Finally, click on the “Submit Comment” button.

And if you want to receive an automated email when someone replies to your comment, then be sure to put a check mark in the little box under the “Submit Comment” button that says, “Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.”

Easy as pie :-)
Talk soon,
Cindy

Now I know how to use the canes to put on a plain bead. I have a problem cutting the canes, I’m left handed and can not cut a straight line, is there something that I can use as a guide.

Thanks again, Mary

Cindy’s last post..Clay Flower Pendant Necklace Project with Vintage Glass Beads