Comments on: 5 Polymer Clay Cane Slicing Tips for Your Bead Making Projects

By: Phaedrakat

Phaedrakat — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:42:10 +0000

@Arlene Harrison: If you didn't want to wet your clay, you could try using Saran Wrap (plastic) for this instead. (I haven't tried it yet, though.) You could use the scrap log of clay, indent it with a rounded cylinder/log shape, then put a piece of plastic wrap on top of it. Place your cane into this plastic-covered cradle, and slice. If you loosely drape the plastic over the base, it (seems like it) wouldn't interfere with the slicing. Then when you're done, just toss the plastic, and put your scrap clay away for its next project. @whitie: I have used other air-dry clays (like paper, etc.) but not air-dry polymer. I used Future floor wax as a gloss for the two types I've tried, it worked wonderfully. I have not had any corrosion or molding, etc. problems. The Future has help up nicely. It would probably do the same job protecting air-dry polymer... I like the blue-tack tip, too. I'll give it a try, as well as the plastic wrap...

By: Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Bead Making Course

Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Bead Making Course — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:13:23 +0000

Hi Whitie, thanks for your questions. I personally have not worked with air dry polymer clay. I too have concerns about it drying out and being durable enough should it get exposed to moisture. Is there any reason why you need to work with air dry clay?

If you are looking to learn all about regular polymer clay (not air dry) and how to use it, I have an excellent video course for beginners that you may like. It will save you a lot of time and money by avoiding mistakes that most people make when starting out.

Click the link by my name for more info.

By: whitie

whitie — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:30:30 +0000

i've found out that air-dry polymer clay doesn't need to bake.but the problem is that it would dry up very quickly.should i use the air dry polymer clay in what kind of conditions of room,like in cold or hot rooms.

my biggest problem is,would air dry polymer clay corrodes when it came in contact with water even after it has harden up?

what should i apply one the surface to make it look shiny and act as a procter?

By: Anna Sabina

Anna Sabina — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:52:27 +0000

Here are pictures of the IPCA retreat swap items. The theme was hands across the water. It is interesting to see how this was interpreted. I keep remembering tidbits from the retreat I want to share but they come in no particular order. LOL There was just so much new stuff I learned but this is a good one. According to Judy Belcher, slightly stretching a sheet of clay run though your pasta machine will help remove air bubbles. Who knew !!!

By: Anna Sabina

Anna Sabina — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:52:10 +0000

Here is a picture of the Bead Strand for the IPCA Retreat. Each participant made a black and white bead to be added to the strand. There actually were 2 identical strands, one was auctioned off and the other was placed in the IPCA archive.

By: Jocelyn

Jocelyn — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:51:48 +0000

That blue tack stuff is the best. For canes, who knew? Great tip, thanks!

By: Anna Sabina

Anna Sabina — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:40:31 +0000

Okay, I MUST clear something up here. I am NOT, repeat NOT a Trekie. But i did like those Tribbles on the original show. I mentioned Riverside, Iowa as a way to lure the Lietz family to Iowa. And, yes Captain James T Kirk was "born" in Riverside sometime in the future and about 117 thousand people show up at in the tiny town of Riverside for some sort of event; I really do not know the specifics. Cindy's sister in law (Doug's sister) does live in Fairfield Iowa; I know cuz Cindy told me. The only notable thing about Fairfield is it is the home of Maharishi University of Management. Basically it is a rich kids college where they learn Tanscendental Meditation at about $50,000.00 tuition per year. Now, there really isn't much else around Fairfield; not that I have been there.
It would be an inexpensive vacation for the Lietz crew, they could have Scotty "beam them" to Iowa and take "floater classes" to get home

By: Cindy Lietz@Sculpey Ultra Light

Cindy Lietz@Sculpey Ultra Light — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:24:28 +0000

Your Trekkie-Vacation reference, Anna, reminds me of when we watched one of the young Captain Kirk Star Trek TV episodes on our last "Pacific Ocean" vacation at the Tigh Na Mara Resort. Our kids Willow and Fisher, actually got into it, in a very retro kind of way. It's funny because the shows they watch on YouTube these days, many of them done by kids their own age using only cell phone cameras, often have better production quality than those glory days of the 60's and 70's on the Original Tube. But it's unlikely anyone will ever be able to top those hokey cardboard props and blinking cathode diode lights we all fell in love with on the very first USS Enterprise. Classic!

Hopefully we will be able to find the time to visit Doug's sister in Iowa sometime soon, and get together with you guys. It sure would be fun to meet you face to face!

By: Ken H.

Ken H. — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:52:27 +0000

@ Anna
Me thinkst that thou art a trekker/trekkie, what ever the correct term is these days?

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:45:00 +0000

Anna – WOW! you are close! LOL about stalking people at Michaels. :)