Polymer Clay Tutorial | Dogwood Flower Polymer Clay Cane Project
Vid #124: "I so want to make flower canes to make the trumpet flower beads." ~Joyce-R
Although this polymer clay cane isn't done in the typical colors you would see in a natural Dogwood flower, the petal shape is similar… which is why I just had to call this a Dogwood Flower Cane.
Using the Betta Fish Color Recipes, I will show you how to create a Dogwood Flower Petal Cane. It can be used on it's own, or combined with a center to create the full Dogwood Flower Cane, much like the Gerbera Flower Cane was made in Volume 015.
In fact, several of the steps used to make the Dogwood Cane were learned in making the Gerbera Cane, so it will be important to review Volume 015 before making the Dogwood Cane. Doing the tutorials this way, prevents me from using valuable time in the new tutorial, repeating already learned information.
The full version of the Vid-016-4 tutorial will be posted in the Polymer Clay Members Library on Friday September 25th, 2009. But if you would like to see a sneak peak 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 "Dogwood Cane" preview video shown above, is available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Bead Making Videos Library in the Volume-016 Back Issue Package.
Customer Feedback About Membership Value:
Certainly I feel that if you wanted to learn how to make functional beautiful flower canes, this is the series** to purchase. You get the color palettes and skills to start using the gerba daisy cane, but just about any other petalled center flower can be made from adjusting the colors or the petal shape, using Cindy's base techniques and excellent design variations. When I think of my lousy results, year after year, finally giving up after countless scrap clay efforts, that I could have come here and had the process mastered for such a small cost in such a short time, these beautiful canes the result… well, it almost makes me want to weep for that time lost. But, I cannot. Because now I know how to do it, I can do it, and I will do it. So now, perhaps, I will shed a few tears of joy. Thank you Cindy for helping me to master a much needed skill!!! ~Jocelyn
** Reference to Vol-015 Gerbera Flower Cane series.
The following topics are included in this "Dogwood Flower Cane" video tutorial:
- Using custom color blends from the Betta Fish Palette, I will show you how to create a stunning flower petal cane starting with a lovely teardrop blend. You can use my color suggestions or choose your own.
- Contrasting clay is then used to create the stamen shapes embedded within each petal.
- Learn how to use the scrap ends of your cane to create a unique center for your flower.
- Discussion about of why you should have a registration mark on the bottom of your cane.
- Tricks for cutting and combining the petals with the center to create the full flower.
- Reminders of previously learned background packing techniques and how to adapt them to this particular cane.
- Examples of beads and charms, made using the Dogwood Flower Cane.
The full version of the "Dogwood Cane" preview video shown above, is available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Bead Making Videos Library in the Volume-016 Back Issue Package.
Filed Under: 07: Cane Work, 15: Promotions by Comment. 
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Comments on Polymer Clay Tutorial | Dogwood Flower Polymer Clay Cane Project
5:44 am
Another beauty, Cindy!! Wish it were Friday.
7:29 am
This looks beautiful! Can't wait!
8:28 am
Looks like another great Friday, beautiful flower, Cindy.
Seeing another "Joyce" in the postings leads me to add an "M" to my name if that is OK??
8:59 am
Friday cannot come soon enough!
9:01 am
Good idea JoyceM :-)
10:01 am
Ooooh! I can't wait either Cindy!
10:16 am
Ok, I've done my homework and reviewed the previous flower cane techniques, so I'm now ready to go for Friday.
9:27 pm
These are pretty, I like the different ways they can be adapted too.
12:29 am
Oh this is a lovely one, looking forward to watching the vid!
5:05 pm
The cane without the packing looks great. Looking forward to seeing the technique you used.
4:54 am
Hi Cindy, Just love all the videos I have been watching lately.
The Gerbera cane has been a hit and I have watched it a dozen times and have made and remade it.
Love the Butterfly pendant made with the leaf shapes. I am so enamoured with it sent away to buy the leaf shapes and will be doing that next. Love the Dogwood flower cane and am now attempting more flower canes because of your great tuition on how to.
will be back with pics when I get some work done.
Regards
E. from Australia.
7:46 am
This was sooooo cool. I am learning so much. By the way, I did see the article on inks, so I am straight on that now.
1:03 pm
I love the unpacked cane charm in the video! How did you make that? Would you just reduce the petal cane to the size you want your petals to be and then cut off six petals and fit them together? If so, how do you ensure that they will stick together well?
2:17 pm
Dear Cindy (and all), Here's a photo to let you see that your videos are a blessing, I had to get right on and have a go at this weeks Dogwood Flower Cane.
My questions are how do you polish things like flowers or do you varnish them. Also, I hope to be coming to the U.S. at the end of Oct, can anyone tell me were to get an extra Barrel for my Lortone Rock Tumbler they are so expensive here they wanted £36 pounds that's about $60 dollars and that's the place I got it from I am sure they are much cheaper as they are made in the states. >> Any help please, Ritzs
8:28 pm
Thank you everyone for the wonderful feedback! I am so pleased you are enjoying the videos.
@Carrie: As far as the background-less cane I made, what you said is exactly right! And don't worry, as you press those petals to the center with the rod, they will stick quite nicely. You may need to pop the cane into the fridge to harden a bit in order to slice it, but if the slices are thick, it won't be much of a problem.
@Ritzs: I can not believe how fast you got to trying out that cane. Must have started right after you saw the video! Good job. I see the petals twisted slightly. It could be because you used a clay that was too soft, like Sculpey III or that you rolled the cane like a snake to reduce it. The beauty of flowers though, is they look like they are blowing in the wind if they are twisted a bit. Which is a good thing. Makes them look more realistic! As far as the tumbler barrel goes, you may want to check out e-bay. It may end up being cheaper to buy another used machine than it is to purchase a new replacement barrel. Then you'll have a back up should your other machine break down. Thanks for sending in your photos. I really appreciate that!
11:18 am
I'm so excited to make this! I just finished watching the video and I wanted to tell you how much I'm enjoying my membership (so much so, in fact, that I bought three back-issues today!) I'm definitely the "see and immediately want to try it" type. I taught myself knitting, crocheting, and the beginnings of viking knit, but it really is nice to have another person teach (since my mom does not know any of the above, she couldn't show me…)
Thanks for having such a great resource,
Katie
2:03 pm
You are very welcome Katie – So glad you are enjoying the videos. I would love to see pictures of your projects if you want to email them to me.
1:51 am
Hi Cindy and other blessed members, Amazed and thrilled again. Can't wait to try this cane. I love the bead you made out of the distorted end of cane. This is my favorite of all. Congrats to another great video.
I do have a question that goes further back to the video on rock tumbling. Do you know where would be a good place to shop for a tumbler to get a good price. Also I know you use the Lortone 3A because this is what your husband had. Do you feel this is one of the best brands and size to look for to tumble polymer beads. Or do you have other suggestions also. Please anyone with any advice I would be very thankful. This is all new to me, I have never had a rock tumbler so I need everyone's help who has the knowledge. Most Grateful, Peggy
3:08 am
Peggy are you living in the u k if so i got mine from Sutton tools it was about £143. on the internet
5:26 am
I have a vibratory tumbler and I love it. In three hours I am happy wiht the smoothness. Now I am on a quest to achieve a nice shine in the tumbler. I am considering looking some of the organic stuff gun enthusist use.
11:57 am
I made the butterfly and would like to share it, how do I get the picture to you.
ADDED NOTE: Here is a link to where Ifama's picture got posted: Butterfly Pendant
3:49 pm
@Ifama – You can just email me the photo as an attachment. I'll sent you an email and you can just reply.
@Peggy – yes I still like and recommend the Lortone 3A rock tumbler. I like mine a lot. You can go on their web site to find who distributes them in your area, or buy direct from them. Or look on eBay.
6:35 pm
I keep forgetting our most talented Cindy has fans from all over the world. I am from the USA but I so appreciate the info you gave me Ritzs. If anyone else has any Ideas please let me know. I am going to look on ebay myself and also check to see if Hobby Lobby carries any because they have a 40% off coupon on the internet add this week. Cindy I have another question. How do you think it would work if you lined the tumbler with sandpaper before you add rocks and beads then fill with water? Just like you line it with felt before buffing. Have you tried this or do you think the water would cause the sandpaper to end up in a soggy pile? Please let me know what you think?
Sounds like everyone is going to have a busy weekend making the doogwood flower cane including me I hope. Depends on the weather. My grandkids want to go camping if it doesn't rain. Either way I win.
Have fun claying, Peggy
8:51 am
Hi Cindy,
I love this Dogwood Cane. I do have a question though. Is there a vid that shows how MUCH clay to use. I don't like to condition more than I can use, so is there a way to measure, for a project, like "use a half block, quarter block or something like that? I mean using Premo of course. However with the Studio Sculpey, it does have those nice little squares. I notice you use just enough in your videos with very little left over.
7:11 pm
@Peggy: You can line the tumbler with wet/dry sandpaper if you want. I used to do that, but I found the stones alone work just as well and you never have to replace them. Thank you for all your sweet comments. It makes me happy to read them! :-)
@Ifama: I've been trying to say how much clay I use in the videos where I can. Of course you can make them any size you want, but generally I don't use much more than 1 segment of a block of each color. I almost always use Premo unless I specify otherwise, since I like the properties of the Premo clay best. Start small, you can always add more later. Hope that helps.
4:06 pm
Well as usual I can't help but mess with a technique!
I had the idea of a red 5-petalled flower pendant so I was messing around making blends when I remembered about this video, and decided to use the same stamen idea for my cane, with a different petal shape and a simple lace cane for the centre.
I didn't add a background to the cane, and plan to chill it and slice to make simple pendants – it's come out kind of Christmassy and I like it.
It shows the versatility of this type of cane, that you can make a few simple changes and end up with something very different.
I'll take a picture tomorrow when it's light so you can see what I mean.
10:08 am
@Silverleaf: I'm still excitedly waiting for the photo of your cane! :-)
5:37 pm
Oh my goodness, I forgot about that! I decided to cut slices to make flat beads, shaped them and baked them and then completely forgot. I'll send a pic once I've finished the necklace – don't know if I have any of the cane left but I'll check.
Sorry!