Comments on: Polymer Clay Tutorial | Make a Mod Cane Using a Clay Extruder Tool http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tutorial-mod-cane-clay-extruder/2383/ "I learned by making mistakes... Now you don't have to." Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:47:06 -0700 hourly 1 By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tutorial-mod-cane-clay-extruder/2383/#comment-29942 Phaedrakat Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:13:04 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2383#comment-29942 Thanks, Cindy - I checked that area, too! They only had a few Makin's items, so I feared they were on their way out or something. But that was only at ONE Michael's - there are lots of them in So. Calif. The older stores are drastically different in size, layout, and even content; the newer ones seem to be more consistant. One of my local "Mike's" is pretty old and has been in a state of "upgrade" forever - you never know what you will find there. Thanks for your comment, though, it makes me realize I should try again at one of my other local stores. Since they were moving things around last time I was there (in Dec.,) they could've restocked or "fixed" their Makin's section by now and I'll get lucky! Thanks, I'll give it another go! Thanks, Cindy – I checked that area, too! They only had a few Makin's items, so I feared they were on their way out or something. But that was only at ONE Michael's – there are lots of them in So. Calif. The older stores are drastically different in size, layout, and even content; the newer ones seem to be more consistant. One of my local "Mike's" is pretty old and has been in a state of "upgrade" forever – you never know what you will find there.

Thanks for your comment, though, it makes me realize I should try again at one of my other local stores. Since they were moving things around last time I was there (in Dec.,) they could've restocked or "fixed" their Makin's section by now and I'll get lucky! Thanks, I'll give it another go!

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Fundamentals in Polymer Clay http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tutorial-mod-cane-clay-extruder/2383/#comment-29931 Cindy Lietz@Fundamentals in Polymer Clay Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:53:45 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2383#comment-29931 Just so you know Phaedrakat (Denise), the Makin's tools aren't in the same aisle in Michaels as the rest of the polymer clay. It is usually in a couple of rows back, closer to the spray paints and wood stuff. (Every store I've been into has the same layout, so I assuming yours will too, but I could be wrong. Just check all the aisle before you give up.) Just so you know Phaedrakat (Denise), the Makin's tools aren't in the same aisle in Michaels as the rest of the polymer clay. It is usually in a couple of rows back, closer to the spray paints and wood stuff. (Every store I've been into has the same layout, so I assuming yours will too, but I could be wrong. Just check all the aisle before you give up.)

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tutorial-mod-cane-clay-extruder/2383/#comment-29928 Phaedrakat Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:49:25 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2383#comment-29928 I love this Extruder Mod Cane -- the video is so great! I've seen written tutes before, but it sure makes a difference seeing Cindy demonstrate the technique. She makes it look so easy! I just got this back issue (Vol. 9,) and I really want to get started on this. But I haven't been able to find the Makin's Ult. Extruder at my local craft stores, either. I'm gonna have to order one. I purchased Sculpey's cheap "squeeze trigger" type years ago when I first got into polymer clay (& then had to store it all for a few years for surgery.) Like Cindy says in her blog on 12/23/08 (Direct Link: <a href="http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tutorial-makins-professional-ultimate-clay-extruder/1884/">Makins Ultimate Clay Extruder</a>), you have to be a muscle-man/woman to use it. I've seen some instructions on how to adapt a caulking gun & other things to make the little cheap ones work, but I don't feel like throwing any more time or money at it. Of course, after seeing this video, I am dying to get started on the wonderful extruder techniques! This mod cane looks so fast and easy. I know this cane will be incredibly useful for covering all sorts of things, not just beads. Yep, I guess I'll have to order one. (Darn you, Michael's & JoAnn's--why aren't you stockin'? My 40% coupon is just lookin' for a worthy use...) I love this Extruder Mod Cane — the video is so great! I've seen written tutes before, but it sure makes a difference seeing Cindy demonstrate the technique. She makes it look so easy!

I just got this back issue (Vol. 9,) and I really want to get started on this. But I haven't been able to find the Makin's Ult. Extruder at my local craft stores, either. I'm gonna have to order one. I purchased Sculpey's cheap "squeeze trigger" type years ago when I first got into polymer clay (& then had to store it all for a few years for surgery.) Like Cindy says in her blog on 12/23/08 (Direct Link: Makins Ultimate Clay Extruder), you have to be a muscle-man/woman to use it. I've seen some instructions on how to adapt a caulking gun & other things to make the little cheap ones work, but I don't feel like throwing any more time or money at it. Of course, after seeing this video, I am dying to get started on the wonderful extruder techniques! This mod cane looks so fast and easy. I know this cane will be incredibly useful for covering all sorts of things, not just beads. Yep, I guess I'll have to order one. (Darn you, Michael's & JoAnn's–why aren't you stockin'? My 40% coupon is just lookin' for a worthy use…)

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Mod Cane Jewelry Beads http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tutorial-mod-cane-clay-extruder/2383/#comment-26418 Cindy Lietz@Mod Cane Jewelry Beads Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:45:52 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2383#comment-26418 <strong>**PHOTOS ADDED:</strong> Project pictures have been added to a Spotlight Feature showcasing Kriss Johnson, a member who is very much appreciated here at this supportive polymer clay community. Click on the "Mod Cane Jewelry Beads" link by my name to have a look. **PHOTOS ADDED: Project pictures have been added to a Spotlight Feature showcasing Kriss Johnson, a member who is very much appreciated here at this supportive polymer clay community. Click on the "Mod Cane Jewelry Beads" link by my name to have a look.

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Makins Extruder http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tutorial-mod-cane-clay-extruder/2383/#comment-26097 Cindy Lietz@Makins Extruder Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:27:55 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2383#comment-26097 Hi Carole, thanks for your comment! As far as the Makins Extruder goes, I think it is a very good little extruder and is strong enough for polymer clay as long as you don't try to force a very hard clay through it. The Polymer Clay Express PCE extruder looks to be a great product, though I haven't tried it myself yet. It is a very sturdy design and was made for use with polymer clay. It is expensive but may very well be worth the cost since it should last a lifetime. I would just buy a few disks and add to them as you go. As far as which extruder you will need for the techniques I teach, doesn't really matter. So far all the techniques I've done with them use standard die shapes that should be found in most extruders. The one cool thing about the PCE disks is they have larger dies for making bracelet blanks that I would like to try some time. Either way an extruder is a handy thing to use! Hi Carole, thanks for your comment! As far as the Makins Extruder goes, I think it is a very good little extruder and is strong enough for polymer clay as long as you don't try to force a very hard clay through it.

The Polymer Clay Express PCE extruder looks to be a great product, though I haven't tried it myself yet. It is a very sturdy design and was made for use with polymer clay.

It is expensive but may very well be worth the cost since it should last a lifetime. I would just buy a few disks and add to them as you go.

As far as which extruder you will need for the techniques I teach, doesn't really matter. So far all the techniques I've done with them use standard die shapes that should be found in most extruders.

The one cool thing about the PCE disks is they have larger dies for making bracelet blanks that I would like to try some time.

Either way an extruder is a handy thing to use!

]]> By: Carole http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tutorial-mod-cane-clay-extruder/2383/#comment-26043 Carole Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:46:58 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2383#comment-26043 Cindy, I live near a polymer clay store and visited to buy supplies. One of the items I wanted to get was the Makins clay extruder that you recommend. This store doesn't carry it, because the proprietress thinks it isn't really strong enough. She says the Makins product is intended for air-dry clays such as the one Makins produces. She has her own product which admittedly looked and felt pretty heavy-duty. She has a line of disks made from acrylic that work with her extruders. Before I invest in this thing (the choices range from $75-95), I wanted to ask if your projects are tailored to the Makins extruder, or are they pretty generic, so that if I bought this, I would still be able to follow along? Here is a link to the extruder if you want to look at it: polymerclayexpress.com/clay_extruder.html She carries 200 disks but with my limited experience, it appeared to me that there were a lot that I'd probably never be interested in. Thanks, Carole Cindy,

I live near a polymer clay store and visited to buy supplies. One of the items I wanted to get was the Makins clay extruder that you recommend. This store doesn't carry it, because the proprietress thinks it isn't really strong enough. She says the Makins product is intended for air-dry clays such as the one Makins produces. She has her own product which admittedly looked and felt pretty heavy-duty. She has a line of disks made from acrylic that work with her extruders.

Before I invest in this thing (the choices range from $75-95), I wanted to ask if your projects are tailored to the Makins extruder, or are they pretty generic, so that if I bought this, I would still be able to follow along?

Here is a link to the extruder if you want to look at it: polymerclayexpress.com/clay_extruder.html

She carries 200 disks but with my limited experience, it appeared to me that there were a lot that I'd probably never be interested in.

Thanks,
Carole

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay How To http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tutorial-mod-cane-clay-extruder/2383/#comment-18843 Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay How To Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:54:22 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2383#comment-18843 I know, using an extruder is way easy than the bulls eye way, isn't it! I love how each slice is a little different too! Glad you are having fun with this cane. Bet your bracelets are cute! Thanks for commenting! I know, using an extruder is way easy than the bulls eye way, isn't it! I love how each slice is a little different too! Glad you are having fun with this cane. Bet your bracelets are cute! Thanks for commenting!

]]> By: Carrie http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tutorial-mod-cane-clay-extruder/2383/#comment-18609 Carrie Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:00:25 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2383#comment-18609 I agree 100% about how easy you make the mod canes! They are by far my favorite to make now. I had been following the directions in a book; rolling logs, slicing, etc. It was so much quicker using the extruder to cut the circles. My favorite way to use them is to reduce them to between 1/4" and 1/2" square slice them into thick beads and make bracelets! These canes are sooo cute when reduced that small and people are astounded at the detail, they'd never believe that it takes 10 minutes to make! Keep up the good work!! <strong>**PHOTOS ADDED:</strong> The following link will take you to a Spotlight Article Featuring some of Carrie's beautiful beads: <a href="http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/making-jupiter-beads-faux-raku-mod-canes-selling/4904/#carrie" rel="nofollow">Mod Cane Bracelet, Faux Raku, Jupiter Beads</a> I agree 100% about how easy you make the mod canes! They are by far my favorite to make now. I had been following the directions in a book; rolling logs, slicing, etc. It was so much quicker using the extruder to cut the circles. My favorite way to use them is to reduce them to between 1/4" and 1/2" square slice them into thick beads and make bracelets! These canes are sooo cute when reduced that small and people are astounded at the detail, they'd never believe that it takes 10 minutes to make! Keep up the good work!!

**PHOTOS ADDED: The following link will take you to a Spotlight Article Featuring some of Carrie's beautiful beads: Mod Cane Bracelet, Faux Raku, Jupiter Beads

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Bead Making Course http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tutorial-mod-cane-clay-extruder/2383/#comment-13659 Cindy Lietz@Bead Making Course Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:39:48 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2383#comment-13659 Karen that is very exciting for me to hear! I too have lived 'out in the country' and know it isn't always easy to learn new things, isolated like that... until the Internet!! It's like I'm sitting right there with you. The learning goes both ways too! I have learned so much from the interaction of people just like you. What a wonderful way to connect and learn! Thank you so much for your comments. It made my day! Karen that is very exciting for me to hear! I too have lived 'out in the country' and know it isn't always easy to learn new things, isolated like that… until the Internet!! It's like I'm sitting right there with you.

The learning goes both ways too! I have learned so much from the interaction of people just like you. What a wonderful way to connect and learn!

Thank you so much for your comments. It made my day!

]]> By: Karen Buckland http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-tutorial-mod-cane-clay-extruder/2383/#comment-13470 Karen Buckland Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:01:30 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=2383#comment-13470 Cindy I really love your videos. I live in a rural area where I don't have access to workshops, so I really appreciate your workshop-like videos. Last weekend I made a mod cane following the instructions on your video and I was amazed at how easy it was! I have been wanting to work with polymer clay for quite some time, and had even bought some of the supplies. However, I couldn't get over that hurdle of actually sitting down and making something until I watched your step-by-step videos. Thank you! Cindy I really love your videos. I live in a rural area where I don't have access to workshops, so I really appreciate your workshop-like videos. Last weekend I made a mod cane following the instructions on your video and I was amazed at how easy it was! I have been wanting to work with polymer clay for quite some time, and had even bought some of the supplies. However, I couldn't get over that hurdle of actually sitting down and making something until I watched your step-by-step videos. Thank you!

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