A Polymer Clay Technique that Let’s You Personalize Your Beads With Style:
A couple of weeks ago, I posted a photo of some Graffiti Beads to get feedback about filming a video tutorial on how to make them. The response was very positive, so I’ve decided to slate this tute into the Vol-015 Aug’09 line-up.
Today’s photo shows a pendant version of my graffiti bead technique. The playful words on this bead wrap around both sides. The colors come from the Beach Sunset Palette in Vol-011. Their contrasting shades imitate the unique look of peeling paint on a graffiti covered wall.
Here’s a few of the many comments that have come in so far…
Hand raised and waving wildly! Yep, I had no idea what they were and have never seen them before. Teach us! Please! ~Sarah
Please bump way up high on the list! Can’t wait to learn how to make these beauties! ~Elizabeth
Funny – at first I was not interested in learning this technique but after reading some of the responses, I’ve come up with so many ways I could use this! Now I can’t wait to learn it! Please do the video, Cindy! ~Gayle
Two Special Things About this Particular Style of Bead…
1) They work really well with any of the color palettes you have been receiving through my Weekly Polymer Clay Newsletter; and
2) They are especially suited for personalization. The words could be phrases, places, names or anything that is important to you. They could represent feelings or trends, inspiration or statements.
I have a special friend who is very involved in a women’s business sorority. I have wanted to make something special for her but did not want to be a cane with the sorority letters. This technique will be perfect. I could see how this technique would also be great for crafts shows, especially if you used words related to the area. ~Anna
Please share your thoughts on how you would use this Graffiti Bead technique. So much can be said with them. I’ll do my best to work your ideas into the upcoming Vol-015 video tutorial.
I would use this technique as a single focal bead in a knotted cord bracelet or necklace or black cording with maybe two brass or silver tone beads one on each side since I think it would work well for mens style jewelry. Could we possibly get a few more ideas for men too (pleeeeeease).
I have flourescent Premo clay that would look great with this technique.I could make a name plack to put on the doors of my grandkids rooms.
@Ken – Thanks for your input. Your “Ideas for Mens Style Jewelry” has been noted.
@Helen – Fluorescent Premo colors would look very cool with my Graffiti Bead technique! Good idea. And on another matter… in regards to the email you sent about wanting to become a member. I did respond with some information, but see that my messages have not been getting through to you. This is very likely because of your AOL email address.
AOL’s email filters can be very aggressive… which means that many of your “wanted” emails may be getting sent to a junk folder. One way to deal with this is to whitelist my contact info.
And if that doesn’t work, another solution is to use a non-AOL email address. There are many free email services you can use. Google’s Gmail is probably your best bet.
I just started my blog and I think it is working…LOL. As Ellen DeGenerus would say, “go give it a Lookie Loo”.
Anna:
I gave it a Lookie Loo and thought it would be fun to follow it. I have one too if you want to “go give it a Lookie Loo”.
@Anna: That is wonderful! I checked it out today. I wish you great success with your new blog!
@Laurel: You have a great blog too! Isn’t it so cool how we can create these wonderful learning places on the net?! I can’t even imagine going back to pre-computer times. There is no way I could take that slow pace of information collection in the ‘olden days’ (the 80’s)! :-)
Hi Cindy, love the idea about the graffiti bead. It makes a great bead for a leather cord for a guy. My nephew would like that. I made him a wood looking bead on a short cord but he wanted it shorter so it was tight on his neck. I guess that’s how they wear them.
Anna and Laurel “good job on the blogs”. I started mine a while ago and put pictures of some my things on there but most people just want pictures of my cat Booboo.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out! I am really happy with all of your hard work and dedication to teach and encourage those of us who have fallen for polymer clay. Cheers to you…. please keep up the great work! Thanks again.
OK now you’ve got my mind going 90 to nothing!!! And me here at work instead of home in my studio! I’ve been making some of those hammered copper bookmarks that you featured a while back and needed something that was more masculine. I can also see where this would be great for doing personalized items… hmmmmm… I THINK I can see how you did these so I’m going to go home and play! I’ll let you know if they turn out. It’s a shame you don’t have a way for people to send you pictures of what they do with your lessons. I’ve used several.
@Carbinecat – I can’t wait to be able to show you this Graffiti technique. It’s not too far off now. BTW, congrats your the blog!
@Arlene – Ohhh… I totally want to see your photos. Just email them to me as attachments. If you don’t already have me in your contacts list let me know and I will forward my email address to you.
I’ve been receiving lots of photo submissions lately, so I’m going to start showcasing them in special “Guest Posts” very soon. I’m planning to have pics of some gorgeous Jupiter beads from Melinda Herron posted by Sunday… so stay tuned!
For anyone else who would like to send me photos of your projects based on lessons you have learned here and/or at library… when you email them to me please also include an explanation / description of your work. I absolutely love creative, inspirational and entertaining stories. So if you like to write, by all means go crazy. I’d love to put the spotlight on YOU!