Simple Beginner Cane Can Be Used To Make Several More Complex Polymer Clay Canes:
I talk a lot on this site about the versatility of polymer clay canes. They can be used in so many different bead making techniques for all kinds of jewelry projects and sculptural art. They can also be the starting point for even more complex canes. One very simple Fimo Cane to make that is very useful and versatile is the bulls eye cane.
It is called a bulls eye cane because it looks like a target or bulls-eye. It can be made as simple as a log of polymer clay wrapped with a thin sheet of a different color. Or as complicated as a log wrapped in many different colored sheets of variable thicknesses.
Here are just a few ideas of more complex canes that can be created from a simple bulls-eye cane.
Lace Cane:
Cut a bulls eye cane into several equal lengths. Gather together into one cane. Reduce. Cut into several equal lengths again, and gather into one cane. Reduce. This cane has a lacey look, especially if you use a transparent log wrapped in a white sheet. When done with all opaque colors it can make a nice center for a flower cane.
Polka Dot Cane:
Create a bulls eye cane with an opaque color log wrapped in a thick translucent sheet. ‘Square up’ the cane and cut into several equal length pieces. Stack the square logs into one new log and reduce. You can repeat if you want more polka dots. This cane looks neat because the polka dots appear to be floating on the surface.
Mod Cane:
Make several different bulls-eye canes in coordinating colors. Square them up and stack into a single cane to make some very mod looking polymer clay jewelry pendants.
Heart Cane:
Take a bulls eye cane created in reds, pinks or purples and pinch one side to a point, right down the full length of the cane. This will be the point at the bottom of the heart. The cane should now look like a tear drop. Take a long round skewer or knitting needle and press into the top of the cane to make the indent the full length of the cane. You may have to reshape the cane a bit with your fingers. But you now have a heart cane which can be used as is or packed with a background color. There is a tiny version of this cane on the corner of my face cane pendant pictured in a post from a few days ago.
Here’s another Bullseye Cane article for more ideas. And if you have any ideas or questions about how to use this versatile cane, leave a comment below.
Have you ever made a Bulls Eye Cane before? What are some of the things you have made with it?
Or… is there anything else you would like to talk about. I’m all ears :)
Dear Cindy, I am so fortunate to have found your blog, and I am very grateful that I have been able to enjoy your “Polymer Clay Bead Making for Beginners Course.” I have learned more from your course, and your bonus videos, than I could have ever guessed I would learn. Each of your videos is so jam-packed with information… yet, because you really know how to teach, you make it all seem so simple and doable. You explain, in detail, how every part of each process works. You have taught me what tools are the best to use, and how to use them. You have taught me the differences between each different kind of polymer clay, and the best way to work with each of them. Each time I finish a video that you have made, I go away knowing, without a doubt, how to do what I have just been taught. I now have great confidence in my abilities when I work with my clay, thanks to all that I have learned from watching your videos. Through your videos, I have learned how to avoid many mistakes (after all, you have already made them for me!), and how to make beautiful beads, jewelry, and anything I want to make! Making beads and other projects with polymer clay used to be so mysterious to me, now, thanks to your beginner course, I understand what I am doing, and I just get to have all kinds of fun!!! I can hardly wait to so what more you have in store for all of us! Sorry… I have no complaints!!! Sincerely. ~Cindy Erickson
Thank you so much for taking the time to write those very kind words Cindy. Sharing feedback like this really gives others great insight about what they can expect from the video tutorials. I truly appreciate your help.
Hi Cindy,
I want to make a pendant out of a bulls eye cane…..how do I get it large enough to become a pendant (an inch and a half diameter) approx.
Thanks, Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, there are a few ways you can get your bulls-eye canes big enough for pendants. One would be to add more rings to your cane. Another would be to make thicker rings of color in the first place. Or if you already have a cane you like, you can cut a very thick slice and carefully flatten it out with a roller to stretch it to the size you need. It can be tricky to do this perfectly, but it can be done if you go slowly. Good luck!
Once again thank you Cindy…. took your advice and made my bulls eye rings larger and was able to make the perfect pendant size. Marilyn