“How fun to
see how everyone
applies what we learn
here.” ~Malinda-J
July is one of those months in the year with five weeks instead of four. That means no freebie color recipes and no new video posting at the members library today, on this 5th Friday. That’s the bad news.
Instead, I’m excited to be able to invite everyone to spend some time over at the brand new, Polymer Clay Facebook Gallery. Currently, you can browse through over 190 bead and jewelry photos that are bound to provide you with some inspiration for your next project.
Beautiful beads all you growing artists out there. I love going to Facebook and looking at each and every one of them in the larger picture. Thanks for having the drive to share all your work with us. Uuuggs. ~Peggy-B
What a thrill to be able to see slideshows of all your work close up! Thank you all so much for contributing! Just love this site. ~Jocelyn-C
Seeing all the beautiful items that others do is a joy. Great inspirations too. Congrats Cindy, for devising the Facebook gallery for us. A wonderful addition to our blog here and the weekly video newsletter. Just love it. ~Elizabeth-K
NOTE 1: You don’t have to be a member at the Polymer Clay Library to be able to view all the wonderful photos that are being uploaded to the new Gallery. Heck, you don’t even have to have a Facebook account. All of the photos are available for public viewing.
NOTE 2: If you ARE a member here, it would be wonderful to see you upload a picture or two, of your pieces. When you do, there is a chance that you will win the bead giveaway, grand prize. It’s valued at roughly what you pay for 2 years of video access at the Polymer Clay Tutor Library. Rules and guidelines are posted here: Polymer Clay Bead Contest
NOTE 3: For members who have the time to go the extra mile, please read through the ideas that were posted in this thread: Polymer Clay Tutor 5th Friday
Have a great Friday everyone. I look forward to seeing and hearing from you over at the Facebook Gallery.
And if you need instructions on how to upload photos to the gallery, that information can be found at the following recent article link:
New Facebook Guidelines for Polymer Clay Bead Giveaway Contest
Finally, as usual, the comment section in EVERY Friday post here at blog, is always available Open Mic discussions. Anything goes… from polymer clay challenges that you need some help with… to success stories about your jewelry creations… to requests for upcoming video tutorials… to general community chit chat.
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| ** Did You Know… Members with current subscriptions to the weekly tutorial videos are always entitled to a 10% discount when purchasing 6 or more back issue packages in a single transaction. If you are interested, let me know which back issues you would like and I will send further instructions on how to complete your order. |
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Hope you and your family have a great weekend Cindy!
Ditto what Tanya said! Also, I hope everyone adds their photos to the gallery—let’s fill it up! I also hope everyone is feeling healthy, and free of pain. So many are hurting these days; I wish you the best!
Thanks Tanya and Phaedrakat for the weekend wishes. You guys are always so supportive.
So far, there have been 12 new project photos added to the Facebook gallery… and lots and lots of people viewing them! I love it! Keep those pics coming!
When you are uploading your photos, remember to write a short description indicating what technique(s) were used. If you don’t know what link(s) to add, don’t worry about that. Someone will be able to add those in a comment under your photo. Big thanks to Carolyn-F for helping out today, with the link adds. Much appreciated!
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And On Another Subject…
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There is an important topic up for discussion over in another thread. Thank you to Judy-M for taking the time to get the conversation going. It affects everyone who follows this blog… or at least it affects everyone who wants to ensure that this blog continues to provide the value and support you have all come to expect in regards to the main focus… polymer clay.
Jocelyn-C, Carolyn-F and Carolyn-K have already chimed in with some excellent feedback. Please share your thoughts on this very important topic. Here is the link…
Judy-M said… “Argggggggggggggggh. So many threads inside one thread…”
Off topic help. Can I remove Future from a bead and add Lisa Pavelka’s magic gloss ? I have a small, freebie, that I have from Lisa. Got see if it cures here in Tucson ( it should – we get enough sunshine LOL). Then I can decide which UV Resin to buy. Thanks…….
@pattw: Yes you can, just soak in rubbing alcohol and scrub off the Future.
Great photos, Cindy! Thanks for putting them all up. :)
@ CINDY -thanks I thought it would work , but had to be sure..hugs
Hey Guys and Gals, Sorry I haven’t been around much. I have my Grandchildren here with me. We are taking them back home this weekend. There goes another week end of me not being able to clay
:( …
I Have been so busy trying to get my business prepaired for inspection along with tons of paperwork and dealing with clients.
I think I’ve cought a bug from one of the children that was sick. I’ve been sneezing for two days and feeling dizzy. Anyhow.
I did manage to try the Mica Powders on a piece today, Dumby me over baked it and it bubbled up. So back to the drawing board. I miss chatting with all of you and hope to be back at it very soon. TTFN
No clay play for me today. I’ve been cleaning the house, doing laundry, and loading the motorhome … when given a choice between food and clay … clay won hands down. I can always buy food on the road! There is barely room left for me after I loaded the pasta machine, UV Lamp, Oven, cutters, mica powder, stamps, tools, some beads and wire. This might not seem like much but my motorhome is just a Class B … like an overgrown van. Since I don’t know what Cindy might be coming up with for tutorials, I figured I better travel prepared, hence the list of clay basics – oh, mustn’t forget those baby wipes! … and the bottle of alcohol … wonder what else I might need.
@carolyn: You will be in my prayers for a safe and fun filled trip. Now don’t overdue. I don’t think I have even asked, shame on me. Have you had a full release yet from your illness Carolyn?
Now that you have your Motor-home loaded do you have a spot for a puppy anywhere if you should decide to get one. Whatever your decision I am sure you will take you time to make the correct one. I am off to bed.
Love and Uuuuugggggs, Peggy
@carolyn: Will you be selling PYMII during your trip? I was leaving a comment about it, and was getting ready to refer the person to you. Then I remembered your vacation and wasn’t sure if you’d be selling during your trip… What are the dates for your trip, anyway (if that’s okay to ask?)
On that same note, you might want to leave a couple comments over at the two PYMII threads. That way I can easily put a link to your comment, and then the person can follow that directly to your website/blog to purchase the product… I was surprised that you haven’t weighed in your opinion on either of those threads! ;D ~Kat
Preserve Your Memories II on Polymer Clay Beads and Copper Findings
Craft Spray Fixative That’s Been Tested To Work On Polymer Clay
@Phaedrakat: Yes, I have several cans with me for sale. lordstreasures(dot)com or dovedesigns.blogspot(dot)com. I guess you can figure out that I wrote out in parens the dot so it wouldn’t upset Cindy’s blog posting. I do not know how long I will be on the road. I’m not sure how you’d say it, Silverleaf, but I say I’m going where God wants me to go and doing what He wants me to do for as long as He wants. I could turn around and be home next week … or stay away 3 months. Regardless of how long I am away, I have a USB internet connection now so I will still be able to learn and help out here on the blog and on Cindy’s facebook.
@carolyn: Thanks for letting me know, Carolyn. Did you leave a post over at the PYMII articles? I’m sure you can find something to comment about, and then I can go in and link to your comment, and “happen” to mention that you carry the product. —Just trying to help! Also, that’s so cool how you can have your own USB wi-fi these days. Technology is so amazing!
Just an FYI, you don’t have to put “(dot) com” for Cindy’s benefit. If you just leave off the “http…www.” part, you’ll be fine. The reason for spelling out the dot and all that is mainly for email, so that the spam-bots and various web-crawling, trawling thingies (like my bad tech-talk?) don’t pick up your email address and spam you to death. At least that’s my understanding—I’m sure there are other reasons and things to be worried about. (Someone) feel free to jump in here and correct me or fill us in on the proper terminology and how it all works if you want. :D
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that you don’t have to write your website address like that if you don’t want to (from Cindy’s or the website’s perspective, anyway.) That’s how I leave the links to other posts—I just remove the “http”, the “://”, and the “www” and then leave the rest. (I’m guessing that’s how other people do it, too.) In fact, I did it above with the PYMII links. Doug usually goes in later and converts the blog web addresses we leave into hyperlinks (clickable links) so members can easily click over to all the different posts here at the blog.
PS … that bottle of alcohol is rubbing alcohol … there’s no room for the other kind …
@carolyn: Do you get internet in your motor home too? We want one. I just bought a jeep commander & OMGoodness do I love it… Have fun on your trip.
@Brenda: Yep! I just got a USB that is like having my own WiFi. I heard they work well … I sure hope so. This will be my first time with it … got to make sure I can still get the Friday tutorials and my daily blog fix.
@carolyn: Cool… I have wireless set up on mine so that when I am near a rest area or something I can connect. It isn’t that great of a connection though :(
@CAROLYN -have a wonderful trip. We Rv’d til this summer. Sold the rig and decided not to travel . We both really miss it. So our thoughts are with you.
BTW – I really like making the color recipes. It is fun to see new color appearing -sort of Zen-y……… Guess it takes all kinds..lol………hugs
Can anyone help me locate a ginkgo leaf mold? I’ve found the sculpey leaf cutter set, but I know I’ve seen those reddish very flexible molds, with veins and nice detail. But I can’t find anywhere to buy what I’m looking for. Does anyone know where I can get this?
Thanks!
Marsha
@Marsha: Try this link. It will take you to ARTCO’s mold page. I had to scroll down a ways to get to the ginko mold but maybe it is what you are looking for. Note that the separators are underlines, not dashes. Hope it helps. Let me know if the link doesn’t work. I’m spelling the first (.)
Elizabeth
www(dot)artcoinc.com/wi_3d_push_molds.php
Elizabeth S. — Thank you for your suggestion. It’s pretty much what I wanted, but pretty pricey. Somewhere in some thread of some conversation somewhere — I saw a really beautiful one from Australia but I can’t find it again.
Thank you so much.
Marsha
@Marsha: I think Lawrence left a comment about the Aust. mold site. Try the search box and type in something like “Australia mold website” or something along those lines (you might have to mix it up a bit.) I do remember that comment, it was fairly recent…
@Phaedrakat:
Thank you so much! I finally did find what I was looking for — not the Australia one (which I’ll probably order too!) — but the red rubber molding mats. I had no idea what to search for, but perseverance paid off. I’ll try your suggestion, too. Again, thank you.
Marsha
Hi: I just wanted to pop in here and let you know I received the Micromesh pads. I ordered them from stewmac.com they came in about two days. I paid $9.89 and $5.00 shipping this was the best price I found. (I am in Kansas) I did not get the finishing liquid with it. I am so excited to get some sanding done. I just got home from work and feeling a little tired but wil start tomarrow.
Barb
@Barbara: Me, too. Like you, I didn’t purchase the finishing liquid but I did splurge on the sanding swabs and had the most wonderful afternoon using them on some roses. In spite of Cindy’s instructions I have never been able to avoid fingerprints on my petals. These little swabs are the answer to a prayer for people like me. They get down into all those little grooves perfectly.
@Elizabeth S.: Those little swabs sound so cool—I can’t wait to get some! I’m glad they’re working so well for your roses… Have fun!
@Barbara: Wow, Barb, that’s a great price! Thank you!
Well here it is Sunday morning and I so far have totally failed Cindy. I was sick yesterday and my daughter, son-in-law and grandkids came Thursday and spent the night and left about 8 Friday evening. I was so tired. Made a turkey on the rotiserie and Liberty kept saying this is just like Thanksgiving. I told her I was thankful it was not because I always bake the pies on Thanksgiving. She said we can just have ice cream instead with fresh fruit. So I am going to try to get some more sleep go back to bed and work on polymerclay facebook later after church. Thats my plan as of now. So Nighty Night and lots of Uuuuggs, Peggy
@Peggy Barnes: Peggy, so sorry you are feeling sick. Please don’t think you failed anyone—you constantly raise people’s spirits here with your sweet and kind ways, and your energetic praise makes everyone happy! I hope that your nice rest makes you feel better. BTW, your early Thankgiving meal sounds delicious. Don’t worry, the fruit and ice cream is a wonderful substitute for pies! Sounds like the kids took a lot of your energy. Take it easy now, and pamper yourself until you feel better. We love you, and I hate to think of you feeling sick! Love, hugs, and prayers — Kat :D
@ Cindy – I think I posted this question at the blue morpho tutorial site. I did the butterfly cane but I have more white (pearl) in the centre. The skinner blend is something that i really need more practice. I have a question, when doing the skinner blend, what thinness do you need to get to? Do you use the thickest setting throughout? I think I did something wrong there because the skinner blend sheet was not long enough; it was rather short.
Help! I’m trying to add another page to my blog ‘Beaded Jewels’ for pictures and blogs about other jewelry. I did a new page but when I previewed it it showed up on my main page with the ‘about me’ profile and polymer clay intro. I don’t want it to replace my page with my proffile and the polymer posts. How do I get it published separately as a new blog page and also have a link to go to the polymer clay page?
@Cheryl Hodges: Cheryl, you’re using Blogger. You have to edit your page. I’m not good at it, I just “kind of” have a page set up but haven’t really used it yet, but I’m in there now messing around and if you click on the “postings” tab there will be 4 headings you can choose from – “New Post”, “Edit Posts”, “Edit Pages”, and “Comment Moderation:. If you click on “Edit Pages” on the left side there will be a blue button that says “New Page”, and right after that it says “You can add up to 10 stand-alone pages such as an “About Me” page”, along with a “Learn More” link in blue. Hope this helps!
@Cheryl Hodges: I saw your question over there at the butterfly video page, but I didn’t understand what you were asking. Now that I’ve read your extra comments, I think I get it. I’ll put the answer back over there so it’s under the right topic, but I’ll leave this here, as well. (Since I’m not sure where you’ll be looking.)
In the video, Cindy tells us the thicknesses she uses for her teardrop/skinner blend. She does use the thickest setting for the blend portion throughout. The strip isn’t very long (at least, not as long as some of the other canes she’s done in the past!) Of course, the length of the strip depends on how much clay you used for your blend. Did you follow the recommended amounts she uses in the video, or something different? I’m wondering why you think that you did something wrong—is something wrong with your cane?
Best of luck with your butterfly project, as well as with your blog. Keep playing with your blog, and practicing—you’ll get the hang of it. As soon as I get some time, I’m going to get one of my own created so I can be of more help to people. Sorry I wasn’t able to help you here. Luckily, Tanya is AWESOME and has advice for you… ;D
@Tanya L: That’s so awesome that you helped out, Tanya! I haven’t created a blog yet, so I’m not any good with these kinds of questions. Lots of people are having trouble setting up their blogs; I sure wish I had more time to investigate so I could help more! Thanks for being you—so cool!
@Phaedrakat: Thank you Kat, but believe me, Blogger would be a cinch for you. I’ve read your comments to others and you amaze me with your knowledge!
@Cheryl Hodges: Hi Cheryl. I forgot to tell you how to link to the polymer clay page, but I see you did it! Great job!
@ Tanya- I just got the name ‘Beaded jewel’ hopefully the page will get connected correctly. I had done exactly what you said but when I previewed it,It showed up as the page with my profile and ‘about me’ etc on it and my older blogs for the polymer clay were not showing at all. I’m afraid to go ahead and do it as I don’t want to lose the orginal page with the polymer clay posts and my profile etc.
@Cheryl Hodges: Cheryl, I see “Beaded Jewels” down at the bottom it’s not clickable. At least not for me. So I tried setting up a second page on mine. When I clicked “publish” I got a choice with a little blue square on the right or a longish blue rectangle at the top. I chose the little blue square to the right. I now have two clickable pages. Remember, these far from ready, but you can see what I mean here: tanyastizzy.blogspot.com/
While you’re on your published blog page, if you click on “Design” on the upper right you should get the “Design” tab, and be in “Page Elements”. Somewhere where you can add “Gadgets” should be your “Pages”. If you click on the “Edit” button a new window will come up entitled “Configure Page List”. Make sure the “Automatically add new pages when they are published” box is checked. It will also have boxes for “Pages to show”. Both your “CherieXpressions” and “Beaded Jewels” (love your names!) should be listed and the boxes for both should be checked. (I didn’t know about any of this stuff until just now! LOL!! Crash course!)
@Cheryl Hodges: Cheryl, I’m just stopping in here quickly, so I’m not sure if you’ve got this under control yet. If you’re worried about losing text that you’ve entered into your blog, you might want to try typing everything in a Microsoft Word file (or whatever you use for creating documents). Then you can copy and paste the text onto your blog.
You might even want to save all your blog stuff in a Word file, in case you ever need to recreate it.
@ Tanya – thanks , sure made it seem easier. I’ve been teaching like crazy these days, extra time because of exams and i want to finish by the 12th. Not much time to clay or anything else. Music exams coming up on 6th and &th and 11, 12th and 13th. We’re going on vacation after that.
@Cheryl Hodges: You’re very welcome Cheryl. If you need help at a certain time we can work something out using some kind of instant messaging and we can walk through it together. I’m laid off so I have a lot more time than you do, and it’s frustrating trying to get something set up when you’re so pressed for time, as you are. Hang in there! You are definitely in need of a vacation!!! :) If you need me to look how to do anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask. Seriously! It benefits me, too, because, you saw, I am trying to do the same thing. Good luck, and great job!
@ Tanya – Help!!! I added the new page and my old polymer page is still there but… the new page has polymer clay intro and ‘about me’ . I need to take off the polymer clay intro. How do I do that?
@Cheryl Hodges: It looks to me as though it’s just a header typed on your “CherieXpressions” page, and that if you would go into the “Design” tab and go down to the bottom you should be able to delete that part. I’m guessing it may be a little box? Would you like to use instant messaging and do this together? If so, let me know what you use and I’ll download it quick.
@Tanya L: Cheryl, I was thinking you were talking about something else, but after talking to myself and then making my son listen to me talk to myself (LOL!) I think you would still do the same thing – delete the type you want to get rid of. I have boxes that have nothing typed in them and nothing shows when I “publish”.
@ Linda and Tanya – thanks for the help. I don’t think I need to have the ‘about me ‘ in the beaded jewelry page; also need to take off the lines about polymer clay. I figure the only way i can do this is on th eblog edit layout; but if I remove it from there it’s going to alter the main page too. I don’t need to remove the other stuff – links etc just the polymer paragraph and about me.
@Cheryl Hodges: Any time! :)
@ Tanya – Are you on Facebook- We could do live chat? I’ll be on between 10 a. m and 11 .am. (EST)
@Cheryl Hodges: Cheryl, I’m having MAJOR computer problems! Gotta run something quick and I’ll be right back..
@Cheryl Hodges: I’m back. Not sure if it’s fixed. Not even sure it’s my computer. Our server’s not that great.
I am, Cheryl. I’ll be there! I’ll go look for you awhile.
@ Tanya – Is your computer alright? My printer went crazy today when I was trying to print out a test for the students. The test was 6 pages and it started duplicating and said 2 of 99 copies! I had to quickly shut it off.
What time do you go online? I think I will be on 12 Noon.
@Cheryl Hodges: Hi Cheryl. It’s still acting wacky sometimes and the web page will go blank and shut down. I can’t figure out what’s wrong! Maybe there’s a world-wide glitch in all computers and anything connected to them! :) 12 noon EST? Are you in the same time zone I am?
Yes 12 Noon EST. I’m so frustrated with that page!
@ Tanya – I managed to get all the pages etc. sorted out. You can check out my blog now!