Vid #144: “Cindy, your videos help me to go where this woman has never gone before.” ~Sandra-G
Like I’ve said a gazillion times before, it always amazes me how many different things you can do with polymer clay. The unique topic for today focuses on inlaying.
This simple polymer clay technique allows you to utilize scraps and trimmings, by embedding selected bits and pieces into a pendant sized base of soft clay.
The project will end up looking as if you have spent hours intricately carving and inserting inlaid bone chips, stone and/or wood fragments. When in actuality, you were able to do everything quite quickly and easily without a lot of fuss.
On Friday Feb 19th in the Polymer Clay Video Library (Vol-021-3), you will learn everything necessary to get started creating beautiful pendants adorned with unique inlaid patterns and designs.
Inlay is something I’ve always wanted to try. ~Jakie-M
Cindy, the inlay technique was very high on my list of learning so it is great that it is coming soon. Your piece is lovely, as usual, and will surely inspire us. ~Joyce-M
I’m in… inlays can be used in so many different ways. ~DJ
Oh, be still my heart! It’s so beautiful with the inlays. I sure hope the votes are for an inlay video. Mine sure is! ~Elizabeth-S
Yes! yes! yes! I would love to see how it’s made. Cindy, your videos help me to go where this woman has never gone before. ~Sandra-G
Cindy, I’d love to see the inlay technique. The instruction in your videos is very clear and easy to follow. ~Sharon-F
What a beautiful technique! That does look incredibly real–so glossy and gorgeous! I can’t wait to learn it. I have quite a few polymer clay books that show various inlays and fauxs, but I never tackled them. I’m so happy this will be in the February videos. I know Cindy will simplify this so that I will actually do it! ~Phaedrakat
Well today you all get to see the sneak peek of the Inlay Technique video. Then, coming up on Friday Feb 19th, the full tutorial will be posted in the Polymer Clay Members Library as Volume-021-3.
Supplies & Tools: Video-021-3: Inlay Technique:
- Small thin baked pieces of clay and cuttings left overs from your other polymer clay projects. I used pieces from my Crackled Gold Leaf and Ink technique, slices from a a Faux Turquoise Cane and strips of red and black clay. One thing to keep in mind about the clay pieces you choose to use for your inlay project, is that they must be sand-able. This will become more clear once you get a chance to watch the video.
- Sheet of clay rolled at thickest setting on your pasta machine to use for the base. I used some Sahara colored Studio by Sculpey in the video demonstration, but I also show pendant examples using Faux Bone and other colors of Premo clay.
- Single sided razor blade (optional).
- Clay Blade and/or ripple blade cutter.
- Pasta Machine and/or Acrylic Roller.
- Sanding and Buffing Supplies.
- Antiquing Medium – I used Studio by Sculpey in Chocolate Brown.
The full version of the Vid-021-3 Inlay Technique Video Tutorial will be posted in the Polymer Clay Members Library on Friday Feb 19th, 2010. But if you would like to see a sneak peek 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 “Inlay Technique” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Vol-021 Back Issue Package.
Customer Feedback About Membership Value:
First of all, I want to thank you Cindy again for all the help you gave me and how patient you were when I had some trouble with my username and password. Well I’m all squared away now and very happy with my membership. The videos and color recipes are definitely useful. I encourage everyone who hasn’t signed up yet to do so – it really is a great deal. Plus Cindy is very prompt at answering one’s questions/concerns about this addictive medium. ~Maria-C
The following topics are included in this week’s “Inlay Technique” video tutorial:
- See examples of three different pendants utilizing the inlay technique.
- Discussion of the types of clay needed for inlaying into your pendant.
- Learn a simple trick for using up scraps from previous polymer clay projects. Nothing is ever wasted with polymer clay!
- Tips on how to cut the baked pieces to be inlaid and get them exactly the right size for your design.
- Find out just how easy it really is to get that look of carefully carved and inset pieces of stone and other materials in your jewelry pieces.
- Learn the importance of proper finishing, to get the professional look your pieces deserve
The full version of the “Inlay Technique” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Vol-021 Back Issue Package.
Can’t wait Cindy! It looks sooooo cool!!
I can’t wait. I’ve always looked at other people’s pieces and admired that they could inlay pieces that looked so good.
Looking forward to the video!
At a pc workshop some time back one of the participants was wearing an inlay pendant she had made. It was absolutely beautiful and I remember thinking that I would give anything to know the technique she used to create it. Needless to say, Friday can’t get here fast enough for me.
Can’t wait for this video though I will have to get some left over scraps which means i need to do some more beads! I used up the scraps to make beads the last time I made those beads for the contest.
Wow, this looks AWEsome! Can’t wait to see this video — I just love Fridays!
another fantastic technique to add to our arsenal friday cant come soon enough.
Hi Cindy and all, just watched the inlay technique Video. Just amazing.
What a way to use up some of those pieces you have left over.
Would never have thought to do this but so so easy but looks so intricate.
I will be getting onto this as soon as I can. Just love it.
Bye
E. XXX
Oh, Cindy, This is fantastic. I can already envision some of the pieces that I can make for the shop in New Mexico! Now all I need is to stop using up all my scraps. As you may recall from my ‘Waste Not – Want Not’ collection, I try to use up every last bit of a project in one way or another. I’m going to have to change my habits. Thanks for this inspiring video!
I have the same “problem” too, Carolyn, I use up all my scraps. But as this video shows, it’s good to have small amounts of lots of different things on hand. What a great video! It is quite a simple technique, but looks really intricate (just like you said, Elizabeth — guess I don’t have any words of my own!) I’m going to make some of the other projects (and save my scraps) before attempting this project. I might even make some Faux Turquoise. I’ve never made it, and I got a request from someone. Another sales opportunity (they always happen, without even trying, when my back is at its worst and I can’t get things done!) Go figure~
Thanks for a great one, Cindy. You’re amazing!
@Phaedrakat, Carolyn: Your Mexican theme sounds just right for this inlay I can just see it.
This inlay tech is great isnt it
Phaedrakat, dont wory about using my words as we all think the same here, and I am always echoing someone elses thought from here.
Sorry about you having a backpain Phaedrakat,, try not to let it interfere with your creativeness., just dont sit at things too long
Yes I too want to make some Faux Turquoise and I am off to find some small pieces I made while using up the clay from something else I was making.
As you say we will all see things differently now.,
love the inlay idea.
Bye
E XXX
P.S, dont know why that all came out in blue? as I am seeing it. Forgot to say, I never thought I could cut hard clay, but wont be so scared to now. thanks.
EXXx
@Elizabeth K, Phaedrakat: Fixed up the “all blue, on big link” comment. No worries :-)
@All – glad everyone is liking this week’s Polymer Clay Inlay tutorial. Simple, Easy AND Intricate Looking! What could be better than that!? All part of my master plan to show that it does not have to be complicated to achieve professional results with polymer clay!
Keep those comments coming. I LOVE hearing from ALL of you. HAPPY FRIDAY!
Yes, I see it, Elizabeth. Your entire message is blue — one big link! Cindy will fix it (she doesn’t have anything else to do, hahaha!) Have fun creating, and maybe try warming your hard clay a little, it will be easier to cut…
Bye!
I love your weekly emails, it is the best email I have had all week. Can’t wait till next Friday.
Oh the possibilities!! Absolutely wonderful video! What fun to have the inlay technique added to the choices for projects.
Hi Cindy and all thanks for fixing my email,as if you havent got enough to do! dont know how I did that. Happy Friday to you too.
Yes Phaedrakat, I will have to heat some of my bits up to cut them for sure.Must get started.
Bye for now.
It’s Sat morn & I’m wondering if anyone else is having trouble watching this week’s video. It comes up & gets as far as the preview & then gets stuck. I watched another video to see if it’s my PC. The other worked fine.
@Rose: Rose, I just re-checked this week’s video and it is fine. Are you trying to get there through the video clip above these comments? That’s only a tickler for non-members. Be sure to go to Cindy’s video site to view the entire video. When you sign in to that site with your user name and password, go down to Weekly Video Newsletter and this video should be right at the top of the list. Click on that one and you should be fine. Good luck!
@carolyn: You are a star! Thanks so much for responding to Rose. This kind of help is greatly appreciated!
@Rose: When you emailed me about this issue earlier today, I responded back with some information for you. But it looks as though you did not receive that email. So first of all, please, please be sure to add my email address to your ‘friends’ or ‘approved senders’ list. This is a general message for everyone. If you don’t let your email program know that you actually do want to receive the emails that come from me, unfortunately, all of my best effort to respond to your email inquiries can often end up in your junk folder :-(
Anyways, back to the video player issue. What you experienced Rose, is what I call a ‘browser hiccup’. It is not so much your computer, but more the browser on your computer (probably Internet Explorer) that ‘hiccuped’ when it originally tried serving up that one video. When this happens, you generally have to clear cookies and re-set your browser cache… and it sounds like that is exactly what you did… YAY!
The link by my name will take you to where I posted a summary of helpful video player trouble shooting information. This link is really worth bookmarking for future reference.
Thanks for responding, Carolyn, but I’m doing it correctly. I’ve tried several times & restarted my internet connection several times. The strange part is that I get as far as the preview video (I checked that). I’m doing it correctly. Will try again now.
I shut my computer down, restarted, signed on here & brought up the video. It plays until she shows the red pendant. It then shuts down as tho it’s done & then starts beeping. It’s beeping now as I type. Weird. I don’t see how it can be my pc as I’m able to watch the older vids.
Cindy & Doug … or maybe someone else … I have a Mac and Rose probably has a PC. I have no other ideas for her. That beeping is trying to tell her something … maybe cache needs to be emptied … maybe cookies need to be enabled … I don’t know. Is there someone else who can help her? I hate leaving her unable to view this fabulous video!
Well, I’m embarrassed to admit this, but IT WAS MY PC. I followed the steps Cindy outlined under video problems & brought it up. I watched half & closed it. Hope I can get back in. Thank you Carolyn for trying to help. I need to remember that Cindy knows best.
I do have internet explorer. We have a fellow that helps with our PC. I’ll ask him about firefox (or whatever it was). I’m also still with aol & I’ve never heard of an approved senders list – doesn’t mean there isn’t one. I’ll check that out. Thanks for the help. The video was definitely worth the trouble. Now, I’m going to relax & go plan my pendant.
Unfortunately, AOL is one of the worst “offenders” for filtering emails. You would probably be amazed to find out how many messages that you would actually appreciate receiving, that are actually not making it through to your email in box (not just from me but from many other sites too).
The link by my name will take you to a page that will be helpful for you in getting my contact info approved in your AOL account.
Thx for all the help, Cindy. I appreciate it. I’ll take your information & see about getting updated.
I love inlays and would have not thought that it is so easy to make. Thank you Cindy for sharing.
molto bello grazie
NEW PHOTOS ADDED:
Hello to Everyone,
Some new Spotlight project pictures that relate to the topic of this page (Polymer Clay Inlay Technique), have just been added in another post. They were submitted by Carolyn-F. The link by my name will take you to where you can see them, along with a bit of a write up. Hopefully they will inspire you to achieve great things with your own polymer clay projects.
BTW: Thanks to everyone above, who took the time to comment. Your feedback and support is always such a wonderful part of my day. Although I don’t get a chance to address each of your comments individually, please know that I do read them all. ~Cindy