Polymer Clay Tutorial | Variegated Sculpted Rose Beads (Two Parts)

Variegated Sculpted Rose Beads

Vid #110: You’ll Be Selling Your Own Clay Roses On Etsy in No Time!

Learning how to blend and shift colors is an important part of being able to make polymer clay roses that look realistic. This week in the members library, I am going to demonstrate a unique process for creating beautiful sculpted roses with natural variegated patterns.

I’ve received many compliments about my clay rose designs… figured it is time for all of you to learn how to make them as well.

Cindy, your rose is stunning! If I ever get that good, you can bet I’ll be selling PC roses on Etsy — and I will give you credit for inspiration and tutoring! It’s always good to have something to aspire to! I’ve sure learned a ton of great stuff from your site. Now that I’m signed up, I’m sure I’ll learn even more. ~Sue

Hi Cindy… Your Rose is just perfect… I love making roses but they are not as nice as yours… and one big problem I run into is burning them… of course they are supper thin petals most of the time thinner then pasta machine setting #6… can you help me with the baking time please? How long should they be baked? My biggest worry is if they are not baked at the right temp or right time they can crack? Please help me… Thanks :) ~Tannumoni

Well Sue, Tannumoni and everyone else… you are in for a treat! The first episode of the two part sculpted rose mini-series, will be available in the members library on Friday June 12, 2009 (Vol-013-2). It will cover the process of making the variegated rose petal cane.

Part 2 will be posted next week on June 19th, 2009 (Vol-013-3). It will show you how to use the variegated rose petal cane to create your sculpted rose beads… as well as how to bake, sand and finish them.

What I love about this particular style of polymer clay bead is all the possibilities it possesses. Made small they work great as a dainty feminine accent bead. Perfect for little girls jewelry or mixed in with other types of beads.

Created large, these rose beads make fabulous rose pendants, brooches and pins.

Sculpted rose flower beads are also perfect for making custom handmade wedding jewelry. You can custom design them to match the roses in the Bride’s bouquet. And they make wonderful keepsake gifts for the Bridesmaids, Maid of Honor, Mother of the Bride or Groom, and for the Flower Girls!

If you want to see a preview video clip of the Part 1 segment, click here, or just scroll down a bit to the video player below.

Information about how to get signed up at the members library, is posted further down on the page (under the video player). I hope you can join me and the many other students who have already enrolled.

Cindy Lietz SignaturePolymer Clay Tutor





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Here’s That “Link Below” Referred To at End of the Video
>> Polymer Clay Tutorials <<

The full version of the “Rose Bead” preview video shown above, is available for purchase at my Polymer Clay Bead Making Videos Library in the Volume-013 Back Issue Package.

The following topics are covered in Part 1 (Volume-013-2) of this “Variegated Rose Bead” video:

  • Achieving different variegation effects by using different combinations of translucent, pearls and colors.
  • How to mix the clay for 2 different styles of sculpted rose beads — Ones that look more like real flowers vs the ones that have a porcelain appearance like what you might see decorating fine china pieces.
  • Teardrop color blend technique specifically for this type of rose petal cane.
  • Modified Skinner Blend Plug that allows you to control how the colors end up getting layered in your rose petal cane design.

Topics covered in Part 2 (Volume 013-3) of this two part mini-series include:

  • Using the rose petal cane created in Part 1 to make your rose petals.
  • Combining the petals to form an initial rose bud and then the full rose bead.
  • Methods for reducing fingerprints that will the finishing process much easier after the rose beads are baked.
  • How to bake your sculpted beads so they keep their delicate shape and colors, without burning.
  • Techniques for sanding and finishing the delicate petalsĀ  to a wonderful feel and luster.

  1. Ken H., 09 June, 2009

    OHHHHHHH!!!!! You’ve been batting a thosuand recently. WOW! Again I can’t wait until Friday and then to have to wait until the 19th.

    I’m sure glad I watch these videos initially during lunch at work where I can’t just drop everything and start to play in clay.

    I could see these being made larger into sculptures like capodimonte(not sure if it’s one word) and even other flowers.

  2. Jocelyn C, 09 June, 2009

    Another idea for those gorgeous roses is to make a dresser set…roses attached to combs, hair and make up brushes, hand mirrors, kleenex boxs, attached to the sides of those mirrored perfume trays, and on the lids and on centered on bottle neck chain labels…would be “to die for!” All custom done to match your own bedroom or bathroom colors. Betcha they’d be hot sellers, too.

  3. Ken H., 09 June, 2009

    Oh I can see it now. I was just looking at some of the Capodimonte floral sculptures. I’m going to go crazy until the 19th when we learn to make the flowers.

    My grandmother had a porcelain set of items in her bedroom when I was a child that had the flowers on them, as time went on things got broken and trashed, there is only one piece left, a little vase, and even that has a portion of one of the roses broken off where it fell over.

  4. Cindy Lietz, 10 June, 2009

    I am glad you guys are excited about this technique! There are so many great ideas for roses like this. Both of you, Ken and Jocelyn, came up with some excellent ones!

    Anyone else want to add to the ideas for using beads like this?

  5. Silverleaf, 10 June, 2009

    Very pretty! I can see them on hair slides or grips or similar. Or how about wine glass charms for parties?

  6. Zuleykha, 12 June, 2009

    Very nice tutorial! Can’t wait for the part 2 :) Thank you, Cindy!

  7. Bonnie, 12 June, 2009

    Is there something wrong with the video? It won’t play, it bumps at the beginning and won’t go forward.

  8. Louise Traylor, 12 June, 2009

    Hi Cindy…

    Totally enjoying your tutorials!!!

    I think there’s a problem with todays video, when it loads there’s an error on the page. I’m letting you know so if it’s on your end you can fix it.

    Thanks,
    lou

  9. Crystal, 12 June, 2009

    Hi Cindy I was excited to see the new video of Variegated Rose Bead-Pt 1, but the video is no working. It keeps jumping, like it is skipping. I wasnt sure if it was doing it to everyone else or if it was just me. Just thought I would let you know b/c I LOVE all of your videos! they are so wonderful! thanks so much

  10. Silverleaf, 12 June, 2009

    I’m having problems too, I managed to watch about halfway then had the problem Bonnie describes.

  11. Theresa, 12 June, 2009

    The video didn’t work. It stopped at “In today’s video”…hope to get to watch it later when fixed, looks like it is going to be a beautiful flower. Thanks.

  12. Cindy Lietz, 12 June, 2009

    —————————————————————-
    VIDEO PLAYER TECHNICAL ISSUES:
    —————————————————————-

    I see a problem on my end too. Not sure what has caused the glitch but am having the tech people look into it as we speak. Stay tuned…

  13. cara letho, 12 June, 2009

    Dear cindy-
    no problem my end-i just watched the video.
    Thankyou-thankyou- thankyou!!!! I really needed to see the whole process because I have read instructions on how to make flowers and they were as clear as mud. Your instructions however are so clear and the colour blending is so logical and practical. I can see myself making all sorts of flowers using this technique. I can’t wait for next week.
    Your online classes are so fantastic and I look forward to each one!
    Thanking you again
    your grateful student
    cara

  14. Linda Dube, 12 June, 2009

    I’m having trouble with this video. It keeps restarting after playing for only a fraction of a second.

    Thanks,
    Linda

  15. Linda, 12 June, 2009

    Hi Cindy am having the same problem as the other Linda, strange but true :) It looks gawjus though can’t wait to see it in it’s fully glory.

    Linda

  16. Ken H., 12 June, 2009

    It’s not just this weeks video I’m getting the same trouble all the way back to Vol. 6 (oldest one I have access to).

  17. Ken H., 12 June, 2009

    Sorry, the “trouble” with older vid’s is my slow computer, they were hanging and I thought there was trouble with them as well

  18. Janey, 12 June, 2009

    Hi I can not get todays video to to play past the first 4 words (“In todays video I”) and it says those over and over. I can get others to play but not this one so I am wondering is it on ya’lls end instead of mine. Thanks for checking

  19. kriss Johnson, 12 June, 2009

    Same problem here. I can see the preview short version that non members see, but that’s it. It keeps starting over after the words “In today’s video”……

  20. Cindy Lietz, 12 June, 2009

    ——————————————————————
    VIDEO PLAYER TECHNICAL UPDATE:
    ——————————————————————

    Getting closer to figuring this out guys. Apparently the folks that run the server did an “upgrade” within the last 12 hours and things did not go as planned…. arghhhh! You know that saying, “If it ain’t broke…” — well this is a prime example (IMO) of when that principle should have been applied. Everything was working fine yesterday.

    Thanks for your patience everyone. We’ll get through this and you’ll get your Rose Bead video… I promise!

  21. Patricia, 12 June, 2009

    Hi Cindy, got the video just fine today 06/12 I have never figured out why I get the bump restart situation for the video’s when I use Aol, but viewing your videos on IE I always do just fine.

    Thanks for sharing the cane, I had wondered how to get the colors going in the right direction, that is always where I have the most difficult is getting the colors to be in the right place in the cane so (another mystery solved thank you !!)

    So will make up some rose canes and happily await for next weeks video !!!

  22. Cindy Lietz, 12 June, 2009

    ————————————————
    VIDEO PLAYER TECHNICAL UPDATE:
    ——————————————————————
    OK… for everyone that was experiencing technical difficulties today with the rose bead video at the members library site… it should be fixed now (crossing my fingers). My apologies for the inconvenience.

    If the video is still skipping for you, please clear your browser cookies and browser cache. The “Video Troubleshooting” link above by my name, will provide you with instructions on how to do that if you don’t know how.

    And if you are still having problems after clearing your cookies and cache, have some cookies and cream ice cream :) and then send me an email describing the details of the problem. Please use the “Contact Cindy” link at the top of this page.

  23. Bonnie, 12 June, 2009

    Cindy, thanks for getting that video problem fixed. I loved the video about the rose cane especially the addition of the pearl and translucent to make the ends shine.

    I did a Kaleidoscope cane a few weeks ago and a Sunami cane and put pearl in them but when I cut them, the pearl made the cane mushy looking so I’m very careful about putting just plain pearl in a cane now. Your’s is beautiful. Thanks again for getting that video problem fixed. I’m so looking forward to the second part of the Rose Bead.

  24. Jo Southwick, 13 June, 2009

    Hi Cindy, thank you so much for getting back to me, and YES the video is now working. I really enjoy your videos and the way you explain things. You have inspired me to try different things. I am new to polymer clay so really appreciate that there is some online teaching available as there is very little in New Zealand. I feel more confident thanks to you. Kind regards, Jo

  25. Kriss Johnson, 13 June, 2009

    It’s working now. LOL Thanks for letting me know. Kriss

  26. Judith Stonier, 13 June, 2009

    the site was restored very quickly and thanks. I sure know about “if it ain,t broke….” and the rose is gorgeous!

  27. Linda Dube, 13 June, 2009

    Hi Cindy,

    Thank you for getting back to me. The video plays beautifully now — I just watched it and am thoroughly impressed. Cindy, your imagination blows me away!

    I’m sorry you had these problems. I worked in the computer industry for a lot more years than I care to remember, and I’ve always said that technology is wonderful when it works. And computer technology is so complex that it’s amazing it works at all. But I’m glad the problem is fixed and your headache is gone.

    Take care, and thanks so much for these videos!
    Linda

  28. Patti Vargas, 13 June, 2009

    Thank you. It was working fine after your email. Patti

  29. Cindy Lietz, 17 June, 2009

    @Bonnie: Yeah pearl has a lot of translucent in it as well the mica can do some funny things as far as the way it appears in a cane. In this case where it is mixed into all the colors and we are not trying to show crisp clean lines in the cane, the effect on the rose petals is very pleasing. Hope you enjoy part 2 of the video!

    @Jo: Welcome from New Zealand! Isn’t that a great thing about the net. It doesn’t really matter where you’re form as long as you get mail and internet service you can have product shipped and classes delivered via your computer!

    @Kriss: Glad it’s working now! Phew!

    @Judith: Thanks so much! Hope you enjoy part 2!

    @Linda: Thank you for your understanding! Things like that happen sometimes but it sure was a pain for it to happen right before everyone got their new video. Sometimes I love computers… sometimes I hate them!

    @Patti: Excellent news! :-)

  30. Deborah, 19 June, 2009

    Your rose videos are fantastic…I have been making roses for a while now…I usually do my graduated roses using a Skinner blend sheet, but am definitely looking forward to trying it using your cane method! Personally I don’t worry about finger prints as I think it gives them the look of the veins and ripples in real roses. I have made roses on stems in pots and vases, as well as making several jewelry pieces.

  31. Cindy Lietz, 28 June, 2009

    I like your idea Deborah for the veins and ripples on the beads. I tried pressing the petals in my palms where the ‘lifelines’ are and you’re right it looks really realistic. Especially with the more matte finish clays like Studio by Sculpey clay. Thanks so much for passing that along!

  32. Deborah, 28 June, 2009

    A pleasure Cindy, sometimes just the right amount of fingerprints makes the perfect texture!

  33. Cindy Lietz, 26 July, 2009

    **PHOTOS ADDED: Some project pictures have just been added to a Spotlight Feature showcasing Tania, a member who is very much appreciated here at this supportive polymer clay community. Click on the “Rose Bead Jewelry” link by my name to have a look.

  34. Cindy Lietz, 17 October, 2009

    **PHOTOS ADDED: Some project pictures have just been added to a Spotlight Feature showcasing Sarah Wood, a valued member here at this supportive polymer clay community. Click on the “Polymer Clay Roses” link by my name to have a look.

  35. Cindy Lietz, 13 December, 2009

    **PHOTOS ADDED: A Sculpted Rose Cane project picture has just been added to a Spotlight Feature showcasing Alexa Kazashinskaya, a member who is very much appreciated here at this supportive polymer clay community. Click on the “Polymer Clay and Coping with Disabilities” link by my name to have a look.

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