Video #251: “Can I add my request for the brain cane tutorial? Thanks.” ~Marion-R
Over time, I am coming to realize that you should never underestimate a simple idea, just because it is simple. Nowhere in the ‘Book of Life’ or the ‘Artists Handbook’ does it say that something has to be complicated to be great.
I see people over-complicating things all the time. It is as if the idea wouldn’t be ‘good enough’ unless it was hard. If it takes some serious, precise calculations, a week long workshop and an art school or rocket science degree to figure out, it has got to be better… right?
Wrong!
Although I am usually pretty good at simplifying the complicated, there have been a few cases when an idea has been overlooked because it seemed so simplistic that it almost felt like ‘cheating’ to show you all how to do it.
Did you know that if Doug hadn’t pushed me to show you all my Teardrop Blend method of making complicated multi-colored Skinner Blends, that I may not have even bothered to show you? At the time, I really didn’t think too much about it. I found the other way of doing it too hard, so I did it an easy way. No big deal I thought… wrong again!
Well, looks like I did it again… skipped over something cool because it was easy! It wasn’t until Marion-R read an old post and reminded me to show you all how to make my Rose version of the Brain Cane, that I even remembered about this project. So after whipping up a few sample canes and some beads, I fell in love! The beads turned out gorgeous… once again, I had undervalued a simple idea.
Time for a mental slap… Ouch! Remind me to not do that anymore!
Any who… coming up tomorrow (Friday, April 13, 2012) in the Vol-047-2 members video at the Polymer Clay Tutor Library, I will be teaching you how to make a graphic and stylized Rose Brain Cane that you can use for making gorgeous beads, pendants and other polymer clay jewelry making projects.
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… Please Note: A general prerequisite for all of my weekly tutorials is that you have a good understanding of the polymer clay basics, including: conditioning clay, using a pasta machine, clay blade and other simple tools, making Skinner Blends or Teardrop Blends, baking clay, as well as sanding and finishing. If you need help in these areas, my Polymer Clay Beginners Course will get you up to speed quickly. There is also plenty of free information on this blog. Use the search box at the top of the page to find articles on specific topics.
Supplies & Tools: Video-047-2 Rose Brain Cane:
- 5101 Pearl Premo Sculpey Accents. For more info about this product type 72620111 into the search box at CreateForLess
- 5042 Black Premo Sculpey Accents. For more info about this product type 78416473 into the search box at CreateForLess
- 5525 Sunshine Premo Sculpey Accents. For more info about this product type 33661174 into the search box at CreateForLess
- 5523 Candy Pink Premo Sculpey Accents. For more info about this product type 15040477 into the search box at CreateForLess
- 5382 Cadmium Red Premo Sculpey Accents. For more info about this product type 96530422 into the search box at CreateForLess
- Pasta Machine. For more info about this product type 34045355 into the search box at CreateForLess
- Clay Blade. For more info about this product type 57876245 into the search box at CreateForLess
- Acrylic Roller. For more info about this product type 22628729 into the search box at CreateForLess
By the way, many of the “shopping” links I provide for the various tools and supplies used in my tutorials, are “affiliate” resources. That means companies like Amazon and the other suppliers I refer, pay me a small commission if you click on the links and end up making a purchase at their site. It’s not a lot, but every little bit helps in keeping the cost of my tutorials so low… at only $3.32 per month. And, the prices for products that you may purchase through my links, are exactly the same as what you would normally pay. So please do feel free to click away whenever you need to pick up a few things for your studio. Thanks so much for supporting this site :-)
Here’s a sneak peak of this week’s tutorial…
The full version of the “Rose Brain Cane” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Vol-047 Back Issue Package.
Customer Feedback About Membership Value:
Cindy is so resourceful! YaY for recycling :) This kind of information cannot be found anywhere else online. Thank you Cindy for making this so easy. Although I don’t have much time to do all this with a new baby, I’m still learning and collecting tools (and ideas) for future projects. Thank you Cindy for making this so easy. ~Rada-F
I really liked the combing technique, and I’m sure it could be applied to so many projects as a colourful veneer. A special thank you to Doug for helping me deal with an “email issue”… You guys really make us feel special as members and are so professional. I am so very pleased I became a member! ~Monique-U
Cindy, You are so darn good I just can’t stand it!!! With every new video I watch I learn something yummy. And you have a way of simplifying unnecessarily complicated methods. And of course, I have to mention your color recipes: how terrific! I love your approach and your clear, concise, yet best friend, friendly delivery. You rock! Thank You, Cindy! ~Kate-F
The following topics are included in this week’s Polymer Clay Tutor Library, Rose Brain Cane video tutorial:
- See examples of Rose Brain Canes and Beads, made in a variety of different color ways.
- Find out how simple it is to create these gorgeous intricately looking polymer Clay Flower Canes.
- Learn information on the big difference a color will make in the overall look of your cane once reduced, and ways to get the result you want.
- Plus, with some creativity and ingenuity, there are many ways to come up with other unique designs of your own.
The full version of the “Rose Brain Cane” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Vol-047 Back Issue Package.
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So beautiful! I can’t wait to make one. Love the KISS theory of things! I know if I just let things be simple they come out so much better but it is hard to remember that sometimes. LOL!
Love this!!! So many ways to color it.
This is going to be a good one to do! I will have to wait till next week to try this since it is my hubby’s 50th birthday weekend! He is going to let me take him away for the weekend to celebrate. But, since I love roses so much this will be hard to wait for. I’m still playing around with the wire rose ear wires (oops, I can’t remember the exact tute name.) So, to have another rose cane to make beads to go with that tute will be sooooo fun!
My roses ( real) are blooming – so naturally Cindy comes up with a rose brain cane. The earth is in balance again ! This cane will be so much fun – roses come in soooo many colors. Just think – a whole big bunch of roses in your favorite color……….. Thursday teaser—-wait til Friday……….
We all like KISS……………. and your happy voice to teach us how………………whoooooohoooooooo
What a thrill to see this lovely, playful cane this morning! I’m already imagining the rainbow of colourways. Looking forward to tomorrow!
I had an amazing piece of brain coral that I dug up while clearing a space for a veggie patch. It was covered in mud so soaked it in bleach and got it shining white .
Left it behind when I moved, so it will be great to learn how to make a rose brain cane in polymer clay. Also loved the glimpse you showed us, CINDY of your metal embossed clasp. Not sure if I can wait for my birthday to get a cuttlebug or similar.
The pandora style beads were stunning. So just checking I have all the “stuff” needed to complete this Friday’s tute…..cheers……….xx
This is sooo my style. I love canes and flowers. I can’t wait to learn how to make the entire bracelet along with the metal clasp. Thanks again Cindy and Doug!
Cindy,
I re-subscribed to the weekly members video library this month. Looking forward to getting creating with you again. I regret quitting!
Regards,
Suzanne
I have never heard of the “Brain Cane” but what a pleasant surprise. I am going to enjoy doing this cane and since it is my birthday this Saturday I can’t think of a better birthday present than making a new cane from Cindys Tute, although I did get a new Sizzix Big Shot Die machine and have been playing with it, this past week, I really love the challenge of a new cane. I did make a Stroppel cane also and it turned out so unique. It looks like folded calico fabrics for quilting. I will try and put a photo on our facebook page. Everyone should try this technique. You can’t make a mistake and you really get some cool results.
Happy Birthday for the weekend, Dixie Ann! This cane is just so simple, and so effective – and Cindy, I love the little tip of backing it with a sheet of pearl, am SO going to give this a try.
I too love the Stroppel cane – great for using up all those little leftover cane scraps, impossible to mess up, and so many different effects are possible. Just goes to show that some of the cleverest ideas are also the simplest!
And I agree with Elaine, I LOVE the look of that metal clasp, it would be so cool to make my own …… if only I knew how ….. (is this a hint?}
Wishing you all a great weekend!
A very happy birthday,Dixie Ann!!!!
Thanks Lesley and Pollyanna for the Birthday wishes. Best one yet!
Happy Birthday dear friend!!! Sorry I”m late. Hope it was fun filled!
You waited three years to share this with us???!!!!
Whew, pretty sure you are in for the next decade, lol.
I love love love this cane. I have so many ideas running round in my head for this cane but i cant do it :o(
We are in the middle of a move so every thing is in boxes and has been for over a month. So many tutorials and i cant even do 1.
I want to thank Cindy for all her hard work its been a long time since i could think of any thing but my depression. Cindy has sparked some thing inside me that has given me a whole new lease for life.
Thank you Cindy x
Thanks for doing this tutorial Cindy, I knew it would be great!
I’ve discovered your secret – sorry, gal, it’s out! – your ideas don’t just produce a single item but are the basis for an almost unlimited range of projects. You plant the seeds and leave us to grow fabulous creations! You’re the best tutor I know of who encourages her students to learn from her designs but then go on to develop them further. This is so much better than one static project and the only real way to learn.
Thank you so much, Cindy and Doug! More power to your elbow!!
Marion
I love this tute! Can’t wait to sit down and try it. It makes such beautiful beads in whatever colors you use. Love how you used the pearl with it !
What a neat twist ! A simple cane -only different ! This will be so pretty and colorful – Springy ! Thanks for you innovation …………..glad you taught us this. Isn’t it fun to do something JUST a little different and see what comes out ?
Cindy,
Thank you so much for your help with my payment. I really appreciate how fast you answer my emails. Fantastic customer service. I really like the Rose Brain Cane. It is to be my project for tonight.
Have a Blessed Day
Karen
I had the best day – I watched: the brain cane tutorial, the bead cones, and the clover beads. I can tell you I had a smile on my face from ear to ear. Your work is breathtaking! I love everything you do – the die cutting was like… woah!
My goal is to eventually get all of your video’s – I enjoy you so much – feel like I’ve known you my whole life!
I especially like your videos because it helps me to forget about my son’s autism… for those minutes… I forget about seizures, mental retardation, cancer (mine) – my pain goes away!
When I work with polymer, it truly helps me forget about my back pain. Thanks to chemo, I have chronic pain due to advanced bone degenerative disease. It makes me feel like I felt without cancer. You are a genius – you have a natural talent for polymer.
So for what it’s worth – a huge and humble thank you from me and my son, Danny.
Thank you again – have a wonderful weekend with your family. I appreciate everything you have done – all the extra time you have taken for us. You are beyond words at the moment to me.
All our love,
Sue and Danny
Happy Belated Birthday, Dixie!
thanks Jocelyn, it’s actually Saturday the 14th. I am going to be 68!
Happy Birthday Dixie Ann! Have a fun and playful 68th!
Thank you Cindy doll, it has been fun. I found your Sissix tag die on sale for 1.99 and couldn’t get it ordered fast enough. What a great buy! I found out the Art Museum here in Cedar Rapids might want to display my polymer clay jewelry and I am so-o-o-o excited. A very dear friend contacted them about my jewelry and mixed media art and totally blew my socks off! Most fun birthday ever! (((hugs)))
Happy Birthday Dixie Ann! Where did you order the tag dies from? I have been searching on line and could not find them.
Hi Cindy and polypeeps.
Well I am nearly brain- dead after trying to get my new printer to be nice to my new little laptop. Read the instructions a zillion times but didn’t “get it”. Took a simple suggestion from DH ( after he made me a cup of tea and told me to calm down) and hey presto it worked !!
Why do written instructions just go over my head? I attempted making a “brain cane” from written instructions many moons ago but was not pleased with the result………..PC (PRE- CINDY).
Watching CINDY showing us all the steps, advising us on the results of reduction and what happens to the colours, all makes so much sense to me now.
As she said, the colours she chose looked quite garish before she worked her magic using her colour-shift method. I am just so glad that I stumbled upon our Polymer Clay Tutor. I can now be proud of the end products (using CINDY’S fail-safe methods)
. Even if I do not “get it” the first time I know that I can go back into my Library and try again and again till I eventually say “Jeronimo” or words to that effect.
So a BIG thank you Cindy, what would I (and heaps of others) do without our weekly dose of your feel good medicine………………………………………….cheers xx…………………………………
Congratulations Elaine on your new laptop and printer. Isn’t it great when you get a new toy and it works like it is suppose to!
Cherie, I did a search on Amazon and found them on sale for $1.99 that didn’t include shipping which wasn’t too bad. Just type in Sizzix Tags, Scallop #2. I wouldn’t wait to order, they are on clearance even on the Sizzix home site but I think they sold out there. Good Luck.
Well i found that lovely tag thanks to Dixie Ann, but wouldn;t you know it, they don’t ship to New Zealand!!!
Dixie Ann, yep now I will only need a decent camera (soon be my birthday) well in about 6 weeks.
Glad you had a good one.
It is so great when you have good tools to work with and I love that Cindy uses and shows us all her gizzmos and gadgets. I would never have drempt the uses for the “card making” equipment so really looking forward to learning more with Cindy ……………………..cheers xx
Hi, I am new to this and this is your first video I have watched. After you have made the cane, how do you make them into beads. Could you suggest a tutorial video I should watch for the bead rolling process. Thanking you.Kind regards Rhonda
Hi Rhonda, I am glad you are enjoying the tutorials! What I would suggest is that you get yourself the Polymer Clay Bead Making Course for Beginners. It has all the information you need for working with polymer clay successfully, and will show you how to avoid the common mistakes that just about everyone makes when learning about polymer clay. It will save you time, money and grief on having to learn on your own. Plus you have myself and the rest of our clay family here, to help should you have any questions along the way.
Have fun!
Nice to have another new member to share with. I joined about 6 months after Cindy started her tutes and knew a little about clay and actually thought the beginner course wouldn’t teach me anything I didn’t already know. Boy was I wrong. I loved that course and it even showed me a lot of new ways to do things I was already doing but very soon found out Cindy’s way was always easier and faster than any other way I had done. I still refer back to this beginners video at times. A very nice refresher course. Even for those that know some already. then of course withing a short time I had purchased every back issue I missed. So my library is 100% complete. I love them all so much. Even those I don’t use often I have learned something from I can carry with me in other tutorials or just messing around with my scrap clay. Cindy’s way is by far the best way to learn and make it so much more simple and faster. You can’t and won’t go wrong with any of the tutes.
Welcome Rhonda and enjoy every moment. I did and still am.
Welcome Rhonda to our family of clayers. Cindy has a wonderful search feature and if you type in bead rolling you will probably come up with lots of suggestions for video’s.
Sculpey website doesn’t carry sunshine yellow , I don’t know if the color lemonade is the same color.
Hi Jeannie, the Sculpey site actually does still sell Premo Sunshine. Here is the link. You just have to look through the individual colors and Sunshine is there. As far as Lemonade goes, there is no Premo color called Lemonade. There is a Sculpey III color called Lemonade though… but Sculpey III is a terrible brittle clay that you never want to use for making jewelry. Just stick to Premo or Soufflé. Those clays are great and can be used for all kinds of projects, including jewelry.