Video #777: Among other things, you will learn why the concept of “staying in your lane” is super important to understand.
In today’s video I show you how to master The Blend. Whether you’re an advanced beginner or an intermediate polymer clayer, one of the skills that you are going to want to master is the gradient color blend.
This technique is commonly known as the Skinner Blend because of Judith Skinner’s innovative approach of using triangle shapes of polymer clay to speed up the process of making these color blends. I later developed an even easier and faster method called the Teardrop Blend, which uses hand rolled teardrops shapes of clay instead of the flat triangles. The end result is the same… beautiful gradient sheets of polymer clay that smoothly transition from one color to the next.
Gradient blends are a polymer clay artist’s way to shift colors. We use them for shading in canes… to create depth and interest in backgrounds… and to make polymer clay pieces more beautiful.
There are a few tricks that need to be mastered though. In this video I will show you how you need to “stay in your lane” with your colors… how to avoid bubbles… and how to blur blends that are too stripy. You’ll learn a lot of cool things about making a good Teardrop Blend/Skinner Blend color gradient!
- Related Video: Teardrop Blend (Easy Skinner Blend) No Pasta Machine
- Related Video: Lietz Teardrop Blend Color Gradients Made Easy
- Related Video: Rainbow Teardrop Blend Multicolored Skinner Blend
- Related Video: Making Small Test Blends With Your Polymer Clay Colors
- Related Video: Peacock Cane Polymer Clay Tutorial Vol-037-3
- Related Video: Crocus Bead Lariat Tutorial Vol-070
- Related Video: Backgroundless Tulip Cane Tutorial Vol-038-3
- Related Video: Grape Hyacinth Flower Cane Tutorial Vol-034-4
- Related Video: Sculpey Souffle Polymer Clay Product Review
- Related Video (Jewelry I’m Wearing): Sweet Pea Earrings Tutorials Vol-051
Do you have any suggestions for videos on tips, techniques or products you would like to learn more about? Let me know in the comments section below!
My goal is to help you to learn quicker and easier ways to bring up the professionalism in your polymer clay art.
Oh and don’t forget to give these videos a Thumbs Up click at YouTube if you are enjoying them. The more Likes a video gets, the higher it rises in the searches. And that means even more people will be able to join in on this polymer clay journey of a lifetime.
Also, by subscribing to our YouTube Channel directly, you will receive notifications as soon as new videos are uploaded. To subscribe, click here… Tips For Doing The Teardrop Skinner Blend Properly … the Subscribe Button is right near the top of that YouTube page.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
  |
Great tips! Thanks again Cindy.
You are more than welcome Dawn!
Hello Cindy,
Thank you for all your tutorials…they are sooooo helpful!!
But I am so confused at something….And need your help!
I cannot decide which inks to buy for tinting polymer clay.
Piñata alcohol inks OR Adirondack alcohol inks? Which is better?
Plz help! Thank you!
Nasreen
Hi Nasreen, either brand is excellent. Neither is better than the other. The Pinata Inks tend to be brighter colors and the Adirondack tend to be on the more earthy side, though they have some bright colors as well. Which ones you buy is up to you.
Thanks, Cindy for the great tips my blends will come out much nicer.
You’re welcome Jeanine! Do let us know if these tip s help!
hi, i am getting bogged down when i start a project and end up with half a dozen things happening at once on my work space. each time i try to just stick with it i get muddled and end up with lots of unfinished bits and end up squishing them together in frustration. any advice would be appreciated.
Hi Lee, that is a very common problem when it come to the creative process. I wrote a post about the 8 Stages of Creativity, that might help you out a little. Try not to worry too much about the outcome at first and focus more on the learning process. Don’t worry, if you are patient with yourself, you will get past the frustration and to the joy. Good luck!
I found the video of rounded edges with the cling wrap I was wondering how you round edges with pieces that are larger or already cut. to make a nice finish.
Love the site your video’s are great for newbies like me.
Thank you
Hi Virginia, you can round the edges of an already cut out piece, by just using your fingers. Use a little cornstarch on your fingertips to keep from leaving fingerprints and gently round off the edges with gentle pushing motions around the edge. You can also use a small rolling tool or a piece of paper to smooth out the edges. If you’re gentle with the clay, you can pretty much force it to be whatever shape that you want. Of course it would be a lot easier to show you than type it out. In my Faux Jasper Tutorial, I show how to shape Teardrop Shaped Cabochons by hand, which would help you tremendously. Here’s a link to where you can buy that, if you’re interested: Faux Jasper Vol-054
Very interesting
I enjoyed watching your video … very helpful.