Video Tutorials:
Hollow Puffy Beads;
Multi-Colored Faux Jade;
Hammered Metal Bezels;
Johnny Jump-Up Cane:
With another month gone by, the Volume-023 Back Issue Videos have just been added to the Polymer Clay Library, right on schedule. If you missed your chance to see these tutes as they were released each Friday during the month of April, now’s your chance to add them to your collection as a convenient bundled package.
Today’s photo shows thumbnail images for the 4 videos included in this package:
Video-023-1 Puffy Beads: These pretty little hollow beads are puffy on one side and flat on the other, which gives them lots of dimension while still lying flat. Many clayers have problems making this type of bead. But after seeing my tutorial you will wonder why. Definitely a great bead shape to add to your collection!
Video-023-2 Faux Jade: A classic as far as polymer clay goes, faux jade done in the method I teach, is not only simple to do but can also be adapted to any of the different colors of jade. Faux jade is well suited to molding and faux carved techniques. A must know technique for making faux stones.
Video-023-3 Hammered Metal Bezels: This crazy cool metal working project uses steel flashing commonly used on roofing and chimney projects to create gorgeous hammered metal bezels that look much like oxidized silver. If you make jewelry, you are going to love this innovative technique!
Video-023-4 Johnny Jump Up Cane: This pretty polymer clay pansy cane is fashioned after the cute little Violas in my garden, called Johnny Jump-ups. The name is fitting since these wildflowers Jump Up wherever they like, sharing their lovely colors for all the world to see. Soon they will even be jumping up in your bead and cane collection too!
Also included in this Volume-023 back issue package is the A-Series recipe cards from the Johnny Jump Up Color Palette.
To read feedback from members who have already benefited from the videos and recipes in this Vol-023 back issue package, click here: Puffy Beads | Faux Jade | Hammered Metal Bezels | Johnny Jump-Up Cane
And, Sneak Peak Preview Clips are available for viewing here: Polymer Clay Tutorials [Videos]
If anyone else would like to add a review for any of the videos or color recipes in Volume-023, I would love to hear from you. Or if you have not yet purchased this back issue and have a question, ask away. In either case, use the comments section below.
Wow Cindy you and Doug just keep going and giving. April was a great month and now May the year is almost half over and I feel like I’ve gotten years of information. I love this blog and your tutes. I do have a question on the resin tute coming up. I have been hunting for a torch so I can do some head pins and maybe someday brave enough to even try soldering. But is it better to use a long handled lighter like what you start a fire or grill with or is it better to use a torch on those pesky bubbles in the resin. Also any one out there have any advice on a torch what brand and where to purchase maybe. I’m in the USA so need to get in states or I will be paying higher postage. I have called Lowes, Menards, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn’s those are the only places within 30 miles. A couple have the pencil torch but I want to stay away from that kind. Think I want the butane micro torch with the extra tips. Take any advice offered and will be most grateful for any and all I can get.
Looking forward to another wonderful month of tutes plus the color recipes, can’t forget that terrific bonus. Know you won’t dissapoint us Cindy and Doug we never have to worry about that.
Uuuuuuuggggs to all, Peggy
@Peggy Barnes: As always, thank you so much for kind words of support and encouragement. And about your resin bubble question, a bbq lighter will work to get rid of those bubbles. But if you are wanting to make headpins as well, you might as well get a small butane torch instead of the BBQ lighter, since the lighter won’t work for make headpins.
As far as the best torch to get, maybe someone else has better advice for you. I use a small propane torch that my husband had for soldering copper pipes. It works well, is incredible cheap to use but is kind of big and awkward. I have seen the small torches in Walmart so you could look there. And the Blazer Koolbraider speaks of sounds interesting as well.
I don’t really like the pencil torch idea. They seem like they would be too small to work on copper and a bit of a pain to use, but since I haven’t tried one myself, I don’t know if they’re good or not. Hopefully others can help.
Peggy, if I remember rightly, you can use one of the Bic cigarette lighters for resin bubbles. I got my little “Blazer” torch from Monsterslayer.com. It’s small, self-igniting, and has a little stand to sit it up. It definitely has the fire power to make head pins. It uses butane, but isn’t one that uses different tips. I’m thinking that you would need different tips if you need the torch for different applications (but not setting the house on fire!).
@Koolbraider: What does the butane look like for your torch? Does it come in the usual can, or is it some kind of cartridge? The Monsterslayer website is a bit confusing & possibly misleading (it also calls it a “Brazer” instead of a Blazer!) It shows the torch for $59 — is that about what you paid? I don’t mean to be rude about price, I’m just concerned I bought “too cheap!”
I bought a micro torch for about $10 (more or less, it’s been a while) at Harbor Freight. It’s not a pencil torch, but I’m starting to think I should return it and get a better one. What do you think? I thought Cindy was making her copper headpins with butane — I didn’t know she was using a propane torch for her copper. I thought if she was getting good results with butane, I could too. Now I’m thinking I need “at least” a better butane torch. I’m afraid of the propane, the bigger tank and all. Although it is hotter and cheaper. Hmmmm. What to do?
@Phaedrakat: Kat, I think that the guy in one of the videos said that his favorite was the small butane torch. I don’t think you need anything more than that for doing headpins.
@Linda K.: I hope so! I feel good about it working for silver, but copper needs more heat. I guess I’ll find out soon enough! I need to go take another look at those vids, too! Thanks, Linda!
Hi Peggy I use a BBQ lighter for the bubbles one pass over and they are gone its that fast, but I use a butane a torch I brought from the cooking shop for the pins I am sure you can get both in America they are not at all expensive hope this helps
Thanks everyone for the info. I will try Walmart again in a bigger city the one near me did not have any. I definitely want one you can change tips on because I think the day will come I might want to try soldering. Either findings or stain glass. If they are not to expensive that way I just have 1. Can’t wait till tomorrow’s tute. Going to my daughter’s house in Peoria, IL for Mother’s Day weekend. so might not have a chance to do any clay till Monday, but will watch tute before I leave. Thanks Cindy and Doug I know it will be another big hit even before I see it.
Uuuuugggs and Happy Mother’s Day to all you Moms out there.
Peggy
What a great month of tutorials! The fantastic Johnny Jump Up – Pansy – Viola cane that must have taken SO much work to film. I just loved it! The metal bezels — so cool, and such a great way to add metal to a clay design. And for such a low, low price! The flashing was 59 cents at Ace Hardware — super inexpensive, just as Cindy told us. The Faux Jade was fabulous, as are all of the vids, and it reminded me that I haven’t used my molds in awhile. I definitely want to put them to use! And last, but not least, the cute little puffy beads, which is a wonderful way to use a favorite cutter to make an adorable 3-D bead! Once again, I can say my $3.32 was well-spent! Seriously, people are missing out when they don’t join up! I remember when I was on-the-fence. I missed out on some great tutorials at very low prices. I’m so glad I’m a member now!
Thank you Cindy & Doug! And thanks to all of the members who make this place such a great hang-out!
I was playing tennis the other day and saw an aluminum lid from a can of tennis balls in the trash…it’s the kind they use on vacuum-sealed cans, with the pull tab. I wondered if it could be used for a hammered metal bezel, so I took it home and tried it. It had a circle embossed into it that was perfect as the outline for cutting. It worked just fine and the hammering removed all the embossing that was on the lid.
So if there is a tennis club near you, ask them if you can have the aluminum lids. You’ll be recycling trash!
I imagine that any aluminum lids used to vacuum seal a can would work, as long as it doesn’t have writing on it…nuts, coffee, etc.
Cindy,
I’m a member to your weekly video tutorials and i have just purchased the beginners video course. This by the way is an excellent learning tool!!
I wondered what product i can use to replace the Future product that you use to give the beads a wunderfull shine at the end? I live in Belgium, and we don’t have this product in our stores! Can you give me an alternative product? With what can it be compared? Thanks a lot in advance! Sincere greetings!
Debbie
@Debbie Entwistle: Hi Debbie, so happy you joined us! The beginner’s course is great, isn’t it? I recently tried to find some info on Future for someone living in the Philippines. Here’s the link to the comment I left her: Polymer Clay Finishes
I ran across a couple of articles describing the names of the Future-alternates in several different countries. I can’t remember what it was for Belgium, but try some of the links and see what you can find. If you still have trouble finding it, please leave another comment. Good luck!
Dear Cindy,
thank you for free videos you sent me. I have to apologise for my bad English. I’m 76 years old and working with computer isn’t easy for me. I have to ask someone how could I pay yours other tutorials videos. I have never done it .
Love Alice Mohaplová, Príbor, Czech Republic
Alice,
Welcome to you! Your English is very good. It’s so wonderful to hear from people all around the world. One of these days I would love to visit the Czech Republic.
I regards to purchasing other video tutorials that I offer, please follow the link by my name. It will take you to a comment where I outlined all of the options available to you.
Oh and here is a link to another member from your country, who has already become a member at the library: Petra Nemravová from the Czech Republic.