Have you played with clay today?
I wish that I could say, yes!
If I DID have time to play with clay today, I would be, lemme tell ya. Polymer clay is inexpensive, forgiving, and versatile.
I ALWAYS want to play with clay.
My fave thing of late is to work with white clay and whatever I can find for a pushmold, or texture.
Recently, I made this necklace:
The heart centerpiece is clay. I used a vintage cooky cutter for the heart, and white clay for the background. I like white, because it lends itself to being colored many ways. I like to use Swellegant metal coatings, acrylic paints and the Vintaj/Ranger ink patinas on clay, most of all.
It's fun to experiment with whatever inexpensive acrylics you may have on hand and they layer well with the inks and metal coatings. I cut out my shape and make my holes first, then I start layering texture with rubber stamps in my collection, as well as brass stampings. SO many things can be used for texture on clay.
The fun is in the experimentation!
I like Swellegant metal coatings over clay far better than Gilder's Paste, although it also works fine. The Swellegant line was developed by Christi Friesen for use over clay, although I personally sell it more for the metal stampings crowd, as it is an amazing patina product.
You'll find it at B'sue Boutiques right here:
http://www.bsueboutiques.com/mmp_swellegant_products.shtml
and some tutorials from artist, Linzi Alford, here:
http://www.bsueboutiques.com/project_ideas.shtml
I'm not the best polymer clay artist, many of my projects start one way and end another.....happy accidents!
But clay is high on my list of choice media. We carry a bit at B'sue Boutiques
Find it here:
http://www.bsueboutiques.com/mmp_polymer_clay.shtml
When I start having classes here, you betcha, we'll be making clay beads. I love wonky, organic look beads, I love trying new textures.
If you haven't tried clay yet, you are way overdue to start!
If you love clay, you should join Jeannie Dukic's group at Facebook:
I love the funky, organic look of those beads and wire work together.
Posted by: Jeanniek | August 02, 2012 at 04:29 AM