Nature Kaleidoscopes in polymer clay

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Polymer clay is the perfect medium for nature kaleidoscopes because the millefiori techniques allows for multiple identical slices.  

kaleidoscopes cane be square round, 6, 8, or 10 sided.  This one is an octagon.  The pattern is repeated eight times.  It could easily be squashed into a square or circle!  

To make a triangle with the a 45 degree angle (360/8), simply fold a square piece of paper in half and use it as a template!

This nature kaleidoscope incorporates butterfly wing canes.

 Here's another, more intricate one, adding leaf canes.

Before these tutorial pages turn up anywhere else, I post them on my facebook page, PolymerClayWorkshop!

Pleas like :)  Thank you!

Dollhouse Miniature bread tutorial

Polymer clay is perfect for dollhouse miniatures, food charms, or dioramas.  There are so many different textures and effects you can achieve.  Soft pastels can be crushed up and painted on the clay before baking.  For this bread, the chalks add a toasted effect.  This project is from my kid's clay e-book.  The elementary students did a terrific job!  You can see their baskets below!

I post these one-page tutorials to my facebook page, PolymerClayWorkshop, every week!  Please check them out and like my page keep track of each new tutorial!

This video shows how I made the basket.

And while your at it, check out all these adorable clay foods!

Polymer clay weave cane tutorial

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This cane is harder than it looks, but the concept is super-fun to play around with!

 Find the gold repipe in this tutorial.

Oops!  I forgot some pics.  Next, insert a gold section.  Then, repeat the process to add a purple and green half-circle for the opposite sides.  These should be identical!  It's not easy!

When you slice through the clay and insert a new color, it makes it look like the purple loop is going under the gold.  When you insert a piece of clay this thick, it distorts the triangle.  It would be better to cut out and remove a piece of the triangle that is the same size and shape as the gold section!!!

 This is where the weave pattern starts to form.  When the triangle is flipped end to end it makes it look like the sections weave over and under each other.

Unfortunately, I never manage to line up the pieces perfectly!  However, as these canes reduce so small, you wouldn't necessarily be able to tell.

Please like my facebook page "PolymerClayWorkshop" for lots of free tutorials.

After all that work, I found a way to make canes that are WAY easier.  They take almost as long, but they always turn out well.  They are so complex that they look amazing even when they are far from perfect.  See the tutorial and examples of this Complex Cane at my etsy shop.

Polymer clay or fondant swan wedding cake topper tutorial page

This cake topper was made with polymer clay.  Perfect for a wedding cake or Valentine's Day cake! It's important to frost some kind of paper or plastic to the bottom before putting it on the cake since polymer clay isn't food safe.  I've never used fondant before, but the shapes for the swans would be the same.

I post these tutorials to my facebook page every week.  Like PolymerClayWorkshop to stay up to date on the latest polymer clay ideas and innovations!

Polymer clay houndstooth cane tutorial

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It absolutely fascinates me that clay can be made to look like fabric.  Press the slices of this cane together, press it against real fabric for texture, and use it for miniatures, beads, or veneers for crochet hooks etc.  As a matter of fact I've made a long list of things to do with canes slices.

Please like my Facebook page, Polymer Clay Workshop.  I post a new, free tutorial there each week!  

I also have tutorials, for knits, lace, argyle, plaid and ribbon in my etsy shop!

Polymer clay classes in Tucson, Arizona! Canes, beads, jewelry

I'm opening a new studio this year (2013) on Arizona's birthday (which also happens to be Valentine's day)!  The bird's nest at La Plactia de la Luna (near Grant and Oracle) will now be home to a beautiful polymer clay workshop.  Classes available to children and adults, beginners and experts!  Contact me for a class schedule!  megnewberg@hotmail.com

Here are some of the canes you can learn.

Things to do with Polymer Clay Canes

Here is a list of things to make with polymer clay canes.  I love making canes!  If you do an image search of any of the following, you will find the most stunning canework.  Feel free to comment on more ways to use cane slices.
Beads
Buttons
Magnets
Hair clips
Picture Frames
Mirror frames
Covered Eggs
Tea sets
Animal sculptures
Boxes  (tThere are zillions of kinds of boxes.  Try an old altoid tin.  I'd like to see nesting boxes)
Covered glass ornaments
In fact, just roam the aisles of you craft store, almost anything wood, glass, or paper mache can be covered in clay!
Fountain pens and ball point pens
Crochet hooks (these are very popular)
Wine glasses or wine bottle stoppers
Light switch plates
Pendents
Cuff bracelets
Fabrics and patterns for miniature sculptures (quilts, blankets, fabrics, wrapping paper)
Clutch
Business card holder
Cross wall hanging
Journals and Sketch books
Vases
Mosaic tiles
Poker chips / Casino chips
Nail art (mini slices for finger nails)
Slices of canes make great miniature fruit!
Scrapbook embellishments
Knobs and handles
Decorative Nativity Scene
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Polymer Clay Kaleidoscope cane tutorials

Because kaleidoscope canes are so intricate and stunning, most people this they must be hard to make.  I my opinion, they are the easiest canes you can make!  Kaleidoscope canes cane be round or square.  I love square canes, because I use them as a veneer for almost anything.

Here are three canework tutorials from my etsy shop.

Beginner cane

Blended Cane

Hexagonal Kaleidoscope