More tutorial links

A while back I share some tutorial links with you http://www.carajane.co.uk/2010/05/tutorial-links.html

I have just come across another collection of tutorial links thanks to Marlene Brady on her It's All About Creating blog. What I really like about this collection is that it is photographs so you can see exactly what the tutorial is for. Thank you Iratirita for sharing them!

Iratirita tutorial list 1 - canes and miniatures
Iratirita tutorial list 2 - beads, pendants, bracelets, rings, surfaces, other

and don't forget my tutorials available here (use the tutorial link on the left to find them another time or use the links below)

Star cane with cookie cutters











Textured beads

Stripey beads (using extruder)

Improved star cane

So I was just sitting down trying to figure out how to make them neater when I remembered I had a small star cookie cutter. I was going to use it to make an impression on the end of the block of clay to use as a cutting guide when I remembered seeing somewhere someone making a cane from cookie cutters (sorry can't remember who or where or when - I do remember it was elephants and it was a neat idea).

Here's what I did. The sheet was about 1cm thick, could of made it thicker but it reduced OK

I am pleased with the end result. I wish I had some more interesting small cutters, I have some great ones but they are too big it would be very difficult reducing a disc 15cm wide but only 1 cm deep I imagine.

Quick star cane

Finally after what seems like forever I managed to grab some clay time today. I have been having a lovely time on holiday with my friends and family but I have also been aching to create!

My daughter's school remained closed today after the holidays for a teacher training day but she was happy playing by herself for a bit so I had a go at making a star cane.

Over on the Polymer Clay Central Forum there is a June Cane Challenge where people are trying out new things with canes and posting pictures of what they have been up to. One of the postings was of a star cane made by Kathi. This inspired me to have a go at a star cane too. I made one a long long time ago when I was about 15 but it was very distorted. Kathi kindly shared some tips on how she made hers (check the forum out if you want to know ;) and I managed to make 2 small canes in about 5 mins.

A bit too rushed so they aren't the neatest, and I am not sure what I was thinking with the colour - not very apt for stars. I started out with 2 logs of clay the same(ish) dimensions. I placed the pony bead on top to make a mark to guide my cutting. I cut along the lines the pony bead made to cut out wedges, leaving a solid star. I then swapped the wedges over to the other colour and taa daa 2 star canes!

I am off to have another go now the kids are in bed and I can take a bit more time.