The Polymer Arts Beautiful New Winter Issue is HERE!

The Polymer Arts Beautiful New Winter  Issue is HERE!

The Polymer Arts Winter 2013

Here is some of what you can find inside:
• Visual Impact: Mastering Contrast
• Ancient Impact: Influenced by the Past
• Singular Impact: Commissioned Art
• Handmade Impact: Pin Tool Impressions
• Brilliant Impact: Electroforming Polymer
• Legal Impact: A Well Set-up Shop
• Instructive Impact: Maximizing Your  Workshop Experience
• Taking Control of Your Camera Settings
• Create Polymer Toggle Clasps
• Understanding Why You Play with Clay
• ... and much more!

Romantic Lockets for the Holidays

These Fashionable Lockets have many possibilities.

Wear a "Secret" around your neck today

You can leave them just as they are and hang them from a pretty Grosgrain ribbon, a chain or a romantic Velour cord. The Velour cords are available already pre-made with an extender attached so if you are finishing up pendants for Holiday sales or gifts these are a great time saver.

Don't stop with just hanging them though.  How about altering them? Include them with your mixed media work. Use Inks or patinas to distress them or cover them with clay! (you know the rule about clay....If it doesn't move or breathe, it can be covered with clay!)
Hang them alone or alongside other charms and findings. Tell your story!
Don't forget to hide a treasure inside!!! Carry a picture of those that matter to you most around with you all day.
Have fun!

3 Different Styles to choose from.

ICE Resin

New for Shades of Clay

We now stock ICE Resin in the convenient 1oz size.

This 1 oz size is especially perfect if you are just starting to explore with ICE Resin.
The possibilities are endless with this stuff as you might well imagine!

I wish I had some examples from my own work as I'm just itching to play with this stuff some more. Unfortunately, my time in the studio is limited these days.  Baked bezels of polymer clay using the CaBezel molds are the perfect place to use this stuff.
Do any of you have some examples to share using the combination of baked bezels and ICE Resin?  Please share if you do.

New images from Helen Breil

I know that Helen Breil has a lot of fans out there!

I'm happy to say that I've received a few new images using her brand new texture stamp designs.

Can you believe that both pendants are made  using the same texture?  "Manic Monday"

Christmas Penguin Tutorial

I came across this lovely little penguin tutorial today.
 Crystal Ikeda uses Sculpey for these little guys but you can use your favorite clay whether it's Kato, Premo or Sculpey.
Enjoy! 

Lots of Shiny New Findings

If you are looking for nice shiny findings to complete your jewelry projects look no further.
Shades of Clay is continuing to stock up on all of the jewelry findings you need.

Newest Flexible mold by Penni-Jo

Penni-Jo's latest flexible mold is here.

Actually, this flexible mold has been around for a bit but I just finally managed to upload the image of it to the website! Yaaah me!

 Necklace project made using the instructions that come with the mold:

Step by step sculpting guidance with photos.

Perfect for precision drilling

14 Piece Drill Set Complete with 12 different drill bits

I keep looking for new and useful tools.

This set is one that I love.  It allows you to be precise when drilling polymer clay.

I used a pin vise to  pre-drill very small holes (approx 3/16" deep) before glueing buna cord inside) I then finished it off with an o-ring on either side. It gives a nice clean look.

Here is the Pin Vise Set

 Here is the Double-Ended Pin Vise to use with your own drill bits.

http://www.shadesofclay.com/products/Tools/Hand%20Tools/Hand%20Tools.htm

Velour Necklaces- Pre-finished

These Velour Necklaces are pre-finished for your immediate use.

What better way to prepare for the upcoming Holiday then with these pre-made Velour Necklaces?

Do you have an upcoming Craft show or are you making necklaces to give as gifts to family and friends?

Now you can concentrate on creating the focal piece and leave the job of making the necklaces to someone else.

These have a more romantic look and feel to them.  Perfect for holiday jewelry.

They come in Black only.  The velour is 3mm.  The length is 16" + a 2" extended for an overall length of 18"

Available here

A cool and refreshing version

I came across this necklace created with the Organic CaBezel mold.
The colours drew me in. So crisp and clean and refreshing. I really like how each of the bezels was made using a different colour from within the translucent cane. It makes me wish summer was just beginning.

http://lesbijouxdenadia.blogspot.ca/2010/05/pendentif-texture-et-cabezels.html

Holiday Issue of Polymer Cafe Magazine

Available now!

PolymerCAFÉ -November-December 2013  2Roses: The Color of Roses - By Trina WilliamsThe Stardust Cascade Pendant - By 2RosesPoseable, Classic Santa Doll - By Kellie MowatFrederick the Nutcracker - By Diane VillianoRed Cap Mushroom Ornament - By LES PolinkoOrganic Jellyfish Jewelry: Soft Pastel Chalk Effects - By Shirley RufenerThe PolmerChef - By Suzanne IvesterPlus many more features and columns!

Cookie cutters. New lower price!!

Have you been looking for the cookie cutters that go with Helen Breil's new SHAPES cd?
Shades of Clay has always sold them and they are still available there, however.......there is a less expensive alternative now for all of the shape sets except for the Teardrop  (for some reason it just isn't available).

I haven't changed the images on the website yet or even announced this anywhere yet but if you order any of the sets on the Shades of Clay website I will personally change the price on your receipt from $19.49 to just $11.99 (except for the Teardrop set)  That is a nice savings especially since many of you order most of the sets in one go.

You can find the page for cutters here. Scroll waaaay down.

New Colors of Guider's Paste! Yummy!

I've been a huge fan of Guilders Paste for loooong time!  Now there are even more colors to choose from. I couldn't resist buying this luscious Orange, Canary Yellow and Tulip Red.

I can't wait to try the Orange and Yellow with my favorite...Patina.  Oh wait....I think Tulip Red will look great with the Patina as well.  I'm thinking Ancient and Ethnic jewelry now.

It's available here.

 GILDERS PASTE
This wax-based medium can be used to add non-fading color or a gilded finish to materials such as Metal Castings, Filigree, Brass Stampings, Ceramics, Wood, Etched Glass, Polymer Clay, Resin and more!It can be applied as-is to clean, dry, oil-free surfaces with a cloth, cotton swab, sponge, your finger...or thin it with paint thinner to create a paste, paint, stain or wash. Smooth surfaces should be slightly roughened with fine grit sandpaper or steel wool before application. Gilders Pastedries to the touch in 10-15 minutes and completely dries in 12 hours with no tacky residue.One tin of Gilders Paste covers over 30 square feet of surface area. Choose from 19 UV resistant colors which can be layered to create stunning and unique finishes and textures!

Don't forget !!

This is just a little reminder that the 3 new Helen Breil texture stamps will be here on Monday!
Helen has such a following out there.  I'm sure that we all want to be the first to try these new designs.
If you order this week-end I can ship them to you on Tuesday. (Monday is a holiday here in Canada)

Happy Thanksgiving !!

You can find them all here!

Free tutorial

Carolyn Good of 2 Good Claymates has posted another free tutorial . In this one she generously shares how she attaches these scarf clips to her gorgeous polymer clay designs.

Go to her blog here for the tutorial!!

3 New Texture Stamps from Helen Breil

          I just wanted to let you know that Helen Breil's new Texture Stamps are available to order! 

                                             3 New exciting designs to choose from!

Amor! The Newest CaBezel mold has arrived!!!

Amor
Now available.
The newest CaBezel mold Amor has arrived! I choose to use the Spanish word for love.
It features 4 totally different shaped and sized hearts from traditional to primitive,  there is even one small heart great for charms or earrings.
For anyone not familiar with the CaBezels...each shape has both a "bezel" and "cabochon" component.
Easy to use! Never buy commercially made bezels again if you don't want to!. Use scrap clay for the bezels. Once they are baked you can make them look like metal by applying Guilders Paste to them.

New Texture Stamps!

Here are 2 new designs by Ranger.  Both will get us in the mood for the upcoming holiday season (whether we're ready for it or not :-)

Here is what Ranger says these textures are great for.  Of course, we also know how well they work with polymer clay!!

Ranger Melt Art™ Texture Treads Snow Flurries

Product Information:

Ranger Melt Art™ makes it safe and easy to melt, dip and pour Ultra Thick Embossing Enamels, embossing powders, soap, candle wax, glue, candy and more. Makes 3-D embellishments for jewelry, paper crafting, fiber arts and home decor. 

You can go here for more purchasing info.

The nice thing about these textures is that half of the sheet has a positive impression of this pattern while the other half has a negative impression of the pattern.

Sneak peek

Recently I decided that it was about time for a new CaBezel mold!
They should be available on the website this week!
I hope that you "love" them as much as I do.

Polymer Cafe Magazine

 My shipment of the brand new issue of Polymer Cafe has arrived!

Check out the October issue.  If you have some catching up to do on your reading (and claying of course) there are also various back issues available here.

Fresh off the press!

The latest issue of The Polymer arts is available now!  Fall 2013- Organics
This issue is just gorgeous.  

So much to do and see inside.

•	The Process of Creating Organically
•	Plein Air Polymer: Taking it Outdoors
•	Ravages of Time: Faux Organic Surfaces
•	Artist Galleries: Naturally Inspired Polymer
•	The Nature of Inspiration: Lessons from  The Broken Telephone Project
•	Fundamental Structures in Wall Art
•	Workshop Teaching Tool Kit
•	Creating Polymer Exhibitions
•	... and much more! If you're trying to get caught up on your reading then you may also be interested in the summer issue too!  See more here: Need more inspiration?  See all of the magazines available at Shades of Clay today!!

•

The Process of Creating Organically

•

Plein Air Polymer: Taking it Outdoors

•

Ravages of Time: Faux Organic Surfaces

•

Artist Galleries: Naturally Inspired Polymer

•

The Nature of Inspiration: Lessons from  The Broken Telephone Project

•

Fundamental Structures in Wall Art

•

Workshop Teaching Tool Kit

•

Creating Polymer Exhibitions

•

... and much more!

If you're trying to get caught up on your reading then you may also be interested in the summer issue too!  See more here:

Need more inspiration?  See all of the magazines available at Shades of Clay today!!

Over sized Bails

These over sized bails are great for when you've created that large pendant or for when you use a chunkier cord or multiple strands.
The top 2 bails are "pinch" style and the one on the bottom has a closed eye for hanging.

 Click here for more info.

These Kumihimo findings are also great if you work large.  Your can choose Silver Plate or Copper Plate.Barrel end or Bullet end.  Each kit contains findings for making 4 complete creations.

Leather Cuff Bracelets

I just love these black leather cuff bracelets.
Wide bracelets are definitely popular again and because these ones are 1 1/2" wide there is a lot of space for embellishing. There are so many possibilities! Attach beads, buttons, bezels and cabochons or explore the always fun Steampunk option!

Leather cuff made from a smooth black leather with two snaps for an adjustable fit. Measures 9" x 1½" 

Adjustable necklaces and bracelets? How?

With all the talk about beautiful cords I thought that I would show you how one customer fastens her buna cord by making small sliders out of matching clay. Gail Garbe says:"I found the concept on Carol Simmons' blog - she was experimenting with nylon cording and I've just adapted it for buna and glue. You make 2 small rectangles, wide enough so that you can drill one hole (the diameter of your cord) all the way through and beside that a second hole partially through. I like to make them using the same cane as my pendant. After putting the pendant on your cord, feed a bead onto each end and then glue the opposite cord end into the half hole. Voila!" Thanks for sharing your photo Gail.

If you don't feel like making them from clay you can use the brass ones in the same fashion. There are 2 sizes available.

We'd love to see what method you use to fasten your buna, SoftGlass or any other type of cords!! If you feel like sharing send me your images! Email them here with "share" in the subject line.

Slide through End Caps  Non tarnish brass

End Caps that slide to adjust your necklace to exactly your preferred length. Inner diameter is 2mm. Length is 7mm. Package of 4 end caps

HYBR2307  $2.79 CAD