Quick & Easy Gifts in Polymer Clay
By Lisa Pavelka
Published By Northlight Books for F & W Publications, Inc.
Lisa Pavelka, award-winning artist and polymer clay expert, has created another book full of polymer clay creations. Quick & Easy Gifts in Polymer Clay is written for beginner to intermediate skill levels but includes useful tips and ideas for even an advanced polymer clay enthusiast. All projects include full-color step-by-step instructions.
Useful polymer clay basics and techniques are outlined in the beginning to get you started. The basics you need to know before starting are:
• Choosing your clay: Kato Polyclay, Fimo Classic, Premo! Sculpey, Kato Clear Polyclay Medium, or Liquid Sculpey
• Conditioning clay: Clay must always be conditioned before using
• Baking clay: Projects will be baked to harden
• Storing clay: Store at room temperature, away from direct sunlight in a soft plastic container
• Polishing and sanding your project: Sand the clay till smooth and buff with textured fabric or Poly Glaze
The introduction also lists tools you will need to complete the projects in the book. Some of these tools include:
• Clay dedicated pasta machine: conditions and flattens clay
• Clay blade: cuts clay precisely without sticking
• Acrylic roller: smooths and flattens clay
• Polymer clay bonder: glue formulated for high temperatures and instant clay bonding
• Ceramic tile: a smooth tile that can be used for work and baking surfaces
• Oven thermometer: accurately measures temperature during baking
You will learn basic skinner blending techniques (a method of blending and conditioning clays together) for creating two and three color gradients. You will also learn how to make striped clay loaves that are used in several of the projects. Throughout the book are project icons to give you an idea of how long each project will take so you can plan accordingly. For a beginner, it may take longer to complete some projects than indicated, but as your experience grows your time will shorten.
Chapter One: Ready, Set…Go!
Projects in this chapter are all items to use while on the go. Project ideas include:
• Kiss Me! Lipstick Case
• Sterling Silver Deco Tile Watch Band
• Goddess Locket Key Chain
The chapter concludes with “Workspace Secrets”, a section dedicated to secret tips from fellow polypals on how to organize and maintain your workspace.
Chapter Two: Tool Time!
Projects in this chapter offer ideas to cover and decorate tools. You will learn to make projects such as:
• Polka-Dot Craft Knife
• Faux Mokume Gane Needle Tool
• Chevron Patterned Blade Sheath
At the end of this chapter you can learn great clay tricks like how to get rid of bubbles, how to make detailed stamp images, and how to mix colors.
Chapter Three: Fast and Fun!
Projects in this chapter are quick ideas to create home décor and gifts. Some parts of these projects will work well for scrapbook embellishments too. Projects include:
• Hanging Leaf Bookmark
• Pet Treat containers
• Punched Elements Photo Frame
This chapter wraps up with technique tips to help you learn and master the art of polymer clay.
Chapter Four: Dressed to Express!
Show your sense of style with the quick and easy project ideas in this chapter. Create chic pieces including:
• Faux Cloisonné Enamel Heart Pin
• Dangle Trio Earrings
• Cosmic Swirl Bracelet
This chapter concludes with creative and appropriate uses for tools. For more ideas read through the Variation Gallery or, after trying a few ideas, you may find your own creativity with polymer clay.
Transparent Art: Imaginative ways to enhance crafting projects with transparencies
By Angela Cartwright and Contributing Artists
Published By Somerset Studio a Division of Stampington & Company
Over the past year, transparencies have become so popular they are being used for scrapbooking, paper crafts, and, specifically, transparency art. Thus the inspiration for the idea book, “Transparent Art”, was born. The work of several artists is featured throughout the book with full-color illustrations and detailed instructions.
To begin working with transparencies, you will need to learn basic transparency attachment techniques. You will learn about using glues, tapes, stitches, ribbon, fabric, brads, buttons, eyelets, snaps, and more to attach transparencies. A few of the ideas and techniques include:
• Slide-mount frames that are colored, treated, and layered
• Stamped transparencies on tags, bottles, and cards
• Printed and heated transparency cards and tags
• Coloring and treating transparencies with paper, paint, and markers
• 3-Dimensional houses with transparency images and accents
• Transparency wall art, ornaments, and jewelry
• Art quilts, mixed media purses, and other fabric crafts
• Altered book embellishments, images, and accents
• Printed memory art for scrapbooks
• Transparency paintings
At the end of the book, you have the opportunity to see reader's artwork from all over the country. They have contributed even more great ideas to use in scrapbook and papercrafting projects. If you’ve worked with basic transparencies in the past, this book will inspire you to take the next step to create “Transparent Art”.
Belle Armoire Jewelry
By Stampington & Company
The first in a new series, Belle Armoire Jewelry will keep you inspired to create breathtaking jewelry time and time again. There is nothing like creating art you love and sharing it with those you love. Jewelry art employs techniques that can be used not only for jewelry but for scrapbooking and papercrafting as well. The projects in this book include detailed instructions with clear supply lists, tips, and full-color illustrations. Below is a list of a few project ideas included in this edition:
• Gourd Princess Necklaces
• Gypsy Jewelry
• Urban Artwear Found-Object Jewelry
• Seashell Pins
• Modern-art Bead Necklaces
• Easy, Elegant Bottle Cap Jewelry
• Leather Prayer Pouches
• Ancient People Pins
• Digitized Doodle Adornments
• Quick & Easy Collage Pins
• Woven Wonders Curled Wire & Bead Jewelry
• The African Queen Fabric-Art Necklace
• Peeper Keepers: Necklaces for Eyeglasses
The beauty of each piece of artwork shown in this book leaves you longing for more jewelry, more time in the studio, and more ideas from the next book.
