I promise I did do a creative project yesterday, there just wasn’t time to bake it and take photos. Sorry that the penultimate Make It In March post is a day late.
First off, yesterday Robin asked what I do with the test clay color samples that I mix up. As you can see above, each sample is made into a bead and baked. Them I string them onto some twine, write what colors were used on each end, write the proportions of color on each bead and save it to use as a reference tool.
This strand goes from Sunshine Yellow to Fluorescent Pink. The large middle bead is a 50/50 mix of each color. The bead next to the middle, going towards the pink, is 1/4 Sunshine Yellow, the next is 1/8 yellow, 1/16 yellow and so on. These are fantastic tools if you ever want to replicate a color, as not only do you know exactly what proportions to use, but you know how the colors look once baked.
(You can learn how to make these color gradations in Lindly Haunani and Maggie Maggio’s book, Polymer Clay Color Inspirations.
Btw, those greasy looking splotches on the paper are the plasticizer that comes out of clay when it sits on paper for any amount of time. This helps stiffen up soft clays.
I spent a LONG time yesterday working on a pink cane for a flower, and was rather disappointed in the results. It wasn’t entirely the fault of my white clay being too squishy, although that was part of it.
Although this pink flower isn’t horrible, it certainly isn’t what I pictured the end result to be.
Since I had to take frequent breaks to put the pink cane in the fridge to firm up, I decided to play with this kaleidoscope cane I made a while back.
I put two slices of the cane together around some scrap clay to make a bead, then changed the shape and added flowers to both sides.
Here’s the other side of that bead and a ruler to give you some idea of size.
I’m not really thrilled with anything, it all felt sorta futile. But, some days are just like that. I’d rather a bad day creating than a good day working in a cubicle. 🙂
I’ll see you Monday for the last day of my personal challenge.
Happy creating!
Hello – nice to see your buttons and read all about you…I am Joyce – ‘that person who made the purple card’ on Shaz in Oz’ blog!!!! (And then I read that your favourite colour is purple LOL) I’m just popping in to say I totally agree with you that her card is better than mine! I made it in such a hurry I can tell you and when I saw it on her blog I thought I could do better…but as you say in your ‘about’ section and I quote
“I’m not really thrilled with anything, it all felt sorta futile. But, some days are just like that.”
Indeed some days ARE like that.
Blessings from Joyce in Northern Ireland
Thanks for stopping by, Joyce.
I hope you weren’t insulted by my comment to Shaz! It’s just that I’m always impressed when someone takes the seed of an idea, runs with it and makes something fantastic, which is what Shaz did with your beginning design.
The comment was definitely meant to be a compliment to Shaz, and not at all derogatory to your card. 🙂
Happy creating!
Good first attempts I’d say. And sounds like you’ve some things for next time. Cool way to make a formula chart! Can’t wait to see what have on a very special (it is for me) Monday!
Is this a special day for you, Nan? Birthday? Anniversary?
Hope it’s a wonderful one!
Oh, great use of your test samples! I knew you wouldn’t just throw them away, but using trials as reference points is a practice I can totally get behind. 😀 The same goes for your sample flowers. I think they’re charming, but if they don’t meet your high standards, you just keep working on your technique. Right? Well done all the way around.
Right! And thanks. 🙂