Happy What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday once again! I trust all of you with kiddos are back into the school time swing of things. For the past several years when this time rolls around I just smile a little smile to myself and thank the Lord I’m done with all that. 🙂
I homeschooled my boys from Kindergarten on up and don’t regret it one bit. It’s one of the most worthwhile things I’ve done with my life.
But, it’s so nice to have more time now for creative pursuits.
Speaking of which….
…. my desk today shows several polymer clay projects. (Click on the photos for a closer look.)
In the upper left is a page from Christi Friesen’s book Flourish. It’s the section on pods, there’s one I’ve started on the white tile in the middle. More to come.
In the center right, behind the pasta machine is a cautionary tale: DON’T BURN POLYMER CLAY. Yup, I zoned out and set my oven at 375° rather than 275°. It’s rather fascinating how they all puffed out and grew into something resembling prunes (they were the same size as the beads on the white paper on the left when they went into the oven.) But we definitely could have done without the toxic fumes, which is what happens when you burn polymer.
So, don’t do it. K?
Here’s what my properly cured faux sea glass beads look like. I’ll have a video up on Monday showing how to make them and how to make a bracelet from them.
In the meantime, be sure to check out what other creative people are up to this Wednesday by joining in the blog party over at Julia’s. You will certainly be inspired and may even learn something new. 🙂
Happy creating!
The beads look really kewl and thanks for the tip about cooking them at the right temp the fumed must gave been horrible hugs Nikki??
Hubby said it wasn’t bad, so the fact that I bake my clay inside two foil roasting pans clamped together helped lot.
Thanks for the tip on what not to do. The pic of the faux sea glass is the most beautiful colour.
Sandra de @26
Thank you, Sandra, and thanks for stopping by!
Good tip there, Sandy! If I ever use Polymer clay – I shall endeavour to remember that one. Great finished product though – they really shimmer.
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #4
Thanks, Margaret. Yes, the second batch came out nice, although I’m hoping to do something to salvage the first ones, too.
Hi – I usuallly learn (hopefully) from my mistakes, too. The finished beads are great, and I look forward to following the deets. Happy WOYWW. Chris # 34
Yup, mistakes are definitely a great learning tool. 🙂 I’m just glad this mistake happened on a simple project and not something I’d spent hours & hours on.
Hey, you can start a trend! Prune jewelry! Seriously, can’t wait to see the bracelet with the sea glass beads.
Haha, prune jewelry. Actually Gary asked me to please not leave them out in the kitchen as they do look and even feel very much like the prunes he’s always snacking on. THAT would be a nasty surprise.
Those beads are brilliant. Thanks for sharing your workspace today. Hope you have a great day and a lovely crafting week to come. Hazel, WOYWW #45 x
Thanks for visiting, Hazel. Happy creating to you, too!
Yep the fumes are really nasty. I so love those beads they look so real. Thanks for sharing and happy WOYWW
HUGS ELIZA & YODA
I actually don’t know about the fumes from personal experience as I can’t smell. Which is why the beads stayed in the oven for the entire 45 minutes. I’ve heard the fumes are very bad and very bad for you though.
oh dear hope you can get rid of the smell but they look cool..like all your clothes patterns
Both my girls are now away in college, although I miss them dearly, I can see how much more time I have to pursue my creative work. I LOVE your sea glass beads, which I wouldn’t know were made of polymer clay if you hadn’t mentioned it. Happy WOYWW and Blessings!
Hi neighbor- we have a lot in common. I Homeschooled by kids till college, and my blog this week is about what not to do!
Robyn 22
thanks for the tip all have to do is remember but to be honest prob not going to cook polymer clay any time soon.. well done on homeschooling I think that is really great! thanks for popping over Shaz in Oz.x #13
Oooohhhh, those sea glass beads are amazingly gorgeous! I love the colours! I’m not into jewelry but love everything ‘sea-ish’ (shells!) and ‘stonish’ (have stones laying around on the balcony and all over the house.) Oh, and ‘harmonica’ or ‘accordeon’ books is the same to me – in the Netherlands we usually call it ‘harmonica’ so that’s why I use both words. Hope you have a great day. Hug from Holland and happy woyww, Marit #53
Grat tip…likely to be me that does it – I frequently set the oven and then get engrossed in something far more interesting – not so much too much temperature as way too long…makes everything rock hard and inedible! I had no idea that polymer clay was fumey when overcooked..ugh!
I love the faux sea glass….its incredibly real, and youve got a beautiful colour going on there.
UGH! Burnt clay is the worst! I hope it didn’t take too many days to air out your house! On the bright side, at least it’s not the dead of winter where you couldn’t open the windows!
Love your glass beads!!
Happy (very late) WOYWW!
Amy E. #3
Scrapthissavethat.com
Hi Amy,
Thanks for stopping by!
Yes, I was thinking the exact same thing, so thankful it was nice weather to open the windows. However, I will say that baking inside the roasting pans really kept in the worst of the fumes.
And thanks for calling my faux beads, glass beads. 🙂
Happy Woyww, past & present, to you, too.