Week 45-52 Polymer Clay Challenge

I’m posting the last few weeks of the challenge here. You’re getting a sneak peek before anyone else. ;o)

Week 45 to week 47 are pendants. I was just playing around as a beginner does to see how the clay behaves with certain treatments. This first piece is a test with a rubber stamp. I cut the ovals, then used a rubber stamp cat paw on the front. I baked the pendant, then filled in the paw print with black clay and baked it again. I used some of the black white cane I made, and made beads to add to the necklace along with metal spacers in between. Our cat is a black/grey/white tabby with narrow stripes, so the beads are meant to mimic the stripes.

The next two pictures are pendants made with two layers of clay and using charms pressed into the top layer. It worked well and I learned from working on the tools back a few posts, that the clay needs to be thicker so that whatever you add, will have the depth you need to secure it.

The next set of pictures are all faux food and wreaths made with clay. I had so much fun making these, I could have kept going day after day making these, but I do have other projects to work on.

The wreaths are different seasons and colours, and measure from 1 1/2” across, to 2” for the largest ones.  The sweets are between 1/2” and 1”, and I’ll be using them at some point for my doll projects.

With both the wreaths and the candy, I did free hand embellishments, and added some glitz with glitter glue and gold leafing on a few of them. Here and there I’ve tucked in some beads, such as the gingerbread on one of the wreaths. So enjoy….

Week 41-44 Polymer Clay Challenge

This post is to update my weeks of #2019PCChallenge. This is a combination of learning to make canes. Have wanted to learn for quite a while, so these are my first efforts. 

The last image is how I used the mixes of clay scraps to cover some of my clay tools. I experimented brushing on some pearl ex powders. Then I added some beads and brats before baking. Now I know to make the clay a little thicker on tools to sink the beads into the clay more and that should make them stay put.

Week 35-40 Polymer Clay Challenge

For the #2019PCChallenge I’m posting a combination of my weekly challenges all rolled into one.  The Jester head is of course from The Fool, while the mushrooms and grasses are included in the second art piece submitted for adjudication for the Fine Arts Show in October.

I don’t have a name for the mushrooms or grasses, but for a fantasy type of project, it’s okay.

Week 31-34 Polymer Clay Challenge

The last four weeks of challenge projects, are Elf ornaments. Mr. and Mrs. Claus definitely need help of the elves during their busy season.

Week 27–30 Polymer Clay Challenge

This month I have made Mrs. Claus ornaments for the challenge.  I like to play with skin tones, so I have made them to be a companion to the Santa ornaments from last month.

Week 23–26 Polymer Clay Challenge

So I’m posting these in advance for the month of June. It just seems easier than posting each time I have an addition to the polymer clay challenge. For this post I have started on ornaments for the Artisans show in the fall. These are the first four, Santa Head ornaments.

I used different press molds and then altered them to include the eyes, rather than painting them. Then I made some little changes to the expressions. I’ve also used different coloured clay for skin tones. I have a box of real fur from very old coats and jackets and the heads are embellished with wreaths, a charm and clay holly leaves and berries. They each have either a velvet or stretch velvet hat. The locks for the whiskers are from a local fibre artist.

Enjoy…..

Harry and Hester Underbridge

And finally, here they are together. Presenting Harry and Hester Underbridge. Like that little play on words for the last name. These two definitely do not live under bridges. They want to be the mold breaker for all trolls and those in the future.

Harry just has a bit of hair at the back, and the toque he wears to keep his head warm, is knitted from a pattern I came up with. It’s just a very simple knitting pattern, you can find that on my “Little Doll Things” page of my blog, click the name of the pattern and you’ll be taken to a pdf to download. The pattern comes with a simple scarf as well. Easy peasy.

There is one thing I want to point out about the base. I used to work in home care and one day I was at the home of a very lovely couple and the husband liked to do woodworking. I told him I was a doll maker and with that, he gifted me with a piece of wood he had created, to use as a base or in some other way.

If you look further down in the pictures, you’ll be able to see the 3D effect. If you like artwork by M.C. Escher, you’ll understand the effect he has created with thin pieces of a balsa type wood, adhered to a thin piece of plywood and a light stain. The boxes appear to move when you angle the wood in different directions. It’s quite amazing.

So here they are together in their family portrait and a few extra pictures from all angles.

Harry- Partner to Hester

Here we have Harry. He is Hester’s life partner. They are definitely trend setters, in an effort to show that not all trolls are gnarly, wrinkled and nasty. They also want to give trolls a heads up about dressing better, they don’t all have to hide in dark forests and avoid the light. ;o))

You’ll see in the next post, why Harry has his arm extended, it’s for a good reason. He and Hester are having their family portrait done, so he is wrapping his arm around the back of the chair.

Harry keeps his embellishments simple. He only carries what he needs for an overnight trip. His pendant could be magical, but I don’t know, he won’t tell me. He holds an orb in his hand that gathers the light during the day and it glows at night to light their way home. He always carries a bit of money with him in his leather bag, along with a harmonica for those times when they rest, as well he has a tea cup they share while resting.

He keeps warm with his vest and sweater, and off course, his trousers are very upscale for a troll. ;o)  He and Hester both have nicely manicured nails top and bottom, much different than your usual line of trolls. Enjoy

Week 22–Polymer Clay Challenge

Week 20 I posted the hands and feet of a troll. By week 21, I posted the hands and feet of another troll as well as the head for the first one. This week I finished the second troll head and made her into a full bodied troll doll. Her name is Hester and here she is.

Hester is one half of this couple and she’s pretty cute I think. She is not your typical troll, because she’s not gnarly and bent over. She’s from a higher cast of trolls ;o) who likes to be well groomed and dressed nicely. She doesn’t like draping clothes and walking bare foot, she prefers a little more buttoned up in her appearance. What do you think??

Soon, her hubby will make his appearance, but for now, here’s Hester.  Her outfit except the vest, which is real fur from an old jacket, is cotton prints. Her leggings are knit. Her shopping bag is a soft leather. Her hat is the top of a sock. Her jewelry is minimal and a simple pair of sandals to finish the look. I once ordered some wicker doll chairs from Ebay and this little one was a freebie, perfect for Hester.