Playing with Liquid Polymer Clay- Stained Glass

May 3rd, 2008 Jenny Posted in Commentary, Craft Projects, Medium: Polymer Clay 1 Comment »

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately with liquid polymer clay, this time playing with stained glass effects. In my previous tests of liquid clay, I checked to see which brand cured the clearest. Consequently I determined Kato Liquid Medium was really the best product for this set of samples.

I really lucked out two years ago, and ran across a sale on the suncatcher forms. They are glass, shaped like stars and circles, and already have a hole drilled in the top. They were on discount at Pat Catan’s, so I snapped them up. (My motto is buy now, figure out what to do with it later!)

I smeared a thin layer of liquid clay on the glass, and then used black Premo that I extruded for the “leading”. I baked this first step to make sure it would stay put without distorting. Then I mixed up my LQ and alcohol inks (I used Pinata, but you could use Ranger) and filled the areas using a toothpick. Remember, Kato liquid is runny- so you have to be careful. Really TLS would be easier to manage in this application, and I think I’ll use that in the future. So I filled up the little areas, and baked it again.

The treble-clef example I did on memory glass, and made a “frame” from another piece of extruded clay.

The “forever” hearts piece was done on white clay instead of glass, but constructed the same way. I added some micro beads for interest, and then framed out the piece with extruded clay. I added about 3 more layers of liquid clay to fill the entire frame, and made it look more like it was under glass. Fun!

(I’ll be teaching this technique at Stamplistic in May 2008. For more information, check out my “Craft Classes with Jenny” link.)

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Crafting a Great Picture (and Kid, Too!)

April 30th, 2008 Jenny Posted in Commentary No Comments »

Ok, so I know this is my 3rd post today, but I was playing around with a picture that I took of Baby Girl… and I had to share it. Isn’t she gorgeous?

And isn’t Flock fun?

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I’ve Been Tagged….

April 23rd, 2008 Jenny Posted in Commentary 1 Comment »

…by my art-full blogging buddy, Val.

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you. (Done.)

2. Post the rules on your blog. (Yup.)

3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.

  • I like to eat certain candy stale, specifically Peeps and Twizzlers. Sour Cream doughnuts are also better on the 2nd day.
  • I have recently lost 20 pounds and am almost cute in clothes again. (So I’m not eating candy OR doughnuts in volume anymore!)
  • I collect more fabric and scrapbook paper than I use.
  • I love my Sirius satellite radio because it has 3 channels of NPR alone.
  • I think you can never own too many shades of lipgloss or lipstick, and I wear that if no other makeup.
  • I am adamant about having breakfast at the table with my kids every day. I love starting the day off together.

4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.

This one is a challenge, because I’m not sure who would enjoy this kind of thing. But here goes:

5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Enjoy!!!

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Back From the Expo: Part Three of Three

April 1st, 2008 Jenny Posted in Commentary No Comments »

So, the big show is done for now. I thought I’d share some pictures of my purchases, and a couple of closing thoughts.

I got accosted by the NCN president and quilt show coordinator, Gini, for having a rollie cart. (Sorry, but when I came in at 8:20AM the “No Rolling Carts” sign hadn’t gone up yet.) She brusquely informed me that it was a safety issue, and a problem with insurance.

So why were dogs allowed?

No, Really. Not service dogs, or seeing-eye dogs. Like, chihuahuas in pouches and pooches in strollers. REALLY! I just cant’ get over it. Our Expo has gone to the dogs….literally!


Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

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What’s Your Six-Word Memoir?

March 22nd, 2008 Jenny Posted in Commentary 1 Comment »

Found this link to NPR’s Bryant Park project: craft a six-word sentence/poem to describe your life. Here’s my contribution:

Art and music guide my life. 

What’s yours? Feel free to leave it as a comment!

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First Day of Spring

March 20th, 2008 Jenny Posted in Commentary No Comments »

Yup, it’s officially the vernal equinox, although you’d be hard-pressed to tell it from the fresh snow on the ground here in NE Ohio. Nevertheless, spring is on it’s way… there are tender shoots of crocus, tulip, and daffodils poking their heads up in my yard.

Nora Jean in my City-o-Clay yahoo group had this to say about this auspicious day:

The Spring Equinox is also known as: Alban Eilir, Eostar, Eostre, Feast of Annunciation of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, Festival of Trees, Lady Day, NawRuz, No
Ruz, Ostara, Ostra, Rites of Spring, and the Vernal
Equinox.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/spring_equinox.htm

It is also Persian New Year. “Aday Shoma Mombarek” to
our Persian ClayMates.
http://www.farsinet.com/norooz/

It is also the Astrological New Year. You thought it
was safe to pack up those noisemakers, but March 20
marks more than just the vernal equinox — it’s also
the day the Sun moves into Aries, the first sign of
the zodiac.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_Equinox
This page gives a list of more celebrations that take
place at this time of year.

Thanks, Nora Jean for those tidbits. I always knew it was a great day for my birthday!

Oh, and a fond thought of Fred Rodgers, who also was my birthday-mate. (Won’t you be my neighbor?)

(And happy-giving-birthday, Mom. Love you!)

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Craft Haiku #1

February 4th, 2008 Jenny Posted in Commentary 1 Comment »

Bad dog eats my crafts.

I have the last laugh - I see

Glitter in her poop.

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Snarky Candy Hearts from Despair.com

January 31st, 2008 Jenny Posted in Commentary 1 Comment »

Ok, so this is Valentine’s Day for snarky people. Despair.com has launched a “candy heart generator” so that you can put your message on conversation hearts. This is mine:

From Dispair.com

Go play and have fun…. and maybe I’ll think up some conversation heart crafts!

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Picasso Had It Right

January 19th, 2008 Jenny Posted in Commentary No Comments »

Picasso said,

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

I think he got it right. He just didn’t have a glue gun.

Do you think he would’ve worked in some other material if it had been available to him? I mean, I work in polyclay because it’s what’s affordable and readily available.  I wonder…. but I bet he would have dug PhotoShop!

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Quotes to Inspire You

January 15th, 2008 Jenny Posted in Commentary No Comments »

I love quotes. (And music lyrics!) All kinds inspire me…. so here’s a quote- from an artist- to get you thinkin’ today:Salvadore Dali

Happy is he who causes scandal. - Salvadore Dali

Really?

I’m more of the “Happy is she whose husband unloads the dishwasher.”

How would you finish the sentence? And what kind of artwork could that inspire?

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