Faux Sea/Beach Glass by Fimo Polymer Clay

As I virtually flipped my way through my digital copy of The Polymer Arts, I hit an ad that solved a problem I had given up on.

I love the look of sea glass and tried to emulate it with translucent polyclay.  Mine turned out disappointing.  It wasn't at all as transparent as it needed to be.  I didn't want to waste more time and effort, so I moved on to another project.  But today I saw an advertisement for an app I didn't even know existed.  Best yet, it was compatible with my android phone!

 The Staedtler-Fimo app has all sorts of cool projects, including making faux beach glass!  How cool is that???

The interface is a little weird at first, but on the home screen you have three options:


1.  Choose the type of clay you are working with.




2.  Select the type of project you want.



3.  Choose the level of difficulty.

Without much trouble I found the project I had wanted. (Don't worry, the home screen will be in English.)

You can also e-mail the tutes from the app or post them on Facebook!  Very cool!

The Ease and Beauty of Digital Magazines

After admiring the artwork displayed on The Polymer Arts Facebook page, I found that there is actually a polymer clay magazine.  Better yet, you can purchase digital issues for just $6.  The printed mags cost more ($10)  and take much longer to receive via snail mail.  Who doesn't love instant gratification?

I purchased two compelling issues that feature light and translucent clay's possibilities. It's almost as exciting as creating octopodis (yes, I must insert a gratuitous photo of the latest purple-based model, Remi)!

Expanding the Octopus Pendant Line

Today I felt especially inspired to clay.  Even though the new Starry Nights octopodis turned out great, the new red one stole my heart!  I know, I'm a little obsessed with this project, but luckily many others are sharing my sea lust!

I'll upload another picture when the sealant dries.

*A Craft Room of One's Own

After many sessions on Pinterest and Google Images, I finally envisioned the way to set up my craft room.  It was a hodge podge of folding tables with materials stuffed in an overpacked closet.  Finding what I needed when I needed it had become tricky.

I was not willing to spend thousands on quality furniture.  Mine was an Ikea-sized budget.  Luckily, inexpensive, cubby-inspired pieces are even on Martha Stewart's radar.  A few trips to Lowe's and Home Depot yielded just the materials I needed to make my space much more manageable.  I love how it turned out!

The best part is the fabric bins, which hide the chaos of spontaneous crafting.  Plus, it frees up my desk so I actually have space to work with my polymer clay or string together a necklace.

I also discovered Harbor Freight, a store for usually known for it's inexpensive tools.  I discovered that the $40 organizer I'd admired at the craft store could be purchased for just $14.  The only difference is that it's construction-worker yellow.  It's the perfect place for crucial findings, like jump rings, clasps, and chain.

I keep it on the floor next to my desk for easy access.  Plus, it's portable so I can just grab it and go when I need to teach a jewelry class at Michaels.



*Virginia Woolf elevated women's role in writing by suggesting that women need the space and material with which to craft their art.

Bead class!

Boho Chic Necklace Class

Have you ever wanted to take a beading class to try something new?  How about just take a couple of hours to hang out with other cool people who share your interest?  Join me at Michaels on Lone Tree (the boarder of Antioch and Brentwood) to try your hand at a soon-to-be classic BoHo necklace with matching earrings!  Just go to the store or go online at Michaels.com and click on the jewelry class to sign up:  https://classes.michaels.com/OnlineClasses/control/main?firstVisit=firstVisit. 

Also, there will be a free Jewelry 101 class Tuesday, September 23rd, at pm.  Sign up before all spots are taken and get a 10% off coupon for supplies!

Perfect Beading Storage!

What looks like a book but stores your beading supplies perfectly?  Craftmates Lockables!  I've tried many different types of storage systems and encountered all the problems each one poses.  What I love about the Craftmates Locakables is that you can swap out compartments if you want to transfer one to another storage area.  Also, the compartments are locked, so there's no need to sweat over spilling beads.  This also makes it fantastic for moving one type of bead out of one compartment and into another.

These can be expensive, so watch out for coupons!  While they can sell for $25 and up on Amazon, you can use a coupon to Michaels and get one for less than $15!  Of all the storage solutions, this is the one I find most satisfying!

BTW, I don't get any kickbacks from products I review.  It's all trial by error for me!

Product of the Month!

Fall is creeping in, but with this 90 degree weather, it's hard to tell!  August's product of the month seems to overpower Mother Nature herself!  G-S Cement for bead stringing is amazing!  It holds beautifully, like Locktite, but unlike that type of Super Glue, it has a needle tip that helps direct the adhesive to the exact spot you need!  Less mess and more accuracy!

This is especially useful for illusion necklaces if you want to forego crimp beads for a more illusory effect!

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