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Saturday, March 2, 2013

Polymer Clay How To - exotic bloom kaleidoscope cane

Probably my most favorite technique in polymer clay is sculpting, but every so often I'll do some caning too. I'm all about intricate detail so of course, I love the fine details that can be achieved in caning.

My most favorite cane design I've done so far was a kaleidoscope "Exotic Bloom" cane. I actually first made it a couple years back… I think it was maybe my 4th or 5th cane. Beginner's luck possibly, but I was so thrilled with how it turned out and it ended up fueling so many more cane designs.



So, for your enjoyment today, I'm going to share it again! I hope it inspires you to get out your polymer and try something new!



It all starts with a skinner blend - this one is going to be the bloom's center. The blend is rolled up, reduced and cut into 8 pieces.


The arranged center. This kaleidoscope cane is made up of 8 identical pieces, so I only need to make half of the floral design.


Next I make the bloom petal blend and reduce it.


I roll the reduced blend through the pasta machine to make thin stripes. I wrap them over one side of the center and the bloom is finished.


Now for the leaves - another blend this time in greens and yellow. This is my favorite leaf blend.


I add veins and shape one half of the leaf - remember I only need to make half the design.


Here I've reduced the bloom and leaf so they're the same length.


And now for the brain cane! This one is my first. I have to say it turned out pretty well, but then again a brain cane is a bit hard to get wrong - unless of course you don't like the color arrangement ;-).


A quick run through the pasta machine to put the blend and green together. Then I fold up the cane, reduce it and cut it in thirds.


Fitting the brain around the bloom and leaf.



Almost finished.


One last blend to fill it in.


And now it all goes together - I cut the original "half" cane in half and put the two pieces side by side to form a whole. Then I cut this "whole" cane in fourths and put the pieces together forming a square.


A border of brown completes the cane.



So now you'd probably like to see what I made with the finished cane, right? I actually didn't have any finished creation in mind when I originally made the Exotic Bloom, but at that time I was in a decor making craze (yes, that was before I did lots beadmaking!) so naturally it quickly became a vase:




And then a pen. (Second one on the left.) My brother is a woodworker and convinced me to make some pen blanks for pen turning. We had so much fun creating these together!


And of course, I also eventually made some beads and jewelry.






What new things have created in polymer clay recently?




12 comments:

  1. Wow! I love polymer clay art...it is so intricate! Thanks for the tutorial, so we know how much goes into creating a cane! :)

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  2. That is just so beautiful. Amazing detail and control. Thank you for sharing.

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  3. Thank you for taking me on this creative journey... you do it so very well.

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  4. Great tutorial! I am glad it turned out well because it looks like a lot of work and time!

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  5. That is seriously awesome! My daughter is the pc creator in our house, and she loves creating mini figures. She just made some very cute gnomes for a friends' birthday gift. I'd love to get her to try this cane! Thank you so much for the tute!

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  6. That is one gorgeous cane and so many amazing ways to use it. Love your PC work Rebekah!

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  7. I am so impressed with all the work that goes into this. Just wow!

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  8. Wow, I had no idea the work that went into this. You must have the patience of Job. The jewelry you made with this design is beautiful.

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  9. I adore canes and kaleidoscopes are among my faves to make, Rebekah! I found your tutorial had just the right amount of detail for me. My canes are always random or geometric, and I had never thought of "planning" a flower at a juncture. You rock!

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  10. Wow! Love seeing the step by step and you make it look so easy but I know it won't turn out like that if I tried! I'll just continue to get your creations instead! Thank you for sharing your beautiful work Rebekah!!

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  11. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work! Polymer is my new to-do & have been reading up & collecting the materials needed to do. Thank you so much for the information & the instruction! :)))

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