Hi Everyone,
Sorry I didn't get anything posted last week and this week. Alot has happened. My daughter came from California for a surprise visit. I had to spend time with my Grandkids of course. We celebrated a 12th birthday for one of my Granddaughter's. And I got a job. And started right away. So I have been busy with that too!
I will be back next week to post something about crafting then. But I hope you all are having a wonderful week and keep crafting!
Linda
HAPPY CRAFTING!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Polymer Clay
Things you will want when you are creating with polymer clay. (Most everything you can find in your local, favorite craft store like Michaels, Hobby Lobby, just to name a few).
1. A pasta machine (used only for crafting)
2. Polymer Clay (colors of choice) Unless you have a husband like mine who got you one of each color
3. Sculpting tools
4. Knives
5. Molds
6. Rolling pin
7. Liquid polymer clay
The first thing you need to do is condition your clay. I warm mine up by playing with it for a bit to soften it up in my hands. Then I put it through the pasta machine a few times. Follow your instructions on your craft project and set your pasta machine accordingly.
Your creativity is endless. One of my projects I want to make is a doll out of molds. I haven't started it yet. It will be one of those projects for a later date.
Follow the instructions for baking at the time and temperature.
A good item to use to make easy projects to start is coasters. We will do a flower coaster. Take a color of your choice condition, and put it threw the pasta machine on a very thin setting. Once it is conditioned lay flat and take a large cookie cutter and cut out your coaster. If making a flower use yellow/orange color for the center or color of choice, put also through the pasta machine on thin setting. Cut out a small round circle. Set it in the center of your flower. Press lightly to adhere to flower. Take a green color and repeat the flower step. Use a leaf cut out or draw free hand. A nice way is to get a leaf from a tree or bush and trace around. Adhere a small piece of the leaf to the back side of the flower. You may add one, three or 5 peddles of leaves to your flower. I prefer one and three. Bake using manufacture suggestions.
Let your imagination run away with you.
Until next time
HAPPY CRAFTING!
1. A pasta machine (used only for crafting)
2. Polymer Clay (colors of choice) Unless you have a husband like mine who got you one of each color
3. Sculpting tools
4. Knives
5. Molds
6. Rolling pin
7. Liquid polymer clay
The first thing you need to do is condition your clay. I warm mine up by playing with it for a bit to soften it up in my hands. Then I put it through the pasta machine a few times. Follow your instructions on your craft project and set your pasta machine accordingly.
Your creativity is endless. One of my projects I want to make is a doll out of molds. I haven't started it yet. It will be one of those projects for a later date.
Follow the instructions for baking at the time and temperature.
A good item to use to make easy projects to start is coasters. We will do a flower coaster. Take a color of your choice condition, and put it threw the pasta machine on a very thin setting. Once it is conditioned lay flat and take a large cookie cutter and cut out your coaster. If making a flower use yellow/orange color for the center or color of choice, put also through the pasta machine on thin setting. Cut out a small round circle. Set it in the center of your flower. Press lightly to adhere to flower. Take a green color and repeat the flower step. Use a leaf cut out or draw free hand. A nice way is to get a leaf from a tree or bush and trace around. Adhere a small piece of the leaf to the back side of the flower. You may add one, three or 5 peddles of leaves to your flower. I prefer one and three. Bake using manufacture suggestions.
Let your imagination run away with you.
Until next time
HAPPY CRAFTING!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Homemade Soap
There is two kinds of soap making. One is made with lye and the other with glycerine. Lye can be dangerous if you do not use it properly. It comes in crystal form and liquid form. One of these days I will try to make soap with lye. I will leave it to the more experienced soap maker. I am just a novice at this right now. But would really like to do more. I use glycerine the melt and pour method of soap making. Here is some helpful hints for us beginners. Get yourself a good stainless steel pot. Once you use it for soap making do not use it to cook in. I have gone to my neighborhood craft store and bought all my supplies. You need a cooking pot, glycerine bars, fragrance oils and coloring. Do not use food coloring as it will stain your hands and any clothing you may use. Choose the type of molds you want to use. Some say just the clear type plastic works best. That is what I have. And I have read that you should use silicone molds. I have not seen any but will keep my eyes open. Get creative in using household items. You can use a wax paper lined box and use a heavy duty fish line to cut the soap. Look around your house and see what creative things you come up with.
Melt your glycerine bar in your double boiler over low heat. Add your fragrance oil. Then add coloring to desired color Stir slowly twice so not to form bubbles. If bubbles do form after you have poured your soap into the molds, you may spritz with rubbing alcohol. Pour slowly into mold let stand between 1 to 2 hours. If you want to add any embellishments, pour just a little bit of melted glycerine in bottom of the mold. Let stand for a few minutes to start to harden. Add the embellishment and finish pouring the glycerine into the mold. If your soap does not come out of the mold, place it into the refrigerator for about 15 minutes. It should pop right out. Cover immediately in some kind of plastic bag or wrap to keep from sweating and keep from losing your scent. You can find all kinds of information on the web, as well as books and classes. Hope all works out. Remember to only do a small batch to get used to making soap before attempting to make a very large batch.
Until next time
Happy Crafting!
Melt your glycerine bar in your double boiler over low heat. Add your fragrance oil. Then add coloring to desired color Stir slowly twice so not to form bubbles. If bubbles do form after you have poured your soap into the molds, you may spritz with rubbing alcohol. Pour slowly into mold let stand between 1 to 2 hours. If you want to add any embellishments, pour just a little bit of melted glycerine in bottom of the mold. Let stand for a few minutes to start to harden. Add the embellishment and finish pouring the glycerine into the mold. If your soap does not come out of the mold, place it into the refrigerator for about 15 minutes. It should pop right out. Cover immediately in some kind of plastic bag or wrap to keep from sweating and keep from losing your scent. You can find all kinds of information on the web, as well as books and classes. Hope all works out. Remember to only do a small batch to get used to making soap before attempting to make a very large batch.
Until next time
Happy Crafting!
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