365 Days of Lip Service

Lucky Star

  

I have loved the look of Batik fabric ever since I first learned how to create it in a Junior High School art class. Other's have introduced faux versions for Batik effect. None of these versions captured the effect to my satisfaction. After many experiments,I eventually achieved a technique that captured the look I wanted. I hope you'll agree. This technique was used to create the pattern on the star and is available in "The Complete Book of Polymer Clay." SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Crystal Pearls attached with sterling silver ball pins, jut out from the corners of the star. The center is highlighted with a crystal chaton. A crackled jelly roll cane in complimentary colors was used to create the lid's border.

Layered and Leafy

     

Vibrant millefiori cane slices were applied to today's lid in an overlapping pattern until they meet the edge. The center is accented with a SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS chaton crystal. The sides are asymmetrical layers of gradient clay strips, impressed with lines from a long screw. The gap between the leafy lid and sides are covered by a snake of pink clay that was impresses with diagonal lines created with a needle too.  

 

Orange You Glad?

  

A riot of color and pattern aretoday's theme! A millefiori kaleidoscope cane slice was formed into a cabochon for the centerpiece. Millefiori leaf slices frame the lid at 90 degree points. SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Hotfix crystals are embedded into the center of the cabochon and along the lid with polymer clay settings. The rim is foiled, black clay using colors featured on the lid, using the "confetti foiling" method found in "The Complete Book of Polymer Clay."

True North

  

Creativity is what grounds me. All I have to do to feel centered and focused is to sit down in my studio. Not everything comes out as I hope, but like a compass, doing anything with my hands and heart leads me in the right direction. The book "Flow" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, speaks to the state of mind when a person operates at peak efficiency. It's a mindfulness that many achieve through prayer and meditation. Creating always puts me in this frame of mind. It is with this theme in mind, that I created this lid. A metal cup is set into a domed clay base, The background of the clay is stamped with dye based ink cup's rim is covered with striping. The rim is a bull's-eye cane pattern, edged with millefiori clay leaves. After baking, a working, miniature compass was embedded in Magic Glos quick cure UV resin. Here's wishing that you always find your way through creativity!

Smooshed Diamonds

  

I used my "Smoosh Cane" technique (which I also interchangeably used the name "Tie Dye Cane") for the primary design of this lid. The instructions for this method are found in "The Complete Book of Polymer Clay." Each diamond clay element is studded with a SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Hotfix crystal. A simpler version of the technique was used to create a two-color cane with a burst effect along the rim. Slices from this cane were placed along a single strip of clay and rolled until smooth, then wrapped around the rim.

Floral Fantasy

  

The lid is composed of layered millefiori flowers and leaves, embedded onto a polymer clay base. The effect is a two-dimensional veneer with a 3D effect. The border is textured green clay with raised millefiori leaves dancing along the rim. After baking, two thin layers of Magic Glos UV quick cure resin were applied for a domed cabochon effect.

Slave to the Sparkle...

  

...I always say! As I incorporate a lot of Austrian crystals in my mixed media work, I believe that you  can never have to much sparkle! This lid is a confection of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystals set onto polymer clay. The layered effect over a crystal embedded bezel is inspired by the idea of a wedding cake. The borders are made of alternating, twisted  beads. Sterling silver balls grace the top and bottom of every other bead for a studded effect.  

Faux Opal

  

This lid features the faux opal technique featured in "The Complete Book of Polymer Clay." It is created using Magic Glos UV resin. I am constantly searching for metal clay rings to use as frames in some of my lids. This wide silver ring gives the faux opal focal point an elegant finish. The striped clay border is flared at the edges and hand cut for a wavy effect. 

Something "Sunny"

I first fell in love with sun flowers because it was one of my mother's favorites. Later after having the opportunity to teach in Tuscany, I became even more enamored of the bloom. My first Tuscan  workshop was held during the height of the sun flower crop. These blooms are synonymous with Tuscany in Italy. The sunflower motif can be seen everywhere. I made this millefiori cane several years ago to use when creating a polymer clay and mixed media scrapbook of my first workshop week in Italy. I've use the cane for many projects since then. Only small remnant of the original cane remained, just enough to create this lid which is ringed with millefiori leaf slices. A simple blue clay border covers the sides. 

Something Fishy!

  

 

Little kitty has been going through the garbage again! Today's lid was based upon a millefiori cane button design I did many years ago. This kitty wasn't the one that JHB International ended up going with, but I still like this one the best out of the three variations I created for my line of designer buttons. A slice from this cane was embedded over black clay. The background area was textured with a ball tip stylus using the stippling method. A Jesse James fish bones button was glued and pressed over the top and baked Yes, you can bake JHB and Jesse James buttons with polymer clay at 275F degrees or less!). After the first baking, I used a salmony-blend and black polymer clays to make a Sutton Slice border using my "Swirly Q" texture stamp. If you're not familiar with the Sutton Slice technique, you can learn more in my latest book: The Complete Guide to Polymer Clay. This technique creates detailed, raised patterns with polymer clays.