Designs to make from polymer clay

This is not your ordinary how-to book! Austin TX based authors and polymer clay artists Kim Schlinke and Randee M. Ketzel artfully mix a clever mystery with 20 how-to projects that show step-by step photographs and instructions to create your own "ancient artifacts." These polymer clay masterpieces are beautiful enough to grace a museum collection-or yours! At 206 pages, this lavishly photographed book is stuffed with a multitude of projects that can be done just as presented with highly detailed step-by-step instruction, or used as starting points to make faux gems for use in all sorts of designs. Priced retail at $30, the hefty book's how-to projects weigh in at the mere cost of $1.50 each. Animal lovers will be pleased to note that our authors also give us the secrets of making replicas of ivory and tiger claw that involve no cruelty towards elephants or wild cats whatsoever! Projects featured in this compendium include: Celtic Bronze Fibula, Navajo Silver Pendant, Art Nouveau Golden Gingko Brooch, Carnelian Choker of Ancient Rome, Amethyst Cabochons and Nugget Beads, Amethyst Silver Art Nouveau Pendant, Black Opal Cabochons, Barbarian Bracelet, Chrysoprase Cabochons (A and B Grade), Hammered Cuff Bracelet, Ancient Limestone Fossil Pebbles, Cycladic Goddess, Leopardskin Jasper, Primitive Pebble Bracelet, Faux Twigs, Fantastical Forgeries Bracelet, Blue Lace Agate Tile Bracelet, Copper & Rhodochrosite Tiered Necklace, Snowflake Jades, Qin Dynasty Bangles, Amber Caravan Necklace, Primeval Coral Rock Hound Necklace, Ammolite Cabochons, Gothic Revival Pendant, Victorian Mourning Brooch, Faux Tiger Claw, Victorian Raj Brooch, Faux Tiffany Glass Scarabs, Faux Ivory Cuff Bracelet Find out how it is all done-and "who done it"-along with our intrepid protagonists, Parker and Peele. "What is this stuff?" wondered Parker, and her companion pointed her umbrella to the drawings that plastered the walls. "The raw materials for the best forgeries ever seen" replied her friend. "This is where they were created." Together they examined the drawings, exclaiming softly as they recognized several objects from the Museum. Parker picked up one of the colorful lumps and frowned. "What is this, Peele? It's soft like clay, but I've never seen these colors before." "No," said her friend, "nor have I-at least in this form. I suspect it requires a catalyst of some type to render it into the false gems-ah, here!" Peele uncovered an array of electric ovens. "Heat-how charming. This must be some type of polymer, which, when brought to the proper temperature, then hardens. I have heard rumors. Could become just about anything, in skilled hands."

Anyone who likes to play in mud, playdough, papier-mache and similar mediums will love this book of over 125 clays, doughs, and modeling mixtures you can make yourself. The first chapter alone has 31 playdough recipes! Mudworks uses common household materials and requires no expertise. Ideal for fun or serious art for all ages, for home, school, or childcare. Also available in a bilingual Spanish and English version in eBook format, "Mudworks Bilingual". 1990 Benjamin Franklin Gold Award 1990 American Library Association (ALA) Starred Review 1995 ALA "Best of the Best" Books & Media for Children

Discover a world of inspired and colourful jewellery-making from the comfort of your own home. Just make, bake and wear! In this comprehensive guide to modern polymer clay techniques, artist and designer Heidi Helyard reveals the simple techniques that can be used to create one-off, contemporary jewellery pieces with minimal tools and equipment. Polymer clay, which has been around for nearly eighty years, is currently finding itself popular amongst contemporary jewellery makers as the bright colours and sheer versatility of the material allows makers to create bold and graphic modern designs. The beauty of polymer clay is that it presents so many opportunities to explore colour combinations, patterns and texture. In this book you will learn ten easy yet exciting techniques including slab and cane making, marbling and colour mixing, inlay techniques, printing onto clay, surface embellishments and more to create twenty unique jewellery pieces. The projects in this book vary in complexity, but are accessible to both novice and advanced makers alike. If you are a beginner, the extensive step-by-step photos and instructions will help you develop your polymer clay skills and complete the projects with confidence. As you build your skills and learn the techniques via the book, you will realise that you can combine techniques to create all-new results. The skills you learn in this book will open up a limitless world of further experimentation for you to discover.

Polymer clay has grown and grown and grown in popularity since the publication of Donna Kato’s best-selling The Art of Polymer Clay in 1997. And there have been so many technical advances, too. Now poly-diva Donna Kato presents an all-new look at one of crafters’ all-time favorite mediums. Donna Kato’s Polymer Clay Innovations begins with the essentials of polymer clay, including its working properties, plus tools, curing, safety recommendations, and color blending (with full information on the now-indispensable Skinner Blend). Photo-packed chapters focus on exciting projects—beads, bracelets, pins, pendants, and boxes--and showcase new techniques, including image transfers, surface treatments such as stencils, stamps, paints, and inks, sculpting, inclusions, special effects, and finishing. Finished pieces by some of the biggest names in polymer clay, including Kathleen Dustin, Pier Voulkos, and Nan Roche, plus Donna Kato herself, offer ideas and inspiration.

Here are 19 ways to take polymer clay a step further, with projects for adorning living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, holiday parties, bedrooms and more. Each project provides a supply list, a list of colors and clays needed, photos and easy instructions. 300 illustrations.

“Has the...advantage of tapping into the different expertise and styles of a variety of practitioners. Crafters can pick from among 31 projects, ranging from traditional (Chinese good-luck lantern) to extraordinarily modern (tiny jointed teddy bear)....A gallery of artists...adds insight and inspiration.”—Booklist.