What I wouldn’t have given for these color cards when I first started out in polymer clay.
What am I talking about? I am extremely overjoyed to have them now.
Joan Tayler has mixed all of these colors in Premo, put these color cards together, photographed them, printed and laminated them. The recipes are on the front with the colors on the back. Such a lot of work.
All for only $12 a set. Trust me you will use these over and over again. You can purchase them here in her Etsy shop.
I’m teaching at virtual Clayathon in February 2022, a workshop call Paper to Polymer, see the post with more information here. I will be using these cards when we mix colors for our wall pieces that will be inspired by paper collages we create.
Not only that but Joan and Shelley Atwood are teaching a two day workshop with step by step color mixing and jewelry design. Their workshop, Wardrobe Inspired Jewelry, is on Feb. 17 & 18 while mine is the 22nd and the 23rd.
Loretta Lamb is the guest artist at virtual Clayathon this year and I know she has some wonderful things to share with us.
The line-up of talented polymer artists is long and varied this year and I’m thrilled to be included.
Clayathon’22 Virtual Polymer RetreatRetreat days: Feb. 19, 20, 21, 2022. Six Hours of lessons during the Retreat withAcclaimed Artist and Author Loretta Lam Loretta will share her personal design process, from inspiration through the assessment of the finished piece. Her demos will include form building, canes, and veneers. Plus lots of design hints and tips! Something for everyone.” Register for Clayathon here.
My workshop will be after the retreat on February 22 – 23. In my two day workshop we will be using magazine pages to create fabulous little collages that will act as inspiration for a larger polymer piece.
Paper to Polymer Alice Stroppel February 22-23 $190 10am – 3pm Intermediate
Register and pay for my workshop here.
This workshop is full, if you would like to be placed on the waitIng list email me at
alicestroppelsstudio215@yahoo.com
I started using pages from magazines to create collage postcards to send to friends. After I had made several I friend suggested they would be excellent studies for larger paintings. But of course I am a polymer clay artist through and through and painting wasn’t going to work for me, but his words sparked my exploration into translating these postcards into polymer.
If you don’t already have a stack of old magazines or can procure some from friends, I’ll suggest a some of my favorites. But you can find pattern and color in many of the Christmas catalogs that are beginning to come in the mail so start collecting a few now. You might also already have stashes of papers you can use.
We’ll be using liquid polymer, markers, as well as small cutters and silk screens. I’ll even show you how to make some small stamps.
I’ll be focusing on larger wall pieces but there is no reason why these techniques can’t be used for smaller projects as well.
Don’t worry if you don’t finish on day two, I’ll schedule and short recap Zoom meetup for showing your finished pieces and to answer any questions.
As soon as I receive your payment for this workshop I will send you the supply list.
Paper to polymer
This first piece was inspired by several artists, Rex Ray was the main influencer.
Rex Ray
Rex Ray
Paper to Polymer
Lots of patterns and colors from several magazines contributed to this postcard and others below. Lots inspiration for many of the techniques I’ll be teaching.
Paper Postcard
Paper Postcard
Paper to polymer
I’ve always admired Georgia O’Keeffe’s large flowers. I created many versions of paper flowers for this piece.
Georgia O’Keeffe
Paper Postcard
Paper Postcard
Paper Postcard
Paper to Polymer
You be surprise when you see the magazine page I used to create this inspirational postcard.
I found this fabulous head on Facebook Market place about 6 weeks ago. When I saw her I wasn’t sure she would fit in the oven but I knew I needed to buy her.
When I got her to the studio the first time I did was make sure she fit in the oven. She’s 20″ long from the tip of her nose the the last curl on her head. Luckily I have a two regular kitchen ovens that are clay dedicated . One here at home and one at my studio in downtown Sebring.
I didn’t have time to work her right away so she just chilled out in my studio. Then Covid19 hit and I’ve been home with my husband for the last five weeks. Is that all it’s been???
She came home with me and I’ve been working on her covering her with polymer canes that I have been making over the years. Every time I have a workshop in my studio I make canes, every time I film a video for my online workshops, I make canes.
So I have a cane inventory that you couldn’t believe and what better way to use it than on this lady? I am here to tell you she took a bunch of canes. I think I only use the same one once or maybe twice.
Here she is finished. Or at least finished for now. there are a few things I’d like to fix, but I’m ready to stop working on her for awhile.
Below I’ll show you as she progressed.
Oh and I’ve named her Lucy… like in the Sky with Diamonds… *g* I may have to add a few sparkles, but that will have to wait.
This is how she was when I first started covering her with canes.
I decided that I didn’t like the random canes and decided to follow the waves.
I just kept on adding canes because I have a large inventory. If you have ever taken a workshop with me you’ll know I am always encouraging everyone to build your cane inventory so you can just sit down and create.
I was able to begin and finish her with out ever having to make a new cane. If I would have had to make a new cane for every wave I might not have finished her.
Obviously you won’t have as many canes as I do but as you build your cane inventory or as I like to call it, your stash, you’ll be surprised how many projects you can finish in a day. I worked on both sides for days.
I’d finished a few rows and then I’d bake her. That way I didn’t mess up the rows I’d finished as I worked on the next.
Then finally the day came when I could finally put her in the oven for the last time. Was I glad? You bet. I’m used to large projects but this one seemed like it took forever.
She just fits on an angle. I baked her one last time for 30 minutes andI’m a happy, happy, woman.
I’ve added a new workshop to my online polymer clay school, (click on link and scroll down to few the individual workshops) It’s a jammed packed workshop full of ideas and inspriation. Most of my cane workshops are not about one individual cane, they are about the process. It’s what I love the most about cane making, I never really know where I’m going to end up. That makes each cane I make a surprise and a delight. Of course you can plan your canes as well.
I’ve added these canes as individual workshops so you can purchase only the ones you want or get a discount when you purchase them all together in a bundle.
There are 25 Videos, as well as videos on making Skinner blends and plugs. That’s about 4 hours of videos that you can watch again and again.
I’m happy to tell you that I’m offering a new online workshop and it stars my silly Weed Pots.
My weed pots have been a hit for classes both in my studio in Sebring, FL and at polymer clay guilds around the country. I know many of you will never make it to Sebring or to the guilds where I have will teach, so i’m sharing this workshop online.
I want to kick off the Holiday season and let you get a start on your gifts, after all who wouldn’t want a crazy weed pot from you? I’m giving you a 15% discount on the new Weed Pots workshop, but wait, that’s not all, I’m also giving the same 15% off on all of my workshops. This offer is good until Midnight Oct 17th.
Just click to purchase the workshop of your choice and then apply the code 15%OFF in the space provided.
I hope you have great fun. Thanks again and be sure to share the discount with your friends
I spent most of last week turning Skinner blend plugs into canes for this cane mapped table.
I spent all week this week applying those canes and others from my cane stash to this table.
I extruded black edging and applied it to both the top and the bottom.
I bake in a full size kitchen oven but I still have to bake in sections and then glue them together right on the table surface.
Now that the northern visitors are leaving to spend the summer in their northern homes, I’ll begin filming workshops again for my online school.
First I’ll be adding a workshop that will help you build you cane inventory so when you’re ready to sit down and do a project you’ll have canes to choose from. In the table project here I made several large canes but I filled in with leaves, smaill flowers, extrusions and just plain ol’ dots from canes in my inventory. This workshop will give you guideline to create your own designs and lots of actually canes to make.
Then I’d like to add the furniture/large wall piece workshop. Tricks and tips to create large pieces will have you filling your home with your masterpieces will be key in this course.
My online workshop launched in August and it’s been a great success for me and I plan on making many more workshops in the future.
But nothing makes me happier than to be on the receiving end of lovely compliments like these
Nancy Simmons made me blush a bit with this message. “I was fortunate enough to take Alice’s cane making class a year or so ago. It was wonderful. What’s as wonderful (except for the in-person part), is her cane making video. I couldn’t ‘get’ everything from the class, so I bought the video. It’s exactly like being in class with Alice, except it makes it seem like you’re the only one in the class. I also purchased her cane mapping videos. All I can say is WOW! I feel a new world has opened up for me. I just can’t wait for Alice to add more videos. I’ve worked with many excellent instructors, but to me, Alice is the best. Do yourself a favor, buy all her videos. I’ve included my first cane mapping. Hopefully, you can see it. Her name is Sylvia. Thank you, Alice.”
Lee Ann Nesbitt sent me this eye opening compliment.
“I finished, kind of, your extrusion class..started cane mapping. I realized I was missing something, and needed the dot, dot dot. I just bought Polymer Clay for Beginners. My advice…Change the name! I am far from a beginner..do not OVER estimate non beginners knowledge. This class is for everyone. Just starting…I got good tips on striped slabs, using full packages and not cutting triangles for skinners…3 canes out of one blend..and I’m just starting!”
Jennifer Rose left this oh so nice comment. “Just finished this first workshop on how to make canes, and I must say I learned so much. This is exactly what I have been looking for, someone who could explain cane making in a step by step that process that I could replicate. I watched the videos, went into my studio and began to create all of the canes Alice showed. I finally have results I can be proud of, and I say thank you so much for doing this workshop. My only question now is when do we get more workshops. If you are only going to take one online class let it be this workshop. Thank you Alice for your hard work, and your dedication to helping others learn the joys of polymer clay.”
Thank you so much, Jennifer, Lee Ann and Nancy, it means so much to me.
I’m so happy to tell you that I have uploaded two new workshops to my online school. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you’ll see Cane Mapping and Extrusions.
The extrusion workshop consists of thirteen videos that equal over an hour of instruction.
This workshop will show you how to make small unique canes from extruded polymer clay. You can use these canes to make everything from buttons beads and pendants to cane mapped pieces.
It’s only about the techinque used in making the canes, not the finished pieces.
It’s all part of building your cane inventory so that when you are ready to begin a project you have many canes to choose from.
I use lots of extruded cane in my cane mapping pieces.
The butterfly on the left is made with both extruded canes and traditional canes. The one on the right is all extrusions.
If you love mosaics, color and polymer clay, if you love the look of complex canes but simply don’t want to create a giant complex cane, if you love one of a kind pieces, and if you have tons of left over canes, this is the can mapping workshop for you!
This is the workshop I teach at my Sebring Studio and around the country at polymer clay guilds and retreats. The difference is you can rewind and watch each step over and over if you want.
In almost 2 hours of videos you’ll learn the basics by cane mapping this fish portrait and the butterfly on the left above. I’ll show you a few unexpected canes and different slices that you can incorporate into your designs.
This is an intermediate class and having some Skinner blended canes in your stash will make your designs pop.
After a couple of months of shooting and editing over 27 videos, my polymer clay school is finally open.
The first workshop consists of 27 video that take you through every step of the way I make my canes. The clay I use, the colors I choose the way I make skiner plugs and why I keep such an inventory of canes and plugs are all important steps to my final creations.
I’ll show you how I make thirteen different canes. Some of them simple and a couple a bit more complicated. You’ll see why following the steps in part 1 of this course make part 2 eazy to accomplish.
This first Workshop, Polymer Clay Canes for Beginners is only the beginning for me too. I hope to add more workshops and show you exactly how I get from A to Z when I’m creating.
