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 just finished this small fish table. I love doing tables because they give me a large “canvas” to work with. I put a colorful crab in the middle of this one.
This is a larger take I did months ago and now lives with a great friend and customer.
I’ve been working on polymer string portraits and I have to say they are really fun.
I’ve admired the continuous black line drawings for some time now and have always wanted to do my own take on the look.
Years ago I joined a Kickstarter campaign for a 3d pen that used plastic stings. It’s now sold in Michaels and other places I guess. I suppose I could have mastered it I I’d spent more time with it, I still have it and might take another look at it now.
Don’t judge now, I was just playing.
But what I really know is polymer clay. I’ve had pc in my hands almost everyday for the last 25 years and I know how it behaves and what I need to do to make it work for me.
So finally I took the time to give it a try. I posted my first two on Instagram and Facebook with a great deal of support from other people which made me very happy. I was delighted to have one of the portraits featured on Polymer Clay Daily.
Even though I will always be experimenting, trying, failing, succeeding, both acknowledgements are always a great conformation that I’m pushing polymer.
The first and second faces were pencil drawings by me and they worked very well. I place them under a piece of glass and begin. The next one is from a picture of my friend Syndee Holt.
Syndee Holt
I wanted to make a portrait of someone I knew and Syndee always wears great hats and this picture fit the bill. I even liked the sunglasses.
Syndee Holt
I still have work to do on this, Syndee always has a smile, I have to fix that.
I sent a photo of the portrait to Syndee for her approval and she recognized herself right away. Whew. She even said I could share it. Thanks Syndee.
Back to fixing the smile and looking for other interesting photos.
I’ve just up loaded a video featuring my newest design, Crazy Birds. They really do make me laugh. I use little canes made up of extruded pieces so I’ve also bundled this new video with my Extrusions video. You can purchase Crazy Birds alone,
Are you like me? I have a giant box full of Stroppel Canes and am always looking for something to make with them. The other day I was cleaning up my work space, that’s the way the Stroppel Cane was born actually, making another Stroppel Cane and happened to have a piece of a sheet left over. I added it to the Stroppel Cane and a new cute Stroppel Cane Earring emerged.
I thought you might enjoy make some yourself, so Ive added a free little tutorial to my online school http://alice-stroppel.teachable.com/p/stroppel-cane-earrings and to me YouTube channel https://youtu.be/yKWZe3Pq_tU
You won’t want to miss this information packed workshop with Syndee Holt. If you know Syndee like I know Syndee you will be first in line to sign up for this workshop. She has more polymer knowledge in her head than you or I will ever accumulate.
From her blog:
“I came to polymer clay as a means to maintain my sanity as a full time working mother. My degree is from Brooks Institute of Photography and photography is still a passion as well as part of my working life.
I’ve been an independent designer for Sculpey (Polyform Products) for over 18 years and I currently serve as the Polyform Brand Ambassador. I am a founding member and former President of the infamous San Diego Polymer Clay Guild. I’ve written over 100 articles for crafting magazines both national and internationally. In addition, I wrote Polymer Clay for the First Time, which is still available through amazon.com. I have also made about 33 television appearances on HGTV, Discovery, DIY, etc.”
Two days of clay and fun at
Alice Stroppel’s Studio 215.
Feb 16 & 17, 2019
10 -4
$140
All Sculpey clays provided with class.
Syns 3-Ring Circus
The rules of this event are simple – if you want to do a technique I show you FINE! If you don’t want to do that technique but are still having fun with a previous technique FINE! If you want to make a “left turn” with a technique I’ve shown you and make it your own – FINE!! If the tools and clay colors incite some other kind of creative riot in you FINE!
Ring 1: My Sculpey tool Roundup
Let me show you all the weird little tips and things I’ve worked out with some of these tools. IT’s quick and I’ve been told it’s (clay) life-changing!
Ring 2: Surface treatments – let’s get dirty! Gelli plates and transfers? Silkscreens? DONE! Got alcohol pens? Colored pencils? Let’s color!
Paints? Did someone mention Paints? Why yes, we can explore surface treatments using paints as well.
Ring 3: The Liquid Lab
Let’s remove the veil of mystery surrounds Liquid Sculpey! Using LS and silicone molds, mix-ins, and of course, using LS Clear as glaze – making friends with a heat gun!
Of course, there will be bracelets! Of course, there will be the KC Stripper technique!
I’ve been creating a few table tops lately and this is my latest one. It’s made with hundreds of spiral jelly roll canes that I make teaching my cane workshops. I’ve been on a mission to reduce my spiral stock .
This is the second batch of spiral necklaces I’ve made, the first ones are now owned by someone else, happily. I have earrings that need to be finished as well.
These two wall pieces are mounted on black canvas.
They look well together or separately. Loads of color.
As you can plainly see, my mission has not been accomplished. I still have two full shelves of spiral canes left and more on the way. My work is never done. Thankfully.
This week has been all about finishing up projects I’ve started this winter and never completed.
I have been teaching so much that I’ve not had time for much creative time, so as things began to slow down and our northern visitors began to head home, I brought out my list of want to do’s and my unfinished projects.
I finished two versions of this woman today. I made a small version a couple of years ago and it’s been well received. It hangs in my Studio in my private collection. I wanted make a couple of larger ones to offer for sale. Plus I wanted to try black and white.
Seems I’m drawn to black and white for sure, I just bought a new car and it’s white with black interior, go figure.
And then here’s yet another one, I finally framed this black and white woman.
Earlier this week I finished and framed this colorful woman that I started last year. About time don’t you think?
I even saved this flamingo that I burned several months ago. He’s framed and now I want to make another one with giant flowers. Yay, go big.
I still have a few more project to finish, but I’m feeling pretty good today.
These two wall pieces are mounted on black canvas.
