Watercolor Mosaic Tutorial

On my first days on Flickr I met a sweet girl from Brazil, Monica Gerard, and she taught me an amazing polymer clay technique - The Watercolor Mosaic. It was back in 2005. After I tried it I was fascinated by this technique and I made a tutorial in Hebrew. I'm very happy to share it with you now :) enjoy!
The Watercolor Mosaic Technique

This technique based on the use of transparent polymer clay, Fimo brand, combined with white and black color. Very easy method, but you need to know how to make a Skinner blend with three colors.

You will need:
Polymer Clay -
3 transparent colors
Black, White, Gold

A4 printer paper
Pasta machine
Roller
Cutters

Step 1
We will start with transparent clay.
Make a Skinner blend with 3 colors, a quarter of a package for each color.
Note that a new color is created between 2 color shades. Think about colors that will appear - they will be a part of the Skinner blend outcome.

Step 2
When the Skinner blend is done - finish it on the thickest setting of the pasta machine.

Step 3
Now over to the black and white - not transparent - the regular clay.
Three stripes to half of package from each color.

Step 4
Make equal size sheets that will match the size of the transparent Skinner blend colors; you will have to use for that a thinner setting.



Step 5
Here is the order to place the sheets:
Top - transparent Skinner blend
Middle - white
Bottom - black

Step 6
Here is a look from the side.

Step 7
Roll them all together with the thickest past machine setting.
Then roll it a second time with a thinner setting, I use no 4 in my pasta machine.
Divide the long sheet in to two shorter ones for more comfortable use.


Step 8
Now an important recommendation -
Place them for a whole day (or even for a few hours) on A4 printer paper, on their down black side only, to absorb the polymer grease - and this is because of the next step.


Step 9
Here is the gimmick -
Take one sheet, rip and tear it to unplanned pieces, they can be very small or big pieces, but do a variety of sizes.
When you cut it, the 2 lower layers - black & white - will appear, and this will create the "ripped" look .

Step 10
Preparing the surface -
Here I've used a quarter package of gold clay.
(Metallic color was recommended to me - if it's for a jewel).
Prepare a thick sheet - with a roller or with the thickest width of the pasta machine.

Covering vessels, tableware & dishes:
Carry on doing this from this step, like the explanation from the next steps.
You will not need the gold clay as a surface; the vessel will replace the surface.

Step 11
Start placing the torn pieces on the gold sheet; in the first layer you don’t have to cover all of its surface.

Step 12
Flatten the gold surfaces with the roller.
It will smooth the pieces and will stretch and expand them and the bottom surface too.


Step 13
In the second layering, it is better to use smaller torn pieces.
Add more pieces and scatter them a bit.

Step 14
Flatten again the gold surfaces with the roller.
This is optional - If needed, make a third layer with smaller pieces and roll it again.

Step 15
Now cut with a cutter the shape you want, for example a round pendant or magnets shapes.
Here I've cut out at heart, for an example.


Step 16
Beads can also be created with this technique. Make a scrap bead and cover it with little pieces, role it with your hands and continue with your own making bead techniques.

E n j o y :) ……and a big Royal Kiss from me !!! :))









Color inspiration treasures - Summer 2011


Making treasuries on Etsy is a fabulous way to share your favorite items and make a statement with your own stylish options that are not your own shop listings; this way sellers treat favorably other shops. When making a treasury with just the right stuff, the outcome is a harmonic collection that combines the most hip, up to date trends and color combinations for this season.

In the past week or so a few of my listing were chosen by treasury builders (or is it makers?)
I am very blessed and thankful for that. Thank you friends!!!
You can enter the treasury curator shop from the link below the treasury pic.

Enjoy these amazing items, trends & color palletes and shops.
You don’t have to go far for inspiration :))

Veroque shops:



Toolisjewelry shops:





THANK YOU GUYS, KISSES!!!
 




Fresh Studio Update

There are Some things that you can not run away from… you know what I'm talking about :)) one of them is cleaning & reorganizing your studio. It is only natural to accumulate around you craft supplies, materials, tools and appliances, some important stuff for your daily creative work, most of them you love and cherish. But somehow, although I try to be tidy & organized, well ahhmm… I can't help it and my studio get a bit (wink) messy! In this point you must take a brave decision and do the thing you've ignored from… yes I am talking about cleaning and tiding your work place.
To achieve this goal you need a few things!
First, you need TIME and the next is the most precious ingredient, it is PATIENCE!
When you combine those two together you can start. After you are done, there is a fantastic achievement feeling, you even can take a long smooth breath and your studio is fresh like new, isn’t this a sweet feeling?
It took me about two weeks (yes yes I am slow) to accomplish a major reorganizing but the outcome is worth it.


Before - a glimpse just before I've started
 

When I reorganized, some of my tools and material are getting a new storage place and I just can not remember where everything is, so I put stickers or little notes or tags on the boxes and drawers so they can be found quick & easy. 
I prefer working on a white surface. My true passion is color and combining several shades & tones, so I need to balance that with a white contrast. I work on a Shiny Formica surface.


 

One of my shelf stands, beads, canes and other stuff boxes.

One of my needs is a light blue color; this color inspires me the most. It is all around me in the shades of the walls.




Recycling is very important!
I use shop gift bags for storage; they are placed on one of the top shelves and it gives the studio a nice neat frame.


Hugs & kisses and a lovely fresh weekend you all !!!
:)

Going petite and smiling from ear to ear

There is something very relaxing working on very tiny things, I really do not know why… maybe because it works on my concentration, and I really disappear in it, all my thought are gone, well, it is really therapeutic :)

What can you do with a little, tiny, petite PC cane?
Slice it, bake it and attached it to an ear stud and you get sweet little post earrings that makes you smile from ear to ear :)



Sweet Cherry Blossom post earrings


Sweet Cherry Blossom post earrings



Black and White Circles Target post earrings

Black and White Circles Target post earrings

Romantic pink bordeaux rose post earrings

Romantic pink bordeaux rose post earrings

These new sweeties are in my shop now, take a peek :)


Have a smiley weekend !!!
Kisses muahh muaa:))

News from my shop on-line: SALE !

Soon my inventory will be refreshed with some new stuff in the next couple of weeks.


Therefore, I am indulging my costumers, old, returning and new ones in a fantastic Spring SALE. Metal findings, rings and pendants settings in high quality are now 15% off from the original price.
In addition to this Spring Sale, there is a FREE shipping deal (until the end of April )
so when buying 2 sets (or more) there will be another pampering in that direction too.


~ Rings ~


~ Pendants ~


Have a great weekend!
Kiss kiss :))

Canes from scraps - Part 1

I love to make simple canes especially from scraps.
After I finish working on some canes, I get a load of scrappy ends, so I mix them together and get new colors…. I love that!
So here are 2 simple ones… they look ahhh ahhhm not so shabby… BUT as I say, everything got potential and when the accessories from them are done, I will show you what potential I am talking about.... yeah!


For me they are simply delicious :)

Until next time,
Hugs & kisses
:))