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Ok, ladies.. you came to create and you brought the energy and creativity vital for a great class..
First, tools!
Ya’ll know what an Etch n’ Pearl is now – and thanks to KCS member Chris Crossland we know that Etch n’ Pearls are sponge worthy! In case you need a refresher, click on the words Etch n’ Pearl above. If you guys want the whole tutorial posted, lemme know.
Then we did Mokume Gane with the Sculpey Style n’ Detail tools, using the ball stylus.
We also talked about using the rubber chisel on the other end of the medium ball stylus to apply very precise lines of Pearl Ex.
Hollow Bead Maker – it should be on top of your oven right now (unless it’s IN the oven), so it can warm when you preheat the oven. BTW – next to Souffle Bluestone, Poppy Seed and Igloo, this is my favorite mix – Bluestone, Pumpkin and Canary. And don’t forget that you can use the HBM (that’s pro talk for Hollow BeadMaker) to create organic shapes like the leaves!
Sculpey Cutter sets – remember that the Mini Cutter Geometric cutters will complete the set! The cutters are designed to fit the HBM. If you have more than one set of a shape, consider bending the CUTTING edge to create organic shapes.
–Bezel and Cab Molds – No, you didn’t space out and miss it! They didn’t send the right box remember? So here are my tips for these tools. You know you need to spray them with water for mold release right? Well, I like to use the Sculpey circle cutters to help me with these guys. If you have a sheet on the widest setting and you use the circle cutter that is closest in size (that’s right, the cutters also fit the molds!), you can get the perfect amount of clay for the cab! You can also use the circle you cut out 
for the bezel molds, just push the clay into the bezel and no cutting needed! If you are using the shapes other than the circle, use the round cutter that closest fits and fold the edges back into the bezel and press firmly into the bezel portion of the mold. ALWAYS TRIM EXTRA CLAY FROM THE CENTER TO EACH EDGE. (that’s a Penni Jo tip!)
Gelli Plates are a mystery why people don’t already have these. Do NOT buy the biggest one you can (unless you get the 8×10 and cut it into 4 pieces and share with your clay friends). Repeat after me, LESS PAINT IS MORE! Remember to clean that plate and store it in a protected spot with both cover sheets on it.
Silkscreening was fun! Remember to check if your screen is one-sided or two-sided. Helen Breil’s are all double sided so you can’t make a mistake (ha!). The ones from Sculpey have a shiny side – that side goes DOWN. And the mandala screens are an exact fit for the second to largest circle cutter, and the HBM. Got alcohol markers? You can color the baked silkscreen pieces as well!
Stamps – 2207J has been my favorite stamp for probably 20 years. It has sister stamps too! Lindasartspot.com carries 2207J and it’s sister stamps. PLUS, she carries my exclusive design stamps as well.
Okay, are we up to the KC strippers? You have a small sheet of gelli-printed and silkscreened clay, you have a sheet of texture. How about some glitter? Check out the Elements and Glass Glitter under “Type”. Check out the Mixed sizes under “Size”! These can be added to another sheet and stripped into the collage.
Liquid Sculpeys are a mystery to most, including me! Of course, you can use silicone molds and LS. Remember if it’s a thick mold, preheat it for about 5 minutes before pouring the LS in (this helps the bubbles to rise). Also, if the mold is matte, the clay will be matte. If the mold is shiny, the clay will be shine! For the thinner molds, like the new Sculpey molds, pour the LS into the mold and use the scraper to spread the clay and scrap it off the top surfaces. You can use a pink eraser to gently rub off the baked clay that didn’t get scraped off after baking. (You can even use it on the molded clay before removing it to remove that pesky stuff). If you add a drop or two of Sculpey Clay Softener (used to be Diluent) you can both thin a thicker LS and you can 
create extremely flexible molded pieces. The amount you use is dependent on the amount of LS and how thick it is. Usually a drop or two or a quarter size blob. You can add alcohol inks, glitters and all kinds of stuff to LS. For glazing, add softener to make the Clear LS pretty thin and apply with your finger. Either put back into the oven to cure (20 minutes/275 degrees) or use a dual speed heat gun CAREFULLY. Watch the area around where you use the heat gun to make sure that it is heat proof. The clay will go matte, then semi matte, then a puff of steam and SHINY!
Transfers – boy I love these! You know the drill-laser print, hand-sanitizer. Color with pencils before or after (or both). Color with alcohol markers after. Don’t forget all my transfer artwork is available for you to download!
Raku – we did Raku right? The short version: Souffle Poppy Seed, Pearl Ex-Spring Green, True Blue, Flamingo Pink, Super Copper. Alternates are Red Russet for Pink and Gold.
My Black and Decker USB drill with the extruder and Cynthia Tinapples adaptor
Wow! Linda has the Abranet sanding discs too!
My favorite transfer tool (besides the hand sanitizer) is the silicone brush from Hobby Lobby fine art section.
Okay, there is lots of other info on my blog in the Super Secret Spot you can access by either clicking on Class Info (under the long pic at top on your computer) or Menu on a mobile device! I update the info frequently!
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I MISS YOU GUYS!!!
xoxo, syn
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