Day 28: Writing Challenge:: AWESOMENESS Easy Peasy Free Tutorial:: How make a puzzle piece out of polymer clay...

I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but here's a easy way to make a simple puzzle piece.  There are a lot of variations to this piece.  When you have mastered it, which will take about 1 try, you can add cane, change colors,  add different colors.  I'm keep this simple just so that you can see how easy it is and jump right in.  A beginner can make this puzzle piece.  I am assuming that you know how to condition clay and cut it with a blade and cookie cutter.  Easy peasy.



What you will need::
Small Amount of polymer clay
blade
small cookie cutter

Begin by conditioning the clay, then on the third thickest setting of your pasta machine, roll out the clay and fold in half.  Cut a square or rectangle out of the clay the size you would like the puzzle piece to be.

Using a very small round cookie cutter,

on the edge of your square, cut a partial circle from the clay.

Take the half circle out of the clay, and place it on another side of the puzzle.  It doesn't matter where you put it, that's the design you create with your puzzle piece. 

You can do this again in your design. 

Gently roll with an acrylic roller to seal the half circles to the main part of the puzzle piece.  Make sure that both pieces are the same width as the puzzle piece.

Poke a hole in your puzzle piece.
Bake according to manufacturer's directions.

Easy peasy.

You. Are. Finished!

Enjoy and experiment.

Easy Peasy Wire Earring Tutorial - Doodles in a Half An Hour or Less

These earrings are quick and easy to make.

You can add a little bead on the end to dangle. 

I will later, but for now,

I didn't.

So here's what you need.

A mandrel - I used an American sized 13 knitting needle

2 feet of 20g craft wire

a pair of ear wires

a ruler

a pair of wire cutters

a pair of round nose pliers

Take each 12 inch length of wire and wrap around your mandrel in a tight spiral.

Remove the wire from the mandrel and flatten.

Slowly and gently pull the flattened wires apart until they are the same length.

Make a loop on each end of the wire.

Attach one loop of each wire to an ear wire.

(Optional: add a wire wrapped bead to the other end of the looped wire.)

There you have it!

Doodles!

Learning to make cane is difficult enough but when you aren't happy with the results...Easy Peasy Cane from Cane Tutorial

I've made enough cane right now with polymer clay that I can truthfully say, some of it is really bad!

So, here's what I do to make new cane from old cane. 

It's easy, and I often like the results far better than the original cane.

I pull out canes at random that I did not like or did not turn out well.

I cut this cane into segments to make it easier to work with in the new cane.

I begin to build my cane by using the segments pressed against each other.  This cane will be round.

Cane is almost ready.

I added a layer of black and reduced the new cane made from old cane.

Ta-da!

And I like this much better!

Easy Peasy!

Now, show me what you do with your old canes.

Easy Peasy Last Minute Gift or Treat for Yourself, Spiral Christmas Tree Earrings tutorial

Step 1

 Cut 4 inches of wire.

Make a loop at one end of the wire using your round nose pliers. 

Step 2

Using your nylon pliers,

begin to make a flat spiral with the remaining wire.

Step 3

Your wire should look like this.

Optional step at this point, 

add another loop at the end.

If you would like to add seed beads or crystals at the end, do not make a loop here.

Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 so that you have two identical spirals.

Step 4

Using a pointed tool like a knitting needle or pencil,

push the center of the spiral so that the spirals separate and become tree like .

Repeat with the other spiral.

At this point, if you did not add a loop at the end, add seed beads or crystals.

If you forgot like I did, unbend the loop, and then add your beads!

You can also add dangles from the little loop at the end.

Add ear wires.

Ta-da!

You have some Xmas tree earrings.

Isn't that fun?

Merry Christmas!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Thank you all for this past year!!! Here's a free, easy peasy fiber bead tutorial to say: THANK YOU!

Fiber beads are quick and easy to make.

They make great beads for earrings because they are very lightweight.

Not, only that, you can make them look plain and simple or very elegant.

Here's how.

Here's what you need.

Supplies

4" craft wire cut into two 2 inch pieces
round nose or rosary pliers
nylon jaw pliers
wire cutters
ruler
scissors
2 yards yarn cut into one yard segments
clear tacky glue

Directions

1) Using your nylon jaw pliers, straighten your wire before cutting it.

2)  Cut your wire into 2 pieces of wire 2" long.

3) Make two eye pins with your wire.

4) Cut the fiber into two lengths of 1 yard each.  If you use fabric, you would probably use less in terms of yardage.

5) Add a small drop of glue to your wire.

6) Make a small tail on your wire and wrap the fiber over and around the tail covering the glue.

7)  Going up and down the wire, wrap your fiber on the wire.

8)  Add a small drop of glue to the tail of the fiber to hold it in place.

9) Let the glue dry.

10)  Add ear wires for earrings or make more beads for a necklace or bracelet.

Easy Peasy!!!

Easy, Peasy Way to Make Earring Cards Tutorial

The show is getting closer and closer.

Now, I need earring cards.

Here's what I did.

I used an old piece of wood, some mailing tags, paper clips, and my dremel with a drill bit.  I think it was the 3/32" size of bit.

I put the paper clips in the places where I would want the holes for the earring cards.

 I used the paper clips as a guide for placing the holes.

I was just using my eyes.

You can measure exactly where you want the holes.

I clipped 5 cards together with the paper clips.

Then, using the wood as my base, I drilled holes in the cards.

See what I mean?

Easy peasy!!!

Can you stand it? How about another tutorial that's easier than easy peasy! Fingerless Gloves and you only need 2 things....

You need a pair of clean, long socks,

and 

a pair of scissors.

This pair took me about 5 minutes.

I bought socks at the dollar store.  

You can use a clean pair of old socks, too.

Lay the socks on top of each other.

Using you scissors, cut off the toes.

Cut off the heels.

Now, I didn't proceed beyond this point, but you can.

Fold the edges over and stitch a small hem on your socks where you made your cuts.

Mine work just fine without the stitching.

These gloves keep my hands and arms warm.

The socks go above my elbows.

I was finished in five minutes.

These gloves are beyond easy peasy!!!

Easy Peasy Pink Polymer Clay Heart

Remember, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. 

Wear Pink!

Remind those you love to get a MAMOGRAM!

Schedule and keep your appointment for a
MAMOGRAM!

Get your boobies checked.

Make this heart to honor those who have gone before us!

Sparkly Pink Polymer Clay Heart

Easy Peasy

Condition a small chunk of pink polymer clay.

Add some glitter to the clay and mix in.  If you are happy with the amount of glitter in the clay, you can stop there.  Other wise, add more glitter.

Shape the clay into a heart.  Add a small bit of wire between the lobes of the heart.

Roll a small amount of white clay into a rope and shape into a ribbon.

Attach the white rope to the front of the pink clay.  You can use liquid clay to keep the clay attached or, simply, press the white rope firmly into the pink clay.

Bake the clay according to manufacturer's directions.  Attach a ribbon or chain and wear your heart proudly, and, remember, get your boobies checked!

Easy Peasy Pink Face Scrubber Tutorial, Breast Cancer Awareness, October, and Pixie's Birthday!

Let's start from the end of the list and move forward.

Happy Birthday, my beautiful girl!  You don't know it, but you're 9 years old today, and that makes you an old dog.  Wait!  You don't even know you're a dog!  I love you, too!!!  You will get a cupcake today.  I know you love them, and I love you!!  Happy birthday, Miss Pixie Marie!

October:  Today is the first day of October.  Oh, my!

Breast Cancer Awareness:  October is breast cancer awareness month.  Ladies, check your boobies!  If you need a mammogram, get that mammogram.  Take care of your body and your body will take care of you!

Pink!  I resolve that during the month of October I will either wear or use something PINK to remind me and others that we need to get our boobies checked.  So, here's something PINK for you to make.

Easy Peasy Pink Face Scrubber
 Level of difficulty:  easy, beginner, easy peasy

I used sugar and cream 100% cotton yarn.

Use any brand you like, but you do need 100% cotton yarn.

I also used a size G/6 crochet hook.

Begin with a

chain 12
Row 1:  Skip 2 chains, 1 dc in each  chain  (10 dcs)

Row 2 - 11  - Ch. 3, 1 dc in each dc (10 dc)
(Your piece should be, approximately, 3" x 6")

Fold piece together and single crochet two sides together.
Leave one side open.

Weave loose ends into the scrubber.  Tie off.

Leave one side open and slip a small bar of soap inn the pocket.

Now,

use your new pink face scrubber 

and 

get your boobies checked!

Easy Peasy Polymer Clay Worry Stone Tutorial

Are you a worrier?

Do you know someone who is?

Would you like to use up your scrap clay?

This easy peasy tutorial will show you how to do this.

You will need two contrasting lumps of scrap polymer clay.

Make sure that you condition the clay.

Mix the two colors together with your hands.

You want to leave a contrast between the two colors.

I finished mixing when I could still the colors.

I also felt I had enough to make two worry stones out of this mix so I broke the lump of clay into two pieces.

Roll into two balls then flatten with the palm of your hand.

Each flattened piece should be about 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick.

I used sandpaper to try to give more texture to this piece.

I have to admit that doing this did not actually add more texture to the worry stone.

Add a thumb print to the center.

Bake the worry stone for about 30-45 minutes according to manufacturer's directions.

Let cool!

You have a worry stone!