Welcome to The Polymer Clay Channel. I am a mixed media artist, specialising in polymer clay. On this channel I have fun with clay, learn, teach and describe my experiences for others to learn from. I have been working with clay for 30 years and developed my own styles, likes, dislikes during that time. The initial idea of my channel was to challenge myself to take on new projects that I wouldn't normally and then to show case my experiences. I learn while I film, many of the projects I film I haven't done before so I give a truly honest review of what I've made and what I found difficult or easy.
I like to find inspiration from other polymer clay artists, Pinterest and the internet- I then put my own spin on something to show in a step by step tutorial how I made it. When I'm filming, I have a general idea of what I want to create, but I don't plan it out, I just make it, film it, glitter it & hope for the best!
I thank all my subscribers, it truly means alot :)
So cool! This is the first time I’m watching your channel and I was wondering about the design of hearing to the bowl when you have used baby oil to smooth it beforehand - I take it. There’s no problem there? Thanks.
Hey! And welcome! Do you mean the clay sticking to the glass bowl? If so, it doesn't stick if you part bake it, loosen it off the bowl, and then continue to make it :) You so have to do it gently so it doesn't break. I hope that helps 😁
Hi Gail, wow another beautiful tutorial! I was wondering, if maybe you should have glued the mirrors in after rather than not curing the clay at the proper temperature? I’m not an expert, but I do believe that curing at a lower temperature for a longer period would not cure it properly? nonetheless, being a larger item (and not a jewellery piece) maybe the risk of breakage would be lowered? ❤❤ I love your colour choices and techniques and I do think it turned out really pretty. Hope you and the peaches are well. Take care. Love your work!
Hey Ellie, thank you so much. You're right, I could have used superglue, but I'm not a fan with polymer clay, sometimes it doesn't stick properly and I've found that liquid clay works better as it sticks to the clay firmly, but for safety of mirrors cracking, you might be right! 🤣 I have never had any clay under baked - but I've had it burn on to high a temp, sometimes I put it back in if not baked properly after the first go, I know alot of people bake at alot hotter temps though. May be it's my oven that's super hot? The peaches are good thanks haha. I might call them that in the future 🤣 thanks for your comment & watching as always ❤️
Absolutely stunning Gail. You've taught me to take it slowly and if it doesn't come out how you had it in your mind, try again. Thank you. I hope one day i will be able to 'copy' you🤗
Thank-you- and you're so nice! yes, things never turn out they way you want them, but you'll develop your own style. If you'd have seen some of my inspiration photos, you'd wonder how I got to what I made, if I don't like it, I start again. That's why I love polymer clay ❤️ just drop me a comment if you ever want some help 😁
Absolutely stunning!! Its good to hear you enjoyed and learned. Thank you for sharing and taking time to film. I have only just found your channel and still learning about pc and what can be accomplished. Its always good to see creators from UK.🤗
Thank you, Mrs Miggins! Polymer clay is so versatile, so much that can be done with it. In fact, I'm working on some unusual projects with it and will soon be uploading a new video! Yes, I am from the UK 😁 Thankfully, the weather is cooling down now. My studio was getting so hot to film in! We aren't built for 30 degree heat here 🤣
❤❤❤ hi Gail - I like all of these. I love that you are so fierce and just go for it. I wasn’t sure what you were doing at first, but it all made sense as you were going along. Each one has its own quirkiness. Although I don’t think I’ll ever make bookmarks, maybe one day I will I do like techniques used. Thanks for this tutorial. Hope you and your pooches are doing fabulous.
Hi Ellie, I think I just love throwing things together & see if it works 🤣 the cut out technique was my favourite as it worked so well with translucent clay, I was thinking may be I can do a stained glass effect on something using this technique? One for my list for sure. We are doing great thank you, I hope you are also! 😊
@@GailJonesPolymerClay I did some butterflies using the cut out method and I inserted translucent clay that I coloured with inks and they turned out pretty great. I also bought a glass lantern at a thrift store and used translucent clay to cover the glass. I actually baked it right on the glass and it turned out really well..
@ellievanessen7574 oooh. I do love a visit to a thrift store, you can find so many great things! I plan on doing this when we move house and flipping furniture. There is so much more love in older things and how they were made. I'd like to actually make a lantern completely out of polymer clay... I wonder how that would go? Something to think about 😊💡
Thank you for your amazing tutorial! I'm definitely going to try to make those myself. I made a couple bookmarks from your previous tutorial and I absolutely love them! There is never enough bookmarks 😂
Thank you for watching! It was great fun & I'm glad you liked it! Bookmarks are so easy & a great way to spash about with other mediums with it like alcohol inks, the patterns are always so unusual 😁
The one with the strips looks like the photos/paintings that have just the Birch tree trunks, I really like that one a lot, as I love birch trees and colorful things. Your favorite one is awesome!! A true artisan masterpiece! Though you feel you overdid the ink, it worked! What brand of translucent did you use? It is so white, so, not yellow or dull. Your spontaneous organic techniques are winners and would showcase in a shop window in a beach town near me called Cambria. Great work all the way around!! I just introduced a person to the world of polymer clay and they fell in love hard! I'll send her your channel and I know she'll add to your growing number of subscribers!
Yes, I came up with the birch tree looking one on the fly, I film every experiment, so it's authentic & I learn something too. The brand I used this time was FIMO, but I normally use cernit. Both have pros and cons. Thr fimo brand is very, very hard. Lots of conditioning, but once it's done it really holds its shape, just a little bit more hard work. The cernit is very soft, doesn't work so well with flat projects as it doesn't roll evenly, but good for covering jars as I can roll the jar once it's on to smooth it out. Cernit is great for beads & mixing it with alcohol inks /glitter, but doesn't do well with mica. Don't know why it just looks funny. I must remember to go easy with alcohol inks - a little goes a long way and if I use too much the colour goes muddy. Thats why in the tutorial I managed to wipe some off after baking. It's not fixed until it's sealed with some sort of varnish. I had alot of fun, I also film for hours, but end result I'm happy with. Thank you for watching Allison! 😁
Yes the ink would rub off, so I sealed the first one with gloss, but the others they don't once they are baked. I think it depends on how long you let it sit for before you bake it. I left mine for few hours, which meant I didn't have to gloss all of them. They would be a great gift, I agree! Thanks for watching Nini 😁
Love them! What did you seal the ones with ink with and what is the gloss on the flower one? I can’t decide which is may favorite! How long have you been working with polymer clay?
Thank you June! I sealed them with DecoArt DuraClear gloss varnish. It's good for a sealant, but not much of a glossy finish. I've been working with polymer clay since I was about 14, so 32 years now! I started with small food items and glow in the dark ghost earrings 🤣 it because my most favourite art medium & I've never let it go! Hope you are well ❤️
Hi Gail- I have to say this one definitely looks like a monster ! But it looks like it has a lot of functional abilities. ❤ hope you’re well. And taking care.! Currently I am working a lot with translucent clays as they fascinate me. Have you ever done any projects with translucent clay?
Hi Ellie, yes this one does, but I wanted to add the tissue blade pot & I think I've got it right now. Love making these, I always use them, but I can't make many more as I'll have no where to put them haha. I am well Thank-you! I hope you are also. I love making anything with translucent, have you used it with alcohol inks? I did a tutorial with that an plastic wrap. My favourite technique! Take care! 😊😊
I have an absolute obsession with candles, you're right! I buy alot of them but they have a multi function! Sometimes I just clean them out & use them to drink out of! I also use coffee jars. I do like to recycle 😆
Love it! You make everything look so dang easy. If I were to have that many pieces of unbaked clay, trying not to mangle anything as I went, it would be a disaster! Great job as always! Thank you!
Y’all must have about 10 of those running around the house. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 your children to fun. Love it, I think the work you were looking for was cabochon or in the rest of the art world we call it a cab. lol pronounced "cab a Shawn". Hope that helps ya. Fun stuff, love it. Tfs hugs from across the pond. 😊❤
That's the word! I have no idea why I can never say it! I have alot, I can't make any more as I'm running out of room in my studio 😆 thanks for watching Karen! 😊
Hi Gail- I love toucans too! I think his feet turned out really well. They look real and not too big love the colours you picked and adding a bit of the glitter and mica always adds a special glow. So sweet!
Thanks Ellie! I'm highly critical of this one 😆 the experience was good though. I've scheduled this week's video already, so I'll be interested on your thoughts on that one. You'll know why when you see it 😉 I'm working on something really functional and different for the following one- take care, hope you are well!
Thank you so much for the compliment! That's ok Mary, ask as many questions as you like! It's liquid polymer clay. I use the brand sculpey or fimo, alot of artists use it like a glue, but there is so much more you can do with it, I recommend it!
Wow, what a gorgeous steampunk horse. I know you sped it up to save time, but I found it a bit frenetic. I would have really loved it a bit slower, with a voiceover by you (instead of music). In spite of this, your talent is so apparent. Gorgeous art.
Thank you so much for the compliment, and what a lovely way to offer feedback. So kind. My videos often take a week to do, so it is difficult to have all of the details in there without the speed, but I understand. I am considering voiceovers, but they do take so much longer to edit, unfortunately. There is a feature on YT that you can slow it down on the bottom right ( I believe) of the video. Thank you for watching!
Beautiful work, fun stuff, if y’all want to watch one in action watch Florida wildest, and gator Chris same ppl but 2 different channels they pretty much do the same things on each channel minus Chris he has the gators also, fun critters, but toucans can be mean little suckers, they pick their human and the others need to beware of them lol definitely not A good pet. lol he is definitely a cute rendition of a very sparkly one. And yes their talons are a bear to do. Tfs hugs from across the pond. ❤😊
Thank you, Karen! It's funny isn't it, the prettier the animal, the often you find they are mean 😆I would still love to see one in real life. Up close 🥰 I'll keep anl9ok out! Thanks for watching!
Thank you Maggie! I wasn't sure, but the feet grew on me and then I was ok about it, I always try to put in as much effort as possible for videos, so I keep going! 😁
Wow I dont think I have ever been first to put in a comment before. But here is my opinion anyway. I think you did a great job. His feet are great. He is proportional. That seems to be half the battle. And bird feet are usually not very pretty. He turned out great. Love the branch too. I think the use of all the different mediums helped also. Some things are just boring when people try to do them with just one medium. Your guy is anything but boring. Be proud. Hes awesome!!
Thankyou so much Sandra! I'm a big critic of my own work and often when I'm making things i think "oh really is this the best you can do?!" But I just keep going & that's why I make what ever I can, keeps the hobby and the dream alive! You know, I really like having different things go with polymer clay, it's so versatile & I don't think people realise - thank you for watching! 🥰
Absolutely love how this turned out, the hummingbird is my favourite ❤ Also love the idea of fairy lights! Or some little bells so it makes a noise in a breeze. It's really beautiful ❤
Absolutely fantastic!!! I am getting my polymer clay, tools and paints out right the minute! I just came across your channel, Gail, and I subscribed immediately. I look forward to see what other gems you have made and will make.
Hi, I'm watching this at 12:00 noon in california. I love this! The shapes and textures are great. If you do put fairy lights will you do an update picture please😁😁
Hi Allison! All the way to California! I am honored! Thank you for watching! Yes when I update it I'll do a video, there is so much more you could do with this, I will be making backings as well I think 🥰
I really like this idea. It's kind of bohemian. I would probably add some feathers along with the fairy lights and/or crystals. Thanks for the inspiration 🤩
so lovely, like the hummingbirds, Berlin germany , ist now 15:20, UK time should be 14:20, and it says over 13 hours ago, oh my, I need bloopers fot my writing 😂😂😂
Haha, there will always be bloopers! I think this was a great first attempt for mt trying this one. It was fun too! I've never been to Berlin, but I bet it's beautiful 😍 as always, thanks for watching Nini 😁
Hi Gail, this video popped up in my feed at about 9 PM Vancouver time. I have to say this is one of my favourite things that you have made. I love the colours and the quirkiness of the wall hanging so fantastic. I wonder if you could string it a different way maybe add some knots or whatever? anyways that was just my thought on that I absolutely loved the napkins you chose and the colours as I said earlier, it is so rustic yet very pretty I love it ! ❤❤❤ at first I wasn’t sure what you’re doing as I have seen a napkin technique where they put the napkins onto the clay colour down and bake it and once baked they soaked the paper off, and the colour stayed on the clay, but your way worked great.
Hi Ellie! I always wonder what time and where people watch from, but it seems odd to ask in a comment, I remember you said Vancouver - it must be a beautiful place, I am about 2 hours from London, small town, lots of trees 😆 yeah, I thought about knots way too late, when they were all spinning around 😆 I also realised too late that to transfer the picture fully on to the clay was to out in upside down, but as I glossed it, it came out OK. I'll remember this for next time 😅
