[Challenge] "Miniature Sweets for My Sweet"

"Sweets for My Sweet"
Philippine Polymer Clay Guild Miniature Food Challenge

The latest challenge of the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild was "Food for your Eyes" where they asked us to make miniature models of our favorite food.  I immediately knew that I wanted to make a dessert spread.  I made a croquermbouche drizzled with chocolate, Orange chiffon fondant cake and assorted cupcakes.

Whenever I make my crafts, I keep the computer one while I watch different TV series or movies. The latest series that I watched is MasterChef USA where in Episode 4 they were challenged to make Croquembouche which is a French dessert made of choux pastry, creamy filling and topped with threads of caramel.  I love profiteroles or cream puffs and this is the mother of it all.

The next is Orange Chiffon fondant cake and vanilla buttercream decorated with purple flowers.  Yum!

Finally, I made an assortment of cupcakes:  Purple yam, Vanilla and Caramel cupcakes.  Decadent!

So, who's ready to party?!

♥ michelle ♥ 

[Challenge] Phil. Polymer Clay Guild "Merry Month of May 2014: Polymer Clay Flowers"

The challenge of the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild for the month of May was ti create something new using polymer clay flowers.  I've been making a lot of floral themed pieces, mostly daisies or simple flowers with 5 petals and I didn't know what to do for this challenge.  Then one day, while I was cleaning my craft room, I found a tutorial about "Orchid Pin or Pendant" that I bought from Ms. Penni Jo Couch during the 2013 Lone Star retreat.  The tutorial was simple, well written and well illustrated. 

Polymer Clay "Rhoda Orchid" Napkin Ring

This is my "Rhoda Orchid."  I named it after my mom who loves and grows orchids back in the Philippines.  There are several varieties of orchids but the color combination that I used in making this one are probably non-existent.  It's more of like a fantasy orchid, if you could call it that.  

Polymer Clay "Rhoda Orchid" Napkin Ring

This project made use of Premo sculpey clay.  I also used Ranger alcohol inks in Sunshine Yellow and Butterscotch to add color to and specks on the white petal.  I like how it turned out - very rustic. I'm planning to make "real life" orchids in white like Cattleyas and green Cymbidium.  They will make pretty sets of napkin rings just like this one for weddings or intimate dainty parties.  Stay tuned for that.

Oh, did I mention that it is National Clay Week?  Yes it is!  

See you soon!

♥ michelle

[Challenge] A Whimsical Eggciting Birthday!

Today is an "Eggciting Day" for me and the blog because it's my birthday!   Wooohooo.  Thank you for all 

your love and kind greetings.  Early this morning, we were able to catch the first of the Four Blood Moons - NASA says that seeing four complete lunar eclipses in a row is very rare and we will have one every 6 months until October 2015.  We have never seen one so we stayed up late for it and it was amazing! We just stood in awe at how great and might God is - He who created the heavens and the earth.

This project is part of the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild's "Something Whimsical Challenge" and Martha Stewarts "marthasgoodeggs" intsagram post.  The first challenge for me was to figure how to remove the contents of the egg while keeping the shell intact.  So, I did some research and ewwww... it was totally gross!  Let me be graphic here:  make 2 holes on both ends of the egg, burst the egg and mix it up with a needle tool and finally blowing the contents out.  Now don't tell me I didn't warn you.  Anyway, after cleaning and drying the eggshell for 24 hours, I got to work on it.

Friends, meet "Mini-Me."  Oh, isn't she cute?  She's having a wonderful time strolling with her yellow birthday balloon, enjoying the sight of bluebonnets and other wildflowers.

This is made from 100% Premo sculpey polymer clay using the applique technique which is a very tedious and meticulous process that takes a lot of patience, gentle hands and the ability to hold your breath for a long time.  The latter helps to concentrate in order to be precise in putting the components in place.  Whew!

May your days be blessed!

♥ michelle

[Challenge] P3 February 2014 Challenge: "Pen and Paper Go Together"

I like pop-up notepads especially the bold and bright ones so when the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild announced  their Challenge for February 2014:  "Sweet Pairings," I got excited.  I made a pop-up notepad holder and also covered a pen with polymer clay using the wood grain technique.   I have seen this technique several times in books and as demonstrated by one of the Houston polymer clay guild members, Bob.  I tried to make 2 different kinds of woodgrain:  one using gold mica pc and the other was gold mixed with pearl and translucent.  The stitching around the box and the blue flowers completed the piece.

Polymer Clay Wood Grain
Pen and Pop-up Notepad Holder

I have seen this technique several times in books and as demonstrated by one of the Houston polymer clay guild members, Bob.  I tried to make 2 different kinds of woodgrain:  one using premo sculpey gold mica pc and the other was gold mixed with pearl and translucent.  The stitching around the box and the blue flowers completed the piece.

Head over to the Philippine Polymer Clay's Facebook to check out the other projects and LIKE us while you're there.  

Have a blessed day!
♥  michelle

[Challenge] P3 September 2013 Challenge: "Under the Sea"

I am a member of the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild where we have Challenges every now and then.  Last September 2013, our challenge was:  "UNDER THE SEA."  The challenge was to create a project inspired by the sea and participants were given a choice on using 100% polymer clay or mixed media.

Philippine Polymer Clay Guild

 This was what I made:

"Pearly Shells"

This pearly shell from the ocean focal piece measures 3 inches.  I made use of the silk-screened background of sea shells that I did during the Lone Star Retreat(c/o Ms. Karen Wood).  I added sculptured corals, Mr. Crabby, barnacles, bubbles and a treasure chest filled with gold and pearls. What lies under the sea is a mystery and to echo Ariel, it's a whole new world.  

This focal piece was made from 100% Premo Sculpey clay.

See you soon!

♥  michelle  ♥

[Challenge] Polymer Inchies

Hello friends!  A couple of months ago, I shared with you the INCHIES that I made for a swap hosted by Ms. Tonja Lenderman.  We were asked to make 12 inchies per group and since I joined 2 groups, I made 24 inchies.

This first set of polymer clay inchies shows my love for floral themes.  The base is Premo sculpey in Ecru that was measured, cut, baked and cooled and layered with a mixture of green Premo sculpey that I textured.  The floral cane was made from Premo sculpey in white, yellow, and translucent that I sliced thinly to form the petals.  I added an orange shaded clay in the center.  Finally, each piece was sanded and buffed.

Premo Scupley Component Flower Cane

I had fun making these next set of inchies.  I used extruded canes using Premo sculpey purple, white, turquoise and black and layered them over previously baked base.  The final piece was baked, sanded and buffed to a glossy sheen.    

Extruded canes

The inchies that I got from the swap were awesome!  I love the variety of designs.  Thank you, ladies!

There is another Inchie swap coming soon hosted by Ms. Julie Thorpe and I joined 2 groups again.  I have finished 1 set and the other  will be done by the end of this week.

See you next time!

♥  michelle  ♥

[Video Tutorial] Polymer Clay Mold Release Agents: Water or Cornstarch?

Welcome back!

I bought this Poinsettia and Holly Flexible Mold from Penni Jo Couch of Best Flexible Molds.  The most common mold release agents are water and cornstarch powder though others use Armor all.  

I tried not using them but more often than not, the details of the mold were lost when I release them.

In this tutorial, I used cornstarch powder and water as mold release agents.  Both worked pretty well - just remember not to apply too much.

Do you use mold release agents?
Please feel free to write your comments below or email me at cabbycraft@gmail.com

Have a blessed day!

♥  michelle  ♥

[Ornaments] Christmas in September: Premo Sculpey

Hello friends!

It's the last day of September and Polyform Products presents "September Make It Your Own Christmas Ornaments."

These ornaments were inspired by Ms. Barb Fajardo's Buttons that I learned during the recent Lone Star Retreat.  I used Premo Sculpey as the base and added texture and color to it.

I placed a round bail, added wire in the shape of a 1/2 Christmas tree and if you put them side by side, it forms the shape of a tree... cool?

It is Christmas in our home this early as my loved ones are visiting us for a few weeks.  

As of this writing, we are waiting whether there will be a government shutdown.  I hope it gets postponed even just for a few weeks to allow my folks to visit the museums and NASA.  It would be best if they keep them open for everyone to enjoy the past and the future.  I'm just saying....

Have a wonderful week ya'll!

♥  michelle  ♥

[Gift] "Bottlecapped Words"

Welcome back, friends!

I love incorporating swirls in my designs so here's some more of them.

These keychains were made for my friend SEC who is going to bring 4 teenage high school ladies out of town to expose them to College life.  SEC wants them to know that they have a bright

future and what better verse to assure them but this:

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

See you soon!

♥  Michelle  ♥

[Bead Soup] What's Cooking?

Hello friends!

It's time for another Bead Soup Blog Party over at Ms. Lori Anderson's BLOG.  There were over 400 participants and I'm thrilled to be part of the third reveal on August 25.  

This is my second BSBP and I have a new partner / friend. She is Sonya Stille of Dreamin' of Beads / SAS Jewelry.  Sonya makes beautiful beaded necklaces such as this piece with a focal made from

 polymer clay.  I love how she made the intricate beaded design using peyote stitch.  

How I wish I had the patience required in making such beautiful pieces of art in jewelry.  

Head over to Sonya's BLOG to see more of her designs.

Here's Sonya's Bead Soup ingredients ready to be mailed.  

Gave her one of my paper quilled flowers and a polymer clay heart.

The party required us to give a focal piece and a clasp.  I made the focal using polymer clay using a combination of stamping and mica techniques.  Her soup also included coordinating beads

 (stones, crystals and glass beads) and metal findings.

I am eager to see what she will cook with these.

See you soon!

♥  Michelle  ♥

[Mini craft room] Catching up...

Oh my, it's July!

I spent this weekend organizing my stuff and arranging my new, temporary craft corner.  It's been crazy moving from another State but it's all good.  I still have a lot of bins filled with beads and findings somewhere down there but for now, I'm happy to have everything most of the things that I need at hand. 

I love that there's a lot of natural light.

Next on my list of things to do was to do an inventory of my materials and tools. 

Guess ho many polymer clays are in this photo - a lot!   

I love the different colors even if I tend to use more black and white than anything else.

Lastly, I found this Amaco Tri Bead roller that I bought back in July 2011 but decided to try it out.

It was weird that the pieces didn't fit and slide as smooth as I thought it would.  I followed the directions to the letter and even watched several  videos on how to use it but it was just too tight to roll against each other.  

I'm wondering if this is just a factory defect or if I have to just slide or sand it down to make it fit and slide easily.... calling Amaco.. HELP!

I have a lot of projects lined up.

For now, I am just glad that I was able to blog again.

Have a wonderful week, friends!

♥  Michelle  ♥