Vol-073 Happy Camper Cane PcT Tutorial (Intro)
Video #526: Featuring a fun polka dot technique (optional) using one of Cynthia Tinapple’s new extruder disk designs.
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** This post is an introduction to one of our paid tutorials.
Images of Vintage Trailer and Retro Campers are Hot, Hot, Hot! You will find them everywhere, in jewelry, fabrics, Scrapbooking papers and patterns, all kinds of creative places. It represents the nostalgic memories of the simpler days, having fun camping with friends and family.
They are just so darn cute too! So in the spirit of Summer and Roadtrips and camping… I thought it would be super fun to make a darling polymer clay cane in the shape of a vintage trailer for our next upcoming PcT Tutorial Series.
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I really enjoyed the happy camper lesson! Good to see such a complex cane done. LOVED how you made the polka dot cane with the new extruder disks! I had been wondering about a way to make a dot cane and this is way better than anything I'd come up with!
Julia G
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I am very excited about these new disks and how Cynthia Tinapple designed them to work with each other to produce some wonderful designs. Thank you so much for showing us all the possibilities with this new set.
Dixie Ann S
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Wow - Cindy, you did such a wonderful job showing how to cut sections apart. That is an important part of a good cane. TY for all your time and effort!!!
Patt W
Transcript coming soon...
Transcript coming soon...
Our goal is to translate these videos into as many languages as possible. If you are interested in helping with this initiative, then please do contact us and we will figure out a way to make it worth your while :)
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Hi Cindy,
I’m planning on using the techniques from the Happy Camper Cane to make a cane that resembles my new teardrop trailer. As “Veronica” is a plain darker blue with black doors and fenders, I opted for fancier wheels that have chrome v-shaped spokes. I’ve skimmed through the videos looking for means to make the tire/wheel cane, but am unsure exactly what to do. Should I make the chrome hub with the chrome spokes coming off, filling in the non-chrome sections with triangles of clay as I go, or do you have a different idea?
Thanks
It sounds like you are on the right path, Susan… or should I say Road? :) When you want to tweak an idea in another direction, sometimes you will have to play with the design a little before you get one that will work the way you picture it. I suggest that you make a couple of test wheels (smaller and way shorter than what you will need for your real cane) just to make sure that your concept and colors will work. That way you won’t be wasting an entire cane, if it is off a little. Your idea and approach sounds like a great one. I look forward to seeing samples of your finished ‘Veronica” cane!
Hi Cindy,
I am at a loss of words to let you know that I just love your tutorials and wish I could meet you in person some day… I am unable to articulate, but would want to tell you that your tutorials are just superb and lucid, and very easy to understand,even for a beginner like me. I wish you could come to Mumbai (India) and share your great work with art and craft lovers here. Amen !
Hi Cindy. Just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful video tutorials. I have been glued to my computer for the last few days after becoming a member and have been able to get so many wonderful tutorials. My only problem is that I can’t buy them all right now!!! It is very difficult to decide which ones to get now and which ones to wait on. At any rate, thank you again for being such a generous teacher and sharing your fabulous ideas with us. I am very grateful to have found your web site and have already learned so much from your videos. Thanks again. A very happy camper… LOL.
Hi there Cindy, I wanted to say how much I truly enjoy your video series, they’re wonderful, you explain everything so well and have such a beautiful speaking voice and your husband’s great filming ability, well, let’s just say that you two make a very successful team! I have been working with polymer clay for a very long time, I’ve taken a lot of classes and have a fully equipped studio, which I love, I know most methods, but like to brush up and love your tutorials! I am excited about the “Happy camper” video that is so cute! I look forward to a lovely, long exchange between us! It’s going to be just great! Be well.
Cindy you have a way of explaining things that have helped me understand. Thank you for that. I have searched the web over and you have been my most favorite to go to!
Cindy, this is a darling cane for a camper. It gives one a good idea as to how these types are
taken apart and put back together. An excellent beginning project for anyone who wants to
learn this process including me. I am going to love creating this. QUESTION: I am currently working on your faux batik tutorial and am at the stage where I want to wash off the ink and glue.
Did you use warm or cold water in doing this? I know you don’t like to use HOT. I had to actually let my tile sit overnight because the inks were not quite dry and it was bedtime. Does this make a difference letting it sit that long?
Thanks Dixie Ann! As far as the Batik tutorial, I would use cool water… warm only if you need to. Don’t know how well it will come off a day later or how much it will have soaked in, but I guess you’ll find out. Do let us know how it goes… you have me curious now.
What an adorable concept for a cane! We lived just down the road from a major campsite in the sixties, and enjoyed watching all manners and shapes of campers cruising down Route 1 to the site. They all made me smile then, and watching the instructions and variations kept a big grin on my face through the whole tute.
Predict that objects made from this cane will be a big seller this summer. It screams vintage. Cannot wait to try it.
Thank you Cindy and Doug for bringing such a happy memory back into my life!
Thank you Jocelyn! I am glad you enjoyed the tute! It is funny how a certain shape or image will bring a smile to your face. I too find this design to be adorable each time I see it.
Wow -Cindy, you did such a wonderful job showing how to cut sections apart. That is an important part of a good cane.
We camped with our 3 kids, and 3 of their friends. Yep, six kids. We did that for years. What fun. A pickup camper, with a small catamaran strapped to the top . We looked like we were invading the campsite. LOL. But we All had a great ole time. The grown kids still talk about out trips.!!
What a fun reminder this can will be!! TY for all your time and effort !!! Grin………..
Thanks Patt! That cutout technique will come in handy for future cane designs as well. It is important to understand how the polymer clay moves and behaves in order to have successful canes that will reduce without getting too distorted. Just because it looks good when it’s built, doesn’t mean it will still look good when reduced. I thought it was a good technique to share with you all.
I love your camping story as well! I bet you guys had a great time!
One of my fond (not so fond) camping memories is when my Dad would tie a fish head in a tree at the farthest edge of the campsite so the bees would hang out there instead of where we were cooking. There was a lot of “eew gross!” and “eeek bees!” squeals from all the kids in the campsite. I wasn’t convinced that it worked very well… the bees seem to be attracted from all over the campground to our site!!
So many memories of going camping as a little kid came rushing back with this tutorial – and for that I thank you guys <3 Totally happy moment happening right now! just ordered my very own polka dot die set from Cynthia Tinapple’s site.
Thanks Sherry! I know, it brought back memories for me too. It is probably why they have been such a popular image in so many areas lately. I have seen vintage trailer Scrapbooking dies, cards, beads, jewelry, charms, pin cushions, curtains, and more with this theme. Whether the memories of camping as a kid were good or bad, they are fond memories of a simpler time!
Wow! This is cute. It so reminds me of our trailer when I was young. We took it out camping only once! My mom thought it was too much work with four kids and not enough “fun” for her! So, my dad sold it :( Now, maybe a little campfire cane to go with it!! :)
LOL What a cute story Catalina! I love the campfire cane idea… something I should put on my list to figure out! :)
Oh so cute! I think I know what I am doing tomorrow! So cool!
Have fun with the tutorial Sandra!
Hi there I can’t see the video :( comes up with an error message. Anyone else having problems?
Hi Sandra – The Intro Video for this Vol-073 Tutorial Series is hosted on YouTube… and it appears that YouTube has been experiencing some technical difficulties today. I found references in Google saying that the issue is browser related… so firing up a different web browser to watch this particular video may work as a temporary fix on your end. I can tell you the problem is not happening for everyone… but it is definitely happening for some.
I found away around the YouTube issue. I went to the desktop version on my smart phone and it played.
Thanks for sharing that information Pengy. It tells us that the issue likely has something to do with YouTube’s “Mobile Version” of the video… in other words, the version of the video that they (try to) playback for you if you are on a smartphone or tablet.
I have submitted a ticket to the YouTube support desk, in hopes that they will be able to resolve this situation quickly. It is the first time this has ever happened with videos that we publish at YouTube.
For now, the workaround is to watch the Vol-073 Intro video on a laptop or desktop computer.
I wish I had more control over being able to work on a fix, but at this stage, all we can do is wait and see if, or how quickly YouTube will respond.
Cross your fingers.
>>> PS: The main parts of this paid tutorial series (Parts 2 through 6) are in fact working on all mobile devices… which is a relief. That is because we don’t use YouTube to publish those ones.
I believe I have the issue fixed … the Vol-073 video should now be playing again on all mobile devices. Could those of you who were having issues playing the clip on your phones or tablets, please let me know if its working now. Thanks.
Hi Cindy! I am so looking forward to tomorrow to see the rest of these tutorials!
This bracelet looks so pretty and fun to wear, how could you not feel like a “Happy Camper” ! I really enjoy your tutorials, Thanks so much, Liz?
This jewelry makes me smile and feel happy every time I wear it… so I’m keeping everything you see in the video for myself! Have fun with the tutorial tomorrow. I think you are going to love all the new stuff you learn about cane making. You can translate those new skills to your own cane designs in the future as well. Happy Camping!?