Vol-027-1 Blend and Switch Technique PcT Tutorial (Intro)
Video #166: “I’d love to see how you achieved that effect …bet you have your own special trick!” ~Sue-F
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** This post is an introduction to one of our paid tutorials.
Sometimes the coolest polymer clay techniques, happen by accident. That was the case when it came to this original idea I am calling the Blend & Switch Technique. Once you see the tutorial video of this remarkably simple approach to creating complex, mosaic-like patterns, you’ll see exactly how the name came about.
This sparkling mosaic-like technique incorporates one of my favorite color blends… the Metallic Rainbow Teardrop Blend. Which, believe it or not, only uses four colors of Premo Sculpey Clay.
“Never mind the rocker bead, Cindy… the pendant from the colourful set that you haven’t made up yet, steals the show! Well, the preview, anyway ;). I’d love to see how you achieved that effect. I can think of two ways of doing it, one cane-based and one not, but I bet you have your own special trick!” ~Sue-F
“I second Sue F about the pendant and would love to learn how you created this effect at some time in the near future.” ~Susan-B
“I agree with Sue – I am absolutely drooling over the rainbow pendant set you made – those colors – yum!” ~Maria-C
“Let’s convince Cindy that we need that tutorial for that pendant soon!!” ~Koolbraider
“I love the pendant and the gorgeous multi-colored technique you used. I would certainly love a tutorial on that!” ~Phaedrakat
“PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE show us how you did that rainbow pendant!!!!!” ~Carrie-W
“Cindy -Hold it right there! That colorful pendent in the rocker bead video is a show stopper!!!! WE WANT A TUTE -right gang? These are really outstanding. I love the colors and they are so smooth and satin-y looking. I had to stop the video and just look at them. Please, consider doing a tute.” ~Patt-W
“I’m really hoping for a lesson on the gorgeous mosaic-type pendant as well.” ~DJ
“Oh, Cindy… that patterned necklace is stunning. Would you consider putting it on the list for a future tut?” ~Jocelyn-C
tanya l
This IS a beautiful technique Cindy came up with, and she was so generous to share it with us all! Love everyone's pictures of the technique where they've added their own touches, and come up with some amazing pieces. Brenda, I see your fabulous cross is included. Congratulations to everyone who's pics are posted!
jeanne c
OMG was I ever surprised to see my Blend and Switch work featured here. It's only because you and Doug make it so fun and easy for us. Thank you for helping me spread my wings. I'd also like to thank the others... when I see your beautiful pictures it encourages me to try harder. Thanks everyone!
anne o
Wow! This is both simple and brilliant, I can't wait to have a go with this technique! Thank you for all your encouraging words of wisdom! I have ordered some UV dome resin and oven, but it will take a while to get here, so I'll have to be patient till I can try it. Thanks again!
Transcript coming soon...
Transcript coming soon...
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Great job helping each other out here guys! Perfect answer Catalina, thank you for that!
Thanks, Chris for asking about that and thanks, Catalina for answering. I’ve been wanting to try this and you both may have saved me some disappointment :-)
Hi, Chris, I just re-visited this technique today. I placed my pieces on a piece of plain paper and placed another piece on top. I lightly rolled over the pieces with a roller and placed on a tile with another tile on top. They came out really flat. Try it and see if that works for you. Just love this technique. It is so simple yet looks very complicated.
Thanks Catalina! I redid the technique again using your suggestion & they came out perfect!
Hi Cindy,
I just finished trying out the Blend & Switch technique it is awesome!! My pieces came out really neat but I need to practice and play more to get the pattern better, it’s not as easy as you make it look but then you’re the expert!!!
I have a quick question when it comes to baking. I placed mine on a tile lined with parchment paper & then tented them & baked for 1 hour. My pieces came out slightly rippled and so I was wondering if I should have put another tile on top of them rather than tenting the pieces.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Awesome technique Cindy!!! Can’t wait to try it. I wonder if using black liquid clay to “grout” the lines created by the cutters might work in place of the pasta machine. I quite like the crisp geometric lines left by the cutters. Hmmm?
Sounds intriguing Wendy! Go for it! Do come back and let us know how it turns out. Good luck!
I love this ‘switch’ mosaic technique. I haven’t mastered the teardrop/skinner thing, yet… practice, practice, practice……….. I do have one question. When you are going to cut your baked canes while they are hot, and then drill, do you use the little tools you made yourself or do you have a little power drill?
@kelly beavers: Ahahaha. Nope. We use the big boy stuff and love it!
@kelly beavers: I like to use the little tools I’ve made myself or just a simple drill bit in a pin vise, for drilling my beads after baking. It is much safer than using a big power drill, especially on such tiny beads. You can use a Dremel tool or a drill press for such things, but you do need to have some way of holding the bead, so that you don’t drill through your fingers by accident.
Someone on facebook had asked about the cutters too. Polyform’s reply was “The mini cutters are awesome, arent they? The sets include – Basic Shapes, Nature, Sweet Treats, Holiday and in a little larger size Geometric Crinkle Cutters. We’ll have information about them on our website within the next couple of weeks.” That was posted on Monday, the 16th.
@fran: Thanks, Fran! Sounds like my JoAnn carries the entire line (except for “Holiday”…at least I didn’t see it.) The mini-cutters really ARE awesome, I have to admit! ;-)
Has anyone seen the new Premo mini cutter sets? I’m not sure how many there are, but I was 2 additional types at JoAnn the other day…I bought the “Nature” set, which has tiny little butterflies, dragonflies, caterpillar, flowers, leaves, the sun, seashell, starfish, bird…etc. The other one I saw had food items (and they had “new” larger Premo cutters, too.)
Some of the cutters in my new set ARE symmetrical, so they’d work for this cool Blend & Switch technique of Cindy’s. Can’t wait to see how they work out, as I think they’ll add even more curves/interest (for lack of a better word) to the sheet. They’re fun cutters on their own, too…just so tiny & cute! ~Kat
Visiting, first trip there since Katrina. Used to live further away, now I’m right next door. Looking forward to it.
Cool, I’m off to Naw’leans for the 4 day weekend (here, US), when I get back I’ll figure out what to do with the rest of it. The info here is so cool, Cindy, I did the B&S, made some fopals (12, some white, some black), and made some generic beads with my roller. I’ve been collecting this stuff for nearly a year, but your Friday courses have really inspired me to do something with it. Thanks!
@Barb: are you from Naw’leans or visiting? My husbands family is from La, we visit a couple of times a year.
@Barb: Isn’t that true? (About Cindy’s courses inspiring us to break out our clay…) I had my stuff packed away for a few years! But Cindy’s tute’s made me grab that clay and put it to good use! Polymer clay lasts a long time, which you’ll find as you “play” more and more. I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourself…have a fun trip to Nawlin’s! ~Kat
I made a blend and switch swatch today, it’s my second project really. I’ve baked off enough to make a necklace, earrings and bracelet if everything goes as planned. I’ll have to wait until my sanding pads get here, this weekend, to know. Meanwhile I have about half of my B&S left, I wrapped it in Saran Wrap and then in a freezer bag, how long will it last before I need to use it up?
@Barb: It will last a long time, though you may need to give it a light roll with your acrylic roller to warm it back up again or it may crack. Same thing goes for other techniques such as the Art Sheets.
I just did my first blend and switch pendants. It was so fun! I had to wait because I had to order the blue pearl premo online. Can you believe none of the stores carry that? I found all of the other colors but not blue, ugh! Anyways, I just used the micromesh (for the first time – they came with my UV Resin & oven order) on these pendants, and holy cow, what a difference from sanding with wet/dry paper! So much faster, no blisters and it didn’t kill my nails. Off to try the resin now.
Oh….I am behind the ball……..I did mine but I wanted to string the pendant and earrings b/f I posted the pics. I will post them soon. All the pics look great I especially love the one with the coin…..it looks grouted…..awesome!
JUST POSTED… Member project photos that relate to the theme of this page… Blend and Switch Technique.
You can view the larger images by clicking on the link by my name.
BTW: Thanks to everyone above, who took the time to comment in this thread. Your feedback, support and engaging conversations are always such a wonderful part of my day. Although I don’t get a chance to address everyone individually, please know that I do read everything. ~Cindy
Cindy, Sorry I couldn’t wait so I jumped ahead and watched the video first before anything else when I got on the computer. Can’t blame me you are just so super good. I was going through withdraw as it was. By the way WOWSA ANOTHER GRAND SLAM LOVA LOVA LOVA THE TUTE YOU ARE AMAZING AND DOUG IS TOO. The Leitz team gets the gold medal for a lifetime of kindness. All that information and beauty for just $3.32 a month – 4 tutes and 24 -7 blog full of info and fun. Clean family fun.
Uuuuuugggggggs, Peggy
Just watched your Blend & Switch Technique video! I think your are waking up the sleeping polymer clay beast inside me! Thanks!
Cindy, What kind of UV Resin do you use? How do you apply it to get such an even smooth finish? USCGwife
@Kathy G: Welcome Kathy! That finish is just the ticket, isn’t it? Cindy’s got a few tricks to assist. For general information, type in “UV Resin” in the search box in the upper left corner, and you’ll get a ton of information. “Terry Morris” is the owner of the company who supplies the type Cindy uses in her videos. If you search on that name, you’ll get the website.
Of course, the best is the video itself, which you can purchase. Hope you do. It’s magical to watch that finish spread and cure. Best of luck to you.
@Kathy G: Hi Kathy—welcome from me, too! You sure have some pretty items in your Etsy shop. Your yellow Petal Necklace is quite fun and cheerful, & certainly part of a Happy Day! :~D
If you followed Jocelyn’s directions, you no doubt found there are 4 different articles about UV Resin, as well as other posts with resin discussions in the comments section. This link takes you to the intro to Cindy’s UV Epoxy Resin Video.
The tutorial has the answers to your questions, as well as other important info & tips. In the comments below the article, you’ll learn additional tips & tricks from Cindy, other members, and Terry Morris (he pops in to answer product questions from time-to-time—great cust. support!)
If you haven’t already become a member, I hope you do. Membership is incredibly low in price ($9.95 for 3 months of videos — about 82 ¢ ea.!) You can also sign up for the Polymer Clay Newsletter (link @top of page) to get 3 free videos. You get free color recipes each week too, from Cindy’s gorgeous custom color palettes. Anyway, it’s nice to meet you—hope to see you around more often! Have a “Happy Day!” ;D
~Kat Riverside, CA, US
Wow Cindy when I think you have outdone yourself with the latest video tutorial, you do it again. Absolutely stunning. I know what I am doing Sunday morning. I just happen to have those little cutters too, and a lot of the pearl clays.
Cindy, thank you for your kind words, as always. Do understand that the supporting/black layer is not the best, as when you recombine, too much clay and it mushes too much.
However, I had a black sheet rolled thin and waiting for me to place the finished cutwork piece, which I left loose, not so rolled together. When recombined in the one roll through the machine…the black came thru the cuttings in a great patterns, with a little mica shift going on around the edges. So if you want both sides, then reroll it thinner, and stick it back to back.
Can’t wait to try this same technique using a sheet of alcohol inks and foil. Wow! I see big floppy eyed gold fish and koi. Also, just the transplant of one pattern into another. Incredible variety.
Hi Anna, where do you get your clay from ?
Hi Christine, I have looked all over for them but can’t find them! I think ill just have to order them from America! Tho it takes forever to get them, ill just have to carry on with the wet and dry sandpaper :-)
@christine le grice: and @Anne O: Cindy’s already answered that question for you – I’ll definitely be ordering some soon!
As for clay, I get all of mine from Penny at clayaround.com – she’s a member here and she’s lovely, and almost as importantly she sells Premo cheaper than anywhere else I’ve found and has loads of tools and foils and stuff as well! Free postage for orders over £30 and if you tell her I recommended you you get 10% off your first order. :)
@Silverleaf:
WHERE TO GET CLAY IN THE UK:
I get a lot of bigger bars of clay stuff from the Polymer Clay Pit. It always arrives very fast.
Silver wire , in fact any wire online from Palmers metal – no order too small, and again, next day delivery.
And yes, micromesh sanders are fairly readily available. Just google.
Judy
@Judy: Clayaround and Polymer Clay Pit charge the same per block, but Clayaround has free postage over £30 whereas PCP only has free postage over £85.
For me, Clayaround always works out cheaper since I don’t like to buy a million blocks at once – I don’t have the space!
@Silverleaf: thank you for your help !
@Judy: Oh yeah and I love Palmer Metals too, always had good service from them and I love how you can buy wire by the metre rather that having to get a whole roll.
just fabulous ! anne o and anna, I am also in uk . Any ideas on where we might get the micro abrasives ?
@christine le grice: You had asked this over at the Micromesh post where several UK resources were posted for you. See link by my name.
@Everyone: Please, please do me (and yourself) a huge favor and learn how to use the search box at the top of every post at this blog. For example, by using keywords like “Micromesh UK” you will find several references that will quickly provide you with self-serve answers.
Also… if you did not realize it, there are basically two posts per week that focus on any given video tutorial released into the members library… the Tuesday posts that have the intro or teaser video clip, as well as the Friday post on the day that the video is actually released in the library. If you have a question relating to a specific tutorial, your first step would be to head over to these Tuesday and Friday posts and reveiw the existing comments to see what has already been posted. I even provide a convenient “Comments/Questions” link at the members video page at the library, that will take you direct to the specific “Tuesday” post for that particular lesson.
@christine le grice: I just googled micro mesh and found it, ordered it and got in a few days. Not a bad price either.
Just tried this – not baked yet but so far, so good. I used the same colours as in the video because I couldn’t decide on another scheme, but I think next time I’ll try blue-purple-pearl-green-blue. A couple of times I used non-symmetrical cutters but that works fine as long as you remember to use them twice and swap over – hope that makes sense…
Can’t wait to see what they look like sanded!
It was really great seeing some new (to me) names here today. This truly is a wonderful group of caring polymer clayers and we do like to see others join us ’cause we know this is the best place for learning and growing in our PC endeavors! Welcome, if you are new, and thanks for popping in if you’ve already been around a while.
What a fun tutorial! Like all have said, straightforward—yet the results look quite intricate. I enjoyed seeing the sanded vs. unsanded examples, too. Sanding makes such a striking difference—especially with the mica/metallic clays. Beautiful technique, & well-done (as usual!) Thank you so much! The Lietz team has done it again…
Great tutorial! I loved how simple it was, though the finished product looked complex.
Just think ! My head is reeling – this is so easy. What fun all of us will have with this tute. I can’t clay today boohoo. Tomorrow will be my day to play. The colors and ideas are buzzing…………… Thank you Cindy and Doug – you make Fridays special…..hugs
Cindy,I love the shape of those freeform earrings. Very organic looking. Going to make some today…
Great technique Cindy. I have dabbled with this idea a bit but never thought of taking it to the extent you have. Friday has become my favorite day of the week!
Wow! You were right! I had that: “Shoulda-Hada-V8” moment!! I had to go downstairs to view the video – yes, I’m being careful! – Because it wouldn’t view on my laptop. But, AWESOME! How simple can you get? I’m going to try it now! I have a couple of hours before I have to take my Art Director to her Spa Treatment! And Bubby is a sleep – time to PLAY!!!!!!