Did you know you can make your own polymer clay textures? Custom textures would be a fantastic way to make your jewelry designs stand above the crowd.
My friend Helen Breil is a whizz at making beautiful textures and at coloring them. You may remember her clever Magnetic Pendants as well as her Mad About Bowls classes? (My reviews are linked below). Her latest class, Six Exceptional Textures, is all about making textures out of polymer clay itself using common tools and even household items!
Helen is an excellent instructor - and I am not saying that just because she is my friend! She has many years of experience and like many good teachers explains clearly and succinctly.
This new class covers 6 textures, each of which is demonstrated with many variations - almost 3 dozen in total!
The class assumes you know the basics of polymer clay work. Helen rates the class as advanced beginner. I reckon if you know how to condition, roll out and cure clay, you are good to go!
The Project Essentials section teaches you how to use your newly made cured polymer clay textures using Helen's fun way of making impressions onto raw clay! She doesn't cover how to add surface color pigments in detail - her Mad About Bowls class has better demos for this.
All the textures are easy to do and the potential for all kinds of patterns is there for you to create. Using a wire brush and a circle tool produced this set of textures :
The magic happens when you start adding color to the impressed clay!
The second texture section is all about stamp making.
Helen creates different stamps which can be used alone or in combination. What is striking is how she combines different texture techniques on to the same sheet of clay. You can see the underlying wire brush texture below :
She also uses carving tools in clever ways to get raised designs :
Who knew common tape would turn out textures looking this good?
One of my favorite parts of her class was how she use tape to create a multi-layered design which can be cut to make a focal, buttons or earrings!
Helen is right when she said that rubber stamps are wonderful but their one limitation is their uniform height. Your textures can be much more complex when you use her way of making organic patterns using a common art paste.
Some fun use of a palette knife is involved, I might add! Not to mention, very easy to do.
The final texture technique was my overall favorite. Helen used real plants - leaves and flowers - to create the texture plates. Note that she overlaid the plant material on other textures.
The results are stunning!
The class is truly inspirational - a great jumping off point to take your polymer jewelry and other designs to a new level. Highly recommended.
Giveaway
If you'd like to win this giveaway for Helen's Six Exceptional Textures class, please make a comment below. Make sure you leave contact info below if you do not have an online shop or blog.
Email subscribers need to scroll down the post they receive, click on Share Comment and enter your comment. Pick Name/URL. If you don't have a store or blog, leave the URL blank.
This giveaway is international.
Extra entries if you become or are a blog subscriber or follower etc. If you also do shout outs about this giveaway, those will count as additional entries too! Please say so in the comments. (The exception is Facebook - just like/comment on the giveaway status there!!)
It ends in a week's time at 6 pm EST Monday, April 8, 2019. I will pick the winner randomly and announce the results as soon as possible after. So be sure to leave a contact email if you don't have an online link or make sure you come back and check! Otherwise I will redraw in a week. Good luck!
Before You Go:
- Helen Breil's Magnetic Polymer Clay Pendant Class Review
- Helen Breil's Mad About Bowls Polymer Class Review
- Translucent Screen Printed Resin Jewelry Tutorial
Disclosure
This blog may contain affiliate links. I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. This goes towards the support of this blog and to provide resource information to readers. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation.
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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Wire JewelryTips -Jewelry Business Tips
Great to learn how to make your own unique texture sheets. Helen's instructions are always so clear.
ReplyDeleteOMG, this class sounds like so much fun! While I’m still very much a beginner, I’ve played around a little with making texture stamps (the block of coral is my favorite) and would love to do more.
ReplyDeleteI am a blog subscriber, and generally love reading here, though I think this is my first time commenting :)
My website (www.rainlightcrafts.com) is pretty neglected, so the best way to reach me is rainlightcrafts@gmail.com. Also, my feed reader ate my first comment, so my apologies if this is a duplicate!
Helen’s work is SO beautiful! I would LOVE to have the opportunity to take one of her classes!! 💖
ReplyDeleteHelen is hands down one of my favourite artists! I love her tutorials, she is always so relaxed. Thank you Pearl for this giveaway!! I enjoy every email I get from you.
ReplyDeleteWOW! What an awesome sounding class. Helen Breil is such an amazing artist. Would ❤️ To win this class!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity Pearl!
Have taken an introductory class in polymer clay and loved the creativity. This class looks wonderful, after viewing the posted textures. I would love to experiment and add to the range of possibilities this offers for my creative spirit. Thank you for the giveaway. Faithful facebook and blog fan. tigers628@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteWould love a chance to take this class, it sounds exceptional! I would love to craft with polymer and learn some more that I had never knew about the use of the clay to make wonderful creations.
ReplyDeletemy blogsite is http://www.testtryresults.blogspot.com
my email airmonkey120 at yahoo dot com
Her work is so beautiful. She is so inspiring. Her tutorials are amazing and give so much information.
ReplyDeleteI love Helen's work ! I have her magnetic pendant class and I love it. I would love to win that class. Thank you for the opportunity. Kisses from Belgium.
ReplyDeleteHelen Breil's art is classic, timeless, and distictive. I'd love to look over her shoulder to learn how to make such beautiful textures. A great thank you to you, Pearl, for all your carefully selected inspirations from the world of polymer clay and jewelry-making which I enjoy following regularly.
ReplyDeleteI had seen this tutorial when she announced awhile back. After seeing this review, i am excited about it!! It looks like fun and soooo satisfying!!!
ReplyDeleteAndrea lynncun@yahoo.com
Helen never fails to amaze me. Her work is always exceptional - her ideas really unique.
ReplyDeleteIn polymer clay one can never know enough!
This is very much on my wishlist, her work is amazing and I would very much love to learn from her!
ReplyDeleteFantastic! Would love to be the winner. Helen's Tut's are always excellent. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh wow her work is gorgeous! I’d love to win this class!!! Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteI bought her Mad about bowls and not only do I love it but love her teaching style. I would love to win anything she does. She is very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteWow! Helens work is amazing. The textures are so rich. Would love to learn how to do this.
ReplyDeleteStunning!
ReplyDeleteThank you for bringing nature on to a plate (quite literally). The textures are so unique and stunning! You're a blessing to the polymer clay world Helen :) Keep shining
ReplyDeleteThis looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteI can be reached via beaupepys@gmail.com
So impressive! Who wouldnt want to win and learn more 9f this great stuff. :) Thanks for always having special ideas, gifts, happenings, knowledge to share with us... you are such a gem. (Hahaha :))
ReplyDeleteHelen's works are simply elegant.. I would love to win this new tut from her.
ReplyDeleteMy email: sreyapk@gmail.com
More great tetxures & lessons from Helen!
ReplyDeleteI purchased this tutorial several months ago, and it is fantastic! I learned so much and have created some texture sheets that I love. Even better, I now know how to create more for any idea that may be brewing in my mind! Helen's tutorials are extremely high quality. Even if you aren't the lucky winner - I strongly recommend taking this class!
ReplyDeleteThank you for a terrific article and for inspiring me to purchase the class!
ReplyDeleteWow! another great tutorial by Helen! I've got one other of her tutorials and I just love it! Thanks for giving us a chance to win this one! Sue Duffy susanduffy@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThis is great, thank you for the resources.
ReplyDeleteI have Helen's class on Magnetic Pendants. She's a great teacher. This would be a wonderful follow up to that one.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like awesome classes thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeletesally0630@yahoo.com
Im an email subscriber
ReplyDeletesally0630@yahoo.com
pinterest.com/sally0630
I love this jewelry! I would love to learn how to create the textures. Thanks for this beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteI follow your blog via Bloglovin Pearl. Thanks for all the inspiration!
ReplyDelete