Tag Archives: kaleidoscope cane

Scrap clay techniques

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There’s no such thing as scrap clay – well not for me – I find so many things to do with clay left over from projects I rarely have much scrap.

If you make items to sell it may not be economical to look for ways to use scrap.  However, if you do this for pleasure like I do, and make items on a small scale you might find working with your scraps helps fuel your creativity.  

Here I make suggestions for all levels of scrap, from left-over canes to those muddy clumps of clay. 

Here’s my video of the ‘Totem’ / Micro-Natasha technique mentioned below.

Left-over canes

Kaleidoscope canes

Lengths of these canes were combined to make the new cane (bottom left).

Kaleidoscope canes are great if you have excess canes, or have canes you just don’t like.  To get the repeated pattern, all components need to be consistent for the length of the cane, so are good for canes you have no more use for – even canes you think are ugly can look great when combined in a kaleidoscope cane.  You can also add long ‘sausages’ or strips of a color.  You’ll find a lot of tutorials for these, or  See my steps in making a kaleidoscope cane from left over canes and also here.

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Simple kaleidoscope cane

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I’m luckier than many who’ve suffered physically, emotionally and financially from COVID19, and haven’t minded the extended lock-down in Melbourne.  As well as having a bit more time for polymer clay and other crafts, I’ve had regular zoom ‘craft catchups’ with friends.  One technique I share with people who are new to polymer clay is the kaleidoscope cane.  You can get impressive results using just a few elements, and it’s a great way to use up canes you have left over.  Even canes you don’t like can be beautiful when combined with others and repeated in this way.

Pen kit (sold for wood turners) covered in polymer clay canes, showing step by step to final cane.

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