"Creative Hands" newsletter for February 2003

Creative Hands
Ruby Lane's monthly newsletter celebrating the Arts & Crafts
community
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Welcome to Creative Hands!

IN THIS ISSUE:
o February Featured Craft: Image Transfers with Polymer Clay by Holly Spruch
o February Show Sampler
o Share Creative Hands With A Friend

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FEBRUARY FEATURED CRAFT: IMAGE TRANSFERS WITH
POLYMER CLAY BY HOLLY SPRUCH

As a jewelry artist, I have always been interested in working
with images. My early pieces were all individually hand painted
- until I found out about Liquid Sculpey - a liquid form of
polymer clay.

Liquid Sculpey (LS) comes in three forms: opaque, which is white
in color, translucent (also known as TLS), and colors (black,
silver and gold). For my jewelry, I use opaque Liquid Sculpey.

I begin by spreading a thin layer of LS on a glass surface - I
use a glass baking dish. Try to spread the LS so there are no
air bubbles. The back of a spoon works well for this. I cut out
and trim my images, and place face down in to the LS. Place in
the oven for 20-30 minutes (depending on thickness) and bake at
275 degrees Fahrenheit. Baking should be done with good
ventilation, as there are some fumes as the clay cures. After
baking, remove from the oven, and set aside to cool. When
cooled, the LS sheet you now have will pop right out of the
baking dish in one piece. Bend and peel off the paper images,
and you will now have your image transferred and embedded in the
clay. If the paper sticks to the clay, run under water and pick
off the paper. Depending on how thick the LS layer is, you can
cut apart with a scissors or use an exacto knife to cut. You are
now ready to use your clay images in craft projects, jewelry and
anything else you can think of!

Recommended image sources are toner based copies and high
quality magazine images. I find that images printed with an ink
jet printer will also work. You can also color in a black and
white photocopy with colored pencils or oil based pastels, and
transfer the image.

Liquid Sculpey is extremely versatile. Pearl-Ex metallic powders
and oil paints can be added to color the clay, it can be used as
a bonding agent between pieces of regular polymer clay, and it
can also create relief effects when used in conjunction with
polymer clay. You can paint LS, layer images if you use the
translucent form, and create faux stained glass effects.
Personal experimentation is not only fun, but also will lead to
results you may have never imagined possible.

Take a moment and visit Holly's Ruby Lane Shop, Pretty Vintage
for unique art jewelry.

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FEBRUARY SHOW SAMPLER

Here's a list of upcoming shows around the U.S. featuring fine
art and handcrafted items:

Feb 13-16, 2003 Art & Craft Show Southpark Mall, Colonial
Heights, VA

Feb 15-17, 2003 St. Stephen's Coconut Grove Art & Craft Show
Church Grounds, Coconut Grove, FL

Feb 15-17, 2003 Washington Mutual Coconut Grove Arts Festival
Streets and parks of Coconut Grove, Coconut Grove, FL

Feb 21-25, 2003 Penna.National Arts & Crafts Show PA Expo
Center, Allentown, PA

Feb 28-Mar 2, 2003 Springtime Made in the South Savannah
International Trade & Convention Center, Savannah, GA

Mar 7-9, 2003 Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Festival NM State
Fairgrounds, Albuquerque, NM

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SHARE CREATIVE HANDS WITH A FRIEND

Did you enjoy this issue of Creative Hands? Do you know others
who would enjoy receiving it? We invite you to forward this
issue to those you know who also appreciate and enjoy arts &
crafts.

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ABOUT RUBY LANE

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active community of hundreds of shops from all over the world
offering antiques, fine art, arts & crafts, and collectibles.
Ruby Lane displays quality inventory in over 2,000 categories.
Visit us at www.rubylane.com

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