One-of-a-Kind Clay Sculptures & Minis

I opened a Store - How Can I Advertise it? - Business Advice

2009-09-20T18:28:00.001-07:00

You can sign up for Twitter and tweet about it (send a text message up to 140 characters in length, can include links) and let people who like the type of things you create know when you have new items up for sale.

Set your profile status on facebook to your store.

Advertise your store link in your signature for your emails and thus all your message posts to groups. (*General rule to keep your email signature to a maximum of three (3) lines of text). *Please note that when your posting anything to message groups and forums that everyone may have their own rules about advertising certain types of links from within your signature. Example: XYZ Clay Group on yahoo has an Official/ Dedicated supplier (one willing to give a discount off products to all members of that group in exchange for the privilege of having the groups membership base as their possible customer base) and thus you can not have links in your signature to a site or stores that may sell products of the same type as the official supplier.

Put the link to your store online in anything you mail, or post, make some business cards and be sure to put the link on them in a font that can be easily viewed. On business cards you do not need to have the http:// part of the website address printed, just the www. DebsStore.com should work great. You can get 200 FREE business cards through Vista Print for like $1.99 and the price of shipping or something, its like cheep and they are nice cards. I have heard of other services you can get cards from online and you may find some less that are even better. I know the free ones with Vista have their logo on the very bottom of the back with their info/link. A very small price to pay for FREE cards for just the cost of shipping, but your image speaks of who you are. Your an artist and you don't use cheap materials and supplies in your art, perhaps you don't want to send a message that your cheap on your cards. Many people will not realize this or even care, but there may be few in your own mind then you may not wish to go this route. I have heard different opinions about this.

Depending on what you sell you can create specials and advertise them where those types of products would be of interest and need.

If you sell supplies you might wish to create a class where you can in turn sell the supplies needed to complete the class.

Make up starter kits of clay and tools, and maybe include a little tutorial or 2 in free with purchase, etc..

There is always a way to make your product/sale/service/idea more desirable to others.

Think of contests to win things from you that you sell that can get others to help you advertise.

Submit your site to the search engines. Most are free and there are free services out there where you can submit your site to many of them with just a few clicks of the mouse and your keyboard. *TIP* You may wish to use a separate free email account like yahoo, hotmail, or gmail so that you can register with the search engines using the email you don;t mind getting allot of email to because all those search engines will reply, as well this email account now may be used for other purposes, after all you just registered your website with many of them for free, there has to be a catch somewhere, of course they may send you notices when its time to renew your free listing etc..

Tell your friends and family.

If you have a restaurant, store or someone you know that wouldn't mind allowing you to put up a flyer or a business card stand (can make a neat one in clay) and leave it with them. You could have friends put their names on the back of the cards so that if someone buys something from you they can get 10% commission or 10% off anything you sell, etc... give them an incentive and you never know what you can get others to allow you do.

Craig's List and other Free to post online community classifieds. Post your link to your site and what your advertising in your message, choose the category that's appropriate and hope for the traffic to start flowing in or if you leave a number your phones are beginning to ring.

I hope these tips help you on your journey to new store ownership no matter what it is your selling Deb. I hope this can help anyone trying to open up a business of their own and market their items/products, services or whatever you wish to deal in. All basically the same principles. Advertise!!! You will get it all back at the end of the year when its time to answer to Uncle Sam.

Cre8ively Yours

Andrea "Cre8"

CDHM Miniature Forum: Live Tutorial

2009-09-18T20:43:00.000-07:00

We have an exciting Live tutorial for you Saturday, September 19, 2009
that you will not want to miss. There is still time to gather your
materials and register for the class.

Learn To Make 1:12 Raffia Baskets
Instructor: Hanna Meronen (hannajaleijona)
Class: Sep 19, 2009 :: Time: 8pm Eastern (Eastern European Summer Time
(EEST) +0300 UTC) Finland
http://forums.cdhm.org/index.php/board,388.0.html

Check your local time conversion for this class:
http://forums.cdhm.org/index.php/topic,8884.0.html

Hope to see you there.

Regards,
The CDHM Miniature Forum Team

The New Craft Smart Clay 88 Cents, Save 25-50 % Off Michael's and More

2009-09-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

Michael's Crafts This week The new clay if you wish to give it a try for yourself if only 88 cents. Its supposed to be the lowest price of the season.

Sale started today Sunday September 13th and runs through until Saturday September 19, 2009.

Crafts smart Modeling Clay

2 oz./57g Reg. $1.29

50% OFF Michaels Coupon

Also if you get the paper you may enjoy the 50% off any one Regular Prices Item (excluding sale items) coupon. If not click

http://www.mycraftcoupons.com/ and find the coupons you want and print easily print them out. No registration or downloads required.

25-40% AC Moore

Enjoy various 25%-60% off coupons* for AC Moore locations. Coupon valid Sunday, September 13, 2009 through Saturday, September 19, 2009.

40% OFF Joanne's Fabrics and Crafts

Enjoy 40% off any one regular priced item* at Joann locations. Coupon valid through Wednesday, October 7, 2009.

40% OFF Hobby Lobby

Enjoy 40% off any one regular priced item* at Hobby Lobby locations. Coupon valid Monday, September 14, 2009 through Saturday, September 19, 2009

Enjoy!!!

Cre8ively Yours

Andrea “Cre8”

New September Edition AIM Miniatures Magazine FREE Online Edition

2009-09-02T13:29:00.001-07:00

No matter what craft your into, most are into miniatures or should be...so here is a little something to infect you all with the miniature bug if you have not already been bitten =-)

September edition (Issue 15) of the FREE AIM miniatures magazine is now
available to enjoy online at (http://www.artisans inminiature. com/)

Enjoy!

Cre8ively Yours

Andrea "Cre8"

New Craft Smart Clay at Michael's

2009-08-12T03:02:00.000-07:00

New clay or another brand with the Michael's Crafts brand name? See what Angela from CraftyGoat's Notes wrote about it on her blog.

The new Craft Smart Clay may not be as smart as they think!

CraftyGoat's Notes: New Craft Smart Clay at Michael's

Enjoy!

Cre8ively Yours
Andrea "Cre8"

Jane Zhao Rose Tutorial & Spotted Lily Petal Cane NOW ON DVD!!!

2009-08-11T21:13:00.000-07:00

The very 1st real (beautiful) flower cane I ever made was a rose cane I made thanks to my good friend Jane Zhao. She is a member of my polymer clay guild and was teaching a class on a night I had planned on driving up and sitting in on the guild meeting to see how it was. Since I live far away from where the meetings were held and far from where Jane lives here in Florida as well as where she is willing to travel to teach I thought it a great opportunity to kill 2 birds with 1 stone and do both. I was taking a class from Jane live on how to make a rose cane from polymer clay. I brought in just the materials she requested, the colors were up to me what I chose and I beautiful rose cane was born, one of which I still have quite a bit of and use in my beads quite often thanks to the methods Jane has taught me.

Jane has just come out with two videos on making her canes. I hope they are just a coupe of more from her to come. She is such a wonderful teacher even though she herself thinks her English is not as good because she is Chinese.

Jane's Rose Cane making video is Two hours worth of making two (2) types of the rose cane. She shows you how to reduce the cane for cutting and slicing into beads for a nice necklace she shows how you can make. She makes beads and shows you how you can roll your own beads by hand without using a machine, how to pierce the beads to make holes in them for stringing and how to use up some scrap clay as well as some other nice things like the skinner blend, using the pasta machine, a nice blend of clay for making a nice clear translucent clay and more. Its $39.99 and can be purchased through her website or at Polymer Clay Productions as they were the ones who helped her make the videos.

The Lily Flower Cane making video is 1 Hour of her showing you how to make a skinner blend, a skinner plug, two type of lily petals small and large, her way of reducing canes, using the pasta machine, fan folding clay, creating lily flower pendent, pin or one that's both a pendent and a pin using different findings, as well as how to make and place an eye pin in the clay, enforce the clay to make jewelry items that wont break etc.. This Spotted Lily Petal cane, Spotted Lily flower and Spotted Lily Jewelry was in the Spring Edition of the 2007 PolymerCAFE' Magazine Vol. 5 No.2. Jane was featured in this magazine along with Charlene A. Therien who made a beautiful Calalily flower cane tutorial and many other nice project how tos are in there as well. The video is only 29.99.

So if you make your own beads and jewelry items and want to learn her methods you now can in your very own living room with Jane on these DVD videos.

Jane Zhao is from Shanghai China and there she was a Chinese landscape artist. When she came here to the US she was not able to do her landscape paintings but instead found polymer clay. A new world was opened up to Jane and she continues to use polymer clay as a way of transforming the same concepts she learned with painting into her wonderful polymer clay canes of flowers, butterflies, fish, leaves, feathers and many other wonderful things. Jane is also a certified Instructor for Donna Dewberry, Bob Ross Certified and also Studio By Sculpey Certified to Teach and Certify others.

I do her website and she has been such a good customer always providing me with her products she sells like her wonderful wet dry color coded micro fiber sandpaper set. I got one of her most beautiful and should be famous for polymer clay beaded watch band watches along with a matching set of earrings. She made me another set of earrings that matched my website and I have a painting by her that was one that got her certified in Bob Ross oil painting. She is a wonderful artist but when it comes to polymer clay canes and replicating images in them she is a master and will take any image and make it into a clay cane.

Cre8ively Yours

Andrea "Cre8"

Weldbond Glue

2009-08-10T00:49:00.000-07:00

I was simply amazed at what this stuff can do when I read about it just now on this website for WeldBond.

http://www.franktross.com/weld_craft.asp

There is a contest going on apparently and you can see lots of nice eye candy of things made using this stuff.

http://www.franktross.com/gallery/gallery.html

This stuff is amazing from what I can see. Most cases you mix it with water so you get more out of it dependent upon use. I have seen it sold in Wall-Mart and it was under $3US for what I think was the 8oz size.

I like that it can be used for image transfers, not of photos but of magazine printed type images where you apply it to the image, leave it to dry clear and then let it sit in some water until the paper will be soft enough to remove and the image will stay which can be used for so many different applications. Not to mention decoupage, reinforcing those plaster molds to keep them from chipping, bonds wood, glass, ceramics, porcelain, marble, granite and so many surfaces for so many different craft as well as other helpful uses.

Enjoy!

Cre8ively Yours

Andrea "Cre8"

Create this detail sander from a Battery Powered toothbrush

2008-08-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

I think this could be done easily enough, I knew I had to post about it.
Take a cheap battery powered toothbrush and create a nice detail sander.

PlanetJune » detail sander (ex-toothbrush)

Refer A Friend

2008-04-22T22:32:00.000-07:00

Refer A Friend: "
"

NO SCAM they do pay!!!!

PayPals future competitor. $25 just for joining. Tell you friends and make $10 for each.

~Hugs~
Andrea "Cre8"

Making Dolls House Miniatures

2008-04-20T00:38:00.000-07:00

Making Dolls House Miniatures

Definitely a blog to see. So many wonderful free and very useful miniatures for you. Each post is a Free Mini Printable or a quite useful How to. There is even Free 12th scale crochet and knitting patterns.

Sue Whittick, is very creative and has the ability to entertain with her blog has certainly shown its worth to my desires as an online viewer of blogs and great websites. Certainly worthy of the mention and link back to her.

Exclusive Offer from Michaels 20% Off Coupon

2008-04-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

Exclusive Offer from Michaels

Click to get yours now!

Hurry Offer Ends April 19th!

Orphan Works legislation

2008-04-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

Through some friendly sources I have just been turned on to a story that is certainly worth the lengthy read. Mind Your Business: You Will Lose All The Rights to Your Own Art, certainly caught my attention. As an Artist how could it have not?!!!

I worry about what I put out there knowing it can and or will eventually be taken. Having been a victim its sad to know that with all the art out there a large portion of it if only self proclaimed to be copyright and yet it has not been legally registered as such is not and will not be a legal infringement if used in any way by another then the creator with or without permission.

Not sure if this is true or legal. Imagine of all the artists in the USA and all the art, the copyright office would have to be bigger than the IRS to keep track of it all. Why is it also that on the internet there are sites claiming that with the addition of just 1 of their banners on your site they are registering all content on your site and that you post to your site?

Its a few pages long, but the guy took the time to write it, I agree it is really worth the time it will take to read it. Animation World Magazine

Beaded Art Dolls Group: 2008 Face Pin Mini Challenge

2008-04-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

Beaded Art Dolls Group: 2008 Face Pin Mini Challenge
These simply are amazing! The face has always been a fascination for me to sculpt. I am so much the perfectionist when it comes to making faced with clay. This seeing this was truly a treat. Some of them are images of the face and not necessarily a sculpted face but still quite the attention grabber.

YouTube - Miniature Polymer Clay Teapot

2008-03-16T16:11:00.000-07:00

Cre8te this adorable little green pepper teapot/

Pencil carvings

2008-03-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

Pencil carvings by Mizuta Tasogare and Kato Jado
Unbelievable that any of these can be made from pencils.

And get a load of the pencil sharpener. Oh My!!!!

Pencil Art like I have never seen before.

Normally I would have lots to say but quite frankly I am speachless!!!

Household Hints For You

2008-03-02T23:02:00.000-08:00

I would love feedback through your comments if any of these actually work or Not?

Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot griddle and you'll get perfectly shaped pancakes every time.

To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard boiling.
Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispy\ treats in the pan and the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers.
To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll
them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.
To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stove top.
Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.
When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.
If you accidentally over salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix me up."
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.
Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it.
When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, but if it rises to the surface, throw it away.
Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and you will experience instant relief.
Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.
Use air freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.

Now look what you can do with Alka-Seltzer:

Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush.

The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China.
Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.
Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).
Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar - Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

Tessa Farmer - Artwork - The Saatchi Gallery

2008-02-24T17:02:00.000-08:00

Tessa Farmer - Artwork - The Saatchi Gallery
This gives a whole new look to miniatures for me as well as fairies.

I am speachless to say the least. If you dont like insects you may wish not to click. One of the reasons I have chosen not to include an image here in my blog post about this. Still none the less its neat and so very tiny!

Parole de pâte

2008-02-21T01:07:00.000-08:00

Parole de pâte

A project pendant made from polymer clay that even a beginner would not be to intimidated to try and create. In fact I myself now want to make one, or more. Looks very neat and interesting, not to mention easy!!! 2 colors of clay and some handmade molds from buttons or other textures you can easily find around the house and or may already have in your stash of tools. A bit of contrasting color acrylic paint and of course your polymer clay dedicated oven and you can do this!

How to Make a Cardboard Box Storage System

2008-01-30T22:08:00.000-08:00

How to Make a Cardboard Box Storage System
If you have a lot of small supplies to store but would rather not invest in a permanent storage system yet, you can make your own from boxes and add to it as your collection grows. It's not the sturdiest system, but it's flexible, easy and inexpensive, and that might be just what you're looking for!

I found this quite interesting and without a doubt if it works as good as it appears it may, it certainly has my vote for something that can help get you to be more the organized person you need and wish to be.

Do you have a new years resolution to be more organized?
Do you have a desire to be able to find what you need when you need it?
Do you have a work space that's an embarrassment to your family and friends who may come to visit you!
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you my friend are in need of some organization and this just may be what Dr. Neat-Freak ordered for you!!!

Bathroom Aquarium

2008-01-30T17:03:00.000-08:00

Something's fishy With this
Bathroom in an Aquarium

"Giving dioramas a whole
new meaning. Something I myself have never before seen, but I am now so very
interested in creating" By Andrea "Cre8"

Miniaturist from Denmark by whom I
only know named Claus with an amazing love and relationship through his live in
mate's daughter Amanda, creates a dollhouse for her to house her dolls and many
miniatures offered by friends and others that were obtained for many different
places. This project which started in 2003 and was completed to where it was
finally suitable to gift in 2004 for Amanda's 8th Birthday a website about the
conception of this wonderful project was born. Named Lykkely with Lykke meaning
happiness in Danish, also Amanda's middle name, used in conjunction with
Ly, meaning "shelter" in Danish at the recommendation of Claus's mother.
Translating into "Shelter of Happiness".

Within the links of other projects
Claus has posted within Lykkely this fascinating underwater lavatory complete
with all the things one might find aside from magazines to read while waiting to
do their business. Now of course your probably saying to yourself, "what do fish
need magazines for, they can not read anyway"? To this I have to laugh since
they would not need the modern comforts of a bathroom complete with bathtub,
vanity, sink, toilet, towels, bath matt, waste basket, electric shaver, sail
boat, furnace, and bath and beauty products either, but this place has it all.
The plant I find to be a required element added, it brings oxygen into the tank
and makes the tank more environmentally beneficial to the fish.

All sorts of idea had popped into my
mind after seeing this thing. Being an animal lover of all creatures, fury and
scaled alike, I wonder now how I can myself build something that would be fish
safe or even reptile friendly and at the same time be more than just a place my
tank-able friends could safely reside in. Heck, I don't think I was interested
in fish before now. One thing I am thinking is that Japanese fighting fish
(Betas) and gold fish are fish that normally do not even require filtration or
aeration in the tank, making the project even more of something I think I could
achieve. I would just have to seek out ways like Claus had while on bunch breaks
and other times in-between when there was nothing to do back in the early 1980's
when he worked for a company that made scale models.

Using Plexiglas he heats up to bend,
and then paints to resemble the towels, mats and even water in the bath tub, he
was able to create this apparently fish friendly environment for finned friends
to swim around in. I am sure while he does mention that it seems to not bring
harm to the fish, that whatever paint and or glues he used were both non-toxic
and water proof.

Above Claus and His Friend Amanda "Lykke",
shown with the dollhouse he made for her and gave to her for her 8th Birthday.

See more of Claus's Bathroom Aquarium
as well as look at the wonderful project he affectionately named Lykkely
http://www.lykkely.dk/en/subpages/other/aquarium/1.htm

Blu-Tack Not Just For Posters Anymore

2008-01-30T15:34:00.000-08:00

Made from a formulation comprised of synthetic
rubber, polymers, oil, and inorganic fillers, Blu Tack is a gummy substance
sold around the globe that can even sustain heat. Initially blue in color, yet
now commercially available in a myriad of colors. A major drawback is that
extended periods of use of Blu-Tack will leave an oily stain behind on any
paper or paper-like material.

Sold under other brand names, this stuff just may be
the next best thing to chewing gum! Well it may look like chewing gum anyway,
although you really don't want to eat it. You will want to use it for many
other things that I am sure you may not even realize you can use this stuff
for.

Suzanne Ivester who calls herself "The Nimble
Sprite", has found that there are quite a few uses for the blue stuff as she
writes about in her own very well put together and quite interestingly worded
blog 101 uses for Blu Tack. She even welcomes others who have found uses for this wonderful stuff we American's here in the good ol' US of A refer to as Blu-Tack, to email her and
tell her about how they use it and says she will share it with others who read
her wisdom.

As an artist, crafter and sculptor of polymer clay
herself, its no wonder Suzanne has been attracted to this polymer based
product. Uses such as picking up lint from hands or clay, to polymer clay
caning using the stuff on the ends of the canes to reduce the waste normally
created during the reduction of the canes, The Nimble Sprite has found many
more uses for this wonderful stuff that goes above and beyond what you may
have thought it was originally created for. It's not just for holding up
posters on walls you don't want holes in anymore!!!

Blu-Tack is a versatile, reusable pressure-sensitive
putty like adhesive. Common uses for Blu-tack are to fasten posters to walls,
hold small items like mouse mats and telephones in place, hold screws to screw
drivers and model parts for gluing or painting and to even level out those
picture frames you may have hanging on your wall that just do not look
straight. Clean off your computer's keyboard from lint or dirt that might be
in those hard to reach places, and clean lint or pet hair from fabrics.

The original version which was invented in England in 1971 during development
of an industrial adhesive by Bostick, a branch of a French mineral oil company
called Total. It is thought this was probably one of those happy accidents. A
Laboratory Researcher by the name of Alan Holloway who was working for a
Sealant Manufacturer Ralli Bondite of Warerlooville Hampshire, has
inadvertently produced a product in the year 1970 that was of no good use as a
sealant, but was pliable and semi-elastic. The product was demonstrated soon
after by Ralli Bondite management to executives visiting from another sealant
and adhesive manufacturing company, and was introduced as a means of mounting
notices on walls. It was not really noticed for its potential until years
later when Bostik started research into the development of what
would eventually become Blu Tack.

In its early stages of conception the product was
white, but was colored blue after there were concerns about the possibilities
of children mistaking it for edible candy. Similar products were later
introduced into the market from other manufacturers which include Tac 'N
Stick, Sticky Tack, Buddies a pink color tack, Pritt-Tack, and White Tack, made by a
German company UHU. All similar products but as the name suggests with the
"White Tack" it is white in color, so that it does not show easily through on
posters as Blu-Tack does.

You can find Blu-Tack probably in your local Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target or general Hardware stores and outlets. You may even find it hanging on display at your local Auto Part retailers. The official Blu-Tack site in the UK http://www.blu-tack.co.uk/ may help you in your search for it, as well
there is an official Australian site for Blu-Tack http://www.blutack.com/, and the handy
reference by Bostik as to how it was made http://www.blutack.com/BLU_TACK.htm.

Among many handy uses for Blu-Tack its also been used by some very creative people as way to express themselves artistically through sculpture and even clay animation videos which can be found on YouTube and or other sites or blog where it may have been the topic of conversation.

Miniatures By Rachel: Tools Needed for Miniature Cake Making

2008-01-28T22:17:00.000-08:00

Miniatures By Rachel: Tools Needed for Miniature Cake Making

I first became quite fascinated with Rachel's miniature cakes, pies and tarts when she first had posted in a miniature group we both share membership in. I found her work to be so wonderful and real looking that I immediately found myself hungry and craving sweets.

Rachel's work was published in Dolls House Artisan and since I was not a paying member of the online publication, I was not able to see for myself just what the talk was all about but so soon after she posted that she started her own blog. Rachel R. Pensit: creates cakes in 1:24th, 1:14, half scale, play scale and probably some others. You do not need any special tools and anyone can make it, she says in the online publicized tutorial she wrote for their members. A colored Sharpe marker pen cap is what she uses to cut the small circles she uses to create her cakes and shapes she makes from the metal cutting blade that comes on the boxes of the saran wrap, wax paper and or aluminum foil boxes. She says she bends them into the shapes she needs, like hearts for instance.

She sells her work on Etsy, Piczo, and another site like Etsy called DaWanda. I never asked her just how well any of those sites are doing for her and or her mini bakery business but I can just imagine since I strongly feel who wouldn't want what she creates. If you think your not into dollhouses, room boxes or miniature scenes and do not need any baked creations to fill the shelves or appear to fill the tummies of your dolls, why not try wearing them around your neck, and or dangling from your ears as the sweetest earrings anyone has ever seen. I am even more fascinated by the fact that as yummy as these sweet treats look, you really can say they have zero calories.

I am quite intrigued by Rachel's sweet treats which she fashions by hand and only few tools she herself makes and of course with some polymer clay. Not the polymer clay you bake though, no she uses Air Dry Polymer clay. I have yet to ask her what brand exactly she uses but one day I will. I only know of a two brands and one is not carried here locally in the USA although I am not quite sure Rachel is from here in the USA. Makin's brand air dry clay is a polymer clay, not sure the one she chooses to use though.

Lykkely.dk - Bathroom aquarium

2008-01-28T16:27:00.002-08:00

Lykkely.dk - Bathroom aquarium

If there has ever been something created with miniatures that has interested me this is it!!!

No idea as to the health and welfare of the fishy but I have heard Goldfish can be put through the most trying conditions and fair through pretty well, allot better than most other species of fish. Now this is neat!!!

Check it out and comment on what you think about it. I wonder if there is good business behind the whole concept. I know I would buy one without even batting an eye, let alone I would take on even another household pet just to have it and use it to its full creative reasoning.

Imagine one for your Beta. (Japanese Fighting Fish)

Turquoise Rock Tutorial by Kathy Halverson

2008-01-11T19:32:00.000-08:00

Polka Dot Creations Faux Turquoise Rock Tutorial by Kathy Halverson

I am just in love with this stone. I could not resist blogging about it here. You will love this!!!

Polka Dot Creations Christmas Spiders Tutorial by Adria Filion

2008-01-11T19:30:00.000-08:00

Polka Dot Creations Christmas Spiders Tutorial by Adria Filion

This is not just for Christmas though. Make these spiders for any ocassion you wish, they are just amazing!!!

Polka Dot Creations The Weave Cane Tutorial by Lisa Clarke

2008-01-11T19:28:00.000-08:00

Polka Dot Creations The Weave Cane Tutorial by Lisa Clarke

Funky Art Queen: Printing on Fabric Tutorial

2008-01-07T22:02:00.001-08:00

Funky Art Queen: Printing on Fabric Tutorial

Funky Art Queen: Doing Tape Transfers

2008-01-07T22:02:00.000-08:00

Funky Art Queen: Doing Tape Transfers

The Art of Penmanship

2008-01-06T14:55:00.000-08:00

I had to blog about this. The wonders of art of this type alone are interesting enough, but to think that with one single stroke of a pen from the top of the nose of an image depicted of Jesus and not lifting the pen to complete a full image of this magnitude in the middle to late 1800's is what has got me and others questioning just how much truth there is to such art.

So I set out today to find out whatever I could about this wonderfully odd art and try if I might to see what truths or hoaxes this whole business of creating such beautiful art without lifting the pen once it meets with the paper may have to it. Did they not have roller ball type pens back then? I thought they used those style of pens you had to dip into ink to continue to scribe onto anything they wanted to leave a mark on?

Knowles & Maxim claimed it held truth when they copyrighted few of these artistic phenomena's in the late 1880's. And the The International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting have about 20 vintage writing books online you may wish to take a look into.

This one blog I found BibliOdyssey: The Art of Penmanship alone depicts several of these I would imagine Quilled art wonders that were apparently created between 1879 and 1919. Apprently this is more about exercising the hand and whole writing technique than it was the art back then, I just see it as fascinating and well, is it real?

There have been many books related to the art of rare calligraphy and penmanship, here is a site that lists many of them:
http://www.iampeth.com/books.htm

Originally sold for one dollar, Real Pen Work boasts that it is "The greatest means ever known for learning to write in an elegant hand."

Hudson Maxim, was an inventor and an entrepreneur, while Alden Knowles was an expert penman, they both set out by trial and error to sell their ink and instructions for elegant writing styles and pen work. The history of their friendship and business relationship is fascinating and was recorded in the beginning of this book.

Real Pen Work 1881 was designed to be a self teaching aid, and it states that by following the simple instructions, even for those who might not find that handwriting comes natural to, should be able to write in a beautiful elegant hand in an incredibly short amount of time. In fact, it says, "There is no more doubt about it than that the sun rises and sets." Now that certainly is some claim!

It starts with "How to Sit at a Desk" and "How to Hold a Pen," these authors stressed the importance of proper posture followed by scales for slants, analysis of capital and small letters, sample alphabets, and Spenserian scripts, as well they shared the "secret" of the tracing process.

Somehow similar patterns can be observed in nature. They are called catalysis spirals, occurring when oxygen and carbon monoxide land on the surface of a platinum crystal. Read more info here http://cphoenix.livejournal.com/

There are detailed examples of flourished birds and ornamental pen-work throughout the book which today can be found for the low price of $24.00 which includes the book and the accompanying CD, which contains all of the images found in the book in PDF, JPEG and TIF formats. These images are an incredible bonus and can be used for scrapbooking, note cards, and countless other projects, since would now be considered Public Domain having been copyrighted more than over 100 years ago.

Real Pen-Work 1881 is a lovely instruction manual and a very interesting piece of handwriting history excellent for anyone who home school. Students can at least learn of the rich heritage of America's golden age of penmanship throughout these beautiful pages and be able to create keepsakes of their own. Still there has been no evidence that could be found to confirm there was any truth in the claims the books held and or how it was those images really came to be.

£100 million Diamond Skull - Art Oddity

2008-01-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

By A. Herrera "Cre8"
Click to Enlarge

This is something I have to add under Art Oddities. It is so intriguing to me that something so expensive can be so oddly real and yes someone obviously died but now certainly their death has not been in vein by having had an artist with very expensive taste and the ability to either come up with allot of money or allot of diamonds create such a magnificent piece of work from the skull of what is thought to have been a 35 year old European who was believed to have lived between 1720 and 1810.

Click to Enlarge
The Artist Damien Herst shown above cradling the skull in his arms after he covered it in 8,601 diamond pieces.

This certainly takes OOAK art to a whole new level. Who in the world, let alone their right mind would be able to create such magnificence again. First of all, how many 35 year old Europeans who have died way back in that era would have their skull laying around just waiting for the chance to be gilded in diamonds let alone have a whole new grill of platinum and diamonds created to replace every one of the teeth in their mouths to of course go along with all those diamonds in their skull!

Click to Enlarge

Above image showing the artist as he adorns the skull with the £12m-worth of diamonds that are said to be ethically sourced. Set in the forehead of the 18th century skull is a pear-shaped pink diamond.
Click to Enlarge

The expensive skull covered in diamonds was sold for £ 100 million.

Click to Enlarge

Unbelievable that the platinum teeth alone are said to be covered in £14m in platinum.

Lgdesigns’s Weblog

2008-01-05T14:42:00.000-08:00

Lgdesigns’s Weblog

Wonderfully creative artist adds a link to my website and asks me if its ok LOL I am honored!

I have to say though she has these images on a rotating slide show widget of the 1st snow where she is and they are COOL to say the least, such a thick pretty white covering all over everything. There is what I thought was a wooly sheep sitting outside of a door but I think its a dog with lots of snow covering his hopefully thick fur coat.

Its refreshing to see the foggy yet warm looking banner across the top of her themed blog, and then to see the cold bitter looking snow covered truck and other things from her shared images of the 1st snow of the year for her. I hope her creative claying is not effected by the cold. Here where I am in Florida its a welcomed blessing.

Jewelry Display Ideas

2008-01-03T19:55:00.000-08:00

Jewelry Display Ideas

Jewelry Display Ideas is your resource for discovering fantastic new ways to show your jewelry, plus creative ways to package it.

I found this to be a very imformative website. I think most people who sell jewlery or maybe even other items can bennefit from this webiste and what it has to offer its visitors.

Check it out!

How-to-make-beads-from-Polymerclay

2008-01-03T19:50:00.000-08:00

How-to-make-beads-from-Polymerclay

This is an awesome Blog and has a few short tutorial videos and all are great techniques that I think everyone will enjoy!!!

Carol Duvall Show - Crafts : Show : Home & Garden Television

2007-12-29T20:09:00.000-08:00

Carol Duvall Show - Crafts : Show : Home & Garden Television

If you love Carol Duvall like I do you might want to watch these 15 videos from her online.

Paper crafting with Carol. Check it out!

Polka Dot Creations Faux Gaspeite Tutorial by Jenny Cox

2007-12-28T17:30:00.000-08:00

Polka Dot Creations Faux Gaspeite Tutorial by Jenny Cox

Click to see a larger version of the image.

Make this beautiful faux Gaspeite from polymer clay.

Polka Dot Creations Scrap Feather Cane Tutorial by Robin Milne

2007-12-28T17:26:00.000-08:00

Polka Dot Creations Scrap Feather Cane Tutorial by Robin Milne

Polka Dot Creations Aunt Betty's Pansy Cane Tutorial by Marla Frankenberg

2007-12-28T17:21:00.000-08:00

Polka Dot Creations Aunt Betty's Pansy Cane Tutorial by Marla Frankenberg

Click to see a larger view

Crafts : Figures : Bobble Head : Home & Garden Television

2007-12-27T21:58:00.000-08:00

Crafts : Figures : Bobble Head : Home & Garden Television

Increddible Bobble Head tutorial. Make your own Bobble Head of yourself, a friend, family member or why not even try one of your pets. Step-by-step, seems quite easy to do.

Maybe replace the use of polymer clay with air dry clay to make it easier for hallowing out the head to balance on the neck spring.

This guy makes these things and sells them personalized to anyone who desired to have one for $200 each. Not bad to have something personalized like that. I always wondered how I could get my own head on a doll or bobble LOL

Enjoy!!!

Andrea "Cre8"

On The Workbench - Or, what I have been up to lately

2007-12-26T18:36:00.000-08:00

On The Workench - Or, what I have been up to lately
Fillagree Ornament Tutorial

A nice short easy to create ornament tutorial.

Looks like something you can use any time of the year.

~Hugs~
Cre8

Product Review: Atlas Pasta Drive Motor « Polymer Clay Review

2007-12-24T23:21:00.000-08:00

Product Review: Atlas Pasta Drive Motor « Polymer Clay Review

RE: [OOAKbabysculpters] Etsy Now Has a Miniatures Category!!

2007-12-19T09:57:00.000-08:00

I do agree about the economy Barb, certainly nothing to write home about. It is showing with everyone I know, not just those of us who sell crafts. Even those who sell new items and items which normally had done very well for them in the past.

I just pray the new year brings prosperity for all.

Also note, Etsy is not the only online place in which artists can sell their creations. There are several more I found but since I do not get paid to advertise for them and they do charge a monthly fee for membership I do not mention or link to them. Being that I support Handmade which you can find their banners on my website you can click and go to their website and see many they list to. One I found which is $10 a month does all the work for you and you keep 80% of the profits. They even take calls from your customers which I did not read on but I do not agree with. I think your business should be as personal as the things you create.

Its a bonus to my customers when they can talk with me (the artist) live. Course now if your busy and sell that much you cant spend time with your customers and think it will help and not hinder your business, go for it.

-----Original Message-----

you are right Ebay limits it to 10 days, but I do like the auction style they have. I hope that Etsy does get more popular Ebay needs more competition . When I get confident enough to do BIN or set a certain price for my babies I may list one there to see how it goes Ebay kind of stinks right now with the economy so bad
barb

.

__,_._,___

Making Memories® Embellishment Center & Desktop Carousel

2007-12-19T09:25:00.000-08:00

Making Memories® Embellishment Center & Desktop Carousel

For my USA and Canada friends and readers (As Michael's is only in US and Canada) other do read on on as the same can be made if your handy with wood and or know someone who is....

I had to tell you about this since I just now got word of it and think its a very nice way to display your craft materials and supplies while keeping them where they can be seen in a nice organized way. I am all about organization and keeping things in sight so they can be used, I have learned the hard way from my past ways and don't want you all to follow in my old footsteps.

I did not yet find out the price and know I probably could not afford to get one even for myself this year, but if I could I would purchase one for all my crafty friends. Since I can not though, I thought why not at least let you all know about it so if you have those last minute lists for Santa you can add it, and or maybe the handyman in your life can make you one similar. It looks rather easy.

I have a few shadow boxes I already use in my work studio and aside from the dowel that holds rolls of craft ribbon which I don't have, everything else is pretty much the same less the decorative molding along the top. I have no troubles finding what I need and things now are actually being used while at the same time I am not running out for things I could have swore I already had but could not find and yet have that project that still requires it. So out to the store to spend more money to get whatever it is again. Don't you know I always find the ones I already thought I had once I have already gone out to get more!

My resolution for the new year is to be even more organized than I already am and to use up lots of the clay and other craft items I have laying around for that "Need it one day" situation BEFORE THEY ALL DRY OUT and get WASTED. I say the days are coming in the New Year, and 2008 is going to be a Craftabulous Year!!!(do not seek a definition this is a Cre8 Cre8ted word!!!)

Enjoy the holiday and the information. You get it at Michael's Crafts or make one yourself!
Oh yeah and carousel is also a nice way to keep you clay sculpting and other tools you need to keep handy. If you have a Lazy Suzan and some time, some cardboard roll tubes from toilet paper or even paper towels you can make your own!

Handmade 2.0 - New York Times

2007-12-18T19:31:00.000-08:00

Handmade 2.0 - New York Times

TinyCrafts has this logo in support of the HANDMADE brigade!!!

Support Handmade

Read the story from here. See how Etsy in only 2 years has grown from others who sell handmade items, not advertising.

Credit cards lose their stand to PayPal

2007-12-16T09:05:00.000-08:00

Credit cards lose their stand to PayPal
Internet-based payment services are gaining in popularity, capitalizing on the fear of identity theft and payment fraud with internet shoppers.
Article By Andrea Herrera

Playing the part of payment collector is eBay's PayPal. Companies like Gateway and Dell who typically lets customers purchase computers with their Visa or MasterCard credit cards. But with this new service, all payments go through a PayPal account.

"People are always seeking ways and means of using different payment options, especially when making purchases online. Looking at this one in particular opened up a lot of opportunities," as was said by Dell's own marketing director David Clifton.

An easier way to pay PayPal's payment service is more than likely to show up on a lot of unexpected and unusual web sites this holiday season. In mid-November, tools were released by PayPal that allow online shoppers to use its service nearly everywhere online, even in situations in which the online merchant does not accept PayPal. Internet shoppers can now download a tool bar that will allow them use of a temporary MasterCard number when making their transaction(s). Payments are then withdrawn from the user's PayPal-linked credit card or bank account. Payment is then processed through PayPal and the merchant never sees the buyers original account details. The system is designed to guard against identity theft and credit card fraud.

Senior director of financial products at ebay, Chris George says, "PayPal is the safest way to pay online because we don't share your financial information".

Polymeri Online - I have been Blogged!!! 12/13/07

2007-12-14T03:01:00.000-08:00

I just received this message from a member from in another group I am in. I am in shock and am so happy to.

Check it out.

Hi Andrea,

congratulations for being blogged on Polymeri Online!
In case you did not see it yet:
http://polymerionline.blogspot.com/2007/12/polymeri-online-131207.html

Have a nice Christmas time everybody
Senta
.

Mini Clayful ~Hugs~ Andrea "Cre8"
Cre8tor of Tiny Crafts - http://www.tinycrafts.com/
Friend and Moderator - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Air-Dry-Clay & http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCAWW/
Check Out My Lens http://www.squidoo.com/tinycrafts/

Faux Coral Polymer Clay

2007-11-29T13:19:00.000-08:00

If you like to make your own beads and jewelry in polymer clay and have been wondering the recipe of colors to mix to make your own Faux Coral, here it is.

Faux Coral
1 Translucent
1/2 Tangerine
1/2 Sunflower Yellow
1/4 Raspberry
1/4 White

Cre8tivey Yours,
Andrea "Cre8"

Cane Work with Polymer Clay | Quilted In Clay

2007-11-29T13:16:00.000-08:00

Just had to let you see the wonderful work of this artist. Her amazing color choices and splendid ways of working with polymer clay canes and quilting designs has really inspired me to create some canes of my own. The quilts alone look like real life miniature quilts. You hardly know you are looking at clay and not a fabric created patchwork quilt. She shows you the process of creating just the right colors of clay to start with and how she begins to create the many shapes she uses with a clay gun also known as an extruder and she even uses the help of a handy dandy press made from a couple of pieces of a cut 2" X 4" with a hole drilled out into the center towards the edge of one of them so that the extruder will fit into it making it much easier for her to press the clay out of the extruder as needed. Sure she saves herself lots of muscle pain with that neat gadget.

Take a look for yourself, and while you are at it, brows through her website and see all the wonderful things she creates.

Cane Work with Polymer Clay Quilted In Clay

Cre8tively Yours,
Andrea "Cre8"

Jane Zhao Arts Studio Home Dimensions with Donna Dewberry

2007-10-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

If your in the Boca Raton, Florida or sourounding areas you to can get certified and become a teacher certified to train others in the art of using this brand new polymer clay product.
Jane Zhao Arts Studio Home Dimensions with Donna Dewberry

Awesome Polymer Clay Group - City Wide Fun

2007-09-07T19:55:00.002-07:00

Join the city that never sleeps and always dreams of Polymer Clay creations.

City-o-Clay
A Yahoo Group!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CITY-o-Clay/

Members from all over the world have joined together to help one another with tips and fun ideas to create from polymer clay.

Friendly conversation and tutorials galore!

Swaps
No Dumb Questions Asked
Easy to Follow Instructions by Professional artists to help guide you through your projects.

City-o-Clay is an online City-o-Fun!!!!

real baby fantasy

2006-08-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

Real Baby Fantasy - OOAK Polymer Clay Babies SO REAL!!!!

real baby fantasy
A Wonderful Blog I found here on Blogger just after cre8ting this blog of my own.

I am amazed at the detail and realism of these polymer clay babies. Tiny handfuls of precisely hand detailed bundles of joy. Clearly hand sculptured sculpted with lots of love and lets not forget skill here to.

I want to contact Junior and ask how the hair is achieved, you think it would be ok?

The artist Junior is my new idol.

These OOAK babies remind me of those created by by other favorite Polymer Doll Artist Camille Allen a young and extremely creative artist from Canada who's creations have once been thought to been made from marzipan, an edible confection paste. The rumors spread far and wide thus a very talented polymer doll artist became well known for her creations. I have seen for myself one of her babies sold for more than $1,700.00 on Ebay. Junior I think has her beat, I have never seen such creative talent.

Whats To Come

2006-08-30T13:18:00.000-07:00

I am a Miniaturist and sculptor of polymer clay babies, fairies, animals, all scale miniatures for doll houses dioramas, room boxes, scenes, settings and more. Come join me here if your one to.

Miniature Books, Furniture, Clothing & Accessories

Miniature Food & Kitchen Items

Miniature Furniture, Wood Boxes, Crates & Coffins

Miniature People & Animals

Miniature Plants & Flowers

Fairy Wands, Tiaras, Diaries & Other Fantasy Accessories

Baby Fairies, Baby Animals, OOAK Babies.

NO MOULDS ARE USED EVER!!!!

ARE YOU A MINIATURIST OR CLAY SCULPTOR?
I would love to see your work here in my blog. Please feel free to share your creations. I created this place with other sculptors and miniature artisans in mind. Share your thoughts and ideas on anything to do with miniatures and or Polymer Clay.

SELLING ON EBAY?
Post a link to your listings for only Polymer clay OOAK baby sculptures and anything Miniature.
All others will be removed immediately and IPs blocked and reported.

I look forward to sharing more of myself and my creation with the world very soon.

Andrea "Cre8"