Hello dear friends!
Here’s the perfect tutorial for a winter day. This colorful piece will hopefully brighten up your day.
In this tutorial I’m using a variation of the Natasha technique, also called the Natasha bead. This is an easy technique that, in my humble opinion, will give you amazing results, especially if you’re a fan of symmetry.
The Natasha technique is about using scrap clay (ideally the leftovers of a beautiful cane), but any scrap clay will do, and roll it into a log, then twist the log many, many times (the more you twist it, the more intricate will be the design on the final piece). Then you cut in the middle, align the two pieces together, roll the bead flat and be prepared to be amazed!
I tweaked a little bit this technique and I prefer to choose the colors that I’m going to use and I also like wrapping the logs in polymer clay (in this tutorial I’m using black polymer clay for a higher contrast in the piece). And then I put the logs into a bundle, press them together, twist the bundles several times, press on the ends to make it smaller, roll it with the roller on all sides. Then I use a sharp rigid blade to cut in the middle of the bead (on the side of the bead). A perfect cut will give you a perfect symmetrical design when putting the two pieces together. Than you’ll just have to roll the bead flat.
I decided to use colors of polymer clay that I don’t really use on a regular basis: neon colors and glitter polymer clay. Even though I tented the beads while baking them, still the neon colors were not so ”neon” after baking. Still I like the piece very much.
You can spice up the design by adding a stamped impression or by using gold foil and a stencil.
I chose to use Diamond Glaze (this is not very surprising, I know), but you can use resin or you can sand and buff your pieces until you get a beautiful glass-like look.
If you decide to mix two brands of clay with different baking temperature, it is recommended to go with the lowest temperature that goes for both of them.
As always, I hope that you liked the tutorial and that you are inspired to create your own beautiful jewelry pieces, using, why not, your scrap clay!
Happy claying!
Mihaela
Learn Polymer Clay 
Oh Mihaela… I love all of your pieces, however, this one is quite special. Well done to you, dear one.. 🙂
xoxoxo
Thank you very much, my dear Carolyn! This one is very special for me too because it was almost failed, not perfect anyway. And in the same time I knew that the idea was good and I liked the elephant inspiration so I continued to make the tutorial even thought everything was going against (a bad cut, gold foil spreading everywhere), but I just kept my faith. Thank you again, my dear friend, for appreciating my work!
Have a beautiful and joyful day!
xoxoxo
Well written, Mihaela
Thank you very much for your appreciation! Have a beautiful day!
It certainly brightened up my day, thank you! Mihaela!
Thank you, Deb, for your beautiful words! You’ve brightened up my day with your beautiful comment! Thank you! Have a beautiful and creative day!
Well I’m glad! Thanks!
Reblogged this on sketchuniverse and commented:
🐘HELLO DEARS! MIHAELA IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE ARTISTS. SHE SKETCH ON HER MIND AND HER ART IS ALWAYS GREAT AND SHE IS SO SELFLESS BECAUSE EXPLAINS THE SECRETS OF EACH WORK.
Thank you, my dear friend, for your beautiful words and for sharing the inspiration with your readers. I’m truly grateful for your appreciation and for your support! Thank you! Have a beautiful and blessed day!
Oh Mihaela, your comment makes me so glad. I think something similar about you. You know I’m your fan 😘😘
You are very talented dear. Thanks for sharing❤️
Thank you, dear Shivangi, for your kind words. I loved your blog and I love the way you tell stories using words or using acrylic paint. Your works are very beautiful! Have a wonderful day!
Thanks to you I learnt a new way of expression for the first time – polymer clay. May god bless you and you keep inspiring us to create interesting things😀🤗
I’m so happy that I was the messenger for a medium that I love and that is, in my opinion, so versatile and easy to use, while offering in the same time endless possibilities.
Not to mention that you can use polymer clay to make jewelry , decorations, paintings, vases and more.
Moreover, like any art endeavor it’s an exploration of your own creativity and an inner journey of discovery, with the same healing and relaxing aspect that any creative process has.
If you’re using it to make jewelry, you can turn your inspiration into wearable pieces of jewelry.
Thank you for your beautiful comment. It touched my heart.
I’m wishing you a beautiful and creative day!
Such a sweet and thoughtful comment. I will keep your advice in mind. I will be very happy if you could share a tutorial on making masks using clay. In the meantime, happy creating!
Dear Shivangi,
thank you for your message.
I haven’t made masks from polymer clay until now, but I know this is possible and I will think of a tutorial on this subject.
In general I try to focus on making jewelry pieces, but, from time to time I like to try my hand at other polymer clay items.
Thank you for the piece of advice.
I wish you to have a happy time creating beautiful art!