CHarmOscope Polymer Clay Canes by Cathy Harm (CHarm)

CharmOscope Polymer Clay Canes with Cathy Harm a CraftArtEdu class Web: www.craftartedu.com Customer Service: info@craftartedu.com CHarmOscope Polymer Clay Canes by Cathy Harm (CHarm) -This handout is intended only for use by students enrolled in the CHarmOscope polymer clay canes class with CraftArtEdu. -Duplication of this handout by or for anyone other than the registered student is expressly prohibited. -This lesson is for your own personal use only. It is not for resale, the text and photos are not for reproduction or redistribution either in print or electronically. -You can save it to your computer, print it off for your own reference or save it to disk but please don't pass it around to others or reproduce it in any way. Under the copyright laws that's illegal and besides that... it's just not nice or fair to others. -The canes and projects you make from this tutorial are yours to do with as you like. -I really appreciate you honoring my copyright so I can keep on doing what I do. -Thank you for your understanding and co-operation. -Never use ANYTHING you have used on clay for ANYTHING to do with food. -Don't let the raw clay touch fabric like chairs, sofa etc. or wood furniture. -I use my home oven for baking my clay (frequent cleanings) but some use a dedicated clay oven. Either way an oven thermometer is a good idea. - The materials list for each of the CHarmOscope canes is at the end of this tutorial. - Step by step instructions on making the blends is shown in the CraftArtEdu class. PS... the numbers on the photos in this handout do NOT relate to the chapter numbers in the class there are many more in the class, but this will help remind you of the steps. 1

2) Reduce the blue and the purple blends to 12 long. The green blend will be shaped round and the size will be determined as we need it to fill in spaces. 1) All the CHarmOscope canes in this class are made using 4 long component pieces 3) Cut both the Blue and Purple lengths into 3 equal pieces (4 long). Place one Blue in between two Purple pieces. 4) And one Purple in between two Blue pieces. 5) Shape a piece of the green blend to fill in the space at the bottom of both components we just made. 6) Roll out a thin snake of black background clay and place in between the tiny spaces on the top. 2

7) Using the green blend, shape pieces to fit on each side of the purple wedge. 8) Take the Red to pink blend and reduce it to 9 long, cut off 3 and set that aside for now. Reduce the remaining 6 piece to 12 long. Place a length of the Red on either side of the Blue and one on top of the purple wedge. You can cut 3 equal pieces from this length or just lay the length on the cane and cut the length as you need it. I do this a lot especially with filler pieces. 9) Work with the single blue component cane we set aside earlier, reduce the 3 piece of Red to 4 and flatten out into a rectangle shape using a roller, place on the top of the Blue wedge. Using the green, pinch into a triangle shape and place as a filler alongside the Red. 10) Round this cane up using the heels of your hands. 11) Take a deep breath and pinch along the bottom into a thin wedge shape. 12) Create a sharp edge on the wedge by pressing against a hard surface. Reduce this piece to 8 long and cut in half. 3

13) Pinch a snake of background color clay and fill alongside the green on the first component cane we made and set aside earlier. 14) Lay a length of the second component cane on either side of the Red of the first component cane. 15) Turn the cane upside down and fill that tiny space with a triangle shape of background clay. 16) Place a piece of green blend in between the Red color clay. Place a piece of background filler alongside the Red rounds and the green too. 17) Round the cane up and get ready to reduce this entire piece. 18) You can save a lot of cane waste and distortion by pulling the side clay over the top of the cane before you reduce it, I know it s hard to bring yourself to do this, but it works!!! 4

19) Reduce and smooth the cane out to 12 long. 20) For this cane, shape the length into a wedge. Here's the stage where you may want to experiment with different shapes and numbers of pieces for your cane. So many choices! 21) Cut the length into 3 equal 4 pieces and combine them. 22) As you combine the pieces, line up the registration lines. 24) Lay it in between the wedges. 23) Roll out a snake of yellow and pinch into a triangle shape to use for a filler. 5

25) Cut this piece in half. 26) As you combine the two halves, match up the registration lines. 27) Don t forget to fill in the new spaces just created with the yellow filler blend. 28) Reduce by covering the ends, choking, and rolling smooth on your table. Cut off a couple inches and reduce that piece further for a variety of sizes. 6

29) CHarmOscope 2 30) Just a quick reminder of the layout for the Red to Yellow blend used for this Scope. 31) Take the green blend and reduce it to 16, shape into a wedge shape and cut 4 pieces. Set one of the pieces aside for a minute. 32) Combine the remaining 3 pieces by placing the middle piece up about ¼ on the first piece than sandwich it in with the third piece. 33) Squish the cane pieces together using the heels of your hands. 34) Smooth it out and shape it into a wedge shape. Your cane should be about 4 long. Set this one aside. 7

35) Reduce the Purple blend AND the 4 th piece of Green blend you set aside earlier to 8 then shape both into a wedge. 36) Deep breath here we need to slice into the purple on the wedge edge NOT all the way through tho, just enough so we can slip the Green piece into the Purple. So do this carefully. 39) Place the wedge edge of the Green into the opening of the Purple. You may need to pinch the green a little more in order to have it fit snug. 40) Cut this length in half and now we have two 4 pieces. 41) Pinch a sharp edge on the Green 3 piece cane we made and set aside a minute ago. 42) Insert this green piece in between the purple/green combination pieces. Lay the green in about ¼ up like we did before. 8

43) Round this cane up as we ve been doing with the heels of your hands and then rolling it against a hard surface. 44) Reduce the Yellow blend to a snake about ½ across and 12 long. We need to cut 3 equal pieces 4 long. 45) Line up the yellow lengths so the registration lines on the light side are centered and facing up. Make a snake of background color (black) and fill in between the yellow lengths. 46) Lay the Yellow grouping on top of the green as shown. Using the registration lines as a guide. 47) Fill in the spaces on the top of the yellow blend pieces. 48) Reduce the Blue blend to about 1 across, flatten out 12 using a roller and cut 3 equal 4 pieces. You will have leftover blend and that s good, we need it shortly. 9

49) Lay one of the pieces along the top, fit the side of the blue snugly, just push the side in using your fingers. 50) Lay the second blue piece in butting it up against the side of the first. Using your thumb, fit the other edge of the blue snugly in there too. 51) Take the remaining Blue blend and reduce and pinch it into a triangle shape so it will fill in the space alongside the Blue rectangles we just added. 52) Round the cane up, deep breath! Keep breathing!!! Get ready to reduce the cane. 53) This is a large cane and to reduce the whole piece, choke the cane in the center and work you way to the end while giving ¼ turns as you go. Flip the cane over and work from the center to the other end. 54) This cane will be a petal shape (8 petals total) so we need to reduce this piece to 16 and shape it into a petal shape by squeezing the entire length of the cane. Cut 4 equal 4 lengths and place them together matching the registration lines. 10

55) Find your Red to Yellow blend and roll out a small snake (about ½ across and 16 long) set the balance of the blend aside to use in another CHarmOscope cane. Pinch the blend into a triangle shape and use as a filler in between the spaces of the petals 56) Cut this combination in half and combine, matching up the registration lines again. 57) Cut this combination in half and combine, matching up the registration lines again. Before you get too impressed with yourself and your beautiful creation, place a piece of filler cane in the spaces we just created! 58) Squeeze from the center out to the ends and roll smooth to complete your cane. Cut an inch or two off your cane and reduce it (from the center out to each end) to make a variety of sizes to use in your projects. 11

58) CHarmOscope 3 59) The Blue and Purple do NOT have a black wrap on them so therefore no registration line. It s easy to create one by laying on a thin #4 strip of black on the top and bottom of each blend, you can also use a darker shade of the blend color if you don t want to use black. 60) Lets take the Purple blend first, reduce this to 9 and cut off a 3 piece and set aside. With the 6 remaining piece, shape into a wedge and reduce to 8 then cut this in half making two wedge shapes. 61) Reduce the Red blend to 12 and cut off 3, shape the 9 piece into a wedge shape and reduce this to 12, cut 3 equal 4 lengths. Place these wedges as shown in the photo. 62) Reduce the 3 piece we cut off at the beginning to 12 and cut 3 equal 4 lengths and combine as shown, using the registration lines. 63) With the Blue blend, reduce it to 16, cut off a 4 length and set it aside for a second. Flatten out the rest to about ½ thick and reduce to 16 long. Cut into 4 equal 4 long pieces, set one of the 4 pieces to the side for now. 12

64) Combine the remaining 3 pieces by stacking them on top of each other. Reduce this stack to 8, cut in half and combine. 65) Place this piece on top of the Red wedges on our main component cane. 66) Remember the Purple piece we set aside? Shape that piece into a triangle and reduce it to 8. Use it to fill in alongside the Blue stripe we just added. 67) Shape the round Blue piece we set aside into a triangle shape, reduce it to 10 long and use 8 of it to fill in alongside where the Purple and Red touch. Set aside. 68) Let s make the second component cane so we have it ready to go later on. Reduce the flattened out Blue piece to 8 long and cut in half. Place each half on either side of the Red grouping we made already. Pinch together where the Blues meet. 69) Using the remaining little 2 piece of Blue that we used as a filler on the main component cane, reduce that to 4, shape into a triangle and fill in between the Red circles. 13

70) Squeeze this cane into an 8 long wedge shape, 71) Cut in half and combine the two halves again. Reduce this piece to 12 set this component cane aside for now. 73) Reduce the cane to 12 long. 72) Back to our main component cane Use the heels of your hands to shape the cane into a round shape. Smooth it out and reduce it by squeezing from the center out and turning it ¼ turn with each squeeze. Smooth it out by rolling against a hard surface. Shape into a wedge shape. 74) Cut in half and re-combine following the registration lines. 75) You can stop here and use this as it is, but I want to cut and combine it again. So take a deep breath and squeeze this piece together. 14

76) Shape into a wedge and reduce to 12 long. Cut into 3 equal 4 long lengths. 77) Place a piece of the 2 nd component cane in between these wedges. Place a piece along the outer edge as well. 78) Push the cane together to help smooth the outer edges out a bit. 79) Cut this length in half. When you go to combine the halves, make sure you flip one over so that the wedge we placed on the outer edge is in the proper place. 80) Round the cane out using the heels of your hands. When reducing, pull the outer clay up over the end of the cane and squeeze from the center of the cane out to the ends. 81) Cut off and inch or two and reduce that to different sizes if you like. 15

82) For this CHarmOscope #4 cane we use smaller 4oz. and 6 oz. blends. 83) Begin with the Turquoise blend, reduce it to 9 cut off 3 and set that aside for later. Reduce the balance to 12, shape into a wedge and cut and combine 3 equal 4 long pieces. 84) Working with the Red blend, reduce the whole blend to 12, yes, the whole blend! Wedge shape it and cut it into 3 equal 4 long lengths and combine. Reduce this combination to 8 and cut in half. 85) Roll the Pink blend out to 16 and cut in half, shape one half into a wedge and cut in half. Reduce the other half to 16, using your roller flatten it out, cut into 4 equal 4 long lengths and just set them aside for now. 86) Take the little purple rolled blend and reduce it to 14, cut three 4 long pieces leaving a 2 length. 87) Take the leftover 2 piece and cut in half lengthwise. Butt the two pieces together and smooth out on both sides. Taa Daa now we have a 4 long half moon shape. 16

88) Insert the Turquoise combo in between two Pink wedges. 89) Place the Orange combos on either side of the Pink. This will leave a space in the center, but that s good, we want that! 90) Use two of the purple lengths to fill the space on top of the Pink and alongside the Turquoise. Lay in the half moon piece in the space at the bottom between the Orange wedges. 91) Split the last piece of Purple in half lengthwise and place the halves along the top. 92) Roll out some background clay into a long snake and pinch into a triangle shape then fill in the spaces on the top. 93) Take 3 of the flattened out pieces and lay them along the top. I m putting the light side of the blend upwards, you can put it downwards if you choose. 17

94) Using the pieces we set aside earlier, reduce the Turquoise to 4 long and cut the Pink in half. 96) Place the Pink in between the Turquoise wedges and squish together, roll smooth and reduce to 8 and shape into a wedge. 97) Use this new cane to fill in the space alongside the Purple. 98) Using the heels of your hands shape this cane into a round shape. Here we go again!!! Breathe!!! Pull up the outer clay over each end before you reduce the cane. 99) You can cut off about a 6 piece and use that to make one the combinations, you ll be able to make a variety of smaller canes about 2 long. 18

100) For this particular design cane, reduce the cane to 15 and cut 3 equal 5 pieces, pinch into a wedge shape. Pinch the center piece a little extra to make it a smidge thinner and longer. 101) Line up the registration lines as you place the wedges together. 102) Push the wedges together at the top too. Cut this length in half. 103) Combine the halves by following the registration lines the best you can. 104) Where you choose to shape into a wedge or petal and the number of pieces you choose to combine can give you a variety of pretty designs. All from the one main component cane. 19

105) CHarmOscope #5 106) Four fan folded blends are used. 107) Before we begin on what might be my personal favorite so far, here's a quick reminder of the layout used for the Red blend. 108) A little strange looking but it creates a beautiful blend. 109) Reduce the Red blend to 16 and cut 4 equal 4 long lengths. Set one of the lengths aside for a couple minutes. Shape 3 of the pieces into a teardrop shape which is thinner and a little longer than a wedge shape. 110) Place the pieces together with the center piece placed about ¼ higher than the others. 20

111) Squeeze this group together, smooth out, reshape into a wedge shape and reduce to 8 long. Cut in half. 112) Do the exact same with the Green blend. Place the Green on top of each Red wedge. 113) Take the Purple blend next and reduce it to 16, cut off 10 and set aside to use as the strips later on. Reduce the 6 piece to 12, cut in 3 equal 4 lengths, shape into teardrops and combine just as we did with the Red and Green. Pinch the edge of this combination to a finer point and place this piece in the center of the Green blends. 114) Using a snake of black background clay, shape it into a triangle. Fill on either side of the Purple, this worked better for me by placing a small piece in first then placing a larger piece in on top of that one. 115) Reduce the Blue blend to 18 long and cut four 4 long pieces. Set the remaining 2 piece to the side for a second. Fill the spaces along the dips of the four Blue lengths. 116) Pull the sides of the Red blends up to help round off the cane a bit. 21

117) Using the black background clay, fill in the top of the blue blends on the cane. 118) Reduce the little 2 piece of Blue blend to 4 and use to fill in the center bottom of the cane. 119) Find the 10 piece of Purple we set aside and flatten it out with a roller and reduce it to 12 long. It will be about 1-1/8 wide and ¼ thick, cut 3 equal 4 long lengths and place across the top of the Blue blends. Butt the sides up against each other smoothly. 120) Take both the Red and the Green pieces that were set aside and reduce each to 8 long and cut in half. 121) Place the Red in the space right under the Purple strip and next to the Blue. Shape the Green blend to fit the space under the Red. 122) Begin to round it up using the heels of your hands to push. 22

123) After you get it to a manageable size begin to choke it from the center out to each end 124) Another deep breathe and pull the clay from the sides over the ends. 125) Choke, turn, pull gently and keep working your way from the center of the cane out to each end. 126) You can shape the cane into a square and combine 4 equal lengths together to form the more intricate square cane. 127) You can pinch a teardrop shape into the Red edge, cut 3 equal lengths, combine them, cut in half and you ll have this gorgeous design. 128) Pinching the Purple into a point and combining 3 equal lengths then cutting in half will give you this design. 23

129) If you d like to shape your cane into a square but off center of the design, follow the registration lines. 130) Smooth out the length with your roller. 131) Cut the length in half and combine following the registration lines. 132) Cut this length in half and combine using those registration lines again. 133) Smooth your finished cane out by stroking it from the center out towards each end and flipping it regularly. 24

134) CharmOscope Surprise!!! Combo 135) Reduce the Fuchsia to 16 and cut into 4 equal 4 pieces and shape them. Reduce the Blue to 12, cut into 3 equal 4 long pieces, shape and combine. Reduce this Blue combination to 12 and cut 3 equal 4 long pieces, set them in between the Fuchsia. 136) Take the Orange blend and reduce it to 18 cut off 12, from the 12 Cut 3 equal 4 long pieces. Place along the top and fill with black background. Reduce the Green to 12 and flatten then cut 3 equal 4 long pieces and place on top of the Orange. 137) Reduce this cane to 12, shape and cut 3 equal lengths and combine. Use the 6 of Orange that was remaining as a filler in between the petals or wedges that you just created with the cane. Shape as you like, you can also square this cane up. 25

139) Your blends should be about 4 long. 138) CHarmOscope #6 140) Reduce the Copper blend to 8 long and cut in half, set 1 of the halves aside for now. With the other half we need to cut this into thirds. Think Peace 141) Make guide lines in your blend so when you cut it the lines will give you a more accurate cut. If your off a bit, it s no big catastrophe but try to keep the quadrants similar in size. When cutting, your blade only goes into the blend to the center of the blend. 142) Pull up the black wrap towards the center of each piece. 143) Pinch each of the pieces into a wedge shape and then flatten and smooth them out using the heel of your hand. Remember to keep them about 4 in length. 26

144) Lay one wedge on top of another about ¼ up from the bottom of the first piece. 145) Place the third wedge even with the first. Set this combination aside for now. 146) Reduce the fan folded Turquoise blend to 8 and cut in half, using one of the halves, create a wedge shape by pinching along the light edge. Reduce this wedge to 12 and cut 3 equal 4 long pieces. Pinch the center length a little extra and combine these three lengths the same as before. Squeeze this combination together, reshape into a wedge if you need to and flatten out with the heel of your hand. Reduce to 8 and cut in half. Set these two pieces aside for a minute. 147) Take the remaining half of the fan folded blend and shape it into a wedge, then push it down to create more of a triangle shape. This shape is going to be placed in between the Copper piece we made a couple minutes ago. 148) Use your fingers to stretch the clay at the top so it touches and there s no gap. Round up this piece, roll against your table to help round and to fit the Teal in between. 149) Squeeze this combination together and smooth out. Reduce it to 12 and cut 3 equal pieces 4 long each. Insert the Turquoise combination cane we made and set aside earlier. 27

150) We re going to use the Copper length we set aside in the beginning as a filler piece so take that blend and reduce it to 20 long (5 x 4 lengths) and pinch it into a triangle shape. 151) Using 16 of the filler piece, fill in between the spaces of the main piece and join any gap using your fingers to push the filler together. 152) With the last 4 piece of filler, turn so the triangle is point up and place on top of cane. 153) Take the only piece left, the Teal rolled blend. Flatten it out and reduce to 8. 154) Pinch into a shape that will fill along side the Copper triangle on the cane. 155) To help keep our cane component straight as we construct the finished CHarmOscope we need to have a registration line where these two pieces meet. Using your blade simply cut away about ¼ of the black wrap on each side and peel away. 28

156) Round the entire piece up with help of the heel of your hand. 157) If you know what shape of cane you want (square or triangle) you can reduce this piece to 16 and shape into the shape you chose. If you re not sure and want to experiment first, reduce to 20 and cut off 4 to experiment with first. 158) If you d like to make a square cane shape the length into square, cut it in half and using the registration lines place the two halves together. Cut this length in half again and put together following the registration lines. 159) If you d like to make a Petal, wedge or triangle shape, shape the length into the shape you want. You can cut 3 or 4 lengths depending on what you choose. Place your lengths together following the registration lines again then cut in half and join to complete your cane. Tip If your petals or wedges don t quite meet together at the top place a filler piece of background clay, or leftover piece if you have it or use an accent color blend. Choices, choices, choices. However you choose to cut and combine this cane, aren't you impressed with yourself! 29

Quick reference materials list for CharmOscope canes CHarmOscope 1-2 oz. Red - 4 oz. Pink for a bullseye blend - 2oz. Gold - 2oz. Yellow -2oz. White fan fold blend - 4 oz. Peppermint Blue - 2 oz. White for a three tone blend - 4 oz. Purple - 2 oz. White for a three tone blend - 2 oz. Dark Green - 2 oz. Lt Green - 2 oz. White for a four tone fan fold blend - 8 oz. Background filler and wrap clay CHarmOscope 2-4 oz. Purple - 2 oz. White for a three tone blend - 4 oz. Spanish Olive - 2 oz. White for a three tone blend - 2oz. Gold - 2oz. Yellow - 2oz. White for a three tone fan fold blend (or the leftover yellow blend used in Scope1) - 2oz. Ultra Marine Blue - 4 oz. White rolled bullseye blend - 2 oz. Red - 2 oz. Orange - 4 oz. Yellow four tone fan folded blend. We only use a small portion of this Red to yellow blend for this cane but we ll use the rest on the next couple canes. - 8 oz. Background filler and wrap clay CHarmOscope 3-4 oz. Purple - 2 oz. White for a three tone fan fold blend - 2 oz. Red - 2 oz. Orange -4 oz. Yellow for a Red fan folded blend (if you made Scope 2, you can use the remainder of the blend you have on hand) - 2 oz. Blue - 4 oz. White for a rolled bullseye Blue blend 30

CHarmOscope 4 - ½ oz. Red (¼ block) - 2 oz. Pink - 2 oz. White for a fan folded Pink - 2 oz. Red - 2 oz. Orange - 2 oz. Yellow for a fan folded Red - 2 oz. Turquoise - 2 oz. White for a fan folded Turquoise - 1 oz. Purple - 1 oz. White for a small rolled bullseye blend. - 4 oz. Background filler and wrap clay CHarmOscope 5-1 oz. (½ block) Red - 2 oz Orange - 2 oz Yellow - 1 oz White for the Red fan fold blend - 4 oz. Spanish Olive - 2 oz. White for the Green fan folded blend - 4 oz. Purple - 2 oz. White for the Purple fan folded blend - 2 oz. Ultra Marine Blue - 4 oz. of Peppermint rolled bullseye blend. - 6 oz. Background filler and wrap clay CHarmOscope 6-2 oz. copper - 1oz. Alizarin Crimson - 4 oz. White rolled bullseye blend - 2 oz. of Peacock - 2 oz. of white rolled bullseye blend - 4 oz. of Peacock - 4 oz. of White fan folded blend - 4 oz. Background filler and wrap clay Bonus Scope Combo - 4 oz. Fuchsia - 2 oz. White for Fuchsia Blend - 4oz. Blue - 2 oz. White for Blue Blend - 4 oz. Green - 2 oz. White for Green Blend - ½ oz. Red - 2 oz. Orange - 2 oz. Yellow for Orange Blend 31

HINTS THAT I HAVE FOUND HELPFUL I've been sending out this Tip Sheet since 2000 maybe you will find these basic tips helpful too if you don't already know them... -To REDUCE a round cane, pinch off the ends to close (so you won t lose a lot of the pattern) and gently squish or choke the cane evenly from the center out to the ends. For square canes you can start in the center and gently stretch the cane slowly. You can take some square canes and make them round (depending on the pattern) just round the edges with your fingers. -BAKING: I bake my pieces on an old cookie sheet lined with parchment paper that avoids any shine to the piece. For delicate items (eggs etc) place them on polyfill batting to bake them. The makers of Sculpey clay (Polyform Products) provide the following baking instructions Bake at 275 degrees F for 15 minutes per ¼ of thickness. Thicker pieces may require additional baking time. It is a good idea to check the accuracy of your oven with an oven thermometer. Avoid over baking, USE GOOD VENTILATION, and do not inhale fumes. DO NOT use a microwave oven. I bake all my work at 265 for 18 minutes. -GESSO: I apply a coat of Gesso to bisque, wood and eggs that I'm going to cover. I find my slices of cane work stick and bake better. -SEALER I prefer FUTURE floor wax on finished baked pieces. It s acrylic and a whole lot cheaper. I transfer from the bottle to a clean spice jar, that way I can clean out the jar when needed without wasting a lot of glaze. I put on one coat, let it dry, bake at 225 for 7 minutes, let it cool and repeat this process for up to 5 baked on coats for a glass-like finish. DO NOT do this on plastic or pens, reheating will melt the plastic. -For simple PENS to cover I only use the BIC STICK pens, the crystal pens imploded on me and the generic type melted. There are pen kits that make up retractable pens. -BEADS made from canes with an overall swirl pattern make terrific and interesting beads, so do flower slices simply curled over a wire. I reduce a piece of cane down to a ½ or so, then I slice off ¼ little pieces. You can use them as they are or roll into a ball or make little tube or oval shapes. I use a #18 or #22 gauge floral wire and poke a hole thru one end of the bead to the center then the other end to the center and string them on the wire for baking. I seal them while they are still on the wire too, I find that to be the easiest. BEST ADVICE: If your not sure if something you re covering will melt or implode, bake one without clay on it first. If you have any questions about clay or making canes, please feel free to email me at harm@rayharm.com. I ll try to help if I can. 32