Sewing clay
Purses
Clothing & wearables
Tabletop mini "Zen gardens"
Notepads (making your own)
Melting, softening, or shrinking plastics
...completely melting
...slumping, then re-shaping or cutting (old records, CDs, etc)
...shrinking plastics (sheets,bottles, cups, etc.)
Marbles, etc..
.....glass & acrylic rounds & hemispheres & pebbles
........ "aquarium" beads + more on glass pebbles,etc
.........cracked marbles & pebbles
.....ice cubes (glass or plastic) ..& misc.
Marbling ("floating" inks, paints, shaving foam, etc, on mediums, to create patterns)
Misc.
Putting your photos online
...Photoediting software (improving pic quality, saving for Web, re-sizing, avatars, etc.)
...Websites for sharing your photos
......photo-sharing websites (some allow direct-linking)
......Google ...Yahoo member ...blogs ...yahoogroups
......your ISP ...special websites (Tripod,etc.) ...your own domain
...Misc. info
Men in polymer clay
....(temporary ... to be finished later)

MISCELLANEOUS clay

SEWING clay

Sewing by hand, holes can be created in raw or baked sheets of clay.
...Karen Mitchell's lesson re whipstitching through small punched holes to connect the sides of liquid clay-impregnated fabric (with transfer on it) ...using 6 strands of embroidery floss (to make small purse)
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_accessories_purses/article/0,1789,HGTV_3227_3150845,00.html
...see also info on sewing seedbeads, or pearls or other beads onto clay in Mixed Media > Beads,Seedbeads

Sewing with a machine:

BAKED CLAY
Judy's lesson on making as soft eyeglass case
...she sews through 2 sheets of # 6 baked clay with long stitch length (1/8") at tension 2
...she says to use a "machine wh. will sew denim," so this may mean she uses a "denim needle?" (sharp and triangular) or just that the machine is reasonably strong?
....for the eyeglasses case: before sewing around 3 sides of the 2 clay rectangles, she had "glued" microfleece onto each interior side with liquid clay (but not on the 1/8" margin to be sewed)
....to hold the thread, to remove any marks from the sewing machine, and to look more supple, she then coated one entire side (with liquid clay, buffs off the excess and bakes 5 min... then does same on other side)
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_clay/article/0,1789,HGTV_3236_2219519,00.html

BAKED LIQUID CLAY
...can also sew through liquid clay films (with transfers or without)
..... though some brands like Kato and Fimo might be a little stickier at first (so could sew on or between a sheet of paper?)
.....might also depend on thickness of baked sheet of liquid clay, or the needle used in machine? ("jeans" needle needed for some?)

(baked) FABRIC impregnanted with translucent clay or liquid clay or white glue
...afer fabric is soaked or coated with one of these, the baked sheets can be sewn together
......Shelly C's lesson on attaching clay and fabric with just a pasta machine; then you can cut the fabric-clay sheet into any pattern shapes needed with scissors
....but if you want to adhere fabric to already-cured clay, I would suggest Beacon's Fabric Tac (a washable fabric glue --just a more flexible white glue?). I've used it for years with great success. Cindy

... if you butt together 2 fabric-covered clay sheets, their edge sides will bond together
.... (sewing seams on 2 fabric covered clay sheets, which are laid on top of each other)....the clay on the back bonds with other clay making the sewing of the seams faster. Karen R.

For all info on making "clay-fabric, " see see Mixing Media > Fabric

PURSES

TO BE COMPLETED ...list of craftster purse tutorials in Misc-Temp

soft and/or flexible purses

"clay-fabric" can be created for making purses, totebags, etc., in various ways:
...fabric embedded with clay ...or fabric embedded with liquid clay
.......fabric "decoupaged" onto solid clay with liquid clay
...these clay-fabrics can be sewn too
(for all info on making clay fabric, look in Mixed Media > Fabric)

Karen Mitchell's lesson on small flap purse made with liquid clay-impregnated fabric (with transfer on it) ...she whipstitched through small punched holes to connect the sides, using 6 strands of embroidery floss
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_accessories_purses/article/0,1789,HGTV_3227_3150845,00.html

Jody Bishel's tambor purses have flexible "roll top" flaps for closure (...purse bottoms are formed over a removable rock armature though)
.....flap section is made flexible by laying a number of baked polymer strips onto fabric soaked with liquid clay... then baking
......many narrow strips of clay are used where the flap will actually flip over, but one larger "strip" (rounded along the bottom edge) is used for the last piece which will lay on the front side of the purse
http://www.pbase.com/jody/purse_gallery
......Jody's directions are in in Feb 2001 Bead & Button mag.... technique also in the book Polymer Clay: Exploring New Techniques & New Materials
......this is a great technique which can be used for a lot of other things as well, such as earrings or bracelets, etc. DottyinCA

for sewing on clay or sewing clay pieces together, also see above in Sewing

Naamaza's flexible tote purse made from 9 tiles of polmer clay, held together with jute? twine ... each tile has 16 holes and twine is run through each one 3 times... one row of crochet? between each?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/naamaza/134935687/
http://www.livecity.co.il/site/detail/departAlbum/albumPic.asp?depart_id=2431&category_id=11448

polymer purses made by Lisa Pavelka use various techniques (covering, using hard shell metal purse forms, metal closure frames, minaudieres (tiny evening bags), etc
http://www.heartinhandstudio.com/more_clay2.htm
Lisa Pavelka's lesson on covering and/or embellishing a purse form (....or could strip an old bag and use... casual or evening bag)
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_clay_other/article/0,,HGTV_3239_1397691,00.html

Donna Kato's hard purses with transfers, etc.
http://web.mac.com/donna_kato/iWeb/Site/Page%201%20-%20Millefiori.html

Flo's 2 clay-covered cigar box purses, with framed photo transfers, etc., on top... lined inside
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=7860253&uid=155794

existing purses (with onlaid embellishments, coverings, etc.)
...you can buy old, used purses and decorate them with polymer clay.. DottyinCA
...or buy purse frames, or handles, etc., at thrift stores

metal purse frame ....or wood or bamboo handle frames
..you can attach clay (or liquid clay embedded fabric, etc.) to purchased or made "frame"
http://www.umei.com
...or buy an old purse from a thrift shop or garage sale, then remove everything but the frame, or handle, etc.

covering
...purses can be made by "covering" something else ... the form/armature can be removed after baking, or it can be left in

aluminum foil (compacted)... or a large rock

..."rock purses" use either a real rock or a compacted aluminum foil form as a removable armature
......larger rocks are used as forms for regular-size "purses," whereas smaller rocks are used to make rock purse vessel "pendants" (openable containers)

Kathleen Dustin was the originator of these hard-sided, "rock vessel" purses, as well as the whole covering-then-cutting-off technique
http://www.kathleendustin.com/gallery.html (click on each) ...her evening bags are stunning!
...she uses various shapes for her armatures ...has used compacted aluminum foil for most of her later armature forms
....she uses (double thickness?) Sculpey III clay as her base layer because it's stiff (though brittle) after baking ...bakes... later she covers with Premo
...as part of many of her purses, Kathleen Dustin often uses a section of baked white Sculpey, then colors it with Prisma colored pencils (or later may have been transferring a copy of her on)... bakes, and covers with a final layer of very thin Sculpey III translucent clay, sometimes also with translucent-opaque cane slices, etc. (a technique I believe she introduced with these purses)
......(for more info on techniques, see ...Paints >Colored Pencils... Tranluscents >Thin Sheets... Canes-Instr >Translucent Canes)
http://www.tinapple.com/guild/499guild.html (thinner purse)
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/museums/photogallery/craft/craft05.htm (semi-heart shaped purse) http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues00/may00/images/faces_jpg.html

I took Kathy's (Dustin) class in making a purse... she is the one who started people doing rock purses (and amulets.)
...she told us that she found a nice smooth rock a little smaller than the purse she wanted to make
...she covered it with a (two layers of) base clay... and then added her embellishments (cane work, sculpting, backfilling etc)
...it was baked, then cut open.... (her faces were done by hand). Dotty in CA ....(with a few translucent canes over the top)

(lesson) Ok all you purse makers, I will try to translate my notes from Kathleen Dustin's Purse class (later purses a bit diff for inside?).
...We used foil as the core, but a rock would work....
...Put two sheets of the clay (#'s 1 & 4) over rock or foil ... can use scrap, or a different colors for the layers ...I think she used a gold layer to be the inside of the purse... or you can use white Sculpey on the outside if you want to draw on the purse with pencils, drawings, etc) ....(use metallic powder or cornstarch as a release)
...Use a pin tool to put holes in clay before you bake it the first time... get all the air bubbles out. .... Bake.
(a little out of order??... score twice?... 2 layers or 2 + 1 layers?)
To cover the baked clay form: ...cut pattern of purse from clay sheet ....put clay on one side, then the other
...Score where you are going to cut lid. ...You may have to reslit side and put it back together. You can use liquid clay to adhere the clay.. Smooth the seams. ... Cut the top. ....Smooth inside seams.
...Find something to bake on so the shape won't change (support). ... Bake 45 min.
...After baking - decorate ...layers of transparent canes and transparent clays look great over other canes, drawings, transfers, etc
...Put a (interior?) rim on inside of bottom half: Trim down edge by beveling bottom part of purse. Do not cut, just press to bevel. Heat with heat gun to soften, then bevel to half the size. This is a little confusing here, but I think what you are doing is getting the lid to fit on the bottom ???
...Lid: heat with heat gun and trim a little bit... Add a twisted piece of clay around (rim?) bottom of the lid. Use liquid sculpey to adhere. You may have to use super glue if you don't have liquid sculpey. I think this lets the lid fit over the bottom.
...Bake again with the trim. ...Put tabs on the inside with liquid sculpey. (Ok Marty, help me with this. I know they go on the inside, but do they go on before you bake again. I am confused about this. I cannot remember. I guess they are for the handle?).. . .DWClark1

...see also Jody B's "tambour" purses make over rock forms just below
...see also papier mache forms just below, which could be treated this way?

Valerie H's purses and pouches made from clay (poof type, over armature?)
http://www.tokensbeads.com/oddendgallery.htm

metal
...Jody B's lunchbox purse (round with flat bottom) http://www.pbase.com/jody/image/175458
......my newest purses are created by covering metal lunchboxes of various shapes. Macy
http://www.casadeclay.biz/store/ (click on Clayations, then on Purses)
...blank regular size, and also smaller size, lunchboxes can often be found in craft stores... or already-painted ones can be covered
...Desiree's heart purse made over an Altoid tin http://www.desiredcreations.com/gallery3boxes.htm (click on photo for more)
...someone covered a bandaid box and added a long strap as well
see Covering > Metal for Altoid box made into "suitcase" for doll with leather strap handle...and more on covering metal

wood
...bare wood or acrylic-painted boxes ....(for example, small ones from Michaels with lids and clasps, etc.)
...or larger ones

(wood or pasteboard) cigar boxes or pencil boxes could be covered to make purses
LaTrisha's lesson on wood cigar box purse http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_accessories_purses/article/0,1789,HGTV_3227_3285338,00.html
... many cigar box purses http://www.exquisitepurses.com/site/653214/page/238406
...http://www.umei.com/cat/plain-cigar-box-purses-ct1.htm
(...see Covering > Wood or Paper/Cardstock/Papier Mache for more on covering these materials)

paper, cardstock, papier mache
...there are papier mache purse forms you can purchase that can be covered with polymer clay
...or buy any shape of papier mache form, then cut part of it away ....and cover
......or treat a papier mache form like a rock purse above, and cover whole form, cutting apart after baking to remove form
........or could cover form partially, then soak out papier mache form
...large matchboxes could be adapted from matchbox amulets to make purses... see my old article in Polyzine. Marty http://www.pcpolyzine.com/2000december/matchbook.html
...I just finished making a bunch of matchbox evening bags using the large matchboxes (these are part of the "set decoration" for my small matchbox amulet's that I demonstrated on the DIY channel. who?

hardback books
...(check out thrift stores for cheap hardback books of the size you want for making a "book purse")
.... remove the pages from a hardback book with an Xacto knife, making one cut in front and one in back (you aren't cutting through all the pages, just the paper holding the pages to the book... lift out pages as a unit)
...cover front, or front-back, or front-back-spine with clay (bake clay with purse if book bakable, or glue on as baked veneer sheet of clay with epoxy or E-6000?)... or just add baked clay embellishments, mixed media, etc.
....make a triangular "gusset" (flat piece which folds back into bag when purse closes) for each side of the purse (with fabric or anything else flexible --fabric embedded with liquid clay, vinyl, felt, etc.)... this is what holds the front and back of book together above the spine, but still allows them to expand somewhat when the purse is opened
....bottom of triangle should be same width as spine-binding. ...sides of triangle should be the same as short sides of book covers (but add an inch or so all around to fold back raw edge or to be tab for gluing in)
.....liner ... line purse if you want, with fabric same size as whole open book (sew pocket, etc on liner, if want) .....sew gussets to liner ... glue in liner on interior edges of covers
.....handles ...can buy, or make your own:
......(flexible) from fabric, beads on wire, braided cording, rope, leather, chain.... (stiff) ones from wood, clay, metal, or any funky thing you can think of....)
......to attach handles, can drill holes in purse and attach handles with various kinds of hardware,cording,beads,etc.(can use grommets or eyelets, if want, to decoate or strengthen holes ... or use a strong glue if purse contents won't be heavy?... or attach or tie around or on somehow...
.....closure... no closure needed, or could use stiff, flexible, stretchy, or weighted ones
..Caitlin's lesson on making book purse, with component fabric pieces, and hard bottom support inside
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_accessories_purses/article/0,,HGTV_3227_3661732,00.html
..more of Caitlin's book purses http://www.rebound-designs.com/catalog
..lesson, with more fabric http://www.phone.victoryatsea.org gone?
(not necessarily polymer book purses)
...http://www.awecreation.com/Purses_Main.html
...http://www.couragetocreate.com/FeaturePresentations/feature_094.html (middle of page)
...(purses made from books & magazines)... metal corners are used on the corners of some of the books (available at frame dept. of craft store)book purses http:www.maddiepowers.com

Larger vessels?

other purses

Barbara McGuire's unusual "purse" (or could be just a box) made by covering an upside down, bare wire lampshade form with leather, then covering the bulb-holder wire loops with a large clay finial (she uses Crafter's Pick Ultimate Tacky Glue with leather)
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3352_1399717,00.html
....suggestion for getting leather really cheap: look in thrift stores (e.g. Goodwill) for old coats, vests, etc., and then cut them up. You'd be surprised what you can buy for $5! Suzanne

tiny purses for pins or other jewelry, dangles, embellishment, etc.
....Susan Terry's at Bead Ranch http://www.store.yahoo.com/beadranch/pursecharms.html
....Debbie Anderson http://www.geocities.com/thousand_canes (click on Wearable Art)
....Linda Hicks makes her (1 x 2") purse from the distorted ends of her canes ... also uses telephone & artistic wire, interfer. powders,rubber stamps, beads
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cda/article_print/1,1983,HGTV_3236_2740252_ARTICLE-DETAIL-PRINT,00.html (pins, on check-border cards)

misc.

many lessons & examples of various types of bags & purses (for inspiration --not polymer)
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=32204.0
http://www.craftbits.com/viewCategory.do?categoryID=MIS
http://www.pursenalityetc.com/Default.aspx?tabid=34&mastercategoryid=7

SUPPLIERS of purse parts
http://www.umei.com

more HANDLES ...I've braided a clay handle for a purse with a mixture of one part Bake and Bend clay to one part Premo.
......I also use silk thread on my Kumihimo loom to make my own coordinating cords for the purses.Patty B.

CLOTHING & WEARABLES
for people, not mini figures

vests, etc.

Xtine's (Christine's) vest at Arrowmont was many connected flat polymer tiles (3x3"? each) .....I think they were whip-stitched together with (thin ropes of Bake and Bend) Sculpey Flex clay but not sure --could maybe use crochet cotton instead? Helen P.
http://www.tinapple.com/oldsite/cynthia/arrowmont.htm ...http://creaplastic.free.fr/14_01.htm

...There is a Challah cover by Valerie Kantor in my book that was made with squares (size?) of polymer and jump rings, and I can tell you Valerie's story of how long it took her to do the covering with all those rings is off-putting. :-) Jacqueline
...I recall the "credit card dress" also at the Academy Awards .. it was made of American Express credit cards, which were linked with jump rings at each corner and it seemed to be flexible enough to bend in the right places.Kay

small or flattish beads could be used too, connected like a bead curtain in some kind of matrix, grid or shape
--those with holes could be strung or woven onto cording of various types or onto strands (round or flat) of extruded flexible polymer clay, or be glued into short lengths of one of those, etc
.... should be lots of ways to connect them

fabric could be covered or partly covered with glued-on or sewed-on slices, or with small beads, or small sheets of patterned clay, etc.
... for gluing, use liquid clay or a white glue intended for fabric... sewing could be done in various ways --like buttons, or at edges, or overcast, or tacked down with small bead as stopper, etc., etc.)
...thin cane slices could overlap like scales
........a flexible fabric of scales could be created by bending back individual scale slices at top, then having the back of that "tab" glued onto fabric with liquid clay (in rows)
http://www.pbase.com/jody/image/175465

a vest could be clay only up to the seams, then it would be possible to sew the shoulder and side seams afterward. Judi
....clay can be sewn too (see above in Purses)

we've been playing around with vest ideas:
1 You could (use liquid clay to make regular fabric flexible) ...or do something like baking (lightweight) organza embedded with liquid polymer clay, possibly leaving seam allowances unclayed, maybe making a few extra pattern pieces instead of darts at the shoulder.
2. you could make the entire vest of (translucent) pockets, and put a piece of clay in each pocket --I've seen this with window screen mesh, organza, or polyvinyl --shower curtain material
(....or the pockets could be liquid clay decals --see just below)
3. you could use one of those button puches that attaches buttons with a little piece of plastic, and attach the clay pieces that way ...or use those guns that attach price tags with plastic (quilters use 'em for basting layers together) and have little flopping pieces of pc (I personally like this the best--you would look sort of fluttery, in my mind....) Maureen

transfers onto clay or liquid clay (even freestanding decals), might be possibilities too

could also combine various of these methods in one vest, or just parts of a vest could be created this way

other

KimK's "belt" of Celtic tiles has hinges to hold them together (2 tubes attached to one side of each tile, one center tube attached to other side, which interlock... she used wire threaded through each 3-tube hinge to to hold tiles together
http://www.beadyeyedbrat.com/talsbelt.html

see more on sewing, etc, above in Purses for more on fabric and liquid clay, plus embellishments on clothes (fabric yoyo's... fabric bracelets & chokers), see Mixing Media > Fabric
...see tea bag folding in Sheets of Pattern > Origami & Folding

...(for clothing for sculpts and miniatures, see Sculpting-Bodies > Clothing)

tabletop mini ZEN GARDENS
.......(sandboxes for mini-scenes or for relaxation/meditation")

(The original full size "Zen gardens" are for creating a feeling of calm, and stress relief --whether they're simply gazed upon, or when "raking" them in an active kind of "meditation")
http://www.zengarden.co.za/zengar.html
http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22Zen+garden%22

However, we can create a mini version of the same idea ... then use it for calming, or for mini-scenes, or for just anything.

my mini Zen garden scenes ...one using a frame, another a lg clay saucer...various natural and found items, rakes
http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l163/DianeBB/z_CRAFTS_misc/Zen%20gardens
Carol Duvall's lesson using a purchased shadow box with wide lip ... glue used around inside of bottom to keep sand from leaking ...rake made by gluing escutcheon nails in drilled holes of a popscicle stick
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/0,,HGTV_3352_1958352,00.html
Desiree took up the monthly exploration theme to make a mini zen garden with polymer items
...she made faux rocks, snail, and fancy rake... hers uses a rough-wood frame for the container, and regular sand
http://www.desiredcreations.com/images/galleryFourPics/ZenGarden2.jpg
Sandfancier used parts of bodies sticking up out of sand, brightly colored sands, a meditating monk ....plus rocks/shells/marbles
http://sandfancier.blogs.com/photos/sandfancier_gallery/handsome_beach_bum_garden_side_view.html
kids create something similar for a scene (Campfire Friends Table Top Scene)
http://www.marieredmondartsandcrafts.com/Classartwork2.html

Each tabletop version of a Zen garden is usually comprised of a shallow tray of fine sand (or other filler) symbolizing the empty mind, and at least a few small rocks & 1 rake
...the basic idea is to doodle in the sand with the rake, creating patterns
...and/or to move the little objects around into different positions

FILLER .....sand.... play sand from the craft store is good (comes in various colors)... (sand from the beach or playground is larger grain)
...........salt (very white slightly sparkly...good for snow and xmas scenes)... sugar (if you don't have ants--very white and slighter finer than salt)
...if you don't want to create fine patterns in the sand, then or other things could be used (but in that case, make your "rake" tines farther apart)
......... rice (short or long grain)... grains (couscous,etc)....seeds (sesame,etc) ... spices for fragrance (cumin seed, fenugreek) ... dried beans ... seed beads ....gravel or fish gravel ...even small bits of tan bark for a natural look
.....to avoid having to use too much sand, any deep containerscan be filled up just partway with something solid or closed (or rocks in a baggie, etc.) before adding the sand on top

TOOLS:....rakes (or forks, sticks, etc.) are dragged across the sand to make patterns in it
...some of my rake possibilities, plus one of Desiree's
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l163/DianeBB/z_CRAFTS_misc/Zen%20gardens/zengarden_tools.jpg
rake by eternallyeve ...the 5 bent tines made with 5 thick wires, separated and held in place by weaving thinner wire over and under the back end of those wires in several rows before polymer-covered handle begins
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/q13kitty/DSC00095.jpg
.........her rake handle is long and slender (a continuation of the 5 wires? or another armature?)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/q13kitty/DSC00091.jpg
.....rake options ..... width and separation of the tines of the rakes will make different effects (may need to vary by the fineness of the grit of sand, etc. you're using though) ......can tape together several toothpicks or other rods or use spacers between them
... (adding a sun or indoor light from one side only, will intensify the drag lines by making a bit of shadow beside each line)...
other dragging tools: anything can be used, even single "tines"... the ends of paintbrushes work well, dull pencils, small dowels, etc.
.....the side of a credit card or index card can be used to push up long "dunes"... or rows of dunes
....using a shovel, or pouring from a spoon can create hills and valleys ...
...rocks, etc., can also be used to make softly round impressions in the sand, which can be created in patterns
...or rake in concentric swirls to resemble the way water looks around the edges of stones and islands (this is the traditional way)
...the sand surface can be smoothed out after raking without disturbing the items on it by tapping the whole container a bit, or by very lightly dragging an edge of paper --or looped piece of paper over it (the width of the paper should be narrow enough to fit between your items though).. a large soft paintbrush can work too
...trowel and bucket

ITEMS: ....... make or find all kinds of little things to place in the filler
.....these can be moved around in random ways or patterns ..... or little scenes can be created
.....don't use any natural materials or other things with small, loose bits (they can "dirty" the sand, and be hard to remove (try various meshes or even fabrics to screen the sand... or use a Chinese wire mesh skimmer)
....the items can sit on the sand, nestle into it, or even have prongs or stands, etc., which go under the sand to stabilize the item

Items could be made from polymer clay, natural materials.... or just anything at all:
........small or large, smooth or rough rocks... could also have large rocks or flat rocks placed upright... rock caves (aquarium store) or coral
........various natural and found items in my Zen gardens
http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l163/DianeBB/z_CRAFTS_misc/Zen%20gardens
........beads made from polymer clay or glass, metal
...... faux polymer materials of manhy kinds like stones or gemstones, stamped-antiqued flat faux rocks... petroglyphs.......hard spices (cinnamon sticks... nutmeg, etc.)
....... shells ...critters... figures, tiny statues (Buddha, etc.)
........all kinds of xmas or holiday decorations, etc (mini pinetrees.. tiny reindeer, snowmen,or other small figures)... miniatures from hobby store, etc.
........fake plants (silk or plastic, or plant bits cut from swags, etc.) .... twigs for bare trees .... real flowers, etc.....
........fences ....footbridges .... walkways (sheets of faux wood, or strips of corrugated cardboardfor fences).... freestanding "corners" or screens
........Nascar race cars, plus sections of roadway and rake, bu DresdenDarling for her mom
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/calla713/cars1.jpg
........fake water of various kinds could be created with polymer effects (see Faux-Many > Water......), or clear casting resins, etc. ....when these "pieces" of water are partly buried in the sand, they should look real (see valleys below, for river "paths") ... "ponds" or "streams"
(....for all kinds of items to make for the sandboxes, see also .... Miniatures .... and Kids >Scenes-Dioramas... and Houses-Structures)
.....one Zen garden photo shows a pagoda, hanging gong & malle
....tea light candle sitting in gray stone rock or just in a glass votive ... or a candle rock http://www.candlerocks.com
....incense sticks in non-flammable holder ...e.g. tealights, rocks, incense holder, rake http://tinyurl.com/52b3w

....items could have a theme or not (doesn't have to have a Japanese theme though); could be xmas, Halloween, a particular hobby, etc
...items could be of personal interest to recipient, or things they can "re-connect with" or meditate on --don't have to be something associated with sand
...objects can have symbolic value, or not

...one website shows has a Zen dinghy, where the shallow container of sand is boat-shaped, and each item has a meaning:
........"sand represents flowing water, sailboat (this boat is 2-D flat and just pushed into sand at its' bottom to keep upright) represents 'you,' lighthouse (flat) represents safety and illuminated direction, shells represent 'reefs,' and a seagull represents a seagull ... plus 2 different Zen garden rakes ....(symbolism of each item can be interpreted differently...relaxation through sensing the spirit of the beach, ocean or lake...")

CONTAINERS... for the sand can also be all kinds of boxes, etc.... or bowls, wide serving bowls , even large half-shells or planters, terra cotta saucers, cake or baking pans, or anything which has a reasonably wide surface at the top... some are made of slate...even the black TV dinner "plates" can be used (if using a double-item TV tray, the smaller section could be used for more sand and a candle in a small glass votive, etc.)... for large sand trays, see sand tray therapy below
....photo .frames (empty) of various kinds can be used for containers... remove backing parts & glass & then use only the frame (or shadow box frame)
...........glue a shallow box lid or a clear acrylic box frame to the bottom to hold the sand (may need to cut a lid down, or make a shallow "box" because frame size can be an issue)
...........or use something flat but sturdy like a piece of cardboard or matte board or masonite or thin wood, to the bottom of the opening
...........(frame may work best upside down).. be sure to extra-glue any joined areas well because fine sand can easily leak out if not!.
......could also make container from a closed box-and-lid or from a stiff cereal box, etc
......containers can have knobs or feet attached to the underside
.....cover any parts not to your liking with paint, decorative sticky papers, clay, etc
.......(simple) ..my mom used a wooden box from an old travel checkers set... we added marbles, then she let me have a small appetizer fork .. yuckbite
...clear glass or plastic containers can be good, and large or small ... many of these would also control sand spill too (esp. those narrower at the top)
... things like an aquarium, fish bowl, clear plastic storage container, large brandy snifter fish bowl (Walmart, etc.), glass jars large or small, large wine glass (....some of the rakes would need to be straight though, rather than at 90 degree angle at end)
STORAGE: ....also, a drawer or box would be handy to hold all the little accessories together and neat... it could be a separate container, attached to the sand unit or a sub-division beside the sand, or even a "matchbox" type drawer underneath the unit with a drawer in it, etc.
..these are sometimes sold as novelty gifts and called "executive sandboxes" (even toy stores) because they can be kept on the desktop of a "busy executive")
COVER:.... a cover would be a nice thing to have, particularly if it's clear... could just place one of those photo box "frames" over the whole thing to keep cats out, etc.?
...see lesson on portable mini Zen garden inside an Altoid box, with calming photo in lid, in Covering > Metal .......other ideas for closeable containers might be pencil box, wood jewelry box

OTHER ideas
...if only a scant amount of sand is used, then when patterns are drawn in it, the bottom of the box will show through (causing the lines to be whatever color it is ... may want to use a very smooth surface under the sand to avoid a scratching sound)
........or .sheets of patterned or solid baked clay could be placed just under the sand surface so that when the rake is scraped through the sand, the clay will show through in patterns (maybe a Skiiner blend sheet ... think sgraffito)
..........looks like something similar is being done with one of the larger sand trays (colored paper placed under glass? --comes installed in tray?) http://www.comfortchannel.com/prod.itml/icOid/3479
....mandala ...could use sets of similar baked cane slices, shapes, or non clay items (beads or anything) to create small mandalas...a calming activity (...see more on creating mandalas in Onlay > Uses)
.......or sand mandalas http://www.newportnet.com/archives/mandala/nancy/home.htm
... maze ...create a maze path with units of toothpicks ....or strips of index card or baked polymer strips which can be stood up in the filler like fences
...labyrinth... no dead ends... path is always from outside to center (could "walk" around the labyrinth with rake?) http://www.relax4life.com/whatisit.html
.......finger labyrinth.... http://www.lessons4living.com/finger_labyrinth.htm --could even lay down a string or yarn to follow
....Diane V. made a clay finger labryinth http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/chall_may01.html
...use a large tray of sand for kids or adults (...see just below in sand tray therapy)

"sand tray therapy" is another activity which is similar to this: ... wide & shallow sand trays are used, along with a many, many small items
...can be used as personal exploration... "What I value most about sand tray is that it releases something that's been inside me, and offers me valuable insights about what's going on beneath the surface of my life. It's a little like dreaming while I'm awake. The process is simply to arrange objects until the tray feels complete... As a form of personal expression, sand tray is similar to painting and other forms of art . . . sometimes I approach the tray with a particular issue in mind . . or to recreate a dream image, or deal with a conflict.." Alyce Barry ... she also often keeps the sand damp because then the objects stay in place more easily, and it's easier to form shapes and patterns with hands.
...is used by some therapists (or anyone) with children (and adults) to analyze how participants express themselves through their choice and manipulation of objects in the trays... or to address feelings, thoughts, psychological health re things like traumas, grief or separation, emotional / physical / sexual abuse, learning disabilities, illness, addictions, mental illnesses, etc. .... participants are often invited to create a diorama (a story or miniature world) by arranging figures, animals, and other items in the sandtray. ... non-invasive method which works especially well with those who are young or have trouble comprehending and talking about difficult issues
...links from Google search using the phrase "sand tray therapy" http://tinyurl.com/43nrs
......(including places to buy the larger trays like www.Duro-Tray.com .... take about 3 lbs? of sand
.........or buy a wide shallow tray intended for another purpose like photo developing, air filter washing, mixing cement, cat box, shallow drawer, etc.
........or make your own tray (from wood, etc., or find or cut down a suitable cardboard box..... could have leg blocks, or long legs if want)
.. examples of trays in use .http://www.healingspacecoaching.com/sandtray.html
http://www.skymountain.org/SW.htm (outdoors) http://www.symbolicstudies.org/Sandplay.html (adults, indoors)

REAL Zen gardens: (Jap.gardens are roughly divided into three categories: landscape gardens, tea gardens, and rock gardens)
Buddhism's contemplative form, Zen, created the original, truly Japanese, form of gardens known as karesansui - dry garden or rock garden
...the basic idea of real Japanese "Zen-type" gardens is to use very simple yet elegant shapes, patterns, etc... shouldn't be fussy or cluttered. Straight lines, curves, or simple forms, etc....anything which produces a feeling of serenity and restfulness (...but of course, we can do anything we want)...
http://www-personal.une.edu.au/~jrelke/zen.htm

making NOTEPADS

a memo pad could be created from a ceramic tile, with feet added to the to the bottom (polymer or wood beads, corks, or drawer pulls --crystal, brass, etc.) Lindaa ...(could use polymer around edge too)
...one way would be to stamp on tile with Fabrico ink --a picture, or the word "memo" ...bake 15 minutes
...could also add a small piece of velcro on the tile, and on the other side of the velcro stick a black erasable marker (used for white boards) and ta da!!! you have a memo pad to sit beside your phone for messages
.....btw, the tile erases just like white board, but the ink where you stamped doesn't come off--it is baked on. vbfll
...would a sheet of baked polymer clay erase like this too ??? especially if it's very slick from having been baked face down on glass? DB

(making the pads themselves... with padding compound & other glues)

Padding compound (padding cement) is the kind of "glue" that holds scratch pads together. ...it is low in tensile strength so pages may be pulled off easily. … incredibly thick, like gesso & a little goes a very long way.... it is designed to be flexible when dry.
…some people use Elmers regular white glue (not their School glue) just fine, but it has more water than padding compound
....... it works really well.... on my first try though, the edges got all wobbly from the moisture in the glue, but then I moved the notepad right to the edge of the table and put the clamp board I was using right to the edge on top. With all the edges flush, that held the paper and kept it from ruffling
......my sister (who once worked for a printing agency told me that they use PVA glue ("white glue")... carpenters use a strong version that's colored yellow. tinybits
..... I'll bet you could put acrylic paint in the glue and end up with colored edges. I might have to try that next.
...some people also use rubber cement, but it's not so great on the lungs and harder to apply evenly

Online sources for padding compound (it's usually available in red or white… or color your own with acrylic paint??)
http://www.craftypc.com/not.html (also other pad making supplies)
http://www.valleylitho.com/acatalog/Valley_Litho_Supply_Padding_Compound_448.html
Local sources...small quantities at stamp stores, from printer's supply store, or by the pint (quart, gallon) at some office supply stores (or have them gummed for you at office supply stores)

lessons:
http://www.stampfolk.com/projects/notepads.htm (simple lesson)
http://www.edps.com/notepads.html
http://www.computercrafting101.com/note_pads.htm (they make it sound harder than it is!) http://www.diynet.com/diy/pa_books/article/0,2025,DIY_14152_2269660,00.html (making a chipboard book using padding compound rather than white glue)
tangram puzzle notepad http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/ 0,1789,HGTV_3352_1921668,00.html (doesn't work?) ......http://images.scrippsweb.com/HGTV/2003/08/29/cds1436puzzlepad.pdf
pad of dollar bills http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_entertaining_other/article/0,,HGTV_3116_1392832,00.html

Cut sheets exactly the same size and shape (or not, if that's an effect you want)... tap them on a table until the side you want gummed is exactly even...
...apply glue to matching end of cardboard or backing
...compress all sheets & dried? backing tightly with a rubber bands over flat wood strips (see just below) or something similar, or under a heavy flat object... place on waxed paper so won't glue notepad to work surface! (be sure to leave access to this area open)
...apply one thin coat of compound or glue to the compressed ends... let dry 10-30 minutes
...then apply second and maybe third coat in the same way, drying in-between... voila!

here's one clamp setup made from two long wood boards .... there's a hole drilled near each end of each board ... a long bolt is slipped though the hole in one board, then the hole in the other board to connect them... then a wing nut is screwed on the bolt underneath to tighen the boards down on the paper eges
http://www.craftypc.com/notepadclamp.html

uses for pads:
gifts (teachers/memories of the year), Mother's Day, holidays, or any special occasion theme
...coupon book, recipes book (or multiple copies of recipe for distributing), or recipe cards
...telephone message pads... "thoughts" book... to-do-today pads
...calendars (large or mini)
... "tear-off" info for "for sale" items or bulletin boards
...paper CD sleeves?
...with a "stiff" page or cardstock glued to the back of a pad, a pad could be inserted into a slot of a figure or other background clay sheet (with magnet sheet on back) to act as a pad for the front of the frig. etc. (or just regular post-it pad)
http://boards.hgtv.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=1084078532&f=1004031632&m=706106483
...KIDS, especially:
.......children's artwork...story or progression fo some kind... spelling word list, alphabet or times tables... flip book... summer fun pad (something to do each day)... classroom projects or student photos
more ideas:
...make stiffer front covers (cereal boxes, cardboard, chipboard... decorated or printed, or not)) (...or do them matchbook style)
.......add stiffer backing
...recycle any kind of paper
...make pads from the cheaper, ungummed Post-It type paper squares
...pad of dollar bills to give kids
...old business cards for mini-notepads
...photos (themed or not) ... or postcards
...use die cutters or punches for interesting shapes
....add magnet sheet to back
...print multiple copies on printer for more than one recipient, then cut apart

MELTING ...or SLUMPING ...or SHRINKING plastics

melting

The general idea for making these (Rx or medical, amber or clear bottles) is to soften them into a flattened blob with colorful accents.
.....The colors are achieved by either adding colored crayon slivers (shave the "paperless" crayons with a vegetable peeler, etc.) &/or by adding small, colorful plastic beads (or bits of raw or baked clay, etc. or just anything that can stand the temp. of the oven or will melt in an interesting way).
..15 years ago, most prescription bottles were "clear"...but amber ones should be fine too (but do go for the lightest amber you have)
...Remove any label residue (GooGone or WD40)....thorougly wash & dry
...stand the bottle upright on a non-stick, oven-safe flat pan (or could use aluminum foil?)...then fill each bottle 1/4 full with an assortment of your color filler
...bake (275 degrees or higher?) ...the process happens pretty fast so watch diligently....as soon as the bottles have become flattened blobs, remove tray from oven (if more softening is needed, quickly return tray to the hot oven)
...avoid overhandling the hot plastic shapes with oven mitts to avoid creating unsightly, raised marks.
...to make hanging holes after cooling... either "melt" a hole using a heated metal skewer, or drill one (create holes from front to back).
...you can speed up the cooling of the plastic blobs by dumping them straight from the oven into a bowl of icy water; this sudden shock of hot to cold also might help to create some unusually curvacious pieces. CraftieCathy
might other clear plastics work for this?.... e.g., the semi-flexible or very flexible drinking cups?

(for covering the bottles with clay --not melting them-- & more on recycling numbers and categories of plastics, see Covering > Plastics > Prescription bottles)

melting colored plastic craft beads (transparent... or some not?)
...Years ago we made a small suncatcher with colored plastic beads melted inside 1 1/4" tall plastic communion cups ("putter" cups) . The kids would put a couple plastic beads in the cup, place on a foil-covered tray, and I would put it in the oven to melt. .... jbud
...more on melting transparent craft beads, etc.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art44767.asp
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_beads/article/0,1789,HGTV_3229_3396557,00.html
..beads melted in bottle caps (plastic liner not removed) along with added items that don't melt
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/crafts/msg030843367378.html

plastic worm fishing lures (a thermoplastic plastic?) ...these worms come in loads of colors
.....I read an article in a model railroad magazine about 20 years ago about using plastic worm fishing lures as a casting material
.......he melted the plastic worms in the top of a double boiler
.......then poured it into a mold (don't remember what kind). ...and let it cool until it was solid
.......the final casting was as soft and squiggly as the original worm
...Creepy Crawler sets have metal molds for bugs/worms... and their ilk??
...could also make one's own molds, with plastic insects or other shapes, using a 2-part silicone molding material since silicone takes heat and detail very well

...plastic army men work the same way. As a kid I used to melt them all the time. Seth
...old vinyl records, etc. can be slumped in a low oven over a form, to make "record bowls"
...pre-recorded CD's can be softened, cut and shaped, etc.
(see just below for more)

the Dick Blick catalog used to sell a different kind of "cold" enamel -- it was a plastic powder that you handled like copper enamels (swirling tools, cloissone, etc.) but it melted at light-bulb heat (for little kids)... wonder if that stuff is still made?

(for more meltable plastics esp. for making molds, see Molds > Other Materials for Molds > Reusables like Protoplast, Gelflex, etc.)

slumping & reshaping (& cutting)

Things like vinyl records (albums, etc.), rubbery types of plastic army men or animals, etc. (toys), CDs (pre-recorded only -- like AOL CD's or purchased music CDs), and even toothbrushes? or other kinds of rubbery plastic can be heated just high enough to cause them to soften and slump
... these can be molded or shaped while heating or while still hot... and can also often the be cut
...some may require a higher heat than others, or a longer heating time
....for CD's in particular , see "Ideas" just below
....for toothbrushes (all types or just more rubbery ones?) can just be bent (can remove bristles with pliers first)...by dip in boiling water)

Good places to find old albums cheaply are thrift stores and yard sales

lessons and examples for vinyl records:
http://www.getcrafty.com/read/craft/features/recordbaking/index.html
http://www.deborahmerlo.com/diy/archives/000080.html ...she also cut another image to glue to the center
http://www.supyo.com/home/projects/vinyl_bowl/bowl.htm
http://www.web-goddess.org/archive.php/postID/2684
http://www.readymademag.com/feature_1_newspin.php ...4 fluted areas
red record and a dark red record each made into fluted bowl...both have glittery disks (holographic plastic paper?) covering the centers
...one has glittery silver paint? along the top edge of the record
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=4194643&uid=2154462
many links in Google search results for melting+vinyl+record+bowl http://tinyurl.com/cjok6

basic method for vinyl record albums (...other plastics are probably similar)
(...best to have several records to learn with first ---don't use a favorite record immediately)
(...wash record and thoroughly dry before heating)
(...best to bake everything on a baking sheet so it will be easier and safer to remove from oven
(.....also putting aluminum foil undereverything would protect baking sheet and oven from any overheated (melted) vinyl
.....turn oven as low as possible (200° or so)
......another lesson suggests 350 degrees for 45 sec, then flipping over and baking another 45 secs
........(and suggest lightly oiling the first face-down side with peanut butter or oil to keep it from sticking)
.....place record on top of an upturned oven-safe bowl or other form (glass, metal, ceramic... but some prefer metal --may release easier?)
..........one person likes bowl size of 10" diameter at top, 4-5" at the bottom
.....bake about 5 min to allow slumping
(....if not quite right, put back in oven for 10-15 secs to soften slightly again)
(...if left to cool at this point, it would stay in whatever shapes or folds it has, which may not be interesting)
... remove from oven (with potholders... everything wil be hot!)
.....quickly (within 20-30 sec) shape inside, over, or with other bowls, dowels, etc., (or even hand shape) as it cools
.........can quickly flip bowl over and push record down into it from inside, then manipulate the sides to get it the shape you want.
.........can let cool in a larger bowl if like, so record bottom will end up narrow from the first bowl, but sides can be spread out wider

Or they can be heated flat... then shaped later on a form, or freehand

Some people use a different heat source, like a gas stovetop flame or heat gun, etc.... can work well for heating just one area too.
..I held my record about 1' above a gas-stove burner instead of putting the record in the oven
.......I held it by the edges (with what?) .... when the record started to sag in the middle, I put it into a bowl to shape it.
.......if you want to add a decorative edge to the lip, you just have to hold it back over the burner and crimp or trim it, or what have you, but the vinyl cools very quickly so you have to work fast.
...for some, I poured a kettle of boiling water over the edges of the record (which was balanced on a bowl in a sink)... then bent it into shape and left to cool, it seemed to work pretty well.
....some? toothbrushes can be dipped in boiling water, then bent

Records can be reheated over and over briefly to work on again, or completely softened again to begin from scratch

Generally, no release is needed (though some people use peanut butter lightly)
...if you do a lot of records on the same form tho, they may tend to stick... loosen edges by running knitting needle under; reshape if nec.

various temperatures are suggested (from 200-400 degrees), but remember that the hotter temperatures require shorter heating times and definitely the use of gloves
...(some thick, old records are unbreakable vinylite, and will take a few min's longer
...(some really old ones become sticky and wrinkly when heated)

ideas

Can add legs by gluing on 3-4 wood balls, marbles, or whatever.. or make holes in top for cording while warm, then hang

flower pot or planter
...hanging planter… first I made marks for the holes on the record to be sure that it would hang evenly
....I used a lighter for a few seconds to soften the vinyl and stabbed it with a knitting needle to make a hole.
....next, I heated up the hole I just made, for only a second with the lighter, and shoved an end of a mardi gras bead necklace thru the hole. When the vinyl cools, the bead can't slip thru, if the holes aren't too big that is. It took about 5 minutes to do the whole thing. (author?)

...photo frame... Easter basket... "book covers"
...easel (bend just one side up a bit, maybe using a dowel or paper towel tube as a form if nec.)
...I made my trays with Christmas records, so that they can be used with to display any goodies (more on trays below).
...I'm going to try to make a record magazine rack (maybe adding record legs or other kinds of legs).
...for icicle twisties, I cut records into strips on a bandsaw, drilled holes in the top, and hung them from the heating elements in the top of the oven...once they were softened, I grabbed them with pliers at each end and twisted them, then held in position until cool enough to keep their shape.
or just attach to the wall or ceiling, etc (could paint?) DesignerSarah
...you can make boxes out of them if you don't mind cutting them a little
...many ideas for doing similar things with CD's can be inspirational too (see next paragraph)

forms and shapers:
....press a record between two bowls to make a low, flat ruffle-edged tray
....shape one around a tall pot to make a vase.
... pinch one end to make a heart shape
... fold one edge flat on the counter to make a shelf.
...roll edges around a pencil to make an attractive lip
(remember: whatever you shape with must be removable after the record is cool, or you'll need to reheat to separate)

decorate/embellish the inside or outside of bowl with model paints (or other non-acrylic paints?), or in other ways

embed an image into the record by melting one side slightly first

Can use colored records, or records with themes

CDs ...(pre-recorded CD's only? --like AOL or purchased music CDs) work just about the same as doing records, but on a smaller scale
....one thing I did while messing around with them was to fold them over while warm, almost in half.....kinda gave me the idea that they could just about serve as angel wings if attached to a small terra cotta pot angel? Cddesigns
...yep CDs work too… just logged off to try, and it does work. … you need to turn your oven up to about 250-300 or so
....I was just in the dollar store tonight and saw a small bowl that I thought would be great for forming a cd on.. we made change trays for fathers day!!!
(see much more info on heating/softening, cutting and using (and even microwaving) CDs for all kinds of things in Covering > Plastics > CDs )

holes & labels
....coveror plug record's center hole in various ways if want to use as a bowl, or use as planter with hole
...record's label may be considered part of the decoration
.....or center area could be covered over with something else (perhaps a disk of patterned clay), or a photo, another image, or anything

most bowls will have fluted edges ...(some hemispheric bowls are sold on the Internet, but those are molded with an industrial press if they actually started as records)

trays... I melted the 78 record over a rectangular glass casserole dish, giving it a more square shape and a smaller lip.
..did the same to a 45 record with a smaller dish... then I used it downturned as a pedestal, under the upturned 78, for an elevated candy dish. cddesigns

cutting a record:
HEAT…heat in oven at 250 on a cookie sheet for a few minutes … remove and cut with heavy duty kitchen shears or an Exacto?
…I heated the record over an electric burner and then cut the edges with a heavy duty paper trimmer (wear an oven mit when you do this). I heated one edge at a time…. it makes a nice clean edge.
…....I also used some fine sandpaper on the edges to get nice smooth, non-sharp edges. Anu
...could use a hot knife? or hot wire cutter? --ventilate well though when heating to these high temps
NO HEAT
...use a band saw …or a large rotary cutter like a quilter's Olfa (tape or clamp down safety…prob. will take several passes?)
...I used a Dremel tool to make holes on the sides and also put in some eyelets. Anu

could cut out parts to make boxes or other origami or bent shapes ...or just cut different shapes to re-shape

cuff bracelets ......& cutting strips
...first mark in pencil the widths you want for your strip (bracelet), and then the length
...pop the record in the oven at about 200 on a cookie sheet until its soft enough to cut, but not floppy
...cut strips & round their corners if you feel so inclined (you may have to put it back in the oven a few times)
...now, put the strips into the oven (one at a time is probably best)... they work best when they're floppy
...then wrap the strip around a glass of about the same circumference (filling the glass with warm water makes the vinyl stay pliable longer, but i could just be making that up)
...after you have it close to the size you want, (remove from glass and?) put it back in the oven to soften again
...hold it in shape (making the ends overlap a little if you want) ...and also flatten a bit so its a little more oval-ish
...let cool ...if you're using the label part of the record, might want to seal it so it's protected. mochisaru
(..... for even more cutting ideas, see info on CD's few paragraphs below)

shrinking

Some plastics will shrink when heated at certain temperatures (actually, they'll return to their original size before they were stretched into sheets)
......the plastic will shrink to approx. 40%-45% of its original size... and will be 1/16" .thick

making a shrink plastic ruler can help with certain projects when you need an exact finished size
...draw a regular ruler in inches on a strip of shrink plastic... mark the brand of plastic and the direction of the cut strip from the sheet (vertical or horizontal)... then shrink
..........various brands shrink a little differently, and they all shrink more in one direction than the other

before adding color, give the surface some tooth by sanding lightly in at least two directions with 320-400 grit sandpaper ... can place plastic on a newspaper or soft surface to keep from gouging (if that tends to happen to you)
....sanding in only one direction will allow inks to "bleed" in those directions

when shrunk, colors applied to shrink plastic will become much more concentrated
.....so make drawings or other colorings pale (one reason that chalks and colored pencils work well)... or at least a whole lot lighter than you want in the finished piece)

most art materials like inks, chalks, etc, will be permanent on shrink plastic once it's shrunk
.... but if you want to be sure, seal with an acrylic spray... thinned white glue or ModPoge ... clear acrylic nail polish? Varathane, Future?, embossing powder
... do apply a light spray of acrylic sealer and allow dry before adding any thick finishes though

make any cuts or holes before shrinking !... (it's too thick to cut afterward)
... cut with scissors and decorative-edge scissors, die-cut machines, hole punches

I use a heat gun rather than an oven to shrink all my plastics ...since sometimes in the oven it would not uncurl (but waited long enough??) trashcrafter

shrink plastics can be colored on, stamped on, or drawn on with... colored pencils (and dry watercolor pencils), chalks, inks (esp. permanent and pigment), markers of various kinds, and many other things
....they can even look like clay since they accept Pearl Ex, metallic waxes, stamped relief, etc
....some paints will thicken enough during shrinking to give texture (if not applied thinly enough... can sponge on, etc.) ... metallic acrylic paints look good
.......can also stamp over dried paint (or paints)

(for using shrink plastic in photocopiers and printers, be sure to lighten the image by at least 50% before printing)
...photocopiers...hand-feed (be sure to sand the plastic first, though toner may stick anyway?... let dry) ........lighten image at least 50% before printing
...inkjet printers ...shrink plastics can have digital images printed onto them with inkjet or bubblejet printers
.....if using an inket printer, you need to use a special shrink plastic made for printers
.......it's roughened on one side (frosted)... and possibly also coated with something that helps the water-based ink to stick
............. (or could just sand the surface, and be sure not to smear before shrinking??)

while still hot from the oven, shrink plastics can also be shaped (twisting, curling edges with a pencil, , etc.) or molded in molds ....use pot holders, etc. sincet he plastic is hot!

suppliers & brands
...sheets of this "shrink plastic" can be purchased as various brand names:
ShrinkArt... PolyShrink... ShrinkPlastic... Ultra-Thin by Vesta Abel ... etc.
.....some are even pre-colored or transparent-clear (most are translucent)
.....some of those have preprinted images
....can buy the shrink plastic specifically for inkjets at office supply store or online
.........Shrinky Dinks for Inkjet Printers is one http://tinyurl.com/an8ya ... with coating
......... Ultra-Thin shrink plastic, from Vesta Abel (pre-roughened on one side), for punching or layering
OR other plastics found just around the house may work the same way

shrink plastic is very compatible with polymer clay....
...already-shrunk shrink plastics can be baked with polymer clay (the temp. for curing polymer baking won't affect it (275 is lower anyway than the 325-350 required to shrink the plastic )
...so treat pieces of shrink plastic the same way you would any other addition after baking (unless the piece is mechanically held, pop it off and glue back on).
...or just glue onto baked clay after shrinking with superglue or white glue
...when I use the printer to put a photo image onto shrink plastic , I make the clay item that will have the picture on it first, bake it... and then after I have shrunk the picture, I superglue it onto the baked piece. Just remember when making shrink pictures to be sure that when you print them onto the plastic, to lighten them up a great deal. They need to be PALE. When then shrink, the ink is compressed and everything comes out much dark.
....you'll need to make a shrink ruler so you can accurately size your graphic to fit the space you want. Dotty in CA (see above)

LESSONS: in general, place s.p. into a 325-350° oven on a sheet of matt board, cardboard, etc., which has been powdered with cornstarch or baby powder (so the plastic can move freely as it shrinks)
.... within 1-3 min, the plastic will curl up & shrink... then it will slowly uncurl back to totally flat

MORE INFO on shrink plastics
:...gen. instructions & photos, ideas & lessons on using shrink plastics with powders and molding, etc.
http://www.luckysquirrel.com/galleryhm.html and http://www.luckysquirrel.com/info_getinfo.html
....Cloud Nine's many tips on working with shrink plastics
http://netnet.net/~cloud9/tips/index_tips.html (...click on Tutorials,
.........or click on any topic on the left side of page)
...Shrinky Dink's various types of shrink plastic... plus lots of info re techniques, inks, etc.
http://tinyurl.com/b7zoo

Tina's shrink plastic images stamped with Brilliance inks and colored with chalks, placed on a backing frame of black clay imprinted with a stamp and antiqued with rub-ons and glazed http://stampsmith.net/projects3.htm (middle of page)
...*Sally's (edenhound's) beautiful dog portraits on shrink plastic.. embedded and framed with polymer
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=750687&uid=527261
--First I draw a colored pencil portrait on the rough side of a sheet of shrink plastic (I really like the Prismacolor pencils for this since they have a nice soft lead and the colors come out very rich.)
....Some shrink plastic comes shiny on both sides. If you get this kind you will need to rough up one side with some fine sandpaper.
....The great thing about shrink plastic is that you can trace the major componants of your piece by placing a photo or picture that you want to reproduce under the plastic, and well, tracing. :)
--Once you have the basic outline, then you can go back and fill in the colors and shading as you like.
-- When finished with the drawing I cut it out with a small pair of sissors.
..... Important to remember is that when you shrink the plastic, the colors will become even more saturated and your details finer, so small imperfections in the original are nearly impossible to see once you shrink it.
--Next I shrink the plastic in my oven until I am sure that it is completely shrunk.
... If you don't leave it in long enough, it will shrink a little more when you bake it in the clay and you will end up with a gap between the edges of the plastic and the imprint of where it was originally embedded in the clay.
....to embed the the plastic I use a doubled-up piece of cardstock to evenly impress the plastic in the clay.
..... also if you are not careful, you can smear some pencil lead on to the clay (especially a problem when you are using light colored clay), so I use a different section of the card stock each time I pick it up and press back down.
....also if you are using a clay with a lot of saturated color (like red clay), you could also end up with some of that staining on your art work (now that I have a good brayer I could probably use that instead of the card stock, but haven't tried it yet).
... Once I have the plastic evenly in the clay to my satisfaction, I cut the outside edges of the clay to the desired shape and embellish any way I like.
....Then bake... attach your pin back... and seal. It is really pretty easy, but I made several mistakes before I figured it all out. :) Hope this helps. I would love to see what other people might do with this technique. sally

in addition to jewelry ....embellishments...tops for push pins... permanent labels ...etc.
...or luggage tags … ID tags …"business tags" ....pet I.D.'s (best with slits to thread onto collar) ... zipper pulls
...one site shows photo images of people printed onto inkjet shrink plastic which are standing in little base-stands (like the foam core ones that photoprocessors do)

of course, you can also embellish with other things after shrinking (using glues like superglue, etc.)

other plastics will also shrink
... from around the house or in various stores...

actually, most of the plastics that make up so many things nowadays (even yogurt containers) might shrink when heated to the correct temp for that plastic
........some people say it must be clear, flexible plastic... and that #6 plastic works (bakery or salad containers, etc.)
(see Covering > Plastics > Recycling Numbers for more on diff. types of plastic)

this lesson suggests using #6. plastic lids... (they color with colored pencils)
http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/sln/tf/r/reducereuserecycle/reducereuserecycle.html

When my son was in preschool, the kids made the coolest wind chimes from the rubbery-flexible, or maybe it was the stiffer-but-somewhat-flexible, clear plastic disposable drinking cups ... think it was the former, but can't remember
....they first drew on them with different colors of permanent markers .... then we put them in the oven , on alum. foil?
....they began to shrink pretty quickly (just like "shrink plastic," but we stopped when they were nicely crumpled... the colors became darker and much more saturated!. . . . I was totally fascinated with those!
...they may have been # 1 recycling number plastic (PET) which is common as lids for clear. take-out trays from salad bars, or soda bottles, etc.)
....perhaps these would melt into complete blobs if left in long enough?? Diane B.

empty chip bags (for their logos)... or anything that same material
....can poke a hole through the top before baking, and bake with a tooth pick (or just make the hole bigger to allow for shrinkage)
...these are pretty thick when shrunk...I just used the small bags of Dorito's etc. I guess if I remember correctly, that they would be 1/4" thick... the neat thing was you could still clearly see what they had been. Jen

foams (expanded polystyrene) .....like foam meat and veg. trays ...or cups, etc.
........will these flatten out though (if flat to begin with)?
...hats (or other shapes) can be made by shrinking foam cups in the oven, then embellishing
......place cup upsidedown on cookie sheet... bake in oven at 350, for 1 to 1 1/2 min. (different baking lengths = diff. results)
...scrunched alum foil inside the hat will keep it larger (or in certain areas)...paint with acrylics or other water-based paints before shrinking (or after?)
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_paper_crafts_origami/article/0,,HGTV_3293_1370963,00.html
......for lesson & more details, see Sculpting-Bodies > Other Accessories, "Not Necessarily All-Polymer"

MARBLES & Clear Pebbles & Ice cubes, etc.
(glass + plastic)

various marbles & pebbles & lenses

Clear glass (or plastic) can be purchased in various shapes which are rounded on top side and flat (and smooth) on the back
...various things can be attached to the back side of these clear shapes... and any doming of the top side will magnify & brighten whatever is underneath

(paper images are often used ...but polymer clay works well too)
....If using a non-clay material for the back (like a paper image), the most commonly used adhesive suggested seems to be E6000-Goop... some have tried GemTac white glue for jewels, but it doesn't seem to be quite as strong ... the E6000 will be squished really thin so that it's totally transparent
....(non-clay) "marble" pendants ... the magazine lesson said:
1.Cut out a picture and piece of felt the size of the marble (trace around it)
2. Place some glue on the (flat back side of the) marble, and press your image down on it.
3.Wait for it to dry.....then put some more glue on it, put your eyepin down and then put the felt on it.
4.Wait for them to dry. ........Thread some ribbon through it. MissTee 2

Bags of clear glass "pebble"shapes are the easist to find... they're usually sold at craft stores for putting in the bottom of clear containers to anchor plants, etc.
..... come in different colors, but generally you'll want the clear ones
..... can sometimes be found in 3 sizes ... those can be found at Jo-Ann's

plastic "pebbles" in various shapes can also be found
http://www.fancifulsinc.com/mall/Page102.asp (self adhesive)

Some of the polymer things which might be put underneath individual clear glass pieces (besides paper-based images) could be:
.....individual cane slices
.... flattened onlays made of clay ...could be squiggles or anything ... or could be Donna Kato's flowers or flower scenes created with very thin individual cane slices (see Canes-Instr. > Overall Techniques > Slice Painting)
........... other tiny scenes (see "Aquarium Beads" below)
....tiny transfer decals (or just paper images)
....real dried flowers, plant mateiral, etc. (see Mixing Media > Fabric > Threads for Alan's plastic discs with flowers embedded for using in centers of his string-art pendants)

Or, multiple glass pebbles could be placed over larger clay patterns or scenes
....seems like using them this way could make great mosaics .... or coasters
....perhaps just covering a whole sheet of patterned clay with pebbles would be interesting

HALF-ROUND-marble shapes (hemispheres) can be used too ...if you can find them
...http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=3418.0
...I ordered the glass ones from this mosaic website: http://www.mosaic-witsend.com (don't see them now though)
...I glued them to 1/2" round magnets (from Home Depot)... I used a 1/2" hole punch (from Michael's). simone
...Tap Plastics sells acrylic cabochons (clear hemispheres) in widths from 5/16" to 1 1/2".... also have acrylic discs in these sizes... can buy them individually fr. their stores or bags of 100 online
http://www.tapplastics.com (...or look under "Rods,Tubes,Shapes" category at tapplastics.com)
...Tap Plastics also sells clear " bumpons " made from polyurethane which are adhesive-backed (normally used as feet, stops, spacers, and protectors)... 2 sizes: .085h x .312 and .140h x .500 (don't know if the adhesive affects the clarity though)
http://www.tapplastics.com (look under Rods,Tubes,Shapes > Cast Acrylic Shapes)

more ideas for half-round OR pebbles or disks:
.....i used the gold colored thumbtacks and origami paper, and 1 or 1/2 inch paper cutter (under my half-round marbles). rantipolegirl
.....I glued paper images to the marbles, then glued polymer clay backs with a bead hole to them with superglue so I could string them for a bracelet. alea
.....I buy ring forms for flat marble picture rings at http://www.artchixstudio.com. She sends free gifts as well with every purchase (namely, vintage photo collage on a sheet or stickers) and seems to be very reasonably priced. Otherwise, there is always Ebay! Great Ebay store I found ... Rings'n Things. Erin

completely covering glass pebbles.... I needed something to help hold my business cards IN the card displayer during gusts of wind....so I went to the dollar store, grabbed a bag of cheapie flat glass pebbles, and completely covered about 5 of them with a clay patterns that matched my card holder (thin, semi-translucent cane slices)...they haven't cracked yet & they're one of the most handled things on my booth
.......folks say they look like cushions and my card holder looks like a couch...http://www.artistcrafts.com (hold cursor over "Custom Orders"). Laurel
(...for making the clay couches & chairs, see Scupting-gen. > Sculpting Other Items)

various small glass shapes which are flat on one side... the only one which is untextured on top though is the star (...fish, moons, flowers, etc.)
http://mosaictilesupplies.com/glass_gems___glass_shapes.html

(for using actual magnifying lenses or glasses in similar ways, or as temporary reading glasses, etc., see Other Materials > Magnifying Lenses )

" aquarium beads" (clay scenes underneath glass pebbles)
+ more on glass

Skygrazer's various glass cabochons made with glass pebbles --using backings of metallic Premo, gold & silver crackled leaf, rose and leaf cane slices, and a sculpted goldfish)
http://www.skygrazer.com/polymerclay/gallery/misc2a.htm
my aquarium bead with fish and seaweed behind ( magnet on back)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l163/DianeBB/early-polymer/8ef4.jpg (upper right)
Celadonia's framed glass pebbles (onlaid leaves, etc.)... could easily have image behind (attached with thin Goop glue) which would magnify it
http://www.celidonia.it/English/fairies_treasures.htm
Annette’s Fishie Cabs (painting images & using a silver leaf backing with glass pebble)
http://www.jewelrycrafts.com/beadproject12.html (gone?)
*Anne Klocko's many sea themes, etc. (bas relief) (look around)... these could be flattened further
http://anneklocko.com/vca_pix.htm (At the Beach, and Under the Sea)
Christine Albert-Mas (in Jewelry Crafts magazine, August 96) showed some beautiful aquarium beads that looked like like glass lampworked beads. . (see Liquid Clay > Drizzling)

Create a tiny underwater scene out of clay (I made a fish with seaweed behind it) and press on the flat side of the pebble. I used simple blue clay for the background (and pulled it up over toward the front side to finish), but swirled clays or the addition of glitters, leaf or translucents could look really interesting. These can have a loop added at the top for hanging or embedded in other ways to create a frame or hanger.
(....for various ways to simulate tiny ponds with clay fish-seaweed-etc. suspended in resin water see Faux-Many > Water)

The beads themselves were sort of mokume gane - swirls of lightly-colored translucent clay and gold and silver leaf looking like something out of the sea. ....then, you could make an itsy-bitsy seascape - a tiny fish or 2, and some seaweed - on each side of the bead (????), and press the (glass pebble) in, rounded side out, so it keeps the rounded shape of the whole bead. The glass magnifies the seascape.

skygrazer mentions that the metallic clays really zing with the magnification and light-gathering properties of the pebbles

The pebbles can be left as is, have their edges covered with copper tape, UTEE with powders/etc., rope of clay, or set into a base with foil on it, etc.. the flat side may be able to take a stamped image?
...or glued on with liquid clay, superglue, or GemTac (strong white glue)
...skygrazer pulls the clay backing up slightly around the sides of her glass pebbles to adhere them

the center of those pendants is uncolored glass pebbles .... I use the clear as they are the only ones I can get fairly small
..... then I paint their backs with Duncans ceramic pearl or metallic acrylic paint (I tried to bake the paint first, but it bubbled ... now just let the paint dry on the pebble)
.....then place the pebble on my clay (as a background/frame/base)... and on the front I lay surrounding leaves (highlighted with gold) and bake, with no problems. Mary V.

safely removing the gold foil backing from glass gemstones? (have some great cabs, but the foil backing on some of them is chipped, and looks bad). Sharon
.... There are two ways to do this. One is to put the pieces into a jar which has a solution of vinegar and salt. A pint of vinegar to a half cup of salt usually works for me. Put a lid on tight and shake the jar. Let it sit for a few hours, and shake again. Do this for 24 hours. Then rinse and rub at any foil that's left using a towel
....... The second way is to use a mild solution of acid. I can't give you the strength on this as I don't use this method. But a lapidary shop might have the answer. I'm told it's much faster than the above method, but I don't like to fool around with any acid that's stronger than the vinegar. Dotty in CA
...I've used toilet bowl cleaner to remove the silvering or whatever it is called on the back of antique mirrors that have been damaged. Works super fast.---but do use precautions as it is not a substance that you want in contact with skins, eyes, etc. Jeanne
........toilet bowl cleaners have an acid in them. Dotty CA

(for more on glass pebbles and gems, flat glass or acrylic shapes, see Mixing Media)

(for using actual magnifying lenses in similar ways, or as temporary reading glasses, etc., see Other Materials > Magnifying Lenses )

cracked marbles
("fried marbles" --an old Brownie-Girl Scout project)

Rapid change in temperature will make thicker glass crack internally along stress fractures... can look quite beautiful !
... find marbles in toy stores, hobby stores, flea markets . . .also works with glass pebbles from craft store
...the cracks stay inside the marble and crack "inward"...however, some marbles will break, so do more than you need
...don't use extreme heat or they will shatter.... heated too long, they may fall apart in the water
...safety:
........wearing safety glasses during the process is prob.a good idea, but most people didn't
........any broken marbles will have very sharp edges. ... handle very carefully... they can even break later, or if stressed?
HEATING (several options):
...OVEN.... (15-25 min., at 250-275 degrees, till heated through) ... use a baking pan with lip or cake pan, etc. (don't use it again in case any glass slivers get left behind... or line with aluminum foil); one person does 200 marbles at a time this way (or can use a coffee can and then pour the cold water directly in the coffee can)
...STOVETOP...heat in a cast iron skillet or frying pan or even a metal pot? over high heat for several minutes (no oil), rolling them around until a bit of water dropped in pan evaporates instantly...then heat 1 more min. ...a lid should stay on in case they pop too fast?
ICE BATH...use a slotted spoon to take the marbles from the hot water (or unslotted for oven method) and quickly plunge them into ice water (more ice than water because the heat from the marbles will reduce the water temperature...using a large volume of ice-water is good or change water/add ice) . .
CRACKING...wait 15 minutes before handling (that's when most cracking happens although may hear more cracking for a wk) . . once dry, the cracks will be more visible
MICROWAVE method (no ice-water) ... put marbles in a towel and microwave for 2-3 min.... heats them from the inside out, so when they begin to cool they will crack on their own. .. can help them by tapping with a hammer.
FREEZE FIRST method... froze them overnight.... then put them into an empty coffee can and poured the boiling water on them. They cracked that way too! Shaylee
....To attach things to the marbles or to attach them together, use a clear glue that adheres well to glass (Duco Cement, Bond 257 a glue for gems ... 2 hours to dry, 24 hrs to fully cure.)

This way takes a bit longer but the final outcome is worth it ...I had found that when I took the marbles out of the frying pan then just dropped them all into ice water, they did not crack very much
......so next time, I took them out one by one... slowly dropped them onto a wooden spoon containing a bit of the ice water ...and they all cracked like crazy (they sizzled and cracked, and some even made a bit of steam when the hot marble hit the cold water). cyansoma
...so maybe another thing to consider is the size and shape of the pan you're doing the cooling in (as well as the total amount of ice water) ... in other words, the pan needs to be large enough (and shallow enough?) to not crowd the marbles too much when they're put in, so the water can stay really cold?? Diane B.

SOME USES for cracked marbles, etc.:
...small figures & animals (snowman,Santa Claus,cat,turtle, mouse-rabbit with tail & whiskers, facial features from felt, wiggle eyes)
...onlay embellishment...glue to picture frames, flowerpots, vases, lampshades, etc.
...all kinds of jewelry (in the 70's, some were wrapped with wire cages) . . . or in clear vases for plants
...let light shine through...glue around outside of glass candle holders or votives... can leave spaces in polymer clay coverings on votives or glass balls for cracked pebbles
...mosiacs from round glass marble halves....boil marbles in water for 15 minutes, then toss in ice...some will split in half

Nix Creations' wire-wrapped "antique" crackled marbles
http://createapendant.com/wirewrapcrackleglass.htm

ice cubes ...& misc clear shapes
(glass + plastic)

glass or acrylic ice cubes ... may have flat surfaces or irregular surfaces
...can be embellished with clay or with other media
...can make a snowman from 2-3 stacked together ...or just one cube could be used to make a head (embellished), then used as is for ornament/etc., or put onto a clay body... the glass cubes can be held together mechanically with clay (scarf, etc.) then baked, or other cube(s) could be glued on after baking, or baked embellishments could be glued on (E6000)
....I gave mine a hat, scarf, and pom poms with wire connector for ear muffs...I also made some with top hats, cane, and painted vest ... some are standing juggling snow balls (glued to hands and arch with wire) Very cute. Gayle
....I also added small candy canes for skis. Eleanore .... I glued the bottom cube to a wooden tile. farmerswife
.. figures could be standing or sitting on ice cubes, or in other ways interacting with a cube(s)
... I made boots from clay and also flowers for head and chest...my body is stryrofoam balls...nurseray
...You may also want to try the colored plastic "ice cubes" with water in them that you freeze and can reuse (also come in balls or festive theme shapes)...of course you will see the water stuff inside, but I like the little water movement in them. Nancy (for clay, those couldn't be baked)
...various snowpeople, angels, etc. made from cubes ... some use smaller block for head... one has "gloves" at ends of wire? arms which stick out from between the head and body cubes
http://www.christmasplace.com/shopping/product_detail.cfm?product_id=13207 (keep clicking on others)
SOURCES:
...glass ones are often found in bags of 8 at craft stores (esp. Joanns, Michaels), dollar stores at Christmas time, floral or candle supply, etc.
......at Michaels, whenever their marbles are on sale for 88 cents, so are the cubes... they're in a clear plastic rectangle box about 5"usually for 2.99 I collected a lot since last year. Gayle
......I got mine at Joann's in the flower pot area near the those flat marbles. They were 2.49.
......many people got them at Dollar Tree 10 for $1.00 , but our store said they wouldn't be putting that stuff out till the end of Oct. Crissy-pa.
......some people have said that Bed Bath and Beyond had them too. Lique.
:......18-count bag is $1.98 ......http://store.yahoo.com/bevfabriccrafts/glasicecub11.html
..There are some acrylic ice cubes around too *(bakable, I think), but may be more expensive ...acrylic can be found in various sizes and shapes as well
http://www.christmasespast.com/cubes.html
....can be mail ordered through Michaels?-- sku # 8 3438900374 7 ... item # is 315216 D3 (acrylic or glass?)...author?
....(some of the acrylic ice "cubes" aren't really cube-shaped, but instead resemble partly melted ice cubes and are various amorphous shapes... could be fun for some things though)
...there are also the various-size smooth acrylic cubes from a plastics store, but the sides are flat,don't have the slight distortion of the "ice cubes":
http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=136
(other acrylic shapes: http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/category.php?bid=14)

MARBLING
...on surface of water or soaps... or with other materails

....many of these methods could probably be used on polymer clay
...could use as backgrounds or as focal areas, etc.
...could also dab a bit of metallic paint on a paper towel randomly across the colored surface, for more interest and complexity