Tags
2015PCchallenge, bead, button, Cate van Alphen, handmade, kaleidoscope cane, polymer clay, shank button, toggle
The biggest challenge with blogging something I’ve made every week is not the polymer clay but the photography. Waiting for a sunbeam, so I can photograph using natural light, in Northern England is difficult. In winter it’s even more unlikely. A sunbeam in England, in winter on a Tuesday or Thursday morning (when someone can look after my girls) is practically impossible. So I have had to resort to using a flood lamp for taking my photos, and the results are a bit grungy.
Kaleidoscope shank button clasp by Cate van Alphen
I made a shank button using the kaleidoscope cane I made earlier. I love how the shank button structure doesn’t interfere with the kaleidoscope design.
Shank button clasp back by Cate van Alphen
I liked the button so much I even signed the back ;).
I also made a wire hook which was a bit of a trauma. I wanted the wire to be flat. Previously I have used a DIY hammer (with clunky results), so for my birthday I got a nylon hammer specifically for wire. Unfortunately, this did not have any visible effect on the wire despite whacking it gently, harder, with venom and even asking my husband to have a go. I can only assume it’s the wrong type of hammer because it’s a hammer – there isn’t much scope for user error. Is there? In the end I resorted to using the DIY hammer again.
Polymer clay buttons by Cate van Alphen
I also made some regular buttons and a toggle bead. To make the buttons, I used the edges of the kaleidoscope sheet I made for the shank button. Because I had laid the cane slices over scrap “mud” clay I had to add a layer of clay to the back and edges of the buttons. I used orange because that is supposed to be my focal colour, but after I had made a few I thought brown would have given more definition.
Fulgorine 
Hi Cate. Your nylon hammer is a great tool but is not meant to be used for changing the shape of metal, flattening it in this case. A nylon hammer will “work harden” the metal, making it hard so that the shape does not get distorted through use. A rubber hammer does the same thing.
You still need to use a metal hammer to flatten your wire. There are hammers made especially for metal jewellery work. Even these will leave some tool marks most of the time. The other option is to use a rolling mill, which gets is a big outlay of money.
I like all the buttons very much. You did a great job on them. The orange works well to my eye. It brings a subtle touch of sunshine which I think we all need
Mona
Bijoux Gems Joy
Thanks for info. I’ll try another hammer – if I had the money I’d probably want a kiln before a rolling mill 🙂
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