I Love Butterflies!

Butterfly Cane not yet reduced or trimmed

The one thing that I absolutely love are butterflies. They are a great feminine alternative to flowers, with a more modern feel. 

Butterfly canes have been grabbing my attention ever since I started working with polymer clay. So beautiful, yet sooo intimidating. I had one little trial with an earlier project. See the butterfly earrings that resulted from it. Starting with this simple little purple butterfly got me hooked!

But, as with any addiction, I started to crave more. More butterflies, more colors, and more details! So, with a whole Sunday afternoon just waiting to be filled with my newest craft endeavor, I decided to jump in!

To start, I did a quick google search for butterfly images. There were so many fantastic designs and vibrant colors to choose from! There really isn't much that you can't find on google.

2015 Challenge Accepted!

I recently stumbled upon Kater's Acres blog and have decided to take the 2015 Polymer clay challenge.

For the challenge, I am committing to make one new floral cane each week. There are 52 weeks in a year, so that will challenge me to come up with 52 different types of flowers.

Wish me luck! I think I should be alright for the first few weeks, but after that, I may be coming back to you and asking for ideas. So get ready! (jk - but if you have any, throw them my way).

I'm excited about this undertaking for two main reasons:

1. I imagine by week 52, I should be making some pretty cool canes. After that much practice, it's inevitable, right?

2. ^^ I LOVE the jewelry that comes from floral canes. The photo above is a new necklace that I haven't even posted yet, but wanted to share here. The petals are a gradient going from light to dark purple, which are outlined in black. The entire flower is set on a pure white background and shaped to look like it's blooming right around the pendant.

So, throughout the year, I'll be posting updates on how this little experiment is going. You'll also start seeing a lot more flowers blooming in my Etsy shop!

Do you have something you want to challenge yourself with in the new year? Let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear from you!

Earrings Anyone?

With the gift giving holidays coming up, I thought that I'd share a new line that Cascading Gems just started producing. 

Earrings!!!

I need your help in deciding what else to add to the store! 

The earrings pictured on the left are made from polymer clay and set on 14K yellow gold plated fishhooks. We've started making both silver and gold plated fishhook dangles. To see all of my listings so far, visit the store.

With so many earring options to choose from it was hard to decide. 

What is your favorite style? Do you prefer a post or a dangle? Silver or gold? 

Please let me know in the comments! I'll be listening!

3 Hairstyles in Under 5 Minutes!

If you have long hair, you know that it looks great down, maybe with some waves or even just sleek and straight.

But, you also know, that there are times when it just won't work to wear it down (for example, running around all day with an infant and/or toddler). Unless you want your hair splattered with food and spit up, not to mention, pulled at all day, putting it up is your only option.

Then, there are also times when you want a more professional, pulled together look. It's hard to come across as a woman in charge, when you are shedding hair all over the conference table.

*This hair slide is available on Etsy.

The hair slide is ideal for both situations. The best thing is that this hair accessory won't snag, break, or tangle hair. Just twist, braid, or bun hair into whatever style you like and insert hair slide.

Here's how I created the three looks in the pic above in under 5 minutes each:

Black and White Polymer Cane Tutorial

With just black and white polymer clay, you can create an amazingly dramatic cane. Below, I'll list the steps I used to make it. The image on the left is also a great reference.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.

1. Select three colors: I chose white, dark charcoal, and a medium gray.

2. Roll out medium gray on a size 9 and white on a size 7 using your pasta machine and layer strips: white, gray, white, gray, white, gray, white for a total of 4 white strips and 3 gray strips. Trim neatly into a rectangle.

3. Lay an extra piece of white along the bottom of the rectangle and pinch the top to create a more rounded top.

4. Reduce petal to 1/5 its original size and slice into 5 equal pieces.

5. Layer white, medium gray, and charcoal strips (#9 on pasta machine for all)

6. Roll layers from step five to create a spiral and reduce to about 1/3 of its size.

7. Wrap spiral cane in solid black (#9)

8. Reduce to size needed to match petals created in step 4

9. Slice piece of spiral cane to the same size as the petals and arrange the five petals around the spiral cane

10. Cut 5 equal portions of medium gray and mold into triangular shaped logs the same length as the flower

11. Use medium gray to fill the gaps between the petals

Cascading Gems on Facebook

 If you haven't already "liked" my facebook page, here are two great reasons why you should!

Number one, each week, I post a new offer that Facebook fans see first. The offer this week is FREE SHIPPING! All this week, absolutely every order ships completely free. That means, this is a great week to start checking off that gift list!

In order to take advantage of the free shipping offer, you will need to enter the code FREESHIPPING during checkout. To get to my Etsy shop, either click the product links on the right, or click here.

Number 2, I just started a really fun photo album called "Virtual Gifts."

Here's what you do to use them:

• go to the Cascading Gems facebook page
• click on the tab "photos"
• locate the album "virtual gifts"
• and share!
• (I'll be adding a new gift each week)

Here is the link to the Facebook page.

Go ahead and "like" us! You won't be disappointed!

Spiral Glitter Cane Tutorial

One of the easiest canes to make, with the best results, is the spiral cane. This is a great place to start if you are new to polymer clay, but will continue to be a cane you will use again and again, regardless of your experience level.

Here are a few of the pieces created using this very cane:
Triangular necklace, cylinder necklace, round beaded necklace, hair slide 1, hair slide 2

1. Start with three colors you love. I used FIMO Soft white, mint, and FIMO Effect metallic silver. Condition colors by kneading until they are a soft, workable consistency.

2. Form colors into equal size blocks. This will allow them to be about the same length and width after you roll them through the pasta machine.

3. Put white (or your first selected color) through the pasta machine on number 9, lay flat on work surface, and shake enough glitter on top to just cover (I used a teal color to stand out against the mint coming next).

4. Spread glitter out until it reaches the edges of your clay.

5. Put mint (or your second selected color) through the pasta machine on number 9. Layer it on top of glitter covered white. Very gently, using your roller, roll over the two layers to combine.
NOTE: The clay layers will not completely adhere to each other due to the glitter. Just make sure they are layered neatly on top of each other and have faith. :)

6. Shake enough glitter on top to just cover (I used a dark silver color to stand out against the metallic silver coming next).

7. Spread glitter out until it reaches the edges of your clay.

8. Put metallic silver (or your third selected color) through the pasta machine on number 9. Layer it on top of glitter covered mint. Very gently, using your roller, roll over the two layers to combine.
NOTE: The clay layers will not completely adhere to each other due to the glitter. Just make sure they are layered neatly on top of each other and continue having faith. :)

Polymer Clay Tutorial - Simple Floral Tiled Cane

I am so excited to share my first info-graphic with you! In case you are curious, what happens behind the scenes, here it is!

Each of my pieces starts with a cane similar to the one on the left. After the cane is created, I slice, twist and flatten to manipulate it into the form required for the intended hair slide or pendant.

Take a look at the finished hair slide and necklace.

So here is a look at the beginning of the process! I promise, I will make a tutorial of the final process soon!

Step 1: Select the colors (in this case green, blue, and white)!

Step 2: Mix the colors with the same base color (this makes them coordinate with each other better. I chose a tan to tone down the brightness).

Step 3: Roll out each color on the pasta machine at #9 (make two strips of white).

Step 4: Layer the strips (white, green, white, blue) and then slice four equal sections.

Step 5: Matching white sides, create two sandwiches.

Step 6: Squeeze and pinch clay into a petal shape (add more blue as needed to fill in bottom and top)

Step 7: Reduce canes

Creepy Crawly Accessories -- They are not just for Halloween!!

With it being the day before Halloween, aka Mischief Night, I think the timing on this post is just right. Yesterday, I was doing a little light reading on the latest in accessory trends.

Okay, full disclosure, I was flipping through slide shows on the computer. :)

What I came across surprised me, at first. According to InStyle magazine, one of the latest fashion trends for Fall 2014 is "Critters and Crawlers." And they are not talking about the cute little butterflies or lady bugs.

Who Wore It Best?

I thought that we could do something a little more fun and pick sides...pun totally intended. The eight year old inside of me just giggled at that.

The image to the left shows two of the newest Simone pendants. In case you are not familiar with my process, I'll just briefly explain. When I start conditioning clay, I dye or mix colors to obtain the desired color combinations for what I plan to make. Once the colors combinations are created, they are given a series name. In this case, the series is Simone.

Then after that point, every item that uses those colors is named after the series. This enables you to buy coordinating items and know that the colors will be an exact match.

So back to the initial question...who wore the Simone series best? The mini or the standard pendant?

What a difference a good sanding makes!

You would hardly know that the picture above is the exact same hair slide as the one pictured on the next page. Clearly, this piece was a diamond in the rough.

To make this piece, I created a single cane and then reduced it to two different sizes.

What is that thing called??

If you've seen me out and about, you've probably noticed one of these things stuck in my hair. As a mother of three, its the fastest way to get ready in the morning without having to sport the dreaded "messy ponytail." It's easy to do and covers you should you run into anyone during your dash to the grocery store. This look could even roll right into a night out. Have I mentioned it's my favorite style?

For the longest time I have worn one without even the slightest clue what it was called.
It was just fine for me to call it a hair thing, barrette, or hair stick.

Once I started selling them in my shop, I knew that I needed the actual name for it!

Weekly Sales

Introducing Deal of the Week!

That means that each week, we'll be having a new sale in the Etsy shop!

To find the weekly offer, you can look on Etsy or Facebook. Sales will be listed in the shop banner on Etsy. If you are a fan on Facebook, just click on the tab labeled "Deal of the Week." Hint..you must like the page in order to unmask the offer. 

This week only...since it's our Grand Opening...ALL merchandise in the Etsy shop is discounted!!! 

Why Polymer Clay?

You may ask, why, out of all the mediums available, I have chosen polymer clay. Or, even more bluntly, "what is polymer clay anyway!?!"

Polymer clay is a mix of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), plasticizer, and pigment. So basically - - it's plastic! Now you are probably thinking, by why plastic?

Several reasons, actually...

1. Durability - in addition to it NOT being able to be shattered by the accidental drop on the floor, this material has a great amount of flexibility. With the hair slides, this is especially important! In order for it to hold, it needs to be somewhat stretched and then spring back to a tighter position. Keep in mind...this is durable...but not indestructible...so still use care. :)

Welcome!

Audrey Series Oval Pendant

Welcome to Cascading Gems! We just opened our Etsy shop and are excited to show you one of the newest items posted for sale!

The Audrey Series Oval pendant is eye catching to say the least. Warm reds mix with ivory and tan to create a stunning piece! This pendant could be a focal point in your fall wardrobe.

Piece is made from 100% polymer clay. The clay is first conditioned and dyed the desired colors. After that, I create canes, which are sliced and laid out to form pattern sheets. The pattern sheets are flattened for a smooth finish and draped over the form - in this case an oval. Then the piece is smoothed to remove any flaws and fired. After baking, it is sanded, buffed and polished to a high gloss shine.

The result is spectacular!

You may find yourself starting with this pendant and molding the rest of your outfit around it!