Instructions:

Before working with polymer clay, it should be conditioned first. This means kneading and squishing in your hand to until warm and soft (about a minute or two). Always condition the lightest colors first!

1. Roll the 1/8 block Orange clay into a 1” inch long log. On the tile, roll out the Translucent clay between two stacks 5 playing cards. Trim the sheet to the same width of the orange clay log and cut a straight edge along one end. Roll the sheet around the orange clay to wrap it and cut off the excess clay. You have now created a bull’s-eye cane.

2. Roll out the white clay through two stacks of 3 playing cards each. Repeat Step 1, wrapping this sheet around the clay log.

3. Roll the bull’s-eye cane into a 9” long snake. Pinch the top of the snake between your thumb and forefinger to form the snake into a triangle cane. Cut off the distorted ends using the clay scrapper. Cut the cane into eight – 1” inch long sections.

4. Assemble all eight triangles together to form a circle cane. Remove the air pocket in the center by gently squeezing with thumbs and forefingers while rotating the cane. Continue doing this down each end on either side of the center. Important - Do not squeeze too much! You only want to compress the cane enough to remove the air in the center, but not enough to make the cane much smaller. 

5. Roll out the other 1/8 block of Orange clay out between two stacks of 8 playing cards. Wrap this around the cane as in Step 1.  Allow the clay to firm by sitting overnight before slicing or freeze for 10-15 minutes. Use a drinking straw to measure the width of each slice (about 3/8”). You can mark the slice measurements on the cane using the straws and clay scrapper. After cutting the slices, make a small hole through the middle of the slices using a quilt pin. If a larger hole is needed, enlarge using a toothpick after making the smaller hole first. Optional: cut slices in half for a variation in making your beads. Bake the beads on the tile with a piece of paper underneath in a preheated 230F degree oven. Use your baked cane slice beads to make zipper pulls, cell phone charms, or jewelry. 

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