New here

[LiseteAlves]

As promised (! ) I'm introducing myself to the polymer clay community!
I'm from Portugal, and I've started about a year ago working with the this amazing dough! I'm hooked, thanks to GlassAttic and Diana!
here are some of my latest work:








you can check out my stuff at  www.flickr.com/photos/lakuska/!
I'd love if you leave your comments

Hugs
Lisete

[boo]

Olá!

You beautiful things, welcome to crafster!
Where do you buy this clay on Portugal? I've never seen it before..

Happy Crafting (e espero que te divirtas neste fórum)

Boo *

[LiseteAlves]

Hi Boo!
Where in Portugal are you from?? I'm in Porto! There are several places in Porto you can find Fimo Soft... If you want, let me know and I'll send you a list!

Hugs!
Lisete

[boo]

Sorry about my stupid question earlier (I did a little research)... Is this  FIMO??? REALLY???
How do you get this glossy effect?


Sou mais dos lados de Lisboa!

[Diane B.]

As promised (! ) I'm introducing myself to the polymer clay community

Yay!... glad to see you over here  

www.flickr.com/photos/lakuska

Love the way you've tapered out these swirlies...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lakuska/123817328/

Are all of those polymer?... even the black and white one at top, and the bluish one left-center? ... can't quite see what it's all about
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lakuska/123817327/

And of course, I have to give a link to this one ... just because you used real turquoise with the wire doesn't mean it couldn't be done with faux turquoise made from polymer clay, so it qualifies IMO:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lakuska/172859642/
(and the wire-wrap rings are awesome too!)




Diane B.
GlassAttic....polym er clay "encyclopedia" http://glassattic.com/polymer/contents.htm
little bit'o photosharing: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dianeatglassattic/my_photos

[beadizzygrl]

Your work is awsome!!!!  Super nice swirls.  Dizzy like me lol.

[LiseteAlves]

"Love the way you've tapered out these swirlies...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lakuska/123817328/"
Actually, these beads weren't done exactly by the swirl technique, although I imagine they could possible be made that way... I'll try to take photos next times I make one of these series so you can see what I mean...

"re all of those polymer?... even the black and white one at top, and the bluish one left-center? ... can't quite see what it's all about
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lakuska/123817327/"
They're all FimoSoft, each and every one! The "bluish"one is more of a "greener" one with red, not very visible in the photo... experimenting with talc powder

"And of course, I have to give a link to this one ... just because you used real turquoise with the wire doesn't mean it couldn't be done with faux turquoise made from polymer clay, so it qualifies IMO:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lakuska/172859642/
(and the wire-wrap rings are awesome too!)"
So glad you like it

oh, and thanks beadizzygrl! I kind of get a bit dizzy too when I spend to much time "swirling" !   I'm a bit addicted to the technique! thanks, Diane!It's all your fault!:P

Hugs!

[LiseteAlves]

Sorry about my stupid question earlier (I did a little research)... Is this  FIMO??? REALLY???
How do you get this glossy effect?

Yes, it's FimoSoft... as to the glossy effect: Fimo glossy varnish although I've heard (and seen the results!) of a varnish called Varathane, and i've been searching like crazy for the stuff to try it out but I can't seem to find it here (the manufacturing company doesn't seem to want to reply my e-mails either, so...)

(desculpa estar a responder em inglês... apenas questão de cortesia para com os outros )
tens q fazer uma visita cá acima ao Porto, conhecer os artesões espectaculares de fimo q há cá por cima!
--- just inviting Boo to pay a visit to Porto's Fimo Craftsters! ---

Hugs!

[Diane B.]

varnish called Varathane, and i've been searching like crazy for the stuff to try it out but I can't seem to find it here (the manufacturing company doesn't seem to want to reply my e-mails either, so...)

Varathane is just a brand name for polyurethane, though this brand (and some others, I take it, also have something called IPN --an interpenetrating network--that helps the finish actually get down into the clay rather than sitting on its surface).  Varathane is now made by RustOleum but used to be made by Flecto, which is why you'll sometimes see that name used for it. 

You could try any water-based acrylic finish for wood though from the hardware store ... most of them will do pretty much the same thing.  (Varathane comes in 3 versions... gloss which is the most commonly used one, semi-gloss and satin, I think... I've heard the Satin or whichever one is the least glossy is so matte it may look kind of funky though).

Future (an acrylic polish for kitchen floors) is another option... it's a little thinner and is affected eventually by ultraviolet light though most of us don't leave our stuff in the sun or fluorescent light that long.
Future is available under other names (by Johnson) in other countries... if you want to check out the names to see if anything sounds familiar, look on my "Finishes" page
 http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/finishes.htm under Future.

Also, if you want to check to see if Varathane is available in Europe, or there's possibly another acrylic wood finish with IPN, your best bet might be to write to Sarajane Helm, who has championed Varathane over the years, talking to them occasionally ... her website is polyclay.com for an e-mail address and she also has a Varathane "page."



Diane B.
GlassAttic....polym er clay "encyclopedia" http://glassattic.com/polymer/contents.htm
little bit'o photosharing: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dianeatglassattic/my_photos

[McJulie-O]

Oh my! These are glorious, and I especially think these on
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lakuska/123817327/"  are breathtaking. 

(I'm afraid I know nothing about polymer clay except what I've picked up vicariously on Craftster, but I know these are wonderful)  You inspire me.