Polyclay Tute- Skinner Blend

[teapotdnky]

I wasn't sure where this went so I'm putting it here. Sorry in advance about the dirty polyclay table. Most of it is stained and never ever looks clean no matter what.
How to make a skinner blend:

1. Start with 2 colors. Roll both of them to the same thickness and cut into large squares. Cut the squares a bit larger than you think you'll need.




2. Cut them both on the diagonal.


3. Fold them both in half onto themselves on the diagonal.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/4polyclay/S4.jpg

4. Butt them up against each other, making a 2 colored square.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/4polyclay/S5.jpg

5. Fold it in half with the majority of the color on itself. (In this case, yellow to yellow, green to green)


6. It should look like this.


7. Roll it in a pasta machine, or by hand in one direction only!


8. It might do this:


9. Thats fine, just reshape it with your hands by pushing in the sides to make another square. Roll it again about 15-20 times. This will make a good blend.


10. This is about half way done.


11. Because of the flash, I took a picture of a different colored skinner blend.

[funkyandfried]

Thanks for posting a tute. I haven't seen too many polyclay technique tute 'round these parts. I've seen the instructions before but I'm sure other clayers will thank you!

[teapotdnky]

I've got more, like mica shift and stuff, but its time consuming taking all the pics, so its slow going. I hope to get a few more up this/next week.

[funkyandfried]

See, this is why craftster should get a polymer clay board. Nowhere else to put this stuff. I'd love to see your mica shift tute!

[teapotdnky]

Its actually 2 different techniques in one tute. Ooooh Suspenseful!

[funkyandfried]

Whoa, yowza!Twice the learning, twice the fun! *cheesy wink* Education is POWER!

[Fidget]

Thank you! Great tutorial, Teapot!

I really need to get a pasta machine.  At least that's what I tell myself is keeping me from doing polyclay things.

[funkyandfried]

I gotta say that my pasta machine is totally invaluable. Ain't no way I can roll flat sheets to save my life. It's fun also just to roll stuff through it. Again. And again. I put a blob of scrap clay through at the thinnest setting and it got kind of fluted and dimpled and looked like bacon! Mmmmm...

PS Teapotdnky, are you of native descent? Cause I saw on the Unique Name Swap that your name was Wolf Shadow, or something similar. (Pardon my bad memory).

[teapotdnky]

Very good funkyandfried! Yes I am Pueblo. I got my name when I entered womanhood. Most people make up stupid names so I just go by Sarah most of the time. I really do prefer Wolf Shadow though.

Lets see... You can do this without a pasta machine, but it takes forever and the results are not as good. If you are having trouble with your machine, try taking it apart following a tute (I will write one for that too.), or just wipe the rollers down. You can try water on the rollers too. I have an ATLAS. It is the best pasta machine period. Even though it is top quality, I can't roll my clay past a 4. It sticks and gets wavy. Oh well. I didn't use a pasta machine for the first few years doing clay, but now, it is invaluable to me.

I know it sounds cheesy, but I really do want the whole world to know how fun this stuff is!

[Fidget]

I bought a pasta machine tonight.    I'll be trying my first Skinner Blend tomorrow.