LUCY CLAY TOOLS. INC.
Introducing the Lucy Clay Blade
A universal blade that works for all types of polymer projects.
I decided to experiment with it some today.
I was very pleased with it.
When you first pick it up and use it you think this is just a cutting blade but its so much more. Which made me keep experimenting. I wanted to see how many types of projects I could make with it. I will keep going after this blog as there are so many great techniques that a blade is used for.
Included in the blog area a few mini Tutorials.
Not all just my ideas but tips I have learned along the way of claying that I though would be fun to share since I am currently having a heart swap so included below is a fun tutorial for that and a few frame by frame slices of some techniques you rarely see a full tutorial on. For example Mica Shift you see it some but never each part and I finally have it down pat and loved that this blade worked for it.
Strong enough to cut through huge hard scrap clay and large 12 oz. of clay blocks and then cut delicate little details in a design. Lots of fun on this blog and a review as well.
My Review of the Lucy Clay Blade
1: Sharpest blade I own and I have all the blades on the market. I have had it three weeks now and find it is the only blade I use unless I need a ripple blade. Before I always went for a fully flexible blade and now I find I am more pleased with the Lucy Clay blade because it is stronger.
2: cuts through a huge block of clay without distorting the clay design and cuts clean precise slices.
3: thin enough to cut very thin 1mm slices on a flower can or similar cane.
4: Is very strong but flexible enough to do all types of polymer techniques, mica shift, mokume gane slicing and detailing, ability to bend enough to shape your own shaped designs.
5: thin enough to cleanly lift your delicate pieces off your work space, tile or work surface without damaging the bottoms of your design, like other blades, lifts the pieces clean without leaving residue. I also used it to lift clay off of plastic sheets and no residue. No damage to my pieces which were very delicate.
6: so sharp it will cut and cut without needing sharpening. I have used it now for 3 weeks ALOT and it is still as sharp as it was when I first got it.
7: I am pleased because this is the only blade I need to carry in my clay tool kit now when I travel because it does it all. I don't need flexible blades and stiff blades because the Lucy Clay blade is all of those.
8: Clean smooth cutting for all brands of clay. Tried with Kato, Fimo, Premo, Sculpey III, Pardo and Cernit. Goes through the toughest of clay blocks new and old and clean cuts.
9: I had alot of mixed blocks of clay scraps. Some so old that they seemed to hard to cut. Clean slices like they were freshly conditioned.
10: I am happy with this blade and proud to be selling it. Truly this company does alot of test and research on all of their products because every time I get a new tool I am more impressed.
To purchase this blade click this link to My Artfire Shop
Where you can purchase All Lucy Clay Tools
I am the only USA Distributor of Lucy Clay Products and Tools
I started with just the simple cutting of a cane because so many look for a blade that will cut very thin slices and straight slices not wonky ones. I was very happy that I was able to cut many types of canes, transparent, black clay flower canes and the list goes on. All with the same outcome, new old it does not matter the blade slices through the canes like they are fresh soft clay.
You can click on the photo above and it will enlarge it. It is frame by frame slices and they cut perfectly. Straight cuts and I like that since I have severe tremors a good sturdy blade that will slice straight in my hands is a miracle. I was pleased that I did not waste any of my cane when cutting. I used the slices for a secret project. Will see come Feb 2014.
Old hard Scrap Cane Cutting Test
Outcome = Sliced like a dream.
It sliced like it was new clay and believe me this block had been sitting out dried out and not in a container and was just lots of scraps thrown together.
Mini Tutorial ~
I loved how it looked once sliced
So I thought hmmm. Bring out the heart tool.
This is for all my "2014 International Polymer Clay Heart Swap" peeps that have been asking for some tips on hearts
"Christi Friesen's Butt Crack Heart Technique"
This technique is done with Christi Friesen's
"Gotta have it tool" by Christi Friesen
and the "Lucy Clay Blade"
I took Christi's Classes in September in Florida and learned so much. Will be blogging about that soon and a giveaway too ;).
Christi is wonderful, hilarious and has so much talent, she amazes me how easy she makes things look and how easily she makes you realize you can do it too if you watch her close you will be amazed what you learn. So this is part of her Butt Crack Technique and that is what she calls it in class. I hurt from laughing after class each day.
And you must have her tool to accomplish it perfectly.
I recommend her tools they are wonderful for sculpting.
Click the photo to purchase her tool.
Tutorial supplies needed:
Lucy Clay Blade
Christi Friesen "Gotta Have it Tool"
Premo Clay
Scrap Clay
Your hands
fiber fill for baking (keeps the full heart shape)
Heart
1) Roll scrap clay in a ball 20mm size
2) cut your cane or scrap clay cane 5mm thick with your Lucy Clay Blade
3) run the clay slice through your pasta machine #3 on my Atlas
4) Wrap the clay around the heart and cut off the excess. Be sure to leave a little extra sometimes once you swirl your scrap clay will peek through if it does use a ball stylist to poke the colored clay back inside and smooth out the surface.
5) Roll your clay into a ball. Be sure it is smooth everywhere
6) Putting the clay ball in your hands make your hands into a V shape and roll the clay between them only rolling the bottom part of the ball and it will transform into a point.
7) using the "Gotta have it tool" Find where you want your top of the heart center to be and push straight down with the tool then rock it from front to back making a "Cf Clay Butt Crack"
8) Then tip the tool to the side while it is still in the Butt Crack and you can smooth the crack on the side to give the round sides of the heart the shape you want. Sharp, rounded, Pointy. The tool does it all.
9) Remove the tool from the crack smooth any little areas with your finger and decorate your heart if desired
10) bake at manuf. clay directions. I bake everything 250 degrees for an hour.
These hearts turned out so cool. Between an animal print and I don't know what but they are so pretty. Cant show the finished one. It is a surprise. Coming soon.
Thank you Christi for allowing me show some of your Heart tips. Hugs
Lucy Clay Blade and Mica Shift
Tools & Materials needed:
Lucy Clay Blade
Sculpey Acrylic roller
Texture
Premo Pearl Clay with mica powders (examples Premo Silver, Premo Peacock Pearl, Premo Pearl, Premo gold and many others. Or add Premo Pearl to your favorite color Premo Clay.
Premo Black Clay
Kemper plunger cutters Tear drops in 1/2" and 1/16"
Baking tile
Swarovski Square 8mm Crystals (optional)
Sculpey Bake and Bond to adhere Crystal to the clay
Items I used for this tutorial:
For this mini tutorial I used Premo Peacock Pearl
A texture sheet that I love from www.Tonjastreasures.etsy.com (they are my go to texture sheets-she designs them for clay and they are deep and work amazing for this technique)
I had been creating for 2 years before I ever tried Mica Shift technique. Once I tried it I wondered why I had not tried before. Guess I had to many other ideas of my own to try but this technique is beautiful every time. No matter what texture you use its like creating magic.
Click the photos to enlarge. You will see how well the Lucy Clay blade works for this. Usually you need a very flexible blade but this blade worked amazing. I was surprised with the stiffer blade like the Lucy Clay Blade I had more control than I usually do with the very flexible blade. I didn't cut to deep and it worked great. You see frame by frame of every cut. I didn't leave any out. So no mistakes I was thrilled with the outcome.
If your not familiar with Mica Shift.
It is putting a deep texture into a clay that has mica powders in it.
Quick how too:
1) Condition your clay: TIP: When conditioning your clay be sure to condition it the same way. Don't turn the clay on several sides. Put it through the same way each time until conditioned. I find this makes the mica really show up well for this Tecnique.
2) Once conditioned press the texture sheet, spray your texture with water, then press the texture sheet firmly on your clay using a acrylic roller or some texture sheets you can run through the pasta machine with your clay. Personally I do not like to do that I find it distorts the pretty texture. I just Carefully press hard and roll the acrylic roller over the thick sheet of mica clay (I usually work with a base clay of the thickest setting on my Atlas pasta machine).
3) Once your texture is in the clay you lift off the sheet.
4) Bend your blade in a bowed shape and hold the blade steady with both hands and slice very slowly the top layer of the clay impression off. I try to slice off the right amount the first time so that I do not have to go over the same spot more than once or you have mistakes. If you take your time it works great.
5) You will not be able to do the whole mica sheet at once. Take your time do small areas and put the clay scraps on the side you can use them in other designs :).
6) I will feel the base of clay and if I feel the texture I know I need to lightly slice off more of the clay. Once the clay feels smooth and you only see your impression and do not feel it your almost done.
7) using your acrylic roller roll the whole clay area. This will get rid of any clay bumps or areas that may be deeper cut than the other areas. I always go over it a few times lightly with the acrylic roller. Not a lot and do not press hard you do not want to mush or distort your beautiful design.
8) one thing I love about Tonja Lendermans clay texture sheets is you can really see the detail in the mica. They are amazing for this technique. If you have a texture sheet that is too thick you will not get the great details. So pick a texture sheet that has some open areas to really show the depth that is created with this technique.
9) Once the base is finished I make a #2 thickness of black premo clay
10) lift the mica shift with your lucy clay blade. Love this blade for lifting your clay designs. Even though its a thick blade the delicate designs are not damaged. The blade is so sharp it lifts them perfectly without any residue underneath which means no damage to your design.
11) From top to bottom lay your mica shift on the black premo clay base. With the acrylic roller smooth over the two clays one time to adhere them to each other.
12) cut you design
13) I cut my own shape you could use a cutter to cut any shapes. I used the Lucy Clay blade to cut curves on the sides and top and then used kemper cutters in tear drops to cut out petal from the extra clay that I cut off from the base. So the petals are mica shift designs as well. I then cut a few ribbons and when I placed them on the clay I turned them a bit so the black shows as well they look like the flow like a ribbon does in the wind. I then added a drop of Sculpey bake and bond to the center of the flower petals and then added a square Swarovski crystal to the center of the flower. I liked the look since the pendant was abstract as well. Then added another drop of bake and bond to the clay and added a square crystal to one of the tips of the pendant. Used the smallest kemper cutter tear drop to cut a hole for later adding a bail and ribbon.
14) bake at clays manuf. directions. I bake everything at 250 degrees for an hour.
Pretty simple and fun Mica Shift. Made easier by using the Lucy Clay Blade. I truly was impressed that I could do this technique with this blade.
Lucy Clay Blade and Mokume Gane
The Lucy Clay Blade worked great for this technique. Strong enough to slice through the many ripples and shapes you make in a Mokume Gane and not distort it unless you want it distorted.
For this Technique I used:
Lucy Clay Blade
Stacks of Premo clays in
Premo Blue Pearl
Premo Accents Pearl
Premo Accents White Glitter
Premo Accents Blue Glitter clay
Sculpey Acrylic Roller
New 2013 Sculpey Technique Design Blocks
1) condition your clay. Stack thin layers and thin layers. I like to do a bit of each so you get an uneven slice. The more you alternate your clay and more colors you stack the more amazing your clay mokume gane. I had this one left over from a water design I made.
2) Once stacked roll your clay with the acrylic roller to adhere all layers
3) press your texture, tools or mush the clay, however you choose to add shape and effects to your clay. I used the new Sculpey Tecnique block the one in the upper top right with all the shapes. It is an amazing tool for this technique. All the tools in this kit are wonderful for Mokume gane and so many other tecniques. New blog coming soon with more tutorials and tips with this kit.
4) Once you have made your impressions. Using the lucy clay blade I use both hands one on each side of the blade and bend the blade slightly ends curved up and slice pieces off the top of the stack of clay. You will see cool dips and shapes from the impressions you made.
5) save the slices you cut off, Set them aside for cool designs on clay. Keep cutting until you find get a really beautiful design you like.
Above I used a black #2 thickness on my Atlas as a base. Layed the sliced pieces of Mokume gane on the black base and ran it through the Atlas on a #1 thickness. I should have done it on white it would have turned out better but I will make some fun earrings with these.
Other ways to use your Mokume Gane
Find the cut piece you like with the design you like add it to a base of black clay or other colors and cut shapes to make cabochons, jewelry pieces, or put it on a clay base and make bracelets out of it. Mokume Gane is beautiful and can be used in so many ways.
I love the way the Lucy Clay Blade worked for this Technique. I was very happy with it. Usually I prefer a ripple blade but I got amazing details and cuts with the Lucy Clay Blade.
It is now my go to blade.
