How to make a "Bullseye Lace Cane" bead
A bullseye lace cane is the easiest, most forgiving and, at the same time, the most rewarding cane project. And it's suitable for any skill level polymer clay designer. The secret to a successful lace cane is using colors that are in strong contrast to one another. You'll want to use a very light and very dark color. This is also a great project to learn how to "reduce" a cane. I call the reducing technique shown below the "hour glass" technique. I think you'll see why.

  Supplies:
  • a minimum of two colors of any brand of polymer clay, preferably with strong color contrast (e.g. black and white, navy blue and ecru, etc.)
  • pasta machine
  • ruler
  • a fresh sharp blade
  • large sewing or very thin knitting needles
  • drill bits that meet your desired bead hole width sizes

  Steps:  
1.

Condition at least 1 block of light color and 1 block of dark color clay. Make a light color log and a dark color sheet.

Note: If you make the sheet and log a bit uneven (finger dents, etc.), you can produce a more natural looking lace pattern.

 

2.

Size the sheet so it can completely wrap around the log's perimeter. You now have a simple cane.

3. Get creative with your new cane. Feel free to add a couple more sheets of various colors. Multiple sheets will help give the appearance of a bullseye; hence the name.
4.

Pinch the middle all the way around to form an hour glass shape. Gently and evenly pinch, pull and roll, working towards both ends. Watch the cane grow in length and shrink in diameter. This is called reduction.

5.

Make the cane at least 18" long and an even thickness from one end to the other.

6.

Use a thin sharp blade to cut your cane into 7 2.5 inch long segments.

 
7.

Use one of the segments as a center and place the other segments around it. Gently press them together.

8.

Now pinch and reduce this log just like you did before until it's 18 inches long.

 
9.

Cut your cane into 7 same length segments. Are you starting to get the idea?

 
10.

Use one of the segments as a center and place the other segments around it. Gently press them together.

11.

Okay. You've got the idea. You can repeat this cycle of cutting, combining and reducing until you are satisfied with the pattern that forms.

12. Once you are satisfied with your bullseye lace cane, you're ready to decorate beads and many other things.
13. Making and decorating beads: Roll a small piece of clay into a ball about the size of a marble. If you plan to cover the entire surface of bead, you can use scrap clay (leftovers from the ends of the cane or some old muddy color clay). If you wish for portions of the bead to show through, use a matching or complimentary color. Cut a few thin slices from your lace cane. (Hint for making same sized beads - roll out a sheet of clay, use an object to cut out pieces. Since all the pieces contain the same amount of clay, they will be the same size.)  
 

14. Left half: solid color beads, cane slices have been applied to one. Right half: scrap beads, cane slices have been applied to one.
15. Place a covered bead in between the palms of your hands, apply even pressure while rolling the bead around.
16. As you roll the bead about, the slices will gradually meld into the bead, forming one solid smooth finished surface.
17. Using a needle or needle tool, push straight down the middle of the bead.
18. Pick up the bead and allow the needle to just barely poke through. Pull the needle out and push it into the bead from the other end. This technique will create nice smooth openings at both end, without leaving "exit wounds".
19. It's best to apply cane slices to spherical or cylindrical shapes, then, if desired, change to shape to something more complex. Generally, polymer clay cane slices can be applied to many different objects, not just polymer clay. Look around for something to decorate. Don't forget, you'll need to bake the polymer clay to harden it! Follow the manufacturer's directions for temperature setting and baking times.

Some people prefer the matte finish that polymer clay provides once baked. For an easy glossy shine, many folks apply Future (an acrylic floor polish) or Flecto (an acrylic finish for wood).

  Below is a necklace made with a small collection of bullseye lace cane beads, matching color spacer beads, silver bead caps and beads and strung on buna cord. This sample necklace is to demonstrate you can make a nice necklace with a simple polymer clay cane design and a visit to your local bead store for a few accent pieces.
 

Click image to visit gallery and see other images of this necklace.


Have a great polymer clay day. ;-)

Desiree

Last update to this page: 2 Aug 08. Send comments, questions or suggestions to Desiree McCrorey.