Panda

This adorable little panda, made with polymer clay, will keep you company wherever you go. As you know, I try to minimize the use of tools, because why use tools when you have hands? Am I right? Even so, it’s okay to use them for things that our hands just can’t do. For example, I used my exacto-knife to slice pieces to perfection, and to make the ridges in the bamboo the panda is holding, plus a blending tool to seal the gap in the back. Fine details like that are an exception. By the way, when you’re varnishing, make sure you don’t get fingerprints on your charm. Once it’s there, it’s there. Also, remember to cover every little spot with varnish. Always check over your work. Another tip: Be careful with white, gray, or any light color of clay, because once you get little fibers and specks of clay on your work, its hard to fix. This panda used to be covered with fibers, and the first time I tried to fix it, it ended up looking really creepy. All the colors were mixed up and its face was distorted. I had to replace the entire head and the bamboo. To avoid getting into messes like this, always make sure you…

• Use parchment paper or foil as a work surface
• Use a fresh piece of parchment or foil every time you start something new or differently colored
• Wash your hands every time you use a new color
• Use a paper towel to wipe your hands after you wash them. Cloth towels have more fibers, which will get your clay dirty.

Anyway, that’s it for this post. Thanks for reading!