Polymer Clay Extruder Flower Cane Tutorial

Please note – I use affiliate links in this post. All affiliate links are clearly indicated with *Affiliate*

I’m back with another polymer clay cane tutorial. This one relies heavily on a polymer clay extruder but a similar result is possible from shaping the clay by hand. I will give some hints and tips as I go along as to how a similar shape may be achieved without a clay extruder.

I have used Fimo Professional in (*Affiliate* Amazon UK) Marine/Navy Blue and White and a Makins Clay extruder.

*Affiliate* Amazon US – Fimo Professional in Marine/Navy Blue, White and Makins Clay Extruder.

How to make a polymer clay cane using a clay extruder……..

1) Condition some Navy blue clay so that it is soft enough to work with. Put the clay into the extruder and push is through using a teardrop shaped disc. If you don’t have a teardrop shaped disc or extruder then make a snake of clay and pinch one edge to make a pointed side. Continue squeezing the clay between your thumb and fingers all along the length of clay until the teardrop shape is formed.

2) Cut the extruded length into 6 even pieces. Each of mine are 9cm long. This made a lot of cane to work with so if a smaller amount is required then roughly half the amount would be good.

3) Put the teardrops together so that all the points line up in the centre. The clay will now look like a six petal flower.

4) Condition some white clay and push through the extruder using a triangle shaped disc. If this is not possible then make a long snake of white clay and pinch one edge whilst pushing the opposite side on the table. This will flatten one side and make a pointed top.

5) Cut the white triangle snake into 6 pieces so that each piece is the same length as the flower. Lay each triangle so that the point lies in between the petals. You may need to further pinch the pointed end so that is fits well between the petals. Make sure it is accurately lined up all the way along the length of the flower.

6) Push more white clay through the extruder to make long round snakes of clay. Alternatively roll the clay by hand.

7) Use these white snakes to go in between the gaps left between the white triangle shapes. Start squeezing the cane and rolling gently to form a smooth round shape and push the white clay together.

8) Soften more Navy blue clay and roll in through the pasta machine on a number 4 (on my machine number 1 is the thickest setting) or roll by hand until there is an even thickness of clay no more that a few mm deep. Roll this round the cane.

9) Extrude more white worms, bigger than before if possible, or roll by hand and more blue with a half moon disc. If you don’t have the half moon shape you could use a semi-circle shape and push something round against one edge to push it in or roll out a blue snake and push something round against one edge.

10) Put the white clay in the blue and gently pull the edges down around the white leaving a white edge all the way down.

11) Lay them along the cane with the white edge facing towards the inner part of the cane. Make sure that they are lying straight all along the length of the cane. Gently squeeze with your hand (or roll really gently) to get them to join together.

12) Lay more extruded round white clay along the cane in the dips between the blue half moon shapes.

13) Mix white with blue by adding blue in small amounts at a time until a mid blue shade is reached. Roll this through the clay machine on a number 5 and roll this once around the cane.

14) Roll navy blue through the clay machine on a number 5 and roll this once around the clay cane.

15) Reduce the cane and enjoy using it in your various projects.

I have a whole blog post on how to use you polymer clay cane to make beads and pendants showing the process step by step. There is even a YouTube video!

If you enjoyed this or want something a little easier then check out my beginner polymer clay cane tutorial. I also have a selection of free polymer clay tutorials with various techniques shown.

You can also see here which are my top 5 polymer clay tools and why.

I hoped you enjoyed today’s tutorial. If you make it please tag me in any social media posts – I would love to see your work. You can find me here on Facebook and Instagram.

Happy crafting.

Hannah x