Featuring Artist Gisella Foster - Topiary Card

Gisella uses a lovely mix of media to adorn this card. The handmade paper really sets off the Friendly Plastic topiary focal piece.

To see more of Gisella's work visit Liz Welch's guest artist page by clicking here.

Featuring Artist Don Howcroft - Have a Heart Greeting Card

I pinched this photo off of Liz Welch's guest artist page! The flow and texture of this card is pure eye candy. Great Job Don!!! Maybe I should give Don my address...wouldnt it be great to open up the mailbox to receive this beautiful treasure?

To view more of Don's work click here.

Friendly Plastic and textiles by Liz Welch

Typically when we showcase Friendly Plastic here on the blog it's with reference to creating jewelry. But, there's sooooo much more to this medium than just that!



Liz Welch brilliantly showcases how she uses friendly plastic, mixed media and even a sewing machine to create this beautifully decorated bowl

Why not get out of the box....and make a bowl???

For Liz's DVD's visit her website at: http://www.rarebird.ltd.uk/

Linda Peterson is a compensated blogger and is sponsored by AMACO., Inc. Artists who are featured as guests on this blog may or may not have been compensated by AMACO.

Friendly Plastic Technique Video - Jen Lowe's cutting system

One of the most frequently asked questions is how to cut strips of friendly plastic evenly. Jen Lowe has developed a method that will make cutting thin strips a snap....and save your wrists too!!

Thanks JEN for sharing the video with us!

I've come up with a great way to cut your Friendly Plastic into strips - both 1/4" and 1/8" with very little effort. Using a Logan Mat cutting system.



this system will run you about $30 - when it's half off at Hobby Lobby. But....I've made a modification that I'll try to share in the next few days that will get you TWO systems! And I like my modified cutting system even better! Sure beats using a knife and a ruler!

Linda Peterson is a compensated blogger and is sponsored by AMACO., Inc. Artists who are featured as guests on this blog may or may not have been compensated by AMACO.

Friendly Plastic Bottles of Hope - Katie Argyle

Amaco, the manufacturer of Friendly Plastic and former distributor of Fimo polymer clay put on a "bottles of hope" challenge each year. Most bottles of hope are made from polymer clay, but...Katie Argyle beautifully demonstrates that bottles of hope can be made from Friendly Plastic too! Read her story

Well it's one day past the final deadline for the 2009 AMACO Friendly Plastic Challenge.

Here's what I submitted in the fancy box...

1. Bottle of Hope based on a quote from Isak Dinesan: There is nothing that cannot be cured by salt water- tears, sweat or the sea.
friendly plastic: metallic red, metallic royal blue, light blue, print turquoise, metallic silver, metallic blue swirl, metallic african violet, metallic gold, metal alphabet beads, glass beads, ribbon, glass bottle with plastic lid.

Every side of the bottle was covered with a sea-like textured mix of Friendly Plastic.

I made a small mermaid and a happy fish to punctuate a ribbon on which I wrote the quote.

The ribbon is glued to the lid but the ends trail off freely over the side of the bottle.



Inside the bottle I placed a happy fish with the word "Smile" which can be seen through the neat see-through bubble lid.



Beautifully orchestrated Katie!!! To see more of Katie's work visit her blog: http://www.plasticmasters.blogspot.com/

Linda Peterson is a compensated blogger and is sponsored by AMACO., Inc. Artists who are featured as guests on this blog may or may not have been compensated by AMACO.

StoneWork Cuff's in Friendly Plastic by Jana Ewy

Jana shares some of her latest work. StoneWork Cuff bracelets. Make sure to visit her blog: http://www.janaewy.blogspot.com/ or her website http://www.justbananas.com/

Jana also has a Etsy site under the name of justbananas too!

Enjoy Jana's latest work.....

Here is a hand full of my new Stone Works cuff bracelets. Still not sure about this name...
If you look close enough your can see that I used a technique I like to call color blocking. Which is nothing more than cutting out a section of the Friendly Plastic and replacing that section with a piece of FP cut the same shape but from a different color. It is really a fun technique, with results that can be incredibly unique and different every time. Give it a try and see what you can come up with.

Linda Peterson is a compensated blogger and is sponsored by AMACO., Inc. Artists who are featured as guests on this blog may or may not have been compensated by AMACO.

Friendly Plastic - Make your own tools by Jen Lowe

You know I couldnt resist pinching this off Jen's blog!!!!

Thanks Jen for sharing with us!

I really do have the most wonderful hardware store in the world! McGuckins. It's in Boulder, Colorado. You can spend days inside this store. Not to mention when they put up the giant tent and have a sidewalk sale!

And....they carry Friendly Plastic pellets. Now, why on earth would a hardware store sell pellets? Well, take a look at my video and you will see!



I showed this to Kerry, who has been playing with micro electronics this week. He proceeded to melt some pellets and form a ball on top of some mini lights. When he plugs it into his circuit board, the plastic ball lights up! LOL!

When he gets it "perfected" - I'll video that. But you know guys - do they ever get anything "perfect"? I imagine he will be playing with pellets for some time to come. I may have to put them under lock and key!!!