I've been playing around with polymer clay lately and thought I'd try making some hairsticks after seeing a site that had some and reading Madeleine's thread about them. Here are my first attempts:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/cglory/skullsticks.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/cglory/skullsticks2.jpg

I used bamboo skewers cut to size and wrapped a fairly thin layer of black Sculpey around them. I baked those, and while they were in the oven made the skulls (somewhat inspired by the Jack Skellington hairsticks on the products and reviews board). I stuck them on the sticks when they'd cooled a bit, although on second thought I should probably have stuck them on while the sticks were still hot and put them right back in the oven. Hmmm.

Anyhow, since I just made them today I don't really know how durable they're going to end up being, but I think they'll work out really well if I make sure not to exert pressure on the skulls. The sculpey baked very hard and smooth and they're definitely hair friendly. I had them in for a while this afternoon, and the clay finish has some grab in hair, but is still smooth and wonderful. I'm going to make a lot more!

those are sooo cute! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/joyinc/smilies/77e5d2cd.gif

Very cute! :grin:
I would think they'd be ok for strength. It's just poly clay with no inner support that's weak. :( I've recently tried making hair slides out of poly clay, and they aren't very strong, either. May try putting sheet metal inbetween two layers of clay.

Very good. I think I might try that. I have some polymer clay around here somewhere.

Meg

Thanks for the kudos! I think these guys have a lot of personality. I'm working on a few more that aren't as 'odd', but I will definitely be wearing the skulls on my evil days. :twisted:

Very cute! :grin:
I would think they'd be ok for strength. It's just poly clay with no inner support that's weak. :( I've recently tried making hair slides out of poly clay, and they aren't very strong, either. May try putting sheet metal inbetween two layers of clay.

I read a tip on a polyclay site that suggested using wire mesh between layers of clay to give hair slides some strength. I haven't tried it yet, but plan to! Good luck. :)

Those are too cute! :)

I have to admit that I didn't get very far with that idea myself. I made a few attempts but never came up with anything wearable. I guess I made things way too complicated and should have started with something more simple. I have tons of clay sitting here, I should go ahead and use it ... thanks for inspiring me again! :flower:

Those are too cute! :)

I have to admit that I didn't get very far with that idea myself. I made a few attempts but never came up with anything wearable. I guess I made things way too complicated and should have started with something more simple. I have tons of clay sitting here, I should go ahead and use it ... thanks for inspiring me again! :flower:

I'm on a huge polyclay kick right now! I'm making percussion eggs and a lot of the detail on them is so finicky that making the hairsticks is turning out to be a relaxing break for me.

I'd forgotten how much fun this is. I haven't used polyclay since high school and back then I made all kinds of little figurines as gifts for friends and family. My mom still has a bunch of little elephants and cats I made at the time.

Do post your results, Madeleine! I'd love to see them. :bluesmile

I've made some more since the skulls!

A dangle stick:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/cglory/dangle.jpg

A swirled blue sphere:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/cglory/swirltop.jpg

A celtic style design:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/cglory/celticstick.jpg

I still intend to try making a slide, even though I don't wear them in my hair all that often. I'll start with a small one.