BySandra Callander Canes

How to Make a Scrap Polymer Clay Cane with a Retro Twist

My scrap clay bins are the bane of my studio. Overflowing. Relentless. Just when I think I’ve made a dent in them, they’re suddenly full again. So I’m always on the lookout for fun, functional ways to put some of those leftovers to good use. And today it’s in the form of a scrap polymer clay cane.

Standing polymer clay cane made from blended rainbow scraps sits in the background with several finished cane slices in front. Text reads: “How to Make a Scrap Polymer Clay Cane with a Retro Twist.” Great for a how-to cane tutorial.

This cane is a rainbow-inspired riff on the classic polymer clay retro cane, but with a twist. Instead of stacking disks of solid colors, we start with a colorful blend made from whatever random bits I can rescue from the depths of my scrap bins. It’s colorful, it’s playful, and, best of all, it’s surprisingly easy to make.

Don’t have a rainbow at your fingertips? No problem. Stick with one color family, go all cool tones, or embrace the warm and earthy. As long as you’ve got a small pile of colorful scraps and some fresh white clay, you’re good to go.

Why Add Brown to Your Blend?

Now, I didn’t go full bright rainbow with mine. I wanted something a little more toned down, so I mixed a bit of brown scrap clay into the white before building my blend. (Because goodness knows, I have oodles of muddy, brown scraps.) 

This is a trick I’ve recently started to use more often as I’m finding I’m more and more drawn to muted over vibrant colors. I think next time I’ll add even more muddy brown. Adding a little brown to each color this way also makes the final blend feel more cohesive.

Leave this step out for a punchier palette or add more brown for an earthy, toned-down vibe. Your clay, your rules.

Tools & Materials

  • Non-porous work surface — I use glazed tile or glass
  • Pasta machine — I use an Atlas 180 and will refer to those settings. No machine? An acrylic roller and playing cards can sub in, it just takes more elbow grease
  • Scrap polymer clay — Gather a variety of colors
  • Fresh white polymer clay
  • Acrylic roller
  • Polymer clay extruder
  • Square extruder disk
  • Polymer clay blade

Directions for your Scrap Polymer Clay Cane

Colorful polymer clay scraps arranged in a rainbow with a stack of white clay and a piece of brown scrap clay on a gridded work surface; second image shows white clay with a brown scrap added on top.

Condition your scraps.
Gather and condition your clay scraps. Arrange them in a way that will create a harmonious blend with one color flowing into the next.

Optional: Tone it down.
For a more cohesive or earthy look, add some brown or muddy scraps to your white clay and condition together. Skip this step if you’re after bright and bold.

Strips of colorful clay scraps placed on a sheet of white clay, lined up in a rainbow gradient; next to a fully blended sheet showing a smooth transition of colors.

Make a backing sheet.
Roll out the white clay (or your brown tinted version) on the thickest setting of your pasta machine. Use a large enough sheet that covers the full width of your rollers.

Lay down your color.
Add strips of your conditioned scraps on top of the white sheet. Fill it edge to edge for full saturation or leave gaps for more subtle color transitions. Use shorter strips of color for pastel vibes, longer for bolder color.

Blend it.
Roll over the layered sheet with an acrylic roller to press everything together. Then run it through the pasta machine on the thickest setting. Fold, blend, and repeat, making sure to always keep the colors aligned. Continue folding and blending until the white clay is fully incorporated and you’re happy with the overall blend.

Blended sheet of rainbow clay cut into two sections; next image shows one section being rolled into a cylinder.

Prep for extruding.
Slice your blend into pieces that, when rolled, will fit inside your extruder. Pass each one through the pasta machine on a thin setting, then roll them into tight cylinders. It was a warm day and my clay was quite soft so I went down to setting no. 6. Any further and it would have been an unruly mess to try roll into a cylinder.

Two tightly rolled logs of rainbow clay ready for extruding; next image shows a length of extruded clay in a colorful gradient wavy pattern.

Extrude!
Use a square extruder disk to extrude each cylinder. Trim away the distorted, messy ends.

Extruded square clay rods trimmed to equal lengths; next image shows the assembled cane with alternating flipped pieces forming a checkerboard-like rainbow pattern.

Assemble the cane.
Line up the extruded strips and cut them into equal sized lengths. Keeping the cut pieces in order, assemble the cane, flip every second one end to end to vary the pattern slightly.

Let it rest.
Give the assembled cane a little time to rest and firm up. This makes it easier to reduce and helps avoid distortion.

Reduce.
Gently reduce the cane just enough to close up the gaps. Use a sharp blade for clean slices.

Rainbow retro-style polymer clay cane with square extrusions, surrounded by thin, evenly sliced tiles showcasing a colorful checkerboard pattern.

Ideas for Using Your Cane

This polymer clay extruder cane is a stunner on its own, but here are a few ideas to get your gears turning:

Your Turn to Try It

Next time your scrap bin gives you side-eye, show it who’s boss. Whip up your own rainbow polymer clay cane and turn that chaos into color.

If you give this scrap polymer clay cane a try, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @bysandracallander or pop into the Facebook group and show off your results. Bonus points if you make something fun (or funky) with it.

Now go forth and extrude something fabulous.

More Extruder Canes to Try

More Scrap Polymer Clay Ideas to Try

Full frame view of several multicolored square cane slices made from scrap clay. Overlay text: “How to Make a Scrap Polymer Clay Cane with a Retro Twist.” Strong visual for DIY cane guides.