....otherwise known as a Bull's Eye Cane!

• Two, three or four contrasting colours of Modelene
• A pasta roller, straight sided glass or acrylic roller
• Blade or craft knife

1. Take one colour of conditioned clay and roll it into a log about the size of your thumb.
2. With your pasta machine or roller, roll a contrasting sheet and cut it the same width as your log.
3. Wrap the log until the leading edge of the wrap touches the other end. There will be a faint impression where it touches...cut along that impression, then gently butt the edges together.
4. Repeat the process for as many wraps as you desire. Gently compress the finished cane to remove any air pockets.

Reducing the cane: Gently roll the cane back and forth across your work surface, taking care not to "lean" on it as this will distort the cane. You can also reduce by gently pulling or "stretching" the cane from the centre out. If the ends begin to distort, trim them as necessary. If you notice the cane distorting or becoming 'squishy', this indicates that it's time to let the can rest and cool off for a little while.

Notice how the detail of the pattern remains even as it gets smaller. This is one of the magical qualities of polymer clay, and even intricate canes will retain detail when reduced.

1. Lay a scrap of plastic wrap, over cane.
2. Using an old credit card or potter's lifter, gently press downwards into the cane to the depth required, to distort the cane. Repeat the process on each side of the cane. Take care not to press too hard or you might cut right through.

In this variation, the distortion process has been carried out again, this time on each corner of the cane.

Vary the thickness of each wrap.

Cut a Wrapped Cane in half lengthways and use as elements in a more complex cane.

Start with a thinner centre, wrap with the colours of the spectrum, cut in half lengthways for a rainbow element.

How many more ideas can you think of?