Dan
You buy some colored clay from Michael's or Pat Catan's (in the Cleveland, Ohio area) or Hobby Lobby. Use a color compatible with the flowers or items canes you will be using. Prepare the clay by rolling it several times folding it back onto itself. You have to work it so it's very soft and plyable so it will not crack when you roll it out on the tubes. Roll out the clay to just less than the bushing thickness and roll around a tube. I use a pasta roller I got at Hobby Lobby for $18.00 to make sure the clay is smooth and even thickness. Cut the canes (thinner the better) and place on the clay covered tube. When finished roll the tube lightly with a flat smooth board or piece of plexiglass to smooth and smooch everything together on the same plane. I use a sample piece of granite counter top material as a base and a piece of plexiglass to roll the tube until smooth. I keep checking with the bushings to make sure it's not too thick.
Bake in the oven at 275 for 30 minutes. I put the tubes on a metal shishkabob skewer laid across a baking dish to hold it while baking. When cool I mount the tube between bushings on the lathe to sand. I use 400 grit, 600 grit, then micromesh to 12000. then with the lathe off, 2 coats of medium CA, with the lathe running micromech 6000, 8000, 12000, then Hut PR polish. Then press the pen kit together, and you are done. I'v3 tried purple, dark blue, and yellow clay backgrounds so far. All look good. You quickly learn that green leaves go on first to look natural with the flowers. Mix and match colors and backgrounds for different looks. I copied many of the PC pens on this forum before I made one and tried to follow the look. After a few, you're more comfortable with your designs.