Project designed by Ann and Karen Mitchell and demonstrated by Ann Mitchell.
Materials:
two-ounce block Premo polymer clay - light to medium opaque, non-metallic color
two-ounce block Sculpey III terra cotta colored clay
four tablespoons of white Liquid Sculpey
three small aluminum or glass dishes to mix liquid clay
oil paint - medium green, medium blue, yellow
wooden skewers
tissue blade
wax paper
cornstarch as release agent
brush for cornstarch
one medium (5/8 - to 3/4-inch) leather impression tool
seven silver-tone two-inch eye pins
silver-tone clasp for bracelet
one small and one medium silver-tone split ring
needle or chain nose pliers
wire clippers
Steps:
1. Condition the Premo clay and roll it into a 3/4-inch diameter snake. Cut off two 3/4-inch slices and roll them to form 3/4-inch balls. Flatten the balls to about 1/4 inch thickness.
2. Dust the flattened surfaces of the balls with cornstarch. Using the leather stamp, make a fairly deep impression of that stamp on one of the flattened balls (figure A). Make the same impression (figure B) on a second flattened ball. Bake the impressions according to manufacturer specifications for the clay.
3. Roll the terra cotta colored clay into a 5/8-inch diameter snake. Cut off seven slices of equal thickness from the snake, about 5/8 inch for each one. Roll each slice into 5/8-inch ball. Dust the balls with cornstarch so they will not stick to the leather stamp impression molds. Use a small brush to lightly dust the impression molds after each use.
4. Hold one mold with the impression facing up. Center one ball of clay over the mold. Place the matching mold over the disc of clay face down, aligning the impression with that of the bottom mold. Gently press the molds together, sandwiching the terra cotta colored clay between the molds (figure C). Apply enough pressure to make a complete impression, making sure not to squeeze the clay out beyond the edges of the molds.
5. Before removing the clay from the molds, pierce the bead through the center with an eye pin to form the bead hole (figure D). Leave the eye pin in the bead during baking. Repeat this molding process using all seven balls, making a total of seven beads. Bake the beads according to manufacturer's directions for the clay, and allow them to cool.
6. Divide equal amounts of white liquid clay into three small dishes. Using a small dab of paint on the tip of a wooden skewer, tint one dish of clay with green paint, one with blue paint, and one with a very slight amount of yellow paint (figure E). Mix each color thoroughly.
7. On four of the beads, use a finger to wipe a coat of the green liquid clay over the front of all four beads. Use the blue liquid clay over the green as an accent or on one part of the design (the center of the flower for example). Use a finger or paper towel to remove excess liquid clay, allowing the color to remain in the impressions. For the other three beads, use the pale yellow liquid clay to accent the impressions on one side of the beads. Bake the beads again according to the directions for the liquid clay. Allow them to cool. Once the beads have cooled, repeat the process on the other side of the beads. Bake again.
8. Pick up one bead and slide the side of the eye pin with the loop so that it is flushed with one side of the bead. Using the pliers, form a loop on the other side the same size as the finished loop (figure F).
9. Trim the excess of the eye pin with the wire clippers. Before closing the loop with the pliers, hook on the next eye pin with the bead on it (figure G). Close the first loop and repeat the loop process for the second bead. Alternate bead colors.
10. When the bracelet is just slightly longer than a snug fit on the wrist, close the last loop without adding a bead. Attach the clasp with the smaller of the two split rings through the last bead loop. On the other end of the bracelet, attach the larger split ring and close the loop.
Resources jewelry findings
Jewels Express
E-mail:
staff@JewelsExpress.com
Website:
www.JewelsExpress.com
cutters, clay tool
Kemper Enterprises Inc.
Website:
www.kempertools.com
leather tools
The Leather Factory
Website:
www.tandyleatherfactory.com
Sculpey III, Liquid Sculpey, Premo, tissue blades, Pearl-Ex pigments
The Clay Factory of Escondido
Website:
www.clayfactoryinc.com
Guests Karen Mitchell
Artist / Owner, AnKara Designs
Website:
www.ankaradesigns.com
Also in this Episode
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