Hot Summer Jewelry Designs by Shirley Rufener, CPD
AM Northwest Show Airing May 19th
Jewelry is fun to wear, and even more fun to 'show off'....when you've made it yourself!
By using Blue Moon Beads' findings, filled with liquid clay that's color tinted with
beautiful Piņata inks by Jacquard, the results are fabulous! And you
don't even have to be a jeweler to create these designs!
Materials
White Polymer Clay and clay scraps (I used Premo)
Silver, Gold & Copper Plated Jewelry Findings and Settings: Neckchain,
Beading Chain, Toggle and 2 part Clasps-used as settings, 'S' Keyring with Ball & Loop,
Long Leaf Toggle Clasp, Connector Assort., Oval Photo Frame Charm (*Blue Moon Beads)
Translucent Liquid Polymer Clay (I used TLS)
Piņata Inks: Baja Blue, Sapphire Blue, Sunbright Yellow, Senorita Magenta,
Lime Green, Santa Fe Red (*Jacquard)
1/2 oz. plastic squeeze bottles and .9mm metal fine point tip (*Jacquard)
Plated and Glass Beads (*Blue Moon Beads)
Rubber stamps and unmounted stamps or textured items
Immitation Silver & Gold Leafing Sheets
Leafing Adhesive Size (brown bottle with milky adhesive)
Paint Brushes: glaze flat brush, and soft round brush
Wooden skewers (or thin knitting needle)
Baby Powder or cornstarch
Standard craft blade knife (such as X-Acto)
Toothpicks
7800 Silicone All-Purpose Adhesive (tube)
Krylon metallic leafing pen (marker)
Future floor wax
Lots of paper towels!
Blue Moon Beads (gathered from around the world) can be found at many
local craft and bead stores. To find a retailer in your area you can call the
company at 1 (800) 377-6715. For more information visit:
Jacquard products (Inks, Paints, Pearl Ex powders and lots more) can be found at
craft and rubber stamp stores. You can also browse the website for information:
Making a Clay Mold
1. Roll a smooth sheet of scrap clay that is 1/8" to 1/4" thick
(depending on rubber stamp or design thickness).
2. Powder stamp and the clay surface well, and press the clay onto the
stamp or design (placed face up on work surface).
3. Lift clay slowly and bake at recommended temperature and
length for clay brand. Cool completely!
Making the Clay Insert
1. Roll a 1/8" thick sheet (pasta setting #1) of white clay. Powder
the mold and both sides of clay sheet and press clay onto mold.
2. Remove clay slowly, and lay onto baking tile.
3. Press metal setting half way into clay, NOT all the way through. Trim around setting
with X-Acto craft knife and remove excess clay. Carefully separate clay from setting.
4. Wipe away any power residue with a moist paintbrush.
5. Brush a very thin layer of TLS liquid clay onto design area surface.
6. Carefully cut a leaf sheet (along with the tissue layer in
package) a little larger than needed to cover design area.
7. Lay leaf on clay and gently press into design with soft paintbrush.
8. Bake at recommended package temperature (or heat with heat
tool/gun positioning 5" away) for 3 minutes to harden surface.
9. Squeeze liquid polymer clay into bottle filling it 3/8". Add
one drop of Pinata ink and stir with skewer. Fill in the
pools (do not overflow) with tinted TLS liquid clay colors. They will
darken slightly during baking.
10. Bake for 15 minutes at temperature on the TLS bottle. Higher temperature
listed results in higher transparency of the liquid clay.
11. The trick to extra transparency is to drop the clay piece into
ice water right when it comes out of the oven. Do not pick up
hot clay-use a knife or tool.
12. Position setting over clay and trim any clay edges that show from the front.
13. Secure clay insert behind setting applying 7800 adheisve with a
toothpick. Allow to dry overnight.
14. Brush a coat of floor wax over clay area to give it a glass-like shine. Let dry.
15. Color the back of the piece with metallic leaf pen and allow to dry.
More fun jewelry...
Ring
