How to Make Jewelry From Polymer Clay
Polymer clay jewelry is a latest fashion trend. Polymer clay is made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and can be kneaded into various shapes and sizes. It can be painted using an array of colors, and is an ideal medium for making jewelry, for hobbyists and beginners. Making polymer clay jewelry is compliant due to the ease of baking the clay. It is available in vibrant colors that remains intact even after baking. The baking process is also called firing, which helps to fuse the clay particles so that it becomes hard enough. Making jewelry at home is an easy option using this clay.
How to Make Jewelry From Polymer Clay
The Basics
These are some of the basic steps of making polymer clay jewelry. The first step is to choose the color of your jewelry, and get it from an arts and crafts store. You can choose those colors that will match your apparel. Sometimes, if you are not able to find the perfect color, you can just blend two or more colors to form the right color. Acrylic paints can be used to decorate the jewelry after baking.
Making Bracelets
Bracelets are usually made from polymer clay beads. These beads are made of various shapes and sizes like circles, rectangles, spirals, ovals, fruits and flowers. The beads are poked with a needle so that they can be stringed to form a bracelet. The beads are baked in a preheated oven for the specified time and temperature. The temperature and time that is required for baking the polymer clay is specified on the package. The beads in the bracelets can be painted with different colors. Lastly, string the beads one after the other. While stringing the beads, you can add different shaped and colored beads as spacers between two similar beads. After completing the stringing, pull the string taut.
Making Pendants and Necklaces
Condition the clay as per the shape you desire for the pendant. The shape of the pendant can be a circle, rectangle, triangle or a teardrop. The pendant can be made in different colors. Cane-working can be a good option for the pendant. Cane is a cylinder of clay that has different clay designs at the cross-section. The designs on the cross sections can be faces, quilt patterns, flowers and landscapes. Steps to make a floral cane are as follows:
- Take a log of clay that is about 7 inches long and has a diameter of around half an inch.
- Flatten a piece of light colored clay sheet so that it can wrap the log the dark-colored one. Cut the unwanted sheet of the light colored clay.
- Now, wrap the log with the polymer clay sheet, but this time with a dark-colored clay.
- Repeat this precess at least three-four times.
- Now, cut the wrapped log into seven pieces. Form a flower using these seven pieces and compress these pieces lightly to form a new cane or log. Compress the pieces so that the seams between the flower petals disappear.
- The last step is to cut this new cane into slices. The slices have a floral design on their cross-section.
It is advisable that the clay must not be baked in the oven in which you cook food. The polymer clay is versatile and it is possible to give a wooden or antique or an ivory look to the handcrafted and beaded jewelry. The basic procedure is the same for all the accessories. Polymer clay is bendable and versatile and easy to bake. Thus, it is becoming quite popular these days, and using it you can make your own jewelry at home!
