Saturday, February 23, 2013

Polymer clay shamrock pendant tutorial




Deck yourself out for St. Patrick’s Day with this one of a kind shamrock  pendant. This makes a great teacher's gift as well!  This project is easy enough for kid's to do with supervision. (Mom or Dad can do the baking)

You will need:

Polymer clay blocks in three colors, lt. green, dark green, and white

Shamrock candy mold (do not use for candy making, clay use only!)

Rolling pin or dowel (Clay use only!)

Waxed paper to work on

Aluminum foil, cookie sheet, and home oven

Masking tape

X-acto or craft knife (you may substitute plastic clay tools for working with children)

Sculpey glaze

Small paintbrush

Jewelry findings—Glue on bail, 18 inch or longer green ball chain

E6000 glue

1.     The blocks of polymer clay come with four separation lines.  Slice ¼ section off from each of the three colors with the X-acto or craft knife.


2.     Lay the three separate color sections side by side. Condition the clay by squeezing with your hands.  Twist the three colors several times to blend and marbleize the clay.


3.     Break a small piece of marbleized clay off and push in the candy mold.  Use the rolling pin to press it in.  Remove from mold and cut around excess with the X-acto or craft knife.







4.     Cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.  Set your oven at 250 degrees and bake the pendant for 10 minutes. When done, let cool completely.


5.     Tape a five-inch piece of masking, tape down on each end, sticky side up to your work surface. (This keeps the piece in place while you are glazing it) Place your baked pendant on the sticky side and brush a coat of Sculpey glaze on top.  Let dry.  When it is completely dry, turn over and brush some glaze on the opposite side.   Let dry completely.


6.     Dab a bit of E6000 glue on the flat side of the glue on bail and press to the back.  Let dry completely, overnight is best.  Thread a ball chain through the top of the pendant. 






Note:  Do not use a microwave oven!  When doing this project with children (older children and teens) please  let mom or dad do the baking and glue the bail on the back of the shamrock. 




7 comments:

  1. I have never worked with clay before. Maybe I could get Debbie, from CraftyMoose to make it for me ;o) LOL! Great pendant ;o)

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  2. Great pendant! I've never worn polymer clay as a pendant so this is something new for me. Can I ask why I need a rolling pin for uing only with polymer clay? Can't I use my marble rolling pin if I wash it after?

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    1. I usually keep my polymer clay tools separate from those I use with food just to be safe. You can easily pick up an old rolling pin at the thrift store or even a dollar store for pennies.

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  3. Love this! You were the most clicked link in the Crafty Showcase! Stop over tomorrow- Friday for your feature! Susie@Bowdabra

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  4. I have never made anything with Polymer Clay which is totally crazy because cool things can be made! Love this! If you have time, I'd love for you to link this up and anything else you have St. Patrick's in my St Patty Party link! Thank so much, http://www.susieqtpiescafe.com/2013/02/st-patricks-day-food-fun-link-party.html

    SusieQTpies ;)

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  5. How fun & cute! Thanks for linking up to my Pin Me Party!

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  6. Thanks for sharing your cool idea with us! Stop by again next week and link up another cool idea.

    Have a great week!
    Susie @bowdabra
    http://bowdabrablog.com/2013/03/02/crafty-showcase-link-up-anything-fun-in-the-craft-project-linky-3/

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Thanks for your lovely comments!