Earrings with Premo! Sculpey® Polymer Clay and Czech Glass Druk Beads

Condition 2 ounces of scrap clay through the thickest setting of a polymer clay roller. Use the medium circle cutter from the clay cutter set to cut out two circles then form each one into a round ball for a total of two round balls.

Condition white, green and red colors of clay, individually, on the thickest setting.

Tip: Use a wet paper towel or wet wipe to clean the polymer clay roller between colors.

Use the medium square cutter from the clay cutter set to cut five or six squares.

Stack the squares on top of each other in the pattern of your choice.

Cut the stack in half lengthwise then stack them to have a total of 10 or 12 layers.

Cut lengthwise a second time.

Cut the section, lengthwise, so each half is approximately 1/4 inch in thickness, leaving the remaining clay to be used later.

Place both slices end-to-end to create a striped rectangle then use your fingers to blend the touching ends together.

Tip: If needed, compress or stretch the snake to make it fit, horizontally, around the clay ball.

Wrap the striped rectangle around the center of the clay ball from Step 1, making sure the ends touch. Place the ball on a large plexiglass with the snake clay parallel to the plexiglass.

Use a small sheet of plexiglass to gently apply light pressure to the top and to one side of the scrap clay. Keep both plexiglasses parallel, rotate the plexiglass over the scrap clay in a large continuous, clockwise motion.

Continue to rotate in the same direction to create a bicone-shape. until a desired spiral pattern is established.

Note: The swirling motion allows the snake clay on the sides to be pulled to the top and bottom of the scrap clay in a spiral pattern, creating the candy cane effect.

When a pattern is established swirl in a smaller circular motion, in the same direction, to create a lentil-shape, rounding the pointed end of the bicone. Repeat until a desired shape and size is obtained to create the first peppermint.

Tips:

• It is very important to always swirl in the same direction for consistency in shape, size and pattern but also to create a close matching earring
• If lifted from the plexiglass, make sure to place the bead down in the exact same orientation then continue to swirl in the same direction to prevent distortion
• If the bead becomes misshapen and reshaping doesn't work, gently pick up the bead and reshape with your fingers.

Repeat Steps 4 - 5 to create a second peppermint, using the remaining clay. Let the peppermints rest for an hour.

Use a piece of sandpaper to smooth two bead piercing pins.

Gently hold one peppermint in one hand and slowly push a bead piercing pin from the side directly towards the center. Look down at the bead from the top then continue gently pushing the pin towards the opposite side while pushing and twisting the pin.

As the end of the pin reaches the edge of the bead gently hold the bead with your thumb and forefinger where you expect the pin should exit. (You should be able to feel the end of the pin before it pierces the surface of the bead.) Continue to slowly push and twist the pin through the bead. If the end of the pin exits where you predicted finish pushing it through. Leave the bead piercing pin in the bead.

Tip: If the pin doesn't exit where predicted, remove the pin and repeat working from the opposite side where the new hole should meet up with the original hole.

Use the bead piercing pin to place the bead onto a baking rack then bake according to manufacturer's instructions.

Let the beads cool then remove them from the baking rack. Remove the bead piercing pin from the beads.

String one red 4mm round, one peppermint bead and one red 4mm round onto a 4-inch headpin then create a wrapped loop. Connect one fishhook earwire.

Repeat to create a second earring.