Single-Strand Necklace with Crystal Passions® Pearls and Flat Backs, Sculpey® Soufflé™ Polymer Clay and Preciosa Czech Crystal Pearls

Making Holly Leaves:

Break off a section of Sculpey® Soufflé™ jade polymer clay. Using an acrylic roller and the red 1.5mm slat in acrylic slat set, roll the clay into a sheet. Use a leaf cutter or hand cut 7 holly leaves, including details. Use a clay tool to clean up edges. Using a smooth cutter blade, lift one side of a leaf and tilt it toward the center, so that it makes the leaf assume a natural shape. Repeat for all leaf edges. Make a hole for a jump ring at the top of leaf. Set aside to bake.

Making Poinsettia Flowers:

Break off a section of Sculpey Soufflé cherry pie polymer clay. Using the same acrylic roller and red slat, roll the clay into a sheet. Use a small leaf cutter or hand cut 36 small leaves. Place 6 leaves into a flower pattern. Then place another 6 on top, gently attaching them to create the poinsettia look.

Make a hole in one of the leaves for a jump ring. Set aside to bake.

Baking the Leaves and Poinsettias:

Bake the clay leaves and poinsettias in the oven for 15 minutes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit or by the manufacturer’s instructions on the package. Let cool. After the pieces are completely cool, you can remove any shiny spots on the back using a cotton swab with acetone or fingernail polish remover.

Decorating the Leaves and Poinsettias:

With a paintbrush, apply a tiny bit of sparkle gold mica powder, mixed with rubbing alcohol, to leaves and poinsettias on the fronts and backs to give a light shimmer. Let them dry.

After they have dried, apply a thin coat of Sculpey satin glaze. Let them dry.

Add Crystal Passions® golden topaz flat backs to the centers of the poinsettias with a flat back positioner and Super Glue® Future Glue® Gel.

Creating Pearl Ornaments:

Place a two-piece bow bead cap on both sides of a 10mm white round Crystal Passions pearl. Thread onto a 2-inch gold-plated head pin. Finish using a simple loop. (For instructions on creating a simple loop, view the Secrets to Simple Loops how-to video.)

Create three smaller pearl ornaments by fitting 8mm Czech pearl-coated druk beads and scalloped bead caps onto 2-inch gold-plated head pins. Finish using a simple loop.

Creating Berries: 

Thread a 2-inch gold-plated head pin through a 6mm red Preciosa Czech crystal pearl. Finish with a simple loop. Repeat to create 13 more berries.

Creating the Necklace:

Measure out 26 inches of gold-finished brass paperclip chain. Leaving a 10-inch tail, attach the one end of the chain to the middle of the chain. You should have a 16-inch loop and a 10-inch tail dangling from it. The ornaments will be attached to this 10-inch tail.

Separate the loop of chain into two 8-inch segments and add a gold-plated brass tab clasp to each end of the chain loop. Arrange and attach leaves and poinsettias to the 10-inch dangling chain with 6mm jump rings. Add the pearl ornaments and berries to complete the look, placing the large pearl ornament toward the top of the arrangement.