Polymer Clay Animal Cracker Earrings with Sculpey® PREMO clay, Crystal Passions® beads and Undrilled Micro Beads
Design Idea SB2U
-- Designer --
Elaine, Jewelry Designer, Exclusively for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®
To learn more about Elaine Young, read her jewelry artist success story here.
: : : Materials : : :
Click here to view a full list of materials used in this design.
Please take the creative opportunity to select the products of your choice for this design, offered here at Fire Mountain Gems and Beads. Some materials may not be available or listed.
- Cup, silver-plated brass, 7x3mm with peg.
- Eye pin, silver-plated, 1.5 inch, 24 gauge brass.
- Jump ring, sterling silver, 3mm round, 1.7mm inside diameter, 22 gauge.
- Bead, fuchsia, Crystal Passions® 4mm bicone 5328.
- Bead, tanzanite, Crystal Passions® 6mm cube 5601.
- Polymer clay, Sculpey® PREMO, white.
- Bead, coated glass, opaque white, 1mm undrilled micro round.
- Bead, coated glass, opaque pink, 1mm undrilled micro round.
- Bead, coated glass, opaque green, 1mm undrilled micro round.
- Bead, coated glass, opaque blue, 1mm undrilled micro round.
- Bead, coated glass, opaque purple, 1mm undrilled micro round.
- Bead, coated glass, opaque gold, 1mm undrilled micro round.
- Polymer clay, Sculpey® PREMO, blush.
- Ear wire fishhook, silver-plated, 18mm angular / 3.5mm stardust ball / perfect balance / open loop, 22 gauge brass.
- Adhesive, 5 Minute® Epoxy, 2-part epoxy, clear.
- Glaze, Sculpey®, acrylic emulsion, satin.
- Roller set, acrylic, clear, (1) 7-3/4 x 1-1/4 inch round and (1) 7-3/4 x 1-inch round.
- Flat back positioner, Fire Mountain Gems and Beads©, synthetic wax and paper, multicolored, 9x5/16-inches.
Instructions
Condition the Sculpey® PREMO polymer clay in blush and white by kneading until soft and pliable. Roll each color to an even thickness of approximately 1mm using a clay roller or pasta machine.
Using a paper template or printed image of an animal cracker, cut one shape from the blush clay and one shape from the white clay using a craft blade. Smooth the edges gently with your fingers or a clay tool to refine the shape.
With a toothpick, place small holes in top of each shape for peg on the 7x3mm silver-plated cup. Place the clay pieces on a baking surface and bake according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Remove from the oven and allow the pieces to cool completely before handling.
Refine the edges of each polymer clay "cracker" if needed, using fine sandpaper or a nail file. Apply a thin coat of Sculpey® satin acrylic emulsion glaze to the front surface of each cracker. While the glaze is still wet, position 1mm opaque undrilled micro round beads in your choice of colors to create the sprinkled effect. Allow the glaze to dry completely
Onto a 1 1/2-inch 24-gauge silver-plated eye pin, string one Crystal Passions® 4mm fuchsia bicone bead, one Crystal Passions 6mm tanzanite cube bead and a second 4mm fuchsia bicone.
Using round-nose pliers, grasp the eye pin just above the top bead and bend at a 90-degree angle. Roll the wire toward yourself to form a simple loop. Trim the excess wire if necessary. Repeat to create the second crystal drop.
Apply a small amount of Devcon 5 Minute® two-part epoxy to the peg of a 7x3mm silver-plated cup. Press the peg firmly into the hole you created on the top of one of the "crackers." Repeat for the second cracker. Allow the epoxy to cure completely according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Using chain-nose pliers, open one 3mm 22-gauge sterling silver jump ring. Using the jump ring, attach the loop of the crystal drop to the loop on the peg finding attached to the cracker. Close the jump ring securely.
Open another jump ring and attach the top loop of the crystal drop to one18mm 22-gauge silver-plated angular fishhook wire. Close securely.
Repeat for the second earring.
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