Pink disc pendant

Working with metal clay is simple when you use an inexpensive butane torch, available at cooking stores. Then add pink to make it pop!

In the instructions below, we’ll get you started on the metal clay components. For full instructions that include how to make the polymer clay components, download the free project PDF.

Materials

Pendant 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm) diameter

• 10 g Art Clay Silver, low fire
• 2 oz. Fimo Soft polymer clay in each of 3 colors: white, raspberry, plum
• 6-10 2-4 mm Swarovski crystal chatons in assorted colors
• acrylic roller
• agate burnisher
• awl
• butane torch
• 1 1/4-in. (3.2 cm) circle cutter
• coffee stirring straw
• cosmetic sponge
• craft knife
• deli or parchment paper
• Dremel rotary tool with assorted bits (optional)
• food dehydrator*
• G-S Hypo Cement
• index card
• Lisa Pavelka high-temp poly bonder clay glue (Covered in Clay, 702-765-5472, coveredinclay.com)
• Lisa Pavelka Pearlidescent Clay Foil (Covered in Clay)
• needle tool
• olive oil or nonpetroleum hand salve, such as Badger Balm
• oven thermometer
• pasta machine*
• plastic food wrap
• 8 playing cards
• round jeweler’s file
• rubber work block
• ruler
• sandpaper in 4 grits: 400, 800, 2000, 4000
• scissors
• small paintbrush
• small piece of fire blanket
• small round vanity lightbulb
• smooth ceramic tile
• Teflex nonstick work surface
• tissue blade
• toaster oven*
• tweezers
• Wilton round cake-icing tips #1-8, or assorted size drinking straws
• wire brush

* Dedicated to use with polymer clay

Instructions

Metal clay components

[1] Using a cosmetic sponge, lightly oil the acrylic roller and your hands with olive oil or hand salve. Working on a nonstick work surface, roll out the metal clay between two four-card stacks of playing cards (Photo A).

[2] Drape the rolled-out clay over the domed portion of a lightbulb, and gently smooth it with your palm. Using a circle cutter, cut out a dome (Photo B). Immediately rewrap and store any leftover metal clay.

[3] Using cake-icing tips or drinking straws, punch out various sized holes in the clay dome. Use an awl to remove the circles of clay (Photo C). Be sure to leave plenty of clay between the holes and around the edges to ensure the finished piece’s strength. Immediately rewrap and store any leftover metal clay.

[4] To make a tube bail, draw an isosceles triangle 1 in. (2.5 cm) high by 3/8 in. (1 cm) wide on an index card (Figure). Cut out the triangle. Using leftover metal clay from steps 2 and 3, roll out the clay between two two-card stacks of playing cards. Place the triangle on the clay, and trim around it with a craft knife. Beginning with the wide end, roll the clay triangle around a coffee straw 1 1/2 times, leaving the narrow end flat and extended in a point. Cut a triangle 1/4 in. (6 mm) wide by 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) tall from the leftover clay. Place the new triangle around the tube bail, with the point facing in the same direction as the bail’s pointed tip (Photo D). Let the clay dome and bail dry.

[5] With the dome still on the lightbulb, lightly sand the top surface of the dome, working through the sandpaper grits from coarse to fine (Photo E). Using a paintbrush, brush away the excess clay dust after sanding between each grit. Repeat for the bail while still on the straw.

[6] Carefully remove the dome from the lightbulb, and carefully twist the straw to loosen it from the dried bail. Place the dome and the bail on the fire blanket. In a dimly-lit, well-ventilated room, ignite the butane torch. Hold the torch 4-6 in. (10-15 cm) from the bail, and continually move the torch to distribute the heat evenly. When the piece appears to be a peach color, begin timing the firing for two minutes, maintaining the peach color the entire time (Photo F). If the color becomes pale, bring the torch closer until you see peach. If the piece appears shiny or the color looks red, back the torch away to prevent melting. Allow the piece to cool on its own, or pick it up with tweezers and drop it into water to quench. Repeat for the bail.

[7] Using a round file or optional rotary tool, refine and clean the edges of the holes in the dome (Photo G).

[8] Working on a rubber block, brush both pieces firmly with a wire brush until the surface begins to appear metallic (Photo H).

[9] Using an agate burnisher, burnish both pieces firmly to bring out the shine (Photo I).

For full project instructions, download the free PDF.