Domestic diva bracelet

This polymer clay tiled bracelet features stamped images that reflect a mom’s daily duties. You can make it your own by using any images and color scheme you’d like. If you want to make a bigger bangle, make an eighth tile or add 4 mm rounds between the tiles.

The instructions below detail how to create the clay tiles. For full instructions, download the free project PDF.

Materials

Bracelet 8 in. (20 cm)

• polymer clay in each of 7 colors: 1/4 oz. black, 3 oz. cadmium yellow, 1/4 oz. gold, 1 1/4 oz. green, 1 1/2 oz. red, 1 1/2 oz. turquoise, 1/2 oz. white
• 14 4 mm round glass beads
• 2 crimp beads
• 1 yd. (.9 m) stretch jewelry fiber, .7 mm, or elastic cord
• Big Eye needle
• acrylic paint, red and black
• acrylic roller
• clay extruder with square-hole disk
• flexible clay texture sheets
• Future floor polish
• electric drill with felt wheel and 2 mm drill bit
• needle tool
• 1 1/4 x 1 1/2-in. (3.2 x 3.8 cm) oval cutter
• Paintbrush
• paper towels
• pasta machine*
• scissors
• scrap paper (optional)
• tissue blade
• toaster oven*
• vintage rubber or metal plate stamps
• crimping pliers

* Dedicated to the use of polymer clay

Clay tiles

Checkerboard sheet

[1] Make olive-colored clay: Combine 1 oz. cadmium yellow and 1/4 oz. each of green and gold. Mix the clay together until blended with no visible streaks.

[2] Make creamy yellow clay: Combine 1 oz. cadmium yellow and 1/2 oz. white. Mix the clay together until blended with no visible streaks.

[3] Place the disk with the square-shaped hole into the cap of the clay extruder. Put the olive-colored clay in the clay extruder, and expel all of the clay from the extruder. Cut the clay into six 4 1/2-in. (11.4 cm) lengths. Repeat with the creamy yellow clay.

[4] Stack the lengths of clay, alternating colors to form a checkerboard pattern: Place olive, creamy yellow, then olive in the first row. Place creamy yellow, olive, then creamy yellow in the second row. Repeat the first and second row patterns for the third and fourth rows (Photo A). Press the clay together, and use an acrylic roller to remove air bubbles.

[5] Set the pasta machine to a middle setting, and roll the remaining creamy yellow clay through it to make a sheet that is 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 in. (8.9 x 11.4 cm). 

[6] Using a tissue blade, cut even, thin slices of checkerboard cane, and apply them carefully to the yellow sheet, leaving no space between the slices and lining them up to continue the alternating checkerboard pattern (Photo B).

[7] Use an acrylic roller to remove air bubbles. Set the pasta machine to the thickest setting, and roll the checkerboard sheet through it. Reduce the setting by one, and roll the sheet through it. Reduce the setting again, and roll the sheet through it.