5. Place the beaded frame on top of the clay, positioning it so the leaf veins are realistically oriented. Press the frame firmly into the clay, and trim the excess clay around the frame (PHOTO G). You may need to turn over the piece and trim from the back as well so that you don’t see any clay around the edges of the frame when viewed from the front.
6. Place a piece of parchment paper over the back of the piece, and gently burnish the edges of the clay with your finger to round them.
7. Dip the tip of a soft paintbrush into the gold Pearl Ex powder, and apply it to one half of the front of the leaf. Apply the green Pearl Ex powder to the other half and also to the back of the leaf. Using the needle tool, cut a small hole at the top of the pendant where you would like to attach a bail or jump ring (PHOTO H).
8. Bake the pendant (including the wire frame) in the toaster oven at 275 degrees, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Let the pendant cool completely.
Finishing
1. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, mix a small amount of Envirotex Lite two-part resin.
2. Pour a small puddle of resin onto the front of the pendant, and use a Popsicle or craft stick to spread it evenly over the surface. Do not allow the hole at the top of the pendant to fill with resin.
3. Allow the resin to cure completely. Attach a jump ring or bail to the hole in the pendant, and string as desired.