Soap-carved metal clay pendant

With little more than a bar of soap and a few carving tools, you can make a bas-relief mold for your next metal clay project.

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If you are new to working with metal clay, you may enjoy exploring this easy technique for adding dimension to the surface of a piece. You’ll also learn how to attach a pendant and decorative fobs to a chain without using a bail. Complete the pendant with an understated satin finish or add a bit of color with enamels, paints, or gemstones.

You can reuse a carved soap mold to make a series of identical metal clay pieces!

SUPPLIES

Pendant, 1 1⁄4 x 2 1⁄4 in. (32 x 57mm)

Metal clay: 25–35g
Metal clay slip
Sterling silver snake chain: 30 in. (76.2cm)

TOOLS

Kitchen knife, non-serrated
2 bars of soap
Paper: drawing, tracing
Felt-tip pen
Mechanical pencil
Carving tools: fine-tip, blunt-tip (choose from):
- Wood-, linoleum-, or clay-carving tools
- Metal salon file
- Toothpick
- Carpentry nails
- Dental tools
- Nut pick
Paintbrushes: round-tip, fine-tip
Olive oil
Acrylic roller
Flexible Teflon sheet
Playing cards
Craft knife
Small light bulb (optional)
Heavy-duty wire cutters
Emery board
Tabletop kiln
Brass brush
Silver polish
Liver of sulfur (optional)
Gesso (optional)
Acrylic paints (optional)
Polyurethane (optional)
Enamels (optional)
Heat-resistant gemstones (optional)
Cocktail straw (optional)
Clear, hard plastic (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

PHOTO A

Prepare two bars of soap. Select a bar of unscented bath soap that does not contain added moisturizers. To achieve crisp edges and easier carving, unwrap and air-dry the soap bar. Use a sharp kitchen knife to scrape the logos off two bars of soap. (PHOTO A).

PHOTO B

Draw and transfer the design. Make a sketch approximately 1 x 1 1/2 in. (25.5 x 38mm) on drawing paper. Keep in mind that the final impression in the clay will be a mirror image of your sketch. Trace the sketch onto tracing paper. (PHOTO B)

PHOTO C

Securely hold the tracing paper on the bar of soap, and use a mechanical pencil to trace an impression of the design into the soap. Use enough pressure to inscribe the soap, but do not tear the tracing paper (PHOTO C).