It's easy to create polymer-clay jewelry that's just as hip as it is glamorous with this step-by-step how-to from the Martha Stewart Living Digital Magazine for iPad. To keep the pieces looking modern, choose contemporary colors and stick to graphic designs with geometric shapes.
Tools and Materials
- Polymer clay
- Conditioning machine
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheet
- Transparent ruler
- Pastry cutter
- Fine-point tool
- Jump rings
- Round-nose pliers
- Flat-nose pliers
- 24-inch thread-wrapped chain
How-To
1. Soften polymer clay to prevent cracking and breakage: Knead it in your hands, and then run it through a conditioning machine (this tool makes clay pliable, presses consistently flat sheets, and blends colors). Use the conditioning machine to roll a 1/16-inch-thick piece of clay onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Avoid touching clay to prevent fingerprints.
2. To make squares and rectangles, use a transparent ruler to mark a grid of 1 1/4-inch or 1-by-1 3/4-inch increments. Make 20 1 1/4-inch square and five 1-by-1 3/4-inch rectangle charms. Run pastry cutter along ruler's edge to connect markings. Leave pieces in place; they snap apart once baked. Pierce each piece with pointed tool. Bake clay on parchment for a matte finish; bake on metal to make clay shiny. Check clay packaging for baking time and temperature.
3. Measure out a 9-inch section located at the center of a 24-inch chain. Lay out charms along section to determine final design and color placement. Using jump rings, attach 1 charm to each link of the chain. Hold 1 end of the ring with round-nose pliers while opening and closing ring with flat-nose pliers.
Resources
Sculpey polymer clay and clay conditioning machine available from Amazon.
i thought this craft was really cute and retro, shame others don't seem to like it.
No, this is cool. I see this kind of thing in the shops all the time. I am probably younger than the average Martha fan, though (early 20s).
No, this is cool. I see this kind of thing in the shops all the time. I am probably younger than the average Martha fan, though (early 20s).
My comment didn't print completely:
I think this is really fun
I think this is really fun
Wow! What negative comments. It may not fit everyone's personal style but to each his own. I would never wear a sweatshirt with cats on it but there are lots of people who do!
What th heck? Martha this is silly! Does anyone have a good site for polymere crafts?
Not my style, but you've given me some other ideas... A charm bracelet might be more apt for these shapes.
I agree with the comments. The necklace is so ugly. It truly does look like something a child brings home from school and you would wear it to please the child. I use an old toaster oven for the clay in a well ventilated area and use a pasta machine that is only used for clay, also.
I agree with the comments. The necklace is so ugly. It truly does look like something a child brings home from school and you would wear it to please the child. I use an old toaster oven for the clay in a well ventilated area and use a pasta machine that is only used for clay, also.
Yup, get some jewelry artists on your staff Martha...
I have to agree, there are so many things you can do with polymer clay! this looks like a 5 yr old came up with the idea! This is called creative??? Don't think so!
Right on ChrissieP! I told my sister it looks like a collection of laminate countertop samples. What's next ... dangly earrings made from pink plastic tampon tubes??
ick-usually a massive fan of pclay I usually love almost everything but this NO WAY looks like a tile sample from a showroom floor around her neck. Couldn't there be more talent involved? Pclay makes gorgeous-beautiful things-is so easy to use. Would also stress that you aren't supposed to bake this stuff directly in your oven open-supposed to do inside a turkey roasting pan (lidded) that will only be used for Pclay or a toaster oven only used for Pclay as well. Residue is toxic if not contained
I've used an old pasta machine to roll out the clay. Of course, you have to remember not to use it for food ever again!!