Polymer-Clay Collage Pendant

Create a vibrant piece of jewelry with a unique blend of polymer-clay colors in this project. Just follow the step-by-step instructions.

Filed under: Jewelry Making, How To

Materials Needed:

polymer clay in 10 to 12 complementary colors
black or scrap polymer clay for the core of the bead
cutting blade
acrylic roller
pasta maker
knitting needle
400- and 600-grit automotive wet-dry sandpaper
typing paper

cord and closure
instant glue
oven
flat weights
circle cookie cutter
baking sheet
buffing wheel (optional)

Steps:

1. Run each color of clay through the pasta maker on the thickest setting a few times. You don’t need to fully condition the clay, because it will become conditioned by the blending process.

2. Cut each color into 1/2" x 3" strips. Make stacks of about 10 different-colored strips each (unless you want more of one color to show), arranged in pleasing blends. Stack the strips at an angle, overlapping them slightly.

3. Use an acrylic roller to roll the stack gently just to hold the strips together.

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4. Put the stack through the pasta maker and then fold it in half, from bottom to the top, and put the stack through again. Keep folding and putting the stack through the pasta maker the same way until the desired result is achieved, about 20 times.

5. Thin the clay stack down to the No. 5 setting on the pasta maker.

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6. Sandwich the clay stack between a few sheets of clean typing paper and place a weight on the top sheet of paper. Let it sit for a day or two to leach out the oils so it will crack when making the bead.

7. Make two more blends and leach them if you want the colors to crack.

8. Run a sheet of black clay through the pasta maker on the thickest setting, for the background.

9. Cut triangles from the blends with a cutting blade, and lay them on the background sheet collage-style, covering the entire sheet.

10. Roll the sheet through the pasta maker two or three times, thinning it and turning it 1/4 inch each time.

11. Condition a piece of clay for the core of the bead. Cut out a circle with a circle cookie cutter. Roll the core clay into a log.