Polymer Clay: Making Polymer Clay Jewelry

Polymer clay jewelry is a latest fashion trend. Polymer clay is made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and can be kneaded into various shapes and sizes. Polymer clay can be painted using an array of colors. The polymer clay is an ideal medium for making jewelry, for hobbyists and beginners. Making polymer clay jewelry is compliant due to the ease of baking the polymer clay. The polymer clay is available in vibrant colors that remain intact even after baking the polymer clay. The baking process of polymer clay is also called as firing, which helps to fuse the clay particles so that the polymer clay becomes hard enough. Making jewelry, at home is an easy option using polymer clay. The answer to your query of how to make polymer clay jewelry is given below:

Making Polymer Clay Jewelry - Some Basics
These are some of the basic steps of make handmade polymer clay jewelry. The first step in making polymer clay jewelry is to choose the color of your jewelry. There is a wide variety of colors in which polymer clay is available in an arts and crafts store. You can choose those colors that will match your apparel. Sometimes, if you are not able to find the perfect color, you can just blend two or more colors to form the right color. Acrylic paints can be used to decorate the polymer clay jewelry after baking.

Making Polymer Clay Jewelry - Bracelets
Funky polymer clay jewelry is made using vibrant colors. Polymer clay bracelets are usually made from polymer clay beads. The polymer clay beads are made of various shapes and sizes like circles, rectangles, spirals, ovals, fruits and flowers. The beads are poked with a needle so that the beads can be stringed to form a bracelet. The beads are baked in a preheated oven for the specified time and temperature. The temperature and time that is required for baking the polymer clay is specified on the polymer clay package. The beads in the bracelets can be painted with different colors. Lastly, string the beads one after the other. While stringing the beads, you can add different shaped and colored beads as spacers between two similar beads. After completing the stringing, pull the string taut.

Making Polymer Clay Jewelry - Pendants and Necklaces
Condition the clay as per the shape you desire for the pendant. The shape of the pendant can be a circle, rectangle, triangle or a teardrop. The polymer clay pendant can be made in different colors. Cane-working can be a good option for the pendant. Cane is a cylinder of clay that has different clay designs at the cross-section. The designs on the cross sections can be faces, quilt patterns, flowers and landscapes. Steps to make a floral cane are as follows:

• Take a log of polymer clay that is about 7 inches long and has a diameter of around half an inch.
• Flatten a piece of light colored polymer clay sheet so that it can wrap the log the dark colored polymer clay. Cut the unwanted sheet of the light colored polymer clay.
Now, wrap the log with the polymer clay sheet, but this time with a dark colored clay.
• Repeat this precess at least three-four times.
• Now, cut the wrapped log into seven pieces. Form a flower using these seven pieces and compress these pieces lightly to form a new cane or log. Compress the pieces so that the seams between the flower petals disappear.
• The last step is to cut this new cane into slices. The slices have a floral design on their cross-section.

The pendant is baked as per the instructions on the polymer clay package and stringed in a colored string. The necklace is made by stringing the beads together while keeping the pendant at the center of the string.

It is advisable that the clay must not be baked in the oven in which you cook food. The polymer clay is versatile and it is possible to give a wooden or antique or an ivory look to the handcrafted and beaded jewelry. The basic procedure for making polymer clay jewelry is the same for all the accessories. The polymer clay is bendable and versatile and easy to bake. Thus, polymer clay is becoming quite popular these days. You can make your own polymer clay jewelry at home!