Sculpey Premo™ Forest Green Coppered Earrings

Getting Started:

Please make sure your work area is covered and you are not working on an unprotected surface. We recommend working on the Sculpey® Oven-Safe Work Mat, wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Uncured clay may damage unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Be sure to cover your crafting area appropriately.

Start with clean hands, unwrap and knead clay until soft and smooth, or condition by running clay though a Pasta Machine. We recommend using a designated machine for clay purposes only. When working with multiple colors, clean hands with soap and water or baby wipes (we have found that baby wipes work best) before switching colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces firmly together. Wash hands after use.

Baking:

Begin by preheating oven to 275 °F (130 °C). After you are done creating; for best results bake clay on an oven-proof surface such metal, aluminum foil, an index card or the Sculpey® Clay Mat at 275°F (130 °C) for 30 minutes per 1/4" (6 mm) thickness according to package directions. Oven safe glass or ceramic surfaces are also acceptable for baking; however please note that the baking times may take longer as the glass or ceramic surfaces take longer to heat up. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME.

Sheet out about a 4x5 inch piece of the conditioned Forest Green clay on the second from widest setting on the Clay Conditioning Machine (pasta machine). Place the sheet onto a piece of copper leaf

Flip the sheet over and gently press the leaf material to the clay. Set aside.

Sheet out another piece of clay about the same size and make a cut anywhere on the sheet.

Cut a thin strip from the foiled sheet and insert it between the two cut pieces.

Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to add random foiled pieces to the plain sheet. Use the acrylic roller to lightly roll over the sheet and bond the pieces together. The foil will break apart or “crackle” on the clay.

Using the largest circle cutter (2 inches), cut 2 circles out with lots of the patterned foil in them.

I chose to lightly texture my pieces with the Safety Stair Tred to make it look sueded. Set aside for now. Cut each circle in half making sure that you have a copper pattern you like.

Cut two strips from the remaining foiled sheet that are about 1/4-inch-wide by 4-5 inches long. Rotate the strips to the cut edge and curve these strips to become the arch shapes at the bottom of the earrings. NOTE: I used the smallest circle cutter to gently wrap my strips over to create matching arches. Place these carefully on the baking sheet.

Use the 1-inch cutter to cut out a circle of the foiled sheet of clay and cut it in half for the top of the earring. Use the needle tool to put the holes in your earrings as shown. Carefully put a hole through the center of the arch from the inside through to the top of the arch. Bake as directed. NOTE: if you are going to add posts instead of ear wires, you will not need a hole in the top of the earring.

Once the clay has baked and cooled, lightly glaze over the foiled portions of the clay using the Sculpey Gloss Glaze. Allow the glaze to dry completely.

Assemble the earrings. You will need to thread the head pin through the bottom of the arch and trim to make a loop at the top of the arch to attach to the jump ring. IF you are attaching a post to the earring, you will not need the jump ring at the top of this photo.