Sculpey Soufflé™ Ochre Faux Ikat Swing 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.

Create a 3-inch coil of both the Ochre and Igloo clay that is about 3/8 inch in diameter and twist them together as shown. Twist until the stripes are just about vertical.

Flatten the stripes with the acrylic roller so that you can feed easily through the Clay Conditioning Machine (pasta machine).

Roll through the Clay Conditioning Machine on the widest setting, taking care to keep the stripes as vertical as possible.

Fold the stripes as shown and roll through the machine again.

Cut the stack in half vertically and stack together.

Now cut the stack in the center ACROSS the stripes as shown.

Restack your pieces as shown. See how the Ikat is formed?

Sheet out another piece of the Ochre clay on the middle setting and make thin slices of the stacked clay to lay onto this sheet. Make the slices as uniform as possible in width, but don’t stress if they are slightly different from each other.

Use the acrylic roller to gently level the slices out – ALWAYS rolling with the stripes!

I used the largest (2 inch) cutter to cut out my Ikat.

Cut the circle in half along the stripes (or you can vary it and cut ACROSS the stripes!) Set aside.

Use the smallest circle cutter to cut out 4 circles of just ochre clay on the middle or one size smaller setting on your Clay Conditioning Machine. I poked a hole in one of the circles and positioned the earring post between the two circles and pressed them together. This will help hold the post in place. You can add a drop of Sculpey Oven Bake Clay Adhesive (formerly called Bake n’ Bond) as well.

Use a needle tool to pierce the clay as shown before baking. This is the hole positions for post earrings. If you want to use an ear wire instead, place a hole in the top of the small circle as well. NOTE: Souffle is so easy to drill after baking, that I wait and use my hand drill to make my holes. That way I don’t have to commit to either the post or ear wire YET. Bake according to the directions in Step 1 above.

Assemble your earrings as shown. (We don’t have the post on the back of these so that they photograph better for you!)