Sculpey Souffle® Mokume Gane Modern Art 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 Igloo, Cherry Pie and Poppy Seed clay at a medium thick setting through the clay conditioning machine. These are about 1/8 of a 1.7 oz block sheeted at a #3. For ease of stacking, the sheets should be three times as long as wide.

Stack the sheets starting with the white, red and then black. Use an acrylic roller to go over the stack. Trim uneven edges and save the scraps.

Cut the stack into three pieces lengthwise. Stack these on top of each other. Vary the layers or keep them the same.

Press the stack down on the worksurface. Make sure it’s well attached. Using the different heads of the 5-in-1 tool, make imprints in the stack.

For the larger impressions, use some of the trimmed clay, roll it into little balls and fill the gaps. This adds more variation to the design. The impressions on the bottom where made with the cylindrical end of the inserts!

Once the design is done, let the stack rest for a bit before slicing. Because the stack is so thin, slicing it can be difficult. I backed the stack with scrap clay, about 1 oz.

Stand the block of clay upright and start taking slices about 2 mm thick. I got 5 slices, three with patterns on both sides.

Condition and sheet another 1/8 block of the colors. Stack as before. Take thick slices of the block and run them through the pasta machine to get a sheet of matching stripes.

Pick your favorite slices of mokume gane. I ran them through the machine as well. This will stretch out the design a little bit. Cut a clean edge from the top of the slice and push it against the striped sheets.

Run the acrylic rod over the joint to attach the sheets well. Using one of the smaller teardrop cutters, cut out two teardrops.

Repeat this as many times as you like with the other sheets. To make these into earrings, we need to embed jump rings. Turn the teardrops over and press a jump ring at the top of the shape where you want the shape to dangle. Make sure part of the jump ring is above the edge of the clay. Cut out a small circle (or semi circle) from your scraps and press it down over the jump ring to seal it in.

Bake per instructions. Open the loop on hook earring findings and slip the jump ring in. Your earrings are ready to wear!