Sculpey Premo™ Slice of Summer 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.

Roll out a sheet of conditioned Translucent clay that is about the thickness you would like your earrings. (I used a middle setting on my clay dedicated pasta machine). The sheet doesn’t have to be as big as the silkscreen – unless you plan to make a couple of pairs of earrings!

Place the silkscreen with the emulsion side (shiny side) DOWN and lightly rub into place.

Dab your paint colors lightly and QUICKLY onto the silkscreen. A little paint goes a LONG way!

QUICKLY use your paint spreader tool to drag the paint across the screen to cover the clay areas. I also wiggle my silicone brush to make the colors a little more random.

Remove any excess paint with your spreader tool.

IMMEDIATELY remove the silkscreen and go wash it under running water. I prefer to dry my screen by putting it in a folded microfiber towel and lightly rubbing the top of the towel. Remove the screen and set aside to dry completely.

NOW admire your gorgeous silkscreened clay! The paint should be allowed to dry completely (usually just a couple of minutes).

DESIGNER NOTE: If you are not happy with your silkscreened clay, immediately wash the sheet of clay under running water, lightly rubbing the surface to remove the paint. Then lightly dry the sheet with the towel and allow it to dry before attempting the silkscreen again.

Once the paint design has dried, you can use your selected circle cutter (mine is 2 inches) to cut out your favorite portion of the silkscreen.

Don’t forget to cut out 2 smaller circles for the post portion of the earring! You can also cut out several other sized earrings if you have a full sheet of silkscreen.

I like to use lined index cards to help me find the center line of the circle and provide a guideline to cut the circle.

Now I can just rotate each half circle and line it up on the lines to find the center to place my hole to attach the jump ring. I am using a toothpick here, but you can also use any needle tool.

Set the two pieces on your baking tray.

Place holes in your smaller circles for the posts as well and set them on your bake tray.

Cover the clay loosely with the foil and bake according to the directions in Step 1 above

Once the clay has baked and cooled, you can assemble your earrings as shown.

My last step is to glue the posts to the back of the smaller circles.

Here is a look at my final earrings. I’ve place one of those small round camera lights for Instagram behind a sheet of paper so you can see the beautiful translucency of the earrings.