Sculpey Premo™ Mica Shift Art Deco 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 as metal, aluminum foil, an index card or the Sculpey® Oven Safe Work Mat at 275°F (130 °C) for 30 minutes per ¼" (6 mm) of 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 1/4 bar Forest Green to a sheet 1/8” thick. This is the thickest setting if you
are using a pasta machine. Burnish the stencil to the sheet of clay. Roll over
it with the Acrylic Clay Roller to make sure the stencil is well seated to the
clay.

Apply an even coat of mica powder to the top of the stencil with your fingertips. Make sure all the open areas in the stencil receive the powder.

Carefully remove the stencil by peeling it away from a corner. Wash your hands before proceeding.

Cut out two teardrop shapes and eight ellipse shapes as shown.

Press the ellipse shapes together in pairs as shown.

Make six little balls from scrap clay. The balls need to be small enough that they can
be hidden on the back side of the earrings. The balls will hold the head pins in place.

Flip a set of shapes over. Position the head of the head pin in the center of the
teardrop shape. Sandwich the head pin into place in three places by flattening
the green balls over the pin. The example on the left shows the head pin held
into place by the small balls.

Repeat for the second shape.

This will be the earring layout.

Bake the clay pieces following the baking instructions for Sculpey Premo™.

Allow the pieces to cool before handling.

Trim the tails of the pins to 3/8” length -like the one on the left- with wire cutters.

After trimming the tails to 3/8”, curl an eye connector in each one with round nose
pliers.

Carefully open the eye at the base of the ear wires, connect to the eye you made in Step 11, and close the ear wire back with flat nose pliers.