Sculpey Soufflé Beach Bracelet
Sculpey Soufflé Beach Bracelet
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The gorgeous blues and greens in the Sculpey ® Souffle line of clay lend themselves quite readily to visions of surfside fun and waves. These easy beads are carved after baking to create the texture. White paint only enhances the beachy feel of the design.
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ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES
Bamboo skewer, Damp paper towel, White acrylic craft paint, small brush, Bracelet cording, Couple of sheets of plain white paper (like computer paper), linoleum cutter (small v shaped carving tool)|Bamboo skewer, Damp paper towel, White acrylic craft paint, small brush, Bracelet cording, Couple of sheets of plain white paper (like computer paper), linoleum cutter (small v shaped carving tool)
Project Instructions
Getting Started:Polymer clay may stain. CLAY MAY DAMAGE UNPROTECTED FURNITURE OR FINISHED SURFACES. DO NOT USE polymer clay on unprotected surfaces. We recommend working on the Sculpey® Clay Mat, wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Start with clean hands and work surface area. Knead clay until soft and smooth. For best results, clean your hands in between colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces together firmly. Bake on oven-proof glass or metal surface at 275°F (130 °C) for 30 minutes per ¼" (6 mm) thickness. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME. Wash hands after use. Baking should be completed by an adult. Begin by preheating oven to 275 °F (130 °C). Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay. For best results, condition all clay by running it through the Clay Conditioning Machine for several passes on the widest setting. Fold the clay in half after each pass and insert the fold side into the rollers first.
Roll a ¾ inch ball of the Sculpey ® Souffle Robin’s Egg and pierce it with the bamboo skewer.
Roll the ball back and forth on your sheet of paper so that the ball starts to elongate and spread down the skewer. The quickest way to do this is to use both hands and slowly pull them apart as you roll back and forth. Once the clay is at the largest diameter that you want for the beads, stop and cut off a piece of the clay tube and set aside. Continue to roll out the clay to a smaller diameter. Once you are satisfied with the smaller diameter, use the Super Slicer blade to cut through the clay tube to the bamboo skewer. With the Super Slicer still in the clay, slowly roll the tube forward to cut the clay all around the skewer. Cut beads of different thicknesses as desired. Once you have cut about a dozen of these beads, remove the clay from the skewer and put the larger diameter piece of clay back on the skewer and cut those beads.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all the other colors. NOTE: Sculpey ® Souffle cuts so easily after baking that you can choose to bake the rods of clay and THEN cut the beads after baking! You can even carve the entire rod of clay and paint it before cutting the beads!
Bake the beads in a preheated oven as described above.
Once the beads are baked and cooled, use a small v shaped carving tool to etch lines in the beads. NOTE: Once again, if you chose to bake the tubes, you can carve the lines down the entire tube before cutting the beads.
Once all the beads are carved, wipe each bead with the white acrylic craft paint and immediately wipe the bead with a damp paper towel. NOTE: if you baked the tubes and carved them in one long piece, you can also do this paint step BEFORE cutting the beads apart!
Allow the beads to dry and string them on the selected bracelet cording (the bamboo skewer provides a large enough hole for most cording, including leather like I have used.) Tie the bracelet with either a single or double sliding knot and you are DONE!