Souffle Southwest Floral Pendant

Getting StartedPolymer 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.

Mix about 1/3 block each of Souffle Cinnamon and premo! Accents Bronze. Sheet the mixed clay out on the second to widest setting on your Sculpey Clay Conditioning Machine.

Lightly spray your selected stamp with water. Place the sheet of clay on a sheet of paper or index card. Position the stamp and put another piece of paper on top. Now find a smooth firm floor (like my cement floor) and put the whole thing down on the floor and step on it! Step on it from all 4 sides. This is my method for getting a uniform deep impression. Pick the stack up, remove the paper and the stamp and carefully remove the paper from the sheet of clay (pull the paper and not the clay). You can put the clay back onto the sheet of paper or move it to a smooth ceramic tile for the next step.

Select your cutter or template and cut out your pendants and earring pieces, using the craft knife.

Place all your pendants and earring pieces on a large metal or ceramic bowl to give the piece a little curve when baked. Bake as directed above.

Making the Mr. Jan Montarse Easy Bail: Use the 1 inch round cutter to cut out 2 circles of the remaining stamped clay (or resheet the clay and restamp it). Use the smallest oval cutter to cut two notches in the top sides of each circle as shown. Place the finished pieces on the second to smallest mounds on the Sculpey Hollow Bead Maker and bake as directed above.

After the pieces have baked and cooled, pop them off the bowl and spread a couple of sheets of paper on your work surface. Paint the turquoise paint over the entire surface of the pendant, working it down into the small bits of texture. Immediately use a baby wipe to wipe off the paint on the upper surfaces of the texture. Allow the paint to dry (or if you are me, at least partially dry..)

Put a small amount of a purple (or color of your choice) on the small brush and apply the paint to the Spongit Stick. Lightly brush the paint over a selected flower or feature in your texture. Repeat with the other colors. Clean the brush and Spongit with a clean baby wipe (keep it for the next colors). Don’t forget to do the bails as well!

I find it easier to paint all a selected feature, such as leaves, all at once to give me a better picture of what colors are going in each place. I’ve used the Lumiere Olive green for the leaves on this pattern to add a bit of glimmer to the design.

Once I have added all the colors I want to, I lightly brush the tops of them with a tiny bit of the Lumiere Brass color to add a little sparkle. The sparkle of the metallic paint helps to highlight the subtle colors added from the paints, as well as adds a different texture to the piece.

After the paints have dried, turn the pendant over and glue the Montarse Easy Back into place with the “t” portion of the back at the top center of the pendant as shown. Once the glue has dried, you can thread your choice of materials through the bail. I prefer a leather cord or material as shown.