Contemporary Brooches

Design Team member Cynthia Gougian recently shared these fantastic contemporary brooches. She created the modern textures with Makin's® Clay Texture Sheets. I used "Coils" and "Connectors" from the Clay Texture Sheets- Set H. Cynthia really enjoys using the textures in this set! She loves the dramatic, stylish effects they create!

Fall Jewelry Collection

Fall Jewelry Collection by Cynthia Gougian

This fall jewelry collection was fast and super easy to make!  I used simple techniques to create dramatic, contemporary looks.  I was pleasantly surprised at how many pieces I was able to create with just a small amount of clay and a few findings! 

Materials List:

·     Makin’s Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine®

·     Makin’s Clay®  30g  in yellow (1/2 of a 60 gram package)

·     Makin’s Clay®  30g in red (1/2 of a 60 gram package)

·     Makin’s Clay® 30g  in black (1/2 of a 60 gram package)

·     Makin’s® 3 piece oval cutter set

·     Wilton® 6-piece Nesting Fondant Double Sided Cutters,Leaf Cutters

·     Makin’s® 3 piece flower cutter set

·     An acrylic clay roller

·     A tissue blade

·     Cornstarch, or powder

·     400 grit wet dry sand paper 

·     Dust mask

·     Makin’s® Texture Sheets – Set H ( I used the sheet labeled “Abstract B”) 

·     Deco Color® Premium 3-way chisel point pen, gold (optional)

·     1.5 mm Wire ferrule (Sometimes labeled for 16 AWG wire)

·     1/16  drill bit

·     Earring Wires of your choice

·     4 mm and 6 mm jump rings, or jump rings in sizes of your choice

·     Necklace cord of your choice

Instructions:

I used a blended clay sheet to create a veneer.  I began by rolling out Makin’s Clay® 30g in yellow on the thickest setting of the Makin’s Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine®.

I then trimmed it into a rectangle shape.

I cut the rectangle into 2 triangles. Then, I stacked the triangles.

I repeated steps 1-3 with 30 grams of red clay.

I placed the stacked triangles next to each other. I offset the points of the triangles slightly.  Then I used my clay blade to trim the triangles into a square. 

I rolled over the seam with a clay roller to adhere the red and yellow clay.

I continued rolling until the clay was just a little thicker than the widest setting on Makin’s Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine®.

Then I rolled the clay through machine at thickest setting (setting #1).

I folded the clay in half. 

I then rolled the clay through the clay machine at the thickest setting, folded side first. 

I continued folding the clay in the same direction and rolling it through the machine. Each time the clay was folded and rolled; it caused the clay to blend.  In this photo, the clay had been folded and rolled about 6 times.

When I was satisfied with my blend. I trimmed the clay into a neat rectangle shape. 

I then rolled the blend, short side first through the clay machine on setting #4.

I used a knee-high stocking filled with cornstarch to dust the Makin’s® texture sheet-Abstract B.  Cornstarch prevents the clay from sticking to the texture sheet.

I placed the blended sheet of clay on the texture sheet.  Then I rolled over the clay firmly with my clay roller.

I rolled out 30g of black clay on setting 4 of the clay machine.

I then misted the black clay with water. 

I place the blended, textured veneer on the black clay.  Then, I gently patted the veneer to adhere it to the black clay without damaging the texture. 

I used one of the leaf cutters to cut a pendant from the veneer. 

Then, I used one of the smaller leaf cutters to cut my first earring. 

I flipped the veneer over, then used the same smaller leaf cutter to cut a second earring from the veneer.  Flipping the veneer over results in earrings that are mirror images of one another. 

I used a 1.5 mm wire ferrule to cut holes for jump rings in the pendant and earrings. 

I had plenty of veneer left over.  So, I used the largest oval cutter from the Makin’s® 3 piece oval cutter set to cut 2 oval shapes from the veneer. 

Then, I used the smallest oval cutter from the Makin’s® 3 piece oval cutter set to cut out the center of the large ovals. 

I also used the medium sized oval cutter from the Makin’s® 3 piece oval cutter set to cut two ovals from the veneer.  

I pinched the top of the oval to form petal shapes.

I still had a small amount of veneer left.  So, I used the smallest flower cutter from the Makin’s® 3 piece flower cutter set to cut  2 flowers from the veneer.

I allowed all the shapes to thoroughly dry for 24 hours. Then I sanded the edges with 400 grit sandpaper.  Please note, Makin’s Clay® should NOT be wet sanded.  It needs to be dry sanded.  And, a dust mask should be worn when sanding any material. 

After sanding, I assembled all the shapes into finished earrings and a pendant. First, I used a 1/16 drill bit to drill holes in the tops of the petal shapes

Then, I used the paint pen to apply gold to the edges of the petals.  

Finally, I used 6 mm jump rings to attach the petals to ear wires.

I also created earrings from the oval shapes.  I began by drilling holes in the large ovals. Then, I drilled the smaller ovals.  

I used 4 mm and 6 mm jump rings to attach the shapes to each other and to ear wires. 

 

The flower shapes became another set of earrings.  First, I drilled holes in them.  Then, I added gold paint pen to the edges.

I used four 4 mm jump rings to create dangles that I attached to ear wires.  

 

The leaf pendant and matching earrings were super easy to construct!  I simply used 6 mm jump rings to attach the shapes to ear wires and a pendant cord.

I am totally in love with Makin’s® Texture Sheets – Set H!  The “Abstract B” sheet is my absolute favorite.  I think the texture allowed me to turn simple shapes into hip, cutting edge designs. 

"Stripes" Necklace

STRIPES Necklace by Leila Bidler

Materials:

Makin's Clay® White 60g, Black 60g

Makin's® Clay Roller

Any shape of clay cutter you like

Makin's Professional® Cutting Mat (big or small)

Makin's® Clay Basic Tool Set

Jump rings

Necklace base or cord

Instructions:

Divide your clay into half and roll out 2 logs of white and  2 logs of black of equal size.

Twist these logs together.

Roll this twisted log to thin it and fold it in half and roll again to create a marbled look.

Using your clay roller, flatten your marbled log, fold in half, roll out again. 

Repeat the last step several times until you get the desired mix, roll out a flat sheet/veneer. Do not over mix as the colors will blend after a while.

Use whatever shape of clay cutter you desire to cut out shapes from this marbled/striped veneer.

Use your Basic Tool Set tools to adjust the shapes as desired and needed and the needle tool to poke holes in the forms - let dry completely.

Add jump rings after the shapes have completely dried and string onto a cord or necklace base to complete your summer necklace!

Tip: try different colors to make color variations and create many different necklaces!

Twisted, Gilded Tube Beads

·     Makin’s® Clay 2.1 oz. Brown ½ package

·     Makin’s Professional® Ultimate Extruder Set, or a clay extruder with small hexagon die and the Makin’s CLAYCORE® EXTRUDER ADAPTERS (1MM adapter was used)

·     A sharp tissue blade, or scissors

·     Metal leafing flakes and/or metal leafing flakes

·     Metal leafing adhesive

·     Metal leafing sealer

·     The Beadsmith® One Step Looper 2.5 mm size

·     20 guage dead soft brass wire

·     4 mm brass jump rings

·     6 mm Brass bead caps

·     Brass ear wires

·     Skewers, or very small double pointed knitting needles

·     Small piece of 220 grit wet dry sand paper

Step 1:  Roll a 1/2 package of brown clay into a cylinder.

Step 2:  Place the cylinder into the barrel of the Makin’s Professional® Ultimate Clay Extruder®.

Step 3:  Place the 1mm. CLAYCORE® extruder adapter on the clay. Make sure it is centered. 

Step 4:  Place the smallest hexagon ULTIMATE CLAY EXTRUDER® DISC in the cap of the extruder. Then screw the cap on the barrel. 

Step 5:  Extrude the clay.  You’ll need to extrude at least 3 inches of clay for one pair of earrings.   It’s always good to extrude a little more than you’ll need.  

Step 6:  Place the extruded tube of clay on your work surface. Place your palms on opposite ends of the tube.  Roll one palm towards you, and the other palm away from you.  This puts a twist in the tube of clay.  Be careful to use very gentle pressure to avoid crushing the tube. 

Step 7:  Straighten the twisted tube of clay and allow it to dry overnight.  

Step 8:  Once the tube is thoroughly dry, cut it into 1 ½ pieces. I like to use a sharp tissue blade with a sawing motion. 

Step 9:  The tube can also be cut with scissors.

 

Step 10:  If the ends of the tubes are rough, or uneven, sand them with 220 grit sand paper. 

Step 11:  Place the tubes on skewers, or double pointed knitting needles.  Then, apply metal leafing adhesive.  Use a soft brush and make sure the entire bead is covered. Allow the adhesive to dry for 30 to 60 minutes. 

Step 12:  When the metal leafing adhesive has dried, roll the bead in metal leafing flakes. 

Step 13:  Roll the bead between your thumb and fingers to remove excess leafing.  

 

Step 14:  You may also roll the bead in a sheet of metal leaf.  

Step 15:  Remove the excess clay by rolling the bead between your thumb and fingers.  Work over a small container when removing excess sheet leafing, this will create multi-colored leafing flakes!

Step 16:  Apply two coats of metal leafing sealer.  Allow the bead to dry thoroughly between coats.  Allow the second coat to dry for several hours before working with the bead. 

Step 17:  Straighten and cut 4 inches of dead soft brass wire. 

Step 18:  Place the wire in the The Beadsmith® One Step Looper 2.5 mm size pliers.

Step 19:  When the pliers are closed, they automatically cut the wire and form a loop. 

Step 20:  Place a bead cap on the looped wire.

Step 21:  Place a tube on the wire.  

Step 22:  Place a second bead cap on the wire. 

Step 23:  Place the wire back in the The Beadsmith® One Step Looper 2.5 mm size pliers. Snug the second bead cap against the tool. 

Step 24:  Close the pliers to form the second loop.   

Step 25:  Repeat Step 17 through Step 24 to create a second link. 

Step 26:  Cut 4 pieces of brass necklace chain, 1.5 inches long. 

Step 27:  Open a 4 mm jump ring.

Step 28:  Slip the jump through the links on the chain then close the jump ring.

Step 29:  Open a second 4 mm jump ring.  Slip it through the first jump ring.  

Step 30:  Then place it through one of the loops on the link and close it. 

Step 31:  Open another 4 mm jump ring and place it through the other loop on the link, then place it through the ear wire and close it.  

Step 32:  Repeat Step 26 through Step 31 to create a second earring.  

Step 33:  Experiment with different colors of metal leafing to create many unique links!