Ladybug Keychain

Design Team Member Naomi Scarparo recently shared this adorable "Lady Luck" Keychain with charms made with Makin's Clay®!

Dragon Egg Jewelry

Dragon Egg Jewelry by Irit Shalom

This month Makin's Clay® challenged it's Design Team members to select a Pin from our Tutorials & Techniques Board or our Polymer Clay Inspiration Projects Board and create a project using Makin's Clay® based upon the chosen pin.

Hello my dear crafty friends!  Irit is here today and I will show you how to make a fancy jewelry set using Dragon Egg Pinterest tutorial inspiration.

This is my own version of this technique. The original tutorial features foil over the polymer clay. I don't have any foil, or even a scalloped polymer clay cutting wheel. So I worked with metallic leafing and a scalloped clay cutter, but the result is very similar.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/501588477234266218/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/501588477234266214/

So here is my final project: a necklace, pair of earrings and a key chain/bag chain all together. And now here is my tutorial for you.

Materials:

Makin's Clay® - Black

Makin's®

•  Cutting Mat
•  3pc Round Clay Cutters
•  Cutter and Roller Set

Oval clay cutters 

Globecraft Enamel and embossing powder adhesive

Gold and silver metallic leafing

Jewelry findings and gold waxed string

Jewelry pliers

Instructions:

Roll half package of black clay with the clay roller to about 1/8" thick.

Add a thin layer of enamel powder adhesive over the rolled clay sheet. You can use any other adhesive that  keeps metallic leafing over the surface; I used whatever I had and it worked just perfectly. Add a random layer of silver leafing over  the adhesive and let it dry.







Add another layer of enamel adhesive and fill with a mix of copper, red gold, and gold leafing as shown.  Let the adhesive dry, but do not wait until the clay is dry.

Use the scallop clay cutter, or a scalloped clay cutting wheel,  and make a few scalloped strips from the metal covered clay piece.

Roll another piece of black clay and use the Makin's® round clay cutters and two sizes of oval clay cutters to make all pieces shown that will make all three jewelry projects.

Cover the ovals with any glossy glue and use all the scalloped pieces to cover both sides of the ovals.

Cut circles from the foiled sheet with the round clay cutters and cover the black clay circles on both sides.

Make holes in the beads and trinkets and let it dry overnight. 

Arrange the necklace using the largest oval piece, larger circles and smaller round beads.

Make the earrings with smaller ovals and small circles as shown. Now arrange the key chain with the last two beads.

Fish Key Chains by Erin Reed

Fish Key Chains made by Erin Reed with Makin's Clay®

Fish Key Chains

Designed by Erin Reed

I wanted to make something fun for the boys (my boys and nephews) for the summer, but what little crafty items do you give to boys - key chains!!!  They do not have to use them just like a key chain as what little boys have keys? But, as a backpack fob or vacation bag zipper pull, why not?!?!?

Materials: 

Makin's Clay® - White

Makin's Clay® Clay Tools 

Makin's® Cutting Mat

Paint - DecoArt

Gem - Eyelet Outlet

Beads

Hemp

Key Ring

Gem Tac Glue - Beacon

Instructions:

1) I used some of the amazing white Makin's Clay® mixed with blue DecoArt Traditions paint to make 8 fish from the Makin's® Sea Shells push mold in a fun light blue color.  Then I painted the fish with the same blue paint to highlight the details and added in little gem for the eye.

2) While the fish dry, roll out the white clay with the clay roller and cut out 8 circles with the largest cutter from the 3 piece Circle Clay Cutter set.   String on the key chain top and then some pony beads in white and seal the ends of it with the clay disk.  Paint the edges fo the disc blue to match the fish.  Glue on the fish, one to each side and spray with a sealant to protect the fish.

Close up view of fish key chains made with Makin's Clay®

Here is a video tutorial of the entire process!!

https://youtu.be/XhcARFZuctc

What little kid or adult would not want these super cute little fish?

Have a beachy summer, get our there and make some fun beach summer crafts!! 

Celebrate Mardi Gras with our Mask Push Mold!

It's Mardi Gras time!  Our Mask push mold is perfect for making fun pieces for jewelry and more!  Find this mold and our entire selection of creative molds which can be used with clay, fondant, gum paste, and resin here at Makin's USA®. 

Mardi Gras Mask & Monogram Key Chains - CHA Make & Take

Today in our Booth #1421 at the Craft and Hobby Association Mega Show in Anaheim, CA, Design Team members Candice Windham, Lisa Haney, Steph Ackerman, Irit Shalom and Cindi McGee will be showing attendees how to create their own Mardi Gras Mask & Monogram Key Chains with Makin's Clay® and Makin's Brand® tools.  We are also sharing the instructions for this project here for you today. If you are at the show, stop by and see our great new products, and make your own Mardi Gras Mask 
& Monogram Key Chain with our Designers! 

Project Supplies:

Makin’s Clay® - Multi-Pack 120g

Makin’s® Mask Push Mold #39010

Makin’s® Square 3 Piece Cutter Set #36002

Makin’s® Texture Sheets – Any Patterns  

Makin’s® Alphabet Cutter Set #37001  

Makin’s® Clay Roller

Makin’s Professional® Tool Kit OR Clay Tool Set

Makin’s® Cutting Mat

Key Chain or Key Ring

Mica Powder

Project Instructions: 

Step #1  Roll black clay on cutting mat with roller to approximately 1/8” thick.   

Step #2  Use selected texture sheet to apply texture to rolled clay.

Step #3  Use largest square cutter to cut square from textured clay. 

Step #4  Use clay tool to make hole in one corner of square for key ring or key chain. 

Step #5  Use Mask push mold to mold face from any shade of clay. 

Step #6  Apply light coat of Mica Powder to mask. 

Step #7  Roll complementary shade of clay to approximately 1/8” and apply texture.  Use Alphabet clay cutter to cut monogram.  

Step #8  Mount monogram letter and mask to key chain as desired.  Fresh clay adheres to fresh clay without any additional adhesive.  If needed, moisten with a small amount of water for quick adhesion.  Let dry 24 hours before adding key ring or key chain.

HINTS:  If clay starts to dry during project, just spritz with water and kneed in fingers until soft again.
             Set aside the ornament to dry overnight or until clay is completely dry.