Marquis Pendant

 Clay and Crystal Marquis Pendant

This pendant is made up of a mix of clay (gold) with black (streaking) and copper liquid clay "framing" the pendant:  A channel was impressed into the marquis clay piece and was filled with a mix of liquid clay and copper mica powder. 

 

The front of the pendant has been clear coated. 

The bail is black clay, left with a matte finish, solidly incorporated into the pendant.  

 

This pendant is made entirely of clay...except for the 4 turquoise crystals.

The back is not clear coated, but buffed to a polished-stone shine. 

I textured the back clay backing with a subtle paisley pattern to give it a little appeal 

(who says the back shouldn't look good too!?)

 

A texture on the surface that lays against the skin if it is of any size is more comfortable than a flat, smooth, glossy piece.  It allows less clay to touch your skin (not that the clay hurts your skin), but allows a bit of air to be between you and the pendant.

It's a little more substantial than other pendants as it is roughly 1/8" thick, but isn't too heavy.  The pendant measures 2 5/8" wide from end to end.

 

Similar  pendants could be made in this shape in many different colors.  

This one, however, is one of a kind!

2015 Is Underway!

I took a reprieve over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. 

Hoping everyone had a memorable Thanksgiving, a beautiful Christmas, and a Safe and Happy New Year!! 

2015 is now well underway as we are prepping for the Super Bowl this weekend and Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching!  

 

I do believe time speeds up as we get older.  [sigh]  BUT I digress...

 

I am offering a discount in honor of Valentine's Day in my Etsy shoppe at ClayBeaute.Etsy.com

Take 15% OFF your purchase using VALENTINE15 in the shopping cart now thru February 8th and give a one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted, unique gift to your Valentine.

 

 Share The Love!

 

Feminine and Masculine Gifts

Shock Absorber Pens - Masculine Pens

Ladies' Pens





Cuff Bracelets & Sets





Razor Set



Bolt Action Pens

Cuff Links



Desk Sets





 

Earrings

And Teen Gifts:

Charms/Pendants & Rings

Hair Pins

Perfume Pen

 

 I hope you are having an awesome start to this new year and are staying warm out there! 

ClayBeaute.Etsy.com 

"Costume" Jewelry...Literally

 Dragon Eye Pendant

 

This pendant is polymer clay on a pendant bezel approx. 2mm deep and 1" in diameter with an antique silver finish.  The eyeball is gloss coated while the remaining portions of the clay remain matte finish with no coat or buffing.  

Some mica powders were used and the 'skin' is textured with dragon scales.  The clay was cured directly on the bezel underneath.   

A simple chain or cord would make this an interesting costume accessory....particularly for a dragon slayer!!

Bullet Charm

Bullet Charm

1 - 45 Caliber Bullet Head 

A marble-size ball of Polymer Clay (color, your choice)

 1 - Pendant Bezel, Antique Copper (or silver, brass, or other...your choice). This one is approx. 1" in diameter and approx. 2mm deep..

Put a bit of liquid clay / bake and bond / polypaste, etc. in the bottom of the bezel.  Form the ball of clay (single color or mix of colors) and push it into the bezel to the desired shape (flat, rounded, etc.).  Just be sure the clay sits high enough in the bezel to envelope the bullet head.  This will depend on how thin the bullet head is (you decide when you cut it from the spent bullet.).

Push the bullet head into the center of the clay.  You will need to reshape the clay and push the clay up and around the bullet head to the height you want evenly around the bullet.

Smooth out finger prints and make sure the clay is not over the top of the bezel edge.

Cure the clay.

When cool, you can sand and buff the clay or you can apply a clear coat.  

The pendant can be put on a key chain split ring (key chain charm), on a chain or cord (necklace), on a ring for use on a range bag, purse, or jacket (zipper pull), etc. 

Other ideas:  Initials can be engraved in the clay above or below the bullet (or one initial on either side of the bullet), or Swarovski crystals could be incorporated into the clay for the girly girl.  The clay could also be textured with a pattern.

This one was made with liquid clay and mica powder...and a bullet head.  It's hard to capture in a photo, but the layers of mica powder and transparent clay give depth to this one!

My First Silver Piece!

I have been playing again!

Introducing...my first silver piece... 

[ insert drum roll here]

This is silver clay...meaning this piece is .999 pure silver after firing.  This will not bake in the oven to cure...it requires a kiln or torch firing.  I think I will play some more with this awesome medium!

I cut out the shape, added some texture, and I created a bale on the back...

After firing, it was cleaned, and oxidized (the black in the recessed portion of the pattern) and then polished.  It's not perfect...but it isn't too bad for my first piece!

I strung it on 3 leather cords (symbolism), added a clasp, and voila!  

My very own one of a kind cross necklace!  I'm so excited!

Pure silver is softer than Sterling Silver because Sterling is an alloy (it contains other metals...copper, etc.). Alloys are stronger/harder than pure silver...BUT pure silver won't tarnish like Sterling (because of the other metals in it).

I can't wait to make some more goodies in silver!

PENDANTS

PENDANTS

Examples of pendants made to be sold as jewelry supply items.  Some are textured, some are gloss finished where others are simply polished clay.  Some include liquid clay and other inclusions. 

Some incorporate bails made of clay while others include metal bails and/or jump rings. The last one doesn't include either...it features holes in the side where stringing wire can be strung through.  

They all vary in size, thickness, color, and style. 

Clay Beads can be made to match the pendants and be sold as a "kit" of sorts for those who like to make their own jewelry.  

Finishes

I have tested and used a number of different glossy finishes looking for the "miracle" product to use forever more!   Not sure I've found that product...at least for every project and item, anyway.

Sculpey Gloss (also available in Satin finish) is a good product, but pretty expensive compared to other products that can be used with PC.

Studio gloss (by Sculpey I believe) is very hard to find now.  I don't know if it's been discontinued or if retailers in my local area have simply stopped carrying it.  It was probably my favorite. (I'm sure that's why I cannot find it anymore! LOL).  It can be heat set/dried in the oven and was made for use with clay.

Minwax PolyAcrylic is an inexpensive product that can be used on PC.  It is fairly thin, thinner than Sculpey, and can be brushed on.  I recommend a number of coats as it is not very thick.

Future floor polish (now Pledge with Future in it) is also a product that works well with PC. It is extremely thin, so a number of coats are required.  And it smells better than the others.  It cleans up well, like the Minwax and Sculpey, with water and soap.

Both the Minwax can and Future bottle will last a very long time for about $8 or so. Minwax can be purchased at the local hardware/Lowe's/Home Depot type stores.  The  Pledge with Future in it can be purchased at your grocery store/Walmart.   The Sculpey gloss is approx, $4 for a very small jar.  Sculpey also will not last very long after it has been opened and about half is used. Once air gets into the jar, it gets thick and cannot be used. I like the Sculpey product for use with the clay, but it cannot be heat set in the oven as the others can.
There are a couple other  products that have been discussed by other clayers as being good for clay.  I have not yet tried them, however.

I am attempting to perfect my sanding technique and buffing tools so as to not need a gloss finish applied after curing.  I've come close, but am not yet finished experimenting yet.  I don't expect this will be the ideal method for everything I do, but am hoping this will be the new way to get a high gloss sheen on my pen barrels.

If anyone has any suggestions or tips, I am open to hearing them.  Or if you have any questions about the finishes I've used, feel free to ask.

This is a pen I made (and am using myself as a "test" piece) that does not have a gloss coat applied.  It has been sanded and buffed.  However, it was buffed with a material that didn't hold up well at the high speed, so back to the drawing board.

 This is a pendant (used from the same clay) that was sanded & buffed as well. It also does not have a gloss finish applied to the clay.  Looks pretty good, but I'd like a bit more of a glass-like shine.

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PENDANT

CLAY AND CRYSTAL PENDANT

This was a metal filigree focal piece that I embellished with clay and swarovski crystals. The center crystal is 8mm. 

I added a large-hole bale that would accommodate just about any size cord.

Cloisonne Look Pendant

CLOISONNE LOOK BUTTERFLY PENDANT

This is the same butterfly used to make the hair clips but made into a pendant.  This piece lends to all kinds of color combinations and crystal colors.  These are unique and perfect size for a not too large pendant.  This one features Aquamarine Swarovski Crystals, turquoise and teal clay along with yellow, bronze and copper clay colors.  A large hole bail completes the pendant and allows for use on cording.  This pendant is being sold as a pendant only for jewelry making supply.   The crystals in this piece are a size ss12.

The image below shows the butterfly before adding the clay, crystals, and clear coat.

Mimicking Nature...

 This is also a brass metal focal piece.  Gold clay has been used with a little green metallic inka gold on most of the sections on one side. A single black diamond colored Swarovski crystal was added to one section for a tiny bit of sparkle and "dress up." The clay sections have been clear coated.

The bale was a lucky find.  I think it fits this simple, understated leaf pendant perfectly!

The back is simply gold clay that has also been clear coated.  Very simple, easy, and inexpensive to make.   A different and unique piece with wide open possibilities as a completed necklace.

Butterfly Bling

This is a little different twist on jewelry from what I've done in the past.  This is a metal focal piece and I added clay so the end result is similar to a cloisonne piece.  Obviously it looks different from cloisonne, but it's a similar look...some pieces more so than others.

This butterfly is the first one I made.  I painstakingly added different color clay in all the "holes" of the design.  It has 5 swarovski crystals included, a bale, and a cord.  The clay was applied to the back of the piece first in one neutral color.  The different colors on the front were applied from the front and the backing gave the colored clay pieces something to adhere to.  It is a nice piece that I kept for myself (but I do have another butterfly focal piece that I haven't made yet) and I truly do not think the photos do it justice.  

The piece has been clear coated. I used a very small liner brush and added clear coat only to the clay (or tried to anyway!).  It was extremely inexpensive to make and could be sold as a pendant only or as a completed piece of jewelry.  I have kept an eye out for focal pieces such as this one ever since!

Metal & Clay Focal Piece

This is another metal focal piece - in antique brass. It contains a clay mix of white & beige and holds 5 champagne colored Swarovski crystals, 5 small ruby colored Swarovski crystals, and one garnet genuine gemstone in the center.

I am working on my photography skills to capture the sparkle the Swarovski crystals have.  I haven't mastered that and the photos really do not do the pieces justice.  Even if this particular piece -- shape, design, and metal finish aren't your particular taste, this one sparkles nicely.  The champagne colored crystals are beautiful and blend so well with the clay colors.

The clay has been clear coated with a liner brush.  An antique brass bale finishes this pendant.
Simple and inexpensive to create.