Crafts - Beading - Working With Metal Clay.pdf - jewellery - nien0r

S i l v e r

Paper punches make short work of

cutting metal-clay sheet into a

decorative ID tag.

by Linda Augsburg

t a g

beginner

metal clay

chain making

moisture content than its lump-

clay counterpart. In fact, its dryness

makes it feel like a thin piece of

leather, which lends itself to usages

not employable by traditional clay, including using

paper cut-out punches. The medium’s ease in handling

led to this necklace’s creation being featured on an

episode of Beads, Baubles, and Jewels , a new

jewelrymaking series appearing on PBS stations in

January 2005. The bright lights used for filming didn’t

dry the sheet as they would have lump clay, and, with

the handy paper punches, the project was completed

in the 6 1 ⁄ 2 minutes allotted for the segment. What

could be simpler for the beginning metal-clay artist?

The addition of a double jump-ring chain gives

this piece a relaxed feel, though a simple leather cord

would be equally appropriate. This project is also

appealing to men and could be embellished to

resemble military ID tags.

tips

Work with the punch window-

side up so you can make sure

that the shape will be complete

and that you won't lose a corner

or point of something to

misaligned clay.

When joining multiple layers for

punching, make sure you let the

slip that joins the sheets dry

thoroughly before pressing the

punch. If not dry, the multilayered

sheets can get caught in the

punch or slip apart.

down firmly. Gently remove the shape and the

remaining clay from the punch.

[1] Layer the clay sheets. Using a small paintbrush,

apply a thin layer of slip to one piece of sheet clay.

While the slip is still damp, press the second sheet on

the slip-painted surface, aligning the edges. Too

much slip, or slip that is too wet, will cause the sheet

to disintegrate, so apply sparingly. Allow the sheets

to dry thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.

[3] Make the appliqué and attach it to the tag.

Using a single layer of sheet, punch out the appliqué

shape in the same manner as you did the tag. Brush

slip on one side of the appliqué and place it on the

tag. Let dry.

[4] Make a hanging hole. Using a 2mm-diameter

straw, press through the sheet at the top of the tag

to make a hole for hanging.

[2] Punch out the tag shape. With the paper punch

wrong-side up, slide the layered sheets into the slot.

Make sure the sheets are properly positioned left to

right, top to bottom, so that none of the shape’s

edges will be omitted when the image is cut. Stand

over the punch to apply even pressure and press

[5] Add syringe work. Remove the cap from your

clay syringe, but do not put the fine tip on the

syringe. Form a dot of clay on the appliqué without

using the fine tip. Let the piece dry.

Art Jewelry • January 2005

M etal-clay sheet has a much lower

on metal-clay sheet

[6] Fire and polish. Follow the manufacturer’s

instructions and fire the tag on a piece of kiln fiber

board to keep it flat. Polish the piece using a polishing

cloth, tumbler, stainless-steel brush, or a combination of

these three. If you desire, patina the piece with liver of

sulfur following the manufacturer’s directions. Use a

polishing cloth to bring out the details.

materials

2–3 sheets of metal clay

Metal clay slip

Metal clay syringe

Liver of sulfur (optional)

[7–9] Make a chain. Open three 5mm jump rings and

at least 200 3mm jump rings for a 17-inch (43.2cm)

necklace. Link one 5mm jump ring through the tag’s

hole and close the jump ring. Close four 3mm jump

rings. Take a second 5mm jump ring, link it through the

first 5mm jump ring and the four 3mm jump rings, and

close the ring; link the third 5mm jump ring through

the same five jump rings.

Separate the four 3mm rings attached to the 5mm

rings into two pairs. One at a time, link two 3mm rings

through one pair of rings. Continue linking two jump

rings through the previous pair to create a 2

1 troy ounce of 18-gauge 3mm sterling-silver

jump rings

3 16-gauge 5mm sterling-silver jump rings

Clasp

tools

Tag

Tag-shaped paper punch

Star-shaped paper punch

2mm-diameter straw

2 chain.

Kiln with fiber board

Work on one side until the necklace measures

approximately half the desired length. Repeat the

process on the remaining pair of 3mm rings attached to

the 5mm rings.

Check the length, allowing for the clasp, and add or

remove 3mm rings as needed. Use a single jump ring to

attach each half of the clasp to the last pair of rings on

each end. See Primer, page 90 , for basic wireworking

techniques. Z

Polishing cloth, tumbler, or stainless-steel brush

2 pairs of chainnose pliers or 1 pair each of chainnose

and bent chainnose pliers

note

Two layers of sheet, such as used

for this dog tag, will be malleable

even after it’s fired, so don't use

this item where it would get

excessive use, such as a key ring,

or it will bend or get damaged.

This thickness of metal-clay sheet

is better used as a pendant than

on a charm bracelet.

on durability

Art Jewelry • January 2005

Tag

Chain

Small paintbrush

Chain

Crafts - Beading - Working With Metal Clay.pdf

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