What are the basics of Polymer Clay Jewellery making?

Creating earrings from polymer clay is a fun and creative process. Here are the basic steps to make polymer clay earrings:

Materials Needed:

1. Polymer Clay (in your choice of colours)
2. Earring Findings (earring hooks, jump rings)
3. Needle or Toothpick
4. Jewellery Pliers
5. Baking Sheet and Parchment Paper
6. Oven
7. Acrylic Roller or Pasta Machine (for rolling out the clay)
8. Craft Knife or Clay Cutters (for shaping the clay)

Steps:

1. Condition the Clay: Start by conditioning the clay, which means warming it up and making it pliable. You can do this by kneading it with your hands or using an acrylic roller or pasta machine.
2. Shape the Clay: Once the clay is conditioned, you can shape it into your desired earring design. This could be anything from simple circles or squares to more complex shapes or patterns. Use a craft knife or clay cutters to cut out your shapes.
3. Add Details: If you want to add texture or patterns to your earrings, you can do this using various tools or stamps. You can also layer different colours of clay for a marbled or gradient effect.
4. Pierce a Hole: Before baking, you need to pierce a hole in the clay where the earring hook will go. You can do this using a needle or toothpick. Make sure the hole is large enough for your jump ring to fit through.
5. Bake the Clay: Place your clay pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in the oven according to the instructions on the clay packaging. This is usually at a low temperature (around 275°F/130°C) for about 15-30 minutes.
6. Cool and Assemble: After baking, let your clay pieces cool completely. Then, using jewellery pliers, attach the earring hooks to the clay pieces using jump rings.
7. Seal (Optional): If you want your earrings to have a glossy finish or extra protection, you can seal them with a polymer clay glaze or varnish.

Remember, working with polymer clay allows for a lot of creativity, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different colours, shapes, and textures. Happy crafting!