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by Suzann Sladcik Wilson

“Cascading Leaves” by Suzann Sladcik Wilson

This month’s Designer Challenge came from the wonderful people at Makin’s Clay. Makin’s Clay is a whole new way to experience polymer clay. With typical polymer clay, your projects must be baked to harden. With some of the polymer clays, you may have fumes while baking, if you do not have the temperature set correctly on your oven it could burn, and your project might become brittle when done.

A closer look at the leaves.

With Makin’s Clay, all of the typical worries of polymer clay are put to rest. Rather than baking, Makin’s Clay typically air dries in about 24 hours. Another benefit is the joy of having an unbroken project if you accidentally drop it.  When finished, the pieces are hard, yet shatter proof.

Makin’s Clay combined with StayzOn Metallics in Gold created the stunning leaves in this necklace.

Materials for Cascading Leaves Necklace:

  • Makin’s Clay Variety Pack in Earth Tones
  • Makin’s Clay Push Mold – Floral
  • Toothpick
  • Tsukineko StayzOn Metallics stamp pad in Gold
  • Tsukineko Fantastix with bullet tip
  • Gold Chain
  • 40 jump rings
  • Flat Nose Pliers
  • Chain Nose Pliers

1. Make 40 leaves by using the Makin’s Clay Earth Tones and Floral Push Mold. Place a small ball of clay inside of the mold of the leaf you would like to make. Use your fingers to spread the clay evenly within the mold. Remove the clay from the mold. NOTE: Makin’s Clay Push Molds are clear, enabling you to easily see if your clay has fully filled the mold.

2. Make holes in the top of the leaves with your toothpick. This will allow you to place your jump ring through the leaf when it is dry.

3. Allow clay to dry for 24 hours.

4. Once the leaves have hardened, use your Fantastix to apply the ink from the StayzOn Metalics Stamp Pad in Gold. Allow ink to dry.

5. Using your Flat Nose and Chain Nose Pliers, swing open a jump ring. Place the open jump ring through the top of one of your leaves.

6. Insert one half of your open jump ring through one link on your gold chain. Close jump ring.

7. Repeat steps 5 & 6 until all leaves are placed onto necklace.

Project Note: You may want to place your chain on a bust before adding the leaves. It will make it much easier to insert the jump rings onto the links.

You can win this!

The generous people at Makin’s Clay will be giving away this amazing prize pack to one lucky winner! To qualify, head over to their brand spanking new blog (http://makinsclayblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/makins-clay-blog-hop-contest.html) and leave a comment.

Hope you enjoyed my Cascading Leaves Necklace! See lots more cool projects with Makin’s Clay by clicking on the Designer Craft Connection badge on the left hand side of this blog.

Wishing You Creativity,

Suzann