Making a Resin Polymer Clay Bracelet

Make a resin-coated polymer clay bracelet at home.

Polymer clay is used for making jewelry items like bracelets, charms and pendants. Polymer clay jewelry items are frequently coated with clear resin to add lots of shine. The resin can also be combined with glitter, seed beads or other items. Unlike ceramic clay, polymer clay can be baked at home in the oven, so you can make polymer clay jewelry without a kiln or other special equipment.

Things You'll Need

• Polymer clay
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton balls
• Aluminum foil
• Oven
• Oven mitts
• Wooden skewer
• 2 cups
• Clear 2-part resin
• 2 disposable cups or bowls
• Glitter or seed beads
• 2 disposable paintbrushes

Instructions

1. Roll the polymer clay into a snake and form it into a bangle. The clay that forms the bangle can remain round or you may opt to flatten it to create a thin, wide bangle. Most bangles are approximately 3 1/2 inches in diameter.

2. Dip a cotton ball into rubbing alcohol and rub the clay's surface to smooth it and to refine the shape.

3. Preheat the oven to the appropriate temperature for baking the polymer clay. Consult the clay packaging for the recommended baking time for that specific product. Most clays bake around 275 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Don oven mitts and slide the cookie sheet into the oven. Consult the product packaging for the recommended baking time.

5. Don oven mitts and remove the cookie sheet from the oven. Allow the bracelet to cool thoroughly before proceeding.

6. Put a piece of aluminum foil down over the counter or table top and place two upside-down cups on top of the foil.

7. Attach a small chunk of polymer clay to the cup bottoms.

8. Run a wooden skewer through the inside of the bracelet and sink the ends of the skewer into the clay on top of the two cup bottoms. This will be used to suspend the bracelet while it's coated with resin.

9. Mix the resin and the hardening agent in a disposable cup or bowl. Mix in glitter, seed beads or anything else that you'd like to include in the resin or leave it plain for lots of shine.

10. Paint the resin onto the bracelet with a disposable paintbrush. Coat the entire bracelet, except for the area on the inside of the bracelet that's touching the skewer.

11. Discard the paintbrush and allow the bracelet to sit undisturbed while the resin hardens. Most resins require 48 or 72 hours to harden completely.

12. Mix a small amount of resin in a disposable cup or bowl, and use a disposable paint brush to touch up the uncoated region on the inside of the bracelet that was touching the skewer. Allow it to dry and harden.

Tips & Warnings

• Never use tools and cookie sheets on food once they've been used for polymer clay.

• Never bake resin. It will give off toxic odors and it may discolor the finish.

• Do not overcook the polymer clay. It may emit toxic fumes.

References

• JaedWorks; The Polymer ClaySpot; Jeanne A.E. DeVoto