How to Make a Zebra Cross Pendant
Look online or in any jewelry store and you will find a wide variety of zebra cross pendants available in all shapes and sizes. But with so many different variations out there for purchase, they can be expensive and lack originality. Go for that one-of-a-kind look by designing your own pendant out of polymer clay; a versatile and easy-to-use material with which to create any size and shape of cross you want. Raw clay is not much different than a typical molding putty, and creating zebra print pieces are limited only by your own imagination.
Things You'll Need
- Black polymer clay
- White polymer clay
- Cross-shaped cookie cutter
- Latex gloves
- X-acto blade
- Rolling pin
- Slicing blade
- Clear nail polish
Instructions
-
-
1
Condition the clay by pulling a piece off of the block and rolling it in your fingers until it is pliant and easy to shape. Do this with both the white and black polymer clay.
-
2
Roll the clay into sheets with a rolling pin. Do this several times to condition it thoroughly until it is flat and even.
-
-
3
Cut a rectangle from the white sheet of clay. The size is unimportant right now as it is going to be rolled again anyway. Just make sure that the sheet will accommodate the size pendant you want to create. You've already decided this when you chose a cookie cutter. So, when you're slicing your rectangle, place the cookie cutter against it to make sure it fits.
-
4
Trim thin black strips from the black sheet of clay. The white sheet will act as the background for the zebra print, therefore the black sheet will be the stripes. Use the etching tool or fine point X-acto blade to cut away long strips. Make as few or as many as you wish. Since zebra stripes are not all the same, make them different widths. The more varied they are, the more realistic it will look.
-
5
Lay down the strips of black clay onto the sheet of white. Place them unevenly next to each other and at curved zig-zags to better resemble real zebra stripes.
-
6
Roll the white and black clays with the rolling pin. Be sure to press down hard as you roll it over to smear the black strips into the white. Repeat if necessary to replicate the zebra print you want.
-
7
Position the cookie cutter over the smeared sheet of polymer clay. Some parts of the sheet may have better zebra print designs than others, so make a few cuttings out of the sheet in the shape of your cross.
-
8
Bake the clay as per the instructions on the package. Most polymer clays require a duration time of 20 to 25 minutes in the oven at a temperature of 275 degrees. Some clays are different, so be sure to check the manufacturer's suggested bake times.
-
9
Remove it the oven and let it cool thoroughly. Once the pendant has cooled down, apply a coat of clear nail polish to seal the pendant. This will give it a glazed sheen. If you'd prefer a matte finish, there are acrylic sprays that you can use to seal it that way instead.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Be sure to use a clean surface like a tile counter top or place a piece of flat card stock down under any clay that is being used, otherwise the pendant may have unwanted textures or impurities on its exterior.
Always bake clays in a well-ventilated room as they can give off fumes that are nontoxic but shouldn't be inhaled for long periods of time.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
