How to Make Silver Metal Clay Pendant

Learn the basics for working with metal clay. Some tools and suggestions will be made, but there are no limits to the possibilities of what can be done.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• metal clay lump
• deck of cards
• olive oil
• plastic sheet (page protector works)
• exacto knife (or something equivalent)
• texture plate
• straw

1. Prepare your work space. Lay out your page protector or plastic sheet- you will need something that will lay on both sides of the clay.
   
   Apply a thin layer of olive oil to everything that will come in contact with the clay; it is very sticky. This should include plastic page protector, your hands, etc.

2. Make two stacks of 3 cards each a few inches apart inbetween the page protector. This will regulate the uniform width of the clay.

3. Place the clay inbetween the stacks of cards and close the top sheet of the page protector.

4. 
    

   Take PVC pipe (or alternative rolling untensil) and roll on top of the page protector over the clay to flatten it out.

5. Lift top sheet of page protector and move playing cards.

6. Lay the texture plate or texture patter upside down on top of the clay and lay the page protector back over the top of the texture plate. *Don't FORGET to put a thin layer of olive oil on the texture pattern.

7. Flip the entire page protector over so the texture plate is now face up with the clay on top.

8. Lift the top layer of the page protector back up and place 2 playing cards on each side of the clay. (This will regulate that the texture only goes into the clay "1 card" thick.)

9. Life the top layer of the page protector, remove the 2 cards from each side, take the texture plate off the page protector and turn it over to slowly peel the clay off the texture and place face up on the page protector.

10. 
     

    Cut out the shape you desire with the cookie cutter or cutting utensil.

11. Leave the pendant on the page protector and use a straw (I use a coffee stirrer) to poke a hole where you desire on the pendant.

12. 
     

    Place the pendant on a hot plate (I use a candle warmer) for 20 minutes to allow it to dry.

13. 
     

    Once Dry place the pendant on the a fire safe surface. Start the torch and point it toward the pendant. The clay will eventually turn a pinkish-peach color. Maintain that color for about 10 minutes (this depends on the type of clay you use). Once done drop the piece in water to cool it off.

14. 
     

    Brush the chalky residue off with the steal brush, and you have your silver pendant!

Tips & Warnings

• There are different finishing techniques that can be found on various metla clay websites.
• The clay is very fragile until it is completely fired, so handle it carefully.
• The average metal clay shrinks 7-10%