How to Make Your Own Cones for Jewelry

Create brightly colored end cones with polymer clay.

Jewelry end cones serve a variety of purposes in finishing jewelry projects. Bring together multistrand necklaces and bracelets or hand decorative elements through them for a pair of earrings. Whatever your purpose for jewelry cones, making your own saves you money and gives you creative control over the size, color and style of your end cones. One simple and inexpensive way to make your own jewelry cones is with polymer clay. It comes in a wide array of colors and can be easily molded into any cone shape you need.

Things You'll Need

• Pasta roller
• Polymer clay
• Craft knife
• Needle
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• 400 grit sandpaper
• 600 grit sandpaper
• Cloth

Instructions

1. Break off a small chunk of clay and run it through your clay-dedicated pasta roller several times, gradually lowering the setting as you go. Repeat until you have enough clay to form the number of end cones you need. Knead the clay in your hands until it is soft and easy to work with.

2. Pinch off a small ball of clay and form it into a cone shape a bit smaller than the size you want your finished end cones. Cut out the excess clay from the inside of the cone with a craft knife and smooth any rough edges with your fingers.

3. Insert a stiff needle into the top of your cone to form a hole. Move the needle in a circular motion to widen the hole as necessary.

4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the polymer clay cones upright on the paper. Preheat your oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit, and bake your clay cones according to the manufacturer's instructions, usually 15 minutes for every quarter inch of thickness.

5. Remove your clay from the oven and cool to room temperature. Sand your polymer clay cones under running water for a shiny finish. Start with 400 grit sandpaper and finish with 600 grit. Rub the piece to a shine with a soft piece of cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with metallic clays for a faux metal finish.

• Always bake polymer clay in a well-ventilated room.

• Never use your clay pasta roller for food preparation.

References

• Stampington & Company: Polymer Clay Basics
• The Polymer Clay Spot: FAQ Finishing