How to Make a Mermaid Melody Shell Pendant

Make a mermaid's pendant using craft supplies.

Mermaids are mythical creatures that are often emulated in kid's movies and in literature. In these movies, mermaids often wear melodic shell necklaces that symbolize their spirit. If you have a child that enjoys reading about mermaids, or watching them in movies, you can make her a customized melody shell pendant that she can wear to pretend that she is actually a mermaid. You can make a melody shell pendant using materials that can be found at any craft supply store.

Things You'll Need

• Polymer clay
• Rolling pin
• Seashell
• Clay knife
• Aluminum cookie sheet
• Small jingle bell
• Craft wire, medium
• Wire cutters
• Needle-nosed pliers
• Ribbon, 1/4 inch wide
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Roll out 8 oz. of polymer clay into a 1/4 inch thick sheet. Select any color of polymer clay that you prefer.

2. Place a scalloped seashell onto a flat surface with the concave side facing up. Press a section of the clay sheet into the concave section of the seashell. Remove the clay gently so as to not disturb the impression of the seashell. Repeat to create a second seashell impression.

3. Cut around both seashell impressions using a clay knife. Place one of the seashell impressions onto an aluminum cookie sheet with the concave side facing up.

4. Place a small jingle bell into the center of the seashell impression on the cookie sheet. Cut a 1/2 inch piece of medium weight craft wire with wire cutters, then bend it into a circle with needle-nosed pliers. Place the wire circle onto one end of the seashell that is on the cookie sheet, positioning it so that half of the wire circle is sticking above the seashell.

5. Place the second seashell impression onto the first, positioning it so that the concave side is facing down and all of the edges are lined up. Gently press around the edges of the mermaid pendant to seal the two sides together with the jingle bell inside.

6. Bake the mermaid melody pendant in a 200 degree-Fahrenheit oven for 15 minutes, then let the pendant cool for 30 minutes.

7. Cut a length of ribbon to measure 18 inches long. Thread the ribbon through the wire loop at the top of the mermaid melody pendant, then tie the ends of the ribbon together. Repeat to make as many pendants as you prefer.

Tips & Warnings

• To make the mermaid pendant more decorative, paint the pendant using acrylic paint or glitter glue.

• Polymer clay is extremely hot when you initially pull it out of the oven, and can burn skin upon contact. Allow the clay to cool for at least 30 minutes before handling it.

• Keep the hot polymer clay and cookie sheet out of the reach of children.

References

• Poly Clay; Making Molds; Sarajane Helm, 2010
• Sculpey: Polymer Clay Information