Floral Lace Earrings and Pendant Set

Materials:

2 oz. blocks of polymer clay
lace floral cane: 1 translucent and 1 white
green sheer flower cane: 1 green, 1 white and 2 translucent
white flower cane: 1 white, 1 translucent, 1 brown
background color: 1 glow-in-the-dark
pasta machine
tissue or clay blade
ruler
needle tool
thin knitting needle
smooth work surface (Plexiglas, marble or tile)
dental floss container (or jewelry box lid)
baking surface, oven and oven thermometer
small plastic bowl (for ice bath)
Kemper or clay cutters (round or square)
tumbler - optional
400-, 600-, 800-, 1000-grit sandpaper
gloss (Fimo gloss or Varathane) and soft natural hairbrush
toothpicks and foam block
headpins
pair ear wires
crystals or beads
spacers
bail
neck chain
jewelry pliers (cutter, round and flat)

Steps:

Lace Floral Cane

1. Prepare, knead and soften each package of clay for the lace floral cane (material list). Put a package of white clay through the pasta machine on the thickest setting. Make a section of white clay about 3" x 5" to 6" long and set aside. Repeat for the translucent clay. Individually put these through pasta machine on setting #3 and set aside. Note: Avoid running the translucent clay through the pasta machine too many times as it causes air bubbles.

• Reduce this petal and cut into six equal sections.
• Pinch the center of the bottom of each of the six petals to form a teardrop shape.
• Roll a small portion of white clay for a snake (log) to place in the center of the lace flower.
• Put all the petals together (small points inward), inserting the center small white snake (log), making sure the center snake fits (figure B) and lightly tighten up flower cane.

4. Packing and reducing the cane:

• Wrap the entire lace flower with a sheet of translucent clay on setting #4 on the pasta machine.
• Use a needle tool to press into each seam to fill in the open gaps.
• Roll a translucent snake and cut into quarters and insert into larger gaps on the flower.
• With a clay blade slice away extra clay and make another snake to finish filling in the other two large gaps.
• Using remaining translucent clay on setting #4 in pasta machine, wrap the outside of the lace flower cane with one sheet of clay.
• Slice away extra and seam together.
• Reduce cane to different sizes and put in freezer.

Sheer Green Floral Cane

1. Prepare, knead and soften each package of sheer green floral clay unit (material list). Blend the clay:

• Mix a small pinch of the green clay with one package of the translucent (use half a package of translucent if you want to make a smaller cane or two different sheer floral canes).
• Mix thoroughly until your have achieved the desired color (will be sheer when baked if a small portion of opaque color is used).
• Roll this into a large thick snake about 3 to 4 inches long.

• Reduce this petal and cut into six equal sections.
• Prepare the white for the center.
• Pinch or shape each of the six petals and put together, inserting the white center before you tighten the cane a little.
• Press indentations along the outer edges with a needle tool of the cane a couple times on each petal if you want to make the edges appear ruffled.

4. Follow step #4 in Lace Cane, packing and reducing the cane (figure D).