1. Easy
  2. Calendar project 6 steps

Summer sunshine

Glisten in this textured silver clay bracelet, perfect for summer. By Emma Baird, Art Clay Scotland

Emma Baird is a multiple Award Winning Artist and Senior Art Clay Instructor. She runs a wide variety of Metal Clay Courses, from those for beginners to the world recognised Certification Program. She teaches for Art Clay Scotland in Edinburgh.

Designer Tips


  • Experiment with different finishes. Try simply brushing your fired silver with a brass brush and oxidizing for a different look
  • Look out for things that can be used to give unique textures. For my bracelet I used a book mark I found when I was in Japan
  • If you can solder, then solder the jumprings connecting the segments together closed. Your bracelet will be stronger

MATERIALS

  • 20g Art Clay Silver 650
  • Cling film
  • Work mat
  • 1mm spacers
  • Roller
  • Texture mat
  • Eclipse cutter approx. 30mm long
  • Cocktail stick
  • 1mm drill bit
  • Release agent/ olive oil
  • Water & paintbrush
  • 220 grit sanding pad
  • Soft brass brush
  • Kiln or kitchen torch & firing brick
  • Liver of sulphur
  • Sterling silver jumprings
  • Sterling silver clasp
  • Gold foil
  • Agate burnisher
  • Polishing cloth
  • Wenol
  • Pliers

Step 1

Remove the clay from its package and place into some cling film. Massage it gently within the cling film to condition it. Place each 1mm spacer onto 2 playing cards and roll out your clay. Remove the playing cards and place the spacers and clay onto a prepared texture. Roll out the clay.

Step 2

Gently peel off the clay from the texture and place with the pattern up on a work mat. Use the eclipse cutter to cut 4 segments. With a cocktail stick make a pilot hole at the edges for the jumprings. Place on your rolling pin to dry, until the shape holds, then place into the oven to dry thoroughly.

Step 3

If you want to attach some gold foil to one of your segments as I have done then repeat the steps as above, with the addition of placing a small piece of card onto the texture sheet. Position the clay onto the sheet so that half of the clay picks up the texture, and half does not. Determine how large you want the non textured part for the gold to be, and use your cutter to cut the final segment.

Step 4

Sand and refine all of the parts using sponge backed sanding pads. Refine the holes for the jumprings with a 1mm drill bit. Handle the clay with care as it is very fragile at this stage. Support on fibre blanket and fire by placing into a kiln at room temperature and ramping full speed to 850C. Hold for 30 minutes. Alternatively torch fire.

Step 5

Once cool use an agate burnisher to apply the gold to the segment with the non textured part using the Keum-Boo technique. Once the gold is applied, brush all the segments with a soft brass brush. Tumble for a high shine or polish with polishing papers.

Step 6

Assemble the bracelet with the jumprings connecting each segment and add a clasp. Prepare the liver of sulphur and wash the bracelet in a solution of baking powder and water. Rinse and immerse in the solution. Allow it to go black, remove and rinse. Once dry, polish up with a polishing cloth and wenol.

Extra Project

To make the earrings simply repeat step 1, use the cutter to make two shapes and place only one pilot hole in them. I chose to keep the earrings flat. When dry refine the hole with a 1mm drill bit and fire and refine as in steps 4 and 5.

Resources:

All materials available from www.artclayscotland.com