Sculpey Clay Projects - Twisted Bead Long Necklace

Twisted Bead Long Necklace
Design by Ann Mitchell and Karen Mitchell

Twisted beads in ocean colors accented with glass and stone create this elegant long necklace.

Materials and Tools:

2 oz. block Premo: Translucent
Pinch of Premo in each color: Blue Pearl, Green Pearl
1 package assorted color 4mm smooth glass beads
1 strand green stone chips
1 package 6mm x 8 mm turquoise triangular glass beads
32" bead stringing wire
2 silver tone crimp tubes
12mm silver tone lobster clasp
2 silver tone 1/4" jump rings
Silver tone headpins, 2" long
4" x 6" card
Needle nose pliers
Wire clippers
Crimp pliers (optional)
Sculpey Super Slicer
Work Surface
Toaster or Convection oven
Baking tray
Oven thermometer
Oven mitts

Instructions:

Prepare clay: Knead translucent clay until pliable. Divide the clay in half. To 1/2 of the translucent clay, add a small pinch of blue pearl clay, and mix it in thoroughly. More blue can be added slowly as desired, very little is needed to tint the translucent. Add a small pinch of green pearl clay to the other 1/2 of the translucent clay and mix it in thoroughly.

Create twisted beads: Roll the blue clay into a 1/4" cylinder. Roll the green clay into a 1/4" cylinder.

Twist the green and blue cylinders together into a tight twist that is 5/16" thick (you may need to do this in smaller amounts so the cylinders do not get too long to handle).

Cut 3/4" long twisted tube beads. You will need 15 beads for this necklace.

Insert an eye pin through the center of each tube bead. Accordion pleat your 4" x 6" card in 1/2" increments lengthwise. Place the tube beads in the pleats of the card on top of the baking tray. Bake the beads for 20 minutes at 275 degrees (F) for 20 minutes and allow them to cool.

String necklace: Take your 32" piece of beading wire and slide a crimp tube onto one end. Loop the wire through a closed jump ring, and thread back through the crimp tube leaving an extra 1/2" beyond the tube. Using crimp or regular pliers, crimp the tube over the wire. Trim off excess short wire end.

String beads onto the wire in the following order: (2) 4mm glass beads, (1) stone chip, (1) triangular turquoise bead, (1) stone chip bead, (2) 4mm glass beads, (1) twisted clay tube bead. Repeat this pattern 14 more times. Finish the pattern with: (2) 4mm glass beads, (1) stone chip, (1) triangular turquoise bead, (1) stone chip bead, (2) 4mm glass beads.

Add clasp: Slide a crimp tube over the wire after the last glass bead, pulling in any gaps in the beads so the beads sit close together on the strand. Loop a jump ring through the lobster clasp and close the gap in the jump ring. Thread the wire through the jump ring on the clasp, and back through the crimp tube. Crimp the tube shut, and trim off excess wire.

The necklace is complete!