Materials:

• Premo® polymer clay (2 oz black #5042 )
• Pearl-Ex® powders- your choice of colors- golds look very nice
• Rubber stamp (sun mask by Stamp Francisco #30-078)
• Biodegradable packing peanuts
• Waxed linen thread
• Assorted beads
• Burnt Umber acrylic paint for antiquing (alternative to Pearl-Ex® when using light colored clays as in picture)
• Pasta Machine or Acrylic Brayer or roller
• Craft knife or Sculpey Super Slicer
• Needle tool or skewer
• Mister bottle filled with water

Directions:

• Condition clay by rolling and twisting it in your hands, or running it through pasta machine, until the clay is soft and pliable.

• Use roller or pasta machine to roll out a sheet of clay 1/8 inch thick (#3 setting on Atlas pasta machine).

• Mist rubber stamp lightly with water. With rubber stamp lying on work surface face up, press sheet of clay firmly onto rubber stamp. The water will act as a releasing agent, preventing the clay from sticking to the stamp.

• Remove clay and trim around image. With soft brush or fingers, lightly apply selected colors of Pearl-Ex® powders to raised areas of image to highlight them.

• Roll remaining clay into another sheet the same thickness as the first.

• Place one or two biodegradable peanuts on the surface of the clay, then place the trimmed mask image on the peanuts and shape it, pressing lightly to seal the image to the underlying sheet of clay along the sides and bottom.

• Trim backing sheet to size. Press along sides and bottom of pieces to smooth and reinforce seal between front and back, leaving the top edge open. (the peanuts will help the piece keep its shape)

• Make holes for stringing later by piercing with a needle tool, and bake at 275 degrees for thirty minutes. Allow to cool.

• Once cool, wipe thoroughly with a soft cloth to remove loose powder, then rinse piece in water to dissolve peanuts.

NOTE: If you have used light colored clay and wish to antique the mask, rub burnt umber acrylic paint onto the mask, taking care to get it into the impressed design areas. Then, wipe lightly with a damp paper towel, removing most of the paint, leaving a stained, antiqued effect.

• String onto waxed linen, adding other beads as desired to finish the necklace.

NOTE: If desired, you may seal your piece with Sculpey Glaze or Future floor polish. However, I have found that this is not absolutely necessary. Mica powders like Pearl-Ex stick very well to raw clay, and unless the piece is going to receive a lot of handling, the powders will not wear off easily.