Elegant Hollow Bead Necklace

Laura Griffin

In the age of “being green”, many of us are replacing our old incandescent light bulbs with new energy friendly florescent ones. What to do with all those old light bulbs? Well – don’t throw them out yet! This project shows how you can give those light bulbs new life as jewelry molds. It also mixes two great crafts: polymer clay and rubber stamping. Large background stamps, like the geometrical one used in this project work great to create patterns in clay. Swarovski flat-back crystals in coordinating colors add the perfect finish to these custom pendants. Make one or make a dozen to give your friends, and have fun claying!

Getting Started

Preheat oven to 275 °F. Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay. Condition all clay by kneading until it’s soft and smooth or running it through the Clay Conditioning Machine for several passes on the widest setting. Fold the clay in half after each pass and insert the fold side into the rollers first.

Step 1

Take incandescent light bulb and embed end into lump of scrap polymer clay so it will stand upright.

Step 2

Bake in oven according to manufacturer's instructions to create your own jewelry mold. Remove from oven and cool.

Step 3

Condition ½ a bar of Premo! Sculpey Gold.

Step 4

Roll into sheet using fourth largest setting on the Clay Conditioning Machine. An Acrylic Roller may be used as an alternative to the Clay Conditioning machine.

Step 5

Mist rubber stamp with water and stamp into gold sheet pressing down firmly to ensure even deep impression.

Step 6

Use 1 1/2" – 2” circle cutter and cut out two circles from sheet.

Step 7

Place two circles on the sides of light bulb, gently pushing edges to lie flat against light bulb.

Step 8

On one of the two circles, apply nine to ten Swarovski flat-backed crystals to intersections of stamped pattern. Helpful Hint: Use tweezers to gently press crystals down into clay to secure before baking.

Step 9

Bake in oven according to manufacturer's instructions (30 minutes at 275 °F).

Step 10

While cooling, pop both domed pieces off of light bulb.

Step 11

Sand edges flat against a drywall sanding screen (Helpful hint: use rubber thumbs on thumb and forefinger to better hold beads while sanding).

Step 12

Use Super Glue Gel on domed edges to form hollow bead.

Step 13

Add coat of Glossy Glaze varnish glaze to one side of bead surface with soft brush. Allow to dry, then repeat on other side.

Step 14

Once glaze is dry, use small drill bit to drill holes through each side of bead, and string onto necklace. Helpful Hint: create your own hand-drill by placing a small drill bit into a piece of scrap clay and baking to make your own handle)

Alternatives

Creating the bead in other colors invites the use of Antiquing Medium. If desired, brush Warm White Antiquing Medium onto the surface of bead ensuring paint gets in crevices. Wipe off excess with damp paper towel.