Do not use unbaked clay on unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Start with clean hands and work surface area. Good work surfaces include wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Knead clay until soft and smooth. For best results, clean your hands in between colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces together firmly. Bake on oven-proof glass or metal surface at 275°F (130°C) for 15 minutes per ¼" (6 mm) thickness. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME. Wash hands after use. Baking should be completed by an adult. 

Begin by preheating oven to 275°F (130°C). Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay. For best results, condition all clay by running it through the clay dedicated pasta machine several passes on the widest setting. Fold the clay in half after each pass and insert the fold side into the rollers first.

Creating the Flower Petal Cane

1.                 Choose two brightly colors for your flower petals, for ours we chose a custom blended orange (color A) and blue (color B).

2.                 Create a two skinner blend sheets – Color A and white and Color B and white.

3.                 Roll each skinner blend sheet separately in to a log with white in the center.

4.                 Slice each log in quarters, lengthwise.

5.                 Shape each quarter in to long rectangles.

6.                 Stack a color A rectangle and a color B rectangle with the whites in the center.

7.                 Wrap the newly formed cane with a thin sheet of contrasting color. We used premo! 18K Gold.

8.                 Carefully reduce the rectangle cane making sure not to alter the design.

 Once the cane is reduced, pinch into petal shape

Creating the Leaf Cane

1.                 Create a skinner blend using green and white. We used a custom blend of Spanish Olive and Wasabi

2.                 Roll the skinner blend sheet into a log.

3.                 Stand the log up so the round end is facing you.  Using the Super Slicer, make three parallel cuts deep into the log. The first cut should be in the middle and then one cut on either side of that.

4.                 Roll out a thin sheet of 18K Gold. Using the Super Slicer, cut three thin strips. Place these strips into each cut in the log. Press the log back together to resemble its original shape.

5.                 Stand the log up again and cut the log in half with a diagonal slice.

6.                 Place a thin sheet of 18K Gold on both sides of the newly cut log.

7.                 Flip one half of the log and place back together so the stripes meet in the middle.

8.                 Wrap the cane in a thin sheet of 18K Gold .

9.                 Reduce the cane to desired size and pinch into a leaf shape.

To Create Focal Bead

Wrap a 1” wide piece of clay around a wooden dowel, approx .25” round. Bake according the manufactures instructions, remove immediately from rod and let cool.

Create a pattern for how big you would like your focal bead to be. We made ours about 2.125” high and 3.5” wide. Cut the clay out for the focal bead using the pattern. 

Take the rod you set aside and cover it with Liquid Sculpey. Wrap the clay you cut out for the focal bead around the clay rod making sure to line up the top seams. Smooth the center back seam with fingers. Set the bead core into top where the rod and clay meet, you will be pushing the bead core into the raw clay. Bake according the manufactures instructions and let cool.

Once the focal bead has cooled you can start creating the flower, leaves and vines. Take your flower petal cane and cut as many slice as you would like your flower to have. Do the same for the leaf cane. To form the vine take a piece of green clay and roll it into a thin snake. Use liquid Sculpey to place the vine in a winding pattern on the focal bead as the background for flower.  Place your flower on top of the vine and place your leaves on.

**If you are using the metal flower base, you would put that on after you layer your vine and leaves on.

Create the twisted rope on the top and the bottom of the focal bead by rolling out thin snakes of your chosen colors. Line the colors up next to each other and twist them together to form diagonal stripes. Roll the striped rope in to a thin snake. Cut off a piece for the top and bottom of the focal bead. Use Liquid Sculpey to apply. 

Creating a Basic Bead

Step 1 Choose the base color for your bead. Cut off a ½"x½" square from the bar of clay. Condition.

Step 2 Divide conditioned clay into three equal pieces. Form pieces into desired bead shapes -- balls, square, etc. Using the smallest size Etch 'N Pearl tool, pierce a hole through the bead with the narrow end of tool. Gently twist the tool through the bead while moving the bead up to the wide end of tool. The bead will remain on the tool while you embellish.

Step 3 Follow the instructions below for “Completing Your Bead” if you choose not to embellish your bead.

Creating a Cane Covered Bead

Step 1 Follow the instructions for “Creating a Basic Bead” using a base color of your choice.

Step 2 Use the cane you have previously made or make new ones from the flower petals and the leaves instructions above. 

Step 3 Cut thin slices from the cane and add them to your bead. Smooth edges.

Step 4 At this point you can add the heat set crystals to some of your beads.

Step 5 Follow the instructions below for “Completing Your Bead.”

Step 6 Bake according to the “Baking Instructions” below and allow bead to cool.

Completing Your Bead

When your bead is fully embellished, slide the bead cores, rounded sides out, onto both ends of the Etch 'N Pearl and insert into bead. Reshape as necessary and remove your bead. If there is excess clay in the center, once bead cores are in place, use the small concave end of the Etch 'N Pearl tool to push it out.

Baking Instructions:

While baking, avoid flat spots on your beads by placing them on a mound of polyester fiberfill or stringing them back onto your Etch 'N Pearl. You can prop the Etch 'N Pearl up by placing a ball of foil under each end. Bake on an oven-proof glass or metal surface at 275°F for 30 minutes per ¼" thickness. Do not use microwave oven. Do not exceed baking temperature or recommended baking time. All baking should be completed by an adult. Wash hands after use.

Finishing the Necklace

Step 1 Gather the cords you are using to string your necklace. Slide the focal bead onto a thicker hand dyed silk cord. Attach the other fibers to the silk cord using a knot hidden inside the focal bead. To secure the focal bead to the cord you can use a drop of fast dry glue.

Step 2 Twist cords putting different sets of cords through each metal core bead for variation and interest. Secure with glued knot if desired.

Step 3 Pull cords through bead cones, secure with crimp. If there are extra cords, glue tied cords in place under the bead cone. Attach s type closure to the back of the necklace.