Polymer Clay Jewelry Guide

Polymer clay's moldability allows you to create jewelry with freedom — the only limit is your imagination. Its lightweight yet durable nature and bold and elegant appeal make it perfect for many jewelry types. 

If you're interested in making jewelry with polymer clay, read on for the top tips to create vibrant pieces. 

How to Make Jewelry With Polymer Clay

Polymer clays come in many exciting shades, from elegant metallics and glitters to vibrant neons and pastels, so you can make jewelry to suit different tastes. Use this guide to make polymer clay jewelry. 

Polymer Clay Beads

Beads are a core part of many jewelry pieces, from necklaces and bracelets to earrings and rings. If you master the art of bead making, you can create professional-looking pieces like this veined bead bracelet that's perfect for gifting or selling. 

Learn how to make beads with polymer clay below: 

• Choose the right clay: It's important to choose clay that's easy to mold and bakes to a durable and vibrant finish for beautiful pieces. Sculpey Premo™ and Sculpey Soufflé are the best clay brands for jewelry making. Sculpey Premo™ has exceptional strength and flexibility, and Sculpey Soufflé is incredibly lightweight with a unique suede-like finish.
• Gather your materials and tools: The Sculpey Tools^™ Bead Making Kit is a must-have for anyone wanting to easily create beautiful beads. It includes crucial tools like a baking cushion, circle cutter and clay roller, enabling you to make consistently flawless beads. You'll also need other standard polymer clay tools, like a conditioning machine and ceramic tiles.
• Size and cut bead sections: For a more harmonious and clean final product, it's important to create uniform beads. To achieve this, roll a clay log and use a ruler to cut equal-length slices. Remember to add bead holes with a toothpick or clay tool. 
• Add decorative touches: You can choose to add decorative touches either before or after baking. If you do it before, you can add texture like wood grain, create a marble look by blending several clay colors or incorporate other patterns into the beads. After baking, you can paint over the beads to add more depth or unique designs. 
• Bake your beads: Place the beads on a bead baking rack or something that suspends them so they hold their shape. Most Sculpey clays have similar baking times, but be sure to read the instructions on the packaging for precise baking temperatures. Generally, you'll need to bake the beads for 15 to 30 minutes per ¼ inch of thickness. 

Polymer Clay Earrings

Polymer clay earrings are a popular jewelry type because the options for earring shape, color, design and size are endless. Other materials, like metals, can be heavy and restrictive. 

Polymer clay allows you to create stunning pieces that are lightweight and comfortable, like these Sedona and Earth crystal earrings that look luxurious and hefty but are actually super light thanks to the lightweight nature of Sculpey Soufflé™. 

Here's how to make clay earrings step by step: 

1. Choose the right clay for your earring type: Different clay options offer unique finishes. For example, Sculpey Premo^™ clay products are strong and flexible and come in specialized finishes like Granite and Metallic. Sculpey Soufflé^™ provides a lightweight, suede-like finish, while Liquid Sculpey is flexible once baked. 
2. Shape your pieces: Once you've chosen and conditioned your clay, shape your pieces according to the earring design you want. The Sculpey Tools^™ Clay Tool Starter Set is excellent for making basic earring components. You can roll an even slab and use the tools to cut into your desired earring shapes. 
3. Add holes: Use a needle tool or toothpick to make a hole in the earring where necessary. It's best to insert the eye pins before baking because trying to drill them in afterward risks cracks. 
4. Prevent flat spots: If you're making beaded earrings, you need to set them up correctly before baking to prevent flat spots. The Sculpey Tools^™ Bead Baking Rack allows you to bake perfectly shaped, even beads with no flat bottoms. All you have to do is skewer them and bake. 
5. Bake: Baking your polymer clay is important to harden it. Sculpey clays can be baked in your home oven, and you can leave them out until you're ready to bake your creations. Ensure you preheat your oven before baking and always use an oven thermometer. 

5 Tips for Working With Polymer Clay When Making Jewelry 

Polymer clay is a versatile material, ideal for making jewelry. To ensure your creations match your vision, consider this list of tips to help you create stunning earrings, beads, pendants and any other jewelry you can think of:

1. Prepare your workstation: Working with polymer clay can make your hands and anything you work on sticky. To avoid that and keep your polymer clay uncontaminated, it's ideal to use a plastic palette like the Sculpey^® Non Skid Work Mat or a glass, ceramic or laminate hardwood surface. If your work surface has a texture, it will imprint on your polymer clay.
2. Condition the clay before use: When first unpacking your polymer clay, it may be difficult to work with. Knead it with your hands to soften it or run it through the Sculpey Tools^™ Clay Conditioning Machine, which makes it easier to cut into smaller slabs.
3. Avoid water: Polymer clay is oil-based, meaning it can't be thinned with water. If it makes contact with moisture, it will become brittle and less malleable, so keep water away from your polymer clay. 
4. Put glitter in the clay before baking: If you want to create a glittering effect in your polymer clay jewelry, simply mix some glitter in while kneading and shaping it. Doing this allows the glitter to spread evenly throughout the piece without you needing to glue or paint it on after it's baked. You can also dip specific sections of your jewelry into the glitter.
5. Use rubbing alcohol to remove your fingerprints from the clay: Just like textures from a cutting board can imprint on your polymer clay, so too can your fingerprints when pressing or kneading it. Before baking, use isopropyl rubbing alcohol on a paper towel or cotton tip to help smooth out the surface and remove any unwanted textures left behind.

Frequently Asked Questions About Polymer Clay Jewelry

Explore the following commonly asked questions about mastering the art of polymer clay jewelry.

Is Sculpey Premo™ or Sculpey Soufflé™ Better for Making Jewelry?

Both Sculpey Premo™ and Sculpey Soufflé^™ clay products are great options for jewelry making. The difference lies in the feel and weight. 

Sculpey Premo^™ creates strong, professional-quality jewelry, while Sculpey Soufflé^™ delivers a softer, more lightweight feel. 

How to Make Clay Earrings for Beginners

To make clay earrings as a beginner, start by gathering all the tools you'll need, such as knives, pliers, a work mat and a rolling pin. Use tools like a knife, needle or toothpick to shape and create designs with the clay. 

Once you've created the desired earring, place it on parchment paper in your oven and bake it according to the instructions on the packaging. Finally, allow it to cool before painting or attaching hooks.

What Is Needed to Make Polymer Clay Jewelry?

To make polymer clay jewelry, you need polymer clay, cookie cutters, a rolling pin, eye pins, earring hooks, string or metal thread and clay tools. You'll also want a smooth surface to work on, such as plastic, glass or ceramic.

Create Jewelry the Way You Want With Sculpey Polymer Clay

Whether you're making polymer clay beads or just creating random pieces for fun, Sculpey has all the products and crafting guidance you could need. We have the best polymer clay on the market — a top pick among crafters and artists alike. 

With an unbeatable color range and products offering different levels of strength, flexibility and durability, we are a one-stop shop for all things polymer clay. 

Check out our how-to page for inspiration for your next project, or bring your imagination to life with our vibrant product range of polymer clays and tools.