Sculpey III® Color Block Pendant

Getting Started:

Please make sure your work area is covered and you are not working on an unprotected surface. We recommend working on the Sculpey® Oven Safe Work Mat, wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Uncured clay may damage unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Be sure to cover your crafting area appropriately.

Start with clean hands, unwrap and knead clay until soft and smooth, or condition by running clay though a Pasta Machine. We recommend using a designated machine for clay purposes only. When working with multiple colors, clean hands with soap and water or baby wipes (we have found that baby wipes work best) before switching colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces firmly together.  Wash hands
after use.

Baking:

Begin by preheating oven to 275 °F (130 °C). After you are done creating; for best results bake clay on an oven-proof surface such as metal, aluminum foil, an index card or the Sculpey® Oven Safe Work Mat at 275°F (130 °C) for 15 minutes per ¼" (6
mm) of thickness according to package directions. Oven safe glass or ceramic
surfaces are also acceptable for baking; however please note that the baking
times may take longer as the glass or ceramic surfaces take longer to heat
up. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE
OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME.

Sheet Redwood to a little piece about 1/8” thick and at least 3” x 3”. If using a pasta machine, sheet to the third thickest setting. This project needs to be produced in a very level way to make sure it is super smooth in the end. I advise a Pasta Machine for this approach

Cut out a 1” x 1” square from the same thickness of Redwood.
If you are using the Square Cutters as a guide for this cut, use a Clay Blade
to make sure the edges and corners are super straight and square after cutting
out the initial square shape.

Lay the Redwood square at a diamond on the Redwood sheet.

Sheet Peach and Purple through the Pasta Machine on the third thickest setting.

Use a Clay Blade to cut out a thin wedge of Peach and place it directly next to the Redwood diamond. Use the Clay Blade to snug the colors together and make sure the outer lines are perfectly straight.

Sheet Purple through the Pasta Machine on the third thickest setting.

Use the Clay Blade to cut a rectangular shape of Purple. Snug the Purple next to the Redwood diamond and up to the Peach wedge.

From the sheets of Purple, Peach, and Redwood cut out more angular shapes. Surround the Redwood diamond with more pieces.

Once you have the pattern laid out and all the edges are checked to make sure all pieces are securely snug to each other, place a piece of parchment or wax paper over the surface. Use your fingertip to burnish surfaces level through the paper. You can also go over the paper with a roller or burnishing device.

Lift the paper. Cut out a large square using the 2” Square Cutter just to get the basic size.

Use the Clay Blade to remove pieces from the perimeter at angles starting with the top and bottom.

Keep removing outer pieces at angles as desired.

Here’s a look at my finished piece ready for baking.

Bake following the baking instructions for Sculpey III®.

Allow to cool completely before handling.

For a super smooth surface, sand the piece under running water with 400 grit Wet/Dry Sandpaper. Once the piece feels as smooth as possible, repeat with 600 grit. Check for smoothness between each grit. Then move on to 800 grit, and finally 1000 grit to make the piece super smooth. After sanding, buff with heavy cotton cloth like denim.

Here’s the layout for my pendant. Decide how you would like it to hang and then drill a hole with a Dremel drill, spring drill, or pin drill. In a piece like this where the desired finish is to be super smooth, it’s important to drill the hole after baking and finishing so that the area where the hole is remains super flat.

Use flat nose pliers to assemble the pendant with a jump ring to the chain. Enjoy!