Sculpey Soufflé™ Nordic Print Earrings

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 30 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 Spiced Rum through the pasta machine to the fourth thickest setting or to 1/16” thickness with Clay Roller.

With hand pressure, burnish the silk screen, shiny side down, to the surface of the Spiced Rum sheet. Make sure there are no trapped air bubbles by rolling over it with the Clay Roller.

Squirt a bead of ivory acrylic paint across the top of the screen.

Use a squeegee to drag the paint evenly down the length of the screen. You can see here that I am only using a portion of the clay and screen since I’m only making one pair of earrings.

While the paint is wet, carefully peel back the screen.
Immediately place the screen and the squeegee in a basin of water to hold for later thorough cleaning.

Allow the paint to dry on the surface of the clay completely.

Cut two printed shapes and two solid shapes. The solid shapes will be the backs of the earrings. However, you can use printed shapes for the backs if you prefer.

Position a 2” eye pin on each back with the eye just even with the bottom of the shape and still clearly exposed.

Sandwich the eye pins in place with the screen printed tops.
Use gentle fingertip pressure to make sure the fronts and backs are stuck together while holding the eye pins in place.

Trim any excess clay from the top edges as needed with the Clay Blade.

Bake the clay pieces following the baking instructions for Sculpey Soufflé™. Allow to cool completely before finishing.

Here is the layout for the earrings. The 1” head pins have been strung each with stone beads and gold seed beads as shown.

Carefully curl an eye in the tails of the eye pins that are sandwiched inside the clay with round nose pliers. Make the curl snug to the top of the clay.

Carefully curl eyes at the end of each of the beaded head pins using round nose pliers.

Use flat nose pliers to open and close the eyes on the ear wires attaching them to the newly formed eye at the top of each piece.

Use flat nose pliers to open and close the 4 mm jump rings to attach the beaded strands to the clay pieces as shown.