Premo! Golden Hinged Clay Bead Bracelet

Getting StartedPolymer clay may stain. CLAY MAY DAMAGE UNPROTECTED FURNITURE OR FINISHED SURFACES. DO NOT USE polymer clay on unprotected surfaces. We recommend working on the Sculpey clay mat, wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Start with clean hands and work surface area. 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 30 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 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.

Roll out a rectangle of Red, Translucent, Black and Gold clay a little larger than 3” x 2”. Use the #3 setting for red and gold, #6 setting for black, #7 setting for translucent.

Apply the gold leaf to the red clay by burnishing the leaf to the clay then peeling away the backing. Follow the package instructions. Cover the gold leaf with the thin translucent clay.

Cover the translucent clay with the gold, then the black rectangle.

Cut the four clay layers in half and stack one on top of the other.

To blend the colors:Cut the stack in half and roll each into a thick tube shape in your hands.

Twist the tube four times

Flatten the tube with your hands and feed it into the conditioning machine on #1 setting

Rotate the clay 90 degrees, roll it into a tube again, twist, flatten, then feed it into the machine on #1 setting. Fold it in half once and feed the fold into the machine on #3 setting . Continue folding and feeding if you are not satisfied with the color blend. Keep in mind too much blending will make the colors muddy.

Use a soft brush to apply baby powder to your rubber stamp or other texture sheet. Press the stamp all over the clay to transfer the texture.

Use the 1” x 1.50” cutter to create the bead shapes in both the red and the blended clay. You will need eight blended beads but cutting extras will give you added choices for color placement.

Tape a ruler to your work surface so it doesn’t move. Line up the tops of the red beads to the bottom of the ruler. With the hinge side up, arrange the gold metal pieces. Keep adding hinges and beads until you have eight beads in the row.

Cut two scraps of the blended clay to measure .75 x 1”. Thread the clay strips through the wide openings in the clasps. Fold the strips in half then place them on the end beads in the row of eight. Press on them to make the straight edge flush with the depth of the hinge. Be sure one clasp end cap is facing up and one is facing down as in this photo.

Before attaching the blended beads in step 15, apply Translucent Liquid Sculpey to the outer edges of the hinges to bond the hinges to the clay and prevent them from slipping out after baking.

Choose two blended beads to be positioned in the middle of the bracelet. Press them onto the red beads and hinges then add the other blended beads. Be sure the position of the clay does not interfere with the operation of the hinge. Use a credit card edge to flatten the clay against the vertical edge of the hinge.

Align a ruler above and one below the beads and push them together slightly to even all the edges.

Bake the bracelet right side up on batting or parchment paper as directed above. Hinges will be very hot. Allow the project to cool completely before handling.