Introduction and Materials
Introduction and Materials
Creating texture is one of the techniques I enjoy best about metal clay because it can be so simple to do. I am always on the lookout for interesting elements that I can use for this, and lace is one of my favorites since I am also a fiber lover as well. You just need a little scrap of lace and the usual metal clay supplies to make this sweet heart lace-textured pendant.
To make this Copper Clay Lace Heart Pendant, you will need the following:
Kiln (preferably a programmable one)
1 - 4 inch metal pan with lid
1 Metal clay removal fork
Activated carbon granules
Copper Clay
Olive oil
8 playing cards
Metal clay hand tools and carving tools such as a roller and work surface
Craft knife
35mm Paper heart-shaped template
Burnishing brush
Polisher (such as a polishing kit or magnetic polisher)
Fine Sandpaper
Jeweler's file
Roll and Texture Copper Clay
1. With 4 playing cards stacked on either side of your clay, roll out the clay.
2. Then place the lace scrap over the clay, and roll over the lace and clay in order to imprint the lace into the clay.
Textured Copper Clay
3. Examine your textured clay. You don't need a ton of pressure for rolling the lace into the clay, but you want to make sure you have a good even rolling motion going so you get the affect you want. Obviously, if you think it isn't deep enough, just pick up the clay, roll it into a ball, and start over until you like what you see.
Clay Heart Template
4. Position the heart template onto the clay. You may have to move it around a little to determine how you want the pattern to be placed on your heart.
Cut Clay Heart
5. Using a craft knife, cut around the heart template.
6. Use any type of clay carving tool (a toothpick will work in a pinch) to cut a small hole at the top of the heart, and place the clay heart on a non-stick surface and allow to dry before continuing.
Firing Copper Clay
6. Once the copper clay is completely dry, check the piece and clean up areas using fine sandpaper. Then fire it using my How to Fire Copper Clay instructions.
7. After firing, use a burnishing brush and a little water to clean up the heart pendant.
8. File any rough areas around the pendant. On my heart, the pointed part of the heart was pretty sharp, so I filed that area a fair amount.
9. Though you could leave your copper heart just like it is after burnishing, I wanted to get a higher polish on mine, so I used a magnetic polisher to polish mine to a pretty high shine.
At this stage, you could also consider adding patina to it. It depends on the finished look you prefer.
Now you can add this to a simple chain or use it as a focal piece for a necklace design such as my Hip Hemp, Bamboo Beads and Copper Heart Necklace.
Creating texture is one of the techniques I enjoy best about metal clay because it can be so simple to do. I am always on the lookout for interesting elements that I can use for this, and lace is one of my favorites since I am also a fiber lover as well. You just need a little scrap of lace and the usual metal clay supplies to make this sweet heart lace-textured pendant.
To make this Copper Clay Lace Heart Pendant, you will need the following:
Kiln (preferably a programmable one)
1 - 4 inch metal pan with lid
1 Metal clay removal fork
Activated carbon granules
Copper Clay
Olive oil
8 playing cards
Metal clay hand tools and carving tools such as a roller and work surface
Craft knife
35mm Paper heart-shaped template
Burnishing brush
Polisher (such as a polishing kit or magnetic polisher)
Fine Sandpaper
Jeweler's file
Roll and Texture Copper Clay
1. With 4 playing cards stacked on either side of your clay, roll out the clay.
2. Then place the lace scrap over the clay, and roll over the lace and clay in order to imprint the lace into the clay.
Textured Copper Clay
3. Examine your textured clay. You don't need a ton of pressure for rolling the lace into the clay, but you want to make sure you have a good even rolling motion going so you get the affect you want. Obviously, if you think it isn't deep enough, just pick up the clay, roll it into a ball, and start over until you like what you see.
Clay Heart Template
4. Position the heart template onto the clay. You may have to move it around a little to determine how you want the pattern to be placed on your heart.
Cut Clay Heart
5. Using a craft knife, cut around the heart template.
6. Use any type of clay carving tool (a toothpick will work in a pinch) to cut a small hole at the top of the heart, and place the clay heart on a non-stick surface and allow to dry before continuing.
Firing Copper Clay
6. Once the copper clay is completely dry, check the piece and clean up areas using fine sandpaper. Then fire it using my How to Fire Copper Clay instructions.
7. After firing, use a burnishing brush and a little water to clean up the heart pendant.
8. File any rough areas around the pendant. On my heart, the pointed part of the heart was pretty sharp, so I filed that area a fair amount.
9. Though you could leave your copper heart just like it is after burnishing, I wanted to get a higher polish on mine, so I used a magnetic polisher to polish mine to a pretty high shine.
At this stage, you could also consider adding patina to it. It depends on the finished look you prefer.
Now you can add this to a simple chain or use it as a focal piece for a necklace design such as my Hip Hemp, Bamboo Beads and Copper Heart Necklace.
Source...