Jewelry Lovers

Making badges and brooches out of clay is slightly more difficult than the basic techniques used for making beads. However, by using simple modelling techniques anything from strikingly modern designs to more traditionally elegant pieces can be made.

To make the Jewelry Badges

First find your motif. For first projects it is better to stick to simple shapes such as squares and ovals as the more irregular shapes are likely to have a weak point.

Take as much modelling clay as you require and roll it out, using a rolling pin or a clean bottle, to about 6mm (tin) thick. Don’t make it thinner or it is likely to curl when drying or chip afterwards. Cut out the shape desired.

Smooth the surface with a wet finger or a damp cloth. Any additional details should be added at this point as they will adhere while drying and no glue will be needed.

If the clay begins to harden before you have finished modelling, simply moisten it with water. If you have to interrupt your work, it will remain malleable if you wrap a damp cloth around the clay or place it in a plastic bag.

Put the finished badge in a warm place to dry. Don’t let it dry too quickly as it will then be very fragile and may warp. Turn several times’ during drying. The badge is completely dry when it goes lighter in tone and no longer feels soft. At this stage use an emery board to smooth away lumps and bumps around the edges. Do this very gently.

Now apply your colours. Poster paints are recommended as they give better cover and stronger colour. Paint the edges of the badge first, carrying the colour over to the back.

Cut a piece of felt to the shape of the badge. Trim slightly. Cut two slits in the felt opposite each other so that the back of a safety pin can be slotted into the felt. Cover the back of the badge with adhesive and put the felt and pin onto the badge.

When the glue has dried, hold the badge by the pin and apply water colour varnish to the painted surface. Protect the badge from dust until the varnish has dried. Apply a second coat when the first is completely dry.

The basic idea of making brooches from clay is almost endless in its variety. To achieve an unusual texture you may like to press tiny beads or silver balls (the kind used for decorating cakes) onto the surface of the clay while it is still soft. When the clay has hardened, paint around them carefully or directly over them as desired. For a glamorous effect, add a touch of glitter with a special gold or silver finish. This should be applied after first applying a coat of transparent varnish and allowing it to dry.

The farmyard brooches given below are yet another way of making more complex designs and again this can be developed by taking a favourite character in a children’s cartoon strip and using this as a template, or even designing your own motif.

Farmyard Jewelry Brooches

Trace around each shape given opposite and transfer the outlines of the shapes to the card. Cut out each card to make a template. For each shape, take a small piece of clay and roll it out evenly until it is about 6mm (1/4in) thick. Place the card template on top of the clay and with the fine blade of a small knife cut out the shape.

You may prefer to prick out the shape with a needle, making a close dotted line. The small details on the sheep and the cow will have to be cut out this way as they are too small to cut out with a knife. Once the shape has been cut out, smooth the rough edges with a wet finger. Mark any details, like the legs in the grass, with the blunt end of the needle.

Leave the pieces to dry. They must be kept flat and left to dry out thoroughly and slowly, it will be best if you can leave them overnight. Keep checking on the shapes every few hours to see that they do not warp. If the edges seem to be curling up, gently press them flat.

Details When you have cut out the basic sheep in clay, roll out tiny balls of clay between your finger and thumb. Roughen the surface of the sheep with your fingernails or the needle and gently moisten it. Press the tiny balls of clay onto the body until it is completely covered.

When the clay is completely dry it is ready to paint and varnish.

The mounts Try and get mounts that will cover a fairly large area on the back of each shape. The clay shapes are quite large and brittle so they will need the maximum amount of support from the mount. It would be a good idea to take a tracing of each brooch with you when you go to buy the mounts so you can choose the best mount for each one.

An epoxy resin consisting of two tubes of adhesive and a fixant, which have to be mixed together, is the best type of glue to use for attaching the shapes to the mounts. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for mixing the glue and the length of time needed for the glue to completely dry before wearing the brooches.

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Jewelry made of Clay: Beautiful Badges and Brooches