How to Make a Statement Pendant with Apoxie Clay & SilverSilk
Recently, I had the pleasure of co-hosting a mini class for the Great Bead Extravaganza titled ‘Two Fools & Some Tools’, alongside Christi Friesen. Christi is an award-winning polymer clay artist and expert and most definitely a wonderful human being. And well, basically, Christi helped us learn how to use Apoxie clay, specifically alongside the SilverSilk Capture Chain.
Now, unless you’re new, you’ll know that SilverSilk has five main types of chain – Pearlesque chain, Capture chain, Flat Mesh, Hollow Mesh, and Pearlesque Hollow Mesh. Capture and Pearlesque chains are made by knitting permanently enameled copper wire over a plated ball chain. The permanent enameling prevents the wire color from chipping off or fading. And honestly, the only reason you shouldn’t use SilverSilk chains is if you are allergic to metal, specifically copper- otherwise, the chains are very versatile and can be used in virtually any design piece.
And the statement piece that we’ll be working on today shows just how magical SilverSilk can be, especially when you combine it with other materials and elements. The design in question is a quick, simple, and sophisticated necklace without a clasp- because that’s the easiest kind of necklace, of course!
Recommended Tools & Materials
So, today’s project will be a gorgeous SilverSilk chain with Apoxie clay embedded directly around it. And, of course, different beads and crystals jammed into it.
Now, to achieve this, we’ll be needing the following things:
A silicone or non-stick mat
Prepare the Apoxie Clay
First things first, you need a silicone or non-stick mat to work with epoxy clay because it's glue, and you obviously don’t want it sticking all over the place. In your Apoxie clay, you'll have two clay boxes, let’s call them A and B. You need to take both of these in equal parts, and you'll get a sort of putty that will slowly but surely transform into a rock-hard solid. You can use plastic spoons to scoop out the clay but make sure you have two spoons for the two clays because you don’t want to contaminate them. As for the portions, they don’t have to be weighed or anything, but you should always take a little more than you think you need. A little extra bit is always better than not having enough.
When you mix up Apoxie clay A and B, they’re going to undergo a chemical reaction that gradually turns them into rock solid. So, it’s a good idea to wear gloves at this point to avoid getting any chemical residues on your hand. This is especially important if you’re sensitive to resin, in which case, you’ll want to ensure proper ventilation and to use a face mask to protect yourself. However, the Apoxie is generally low odor, non-toxic and non-hazardous, so it shouldn't be a problem for most of us. Hence, once you're done mixing, you can just take off your gloves and use wet wipes to clean your fingers as you go.
Shape Your Pendant
Before you start, know that you have roughly one to one and a half-hour before the clay starts solidifying, so you need to wind up your work within that timeframe. Take apart the excess bit of clay that you took out as a backup, and set it aside. If you don’t use it to make any repairs or anything, you can also incorporate it into your design later. Divide your clay ball into two and shape it however you want. You can make an irregular oval like Christi, a crescent-like me, or just any other shape you want- maybe even just an irregular blob. Then you stick both ends of your chain on the shape. I used Pearlesque chain, but Christi used Capture chain, so she pulled some of the ball chain outside the knitted wire for it to directly stick to the cement (clay) instead of just the wire. But of course, you can use whichever SilverSilk chain and color you want. Form a duplicate shape with the other half of the clay and lay it on top of the other to cover it up. I even tapered it at the ends so you can, too, if you want. Also, if there are cracks or anything in your pendant, you can moisten the tips of your fingers and use them to press down and close the gaps.
Shove in Your Elements
Once you’ve formed your pendant, you need to start decorating it. And frankly speaking, you can add absolutely anything you want to it. There’s really no right or wrong, and everything fits! Almost any metal, ceramic, glass, stone, crystal, resin, and even plastic will stick to the clay. However, you might want to insert a headpin with plastic or resin elements. Christi added iridescent beads and then used her pick-up pen and needle-nose tweezers to add jade chips to her pendant. This created a sense of movement, like a sort of breeze. As for me, I used pearls, beads, stars, and even a string of beads. So, you could go for a more minimalist look like Christi’s or a fuller one like mine. You could even remove one of the beads to incorporate a hole into your design. Like I always say, don’t be afraid to experiment.
Add Texture
To add texture, grab your Wow it's Awesome tool, moisten the tips and just go all in. The tool has a pointy and wide side, so use the one you need according to the kind of texture you want to add. The textural lines can be random, but they should still look intentional.
Embellish with Colour
Take some chalk powder or mica powder and brush it over the pendant. Then use a wet wipe to go over the surface to open up the design and accentuate the curves. However, you can also paint the pendant after it has dried up using acrylic paint or maybe even an alcohol tint. Alcohol tints are great, but the downside to using them is that they will just tint everything. So, if you must use alcohol tints, make sure to get a smaller brush, so you don't get the paint where you don't want it. Of course, you don’t have to use a powder or glitter, but they can be real game-changers.
Finish it Off
If you ask me, I love jewelry that's easy to wear, so you don't need any clasps or anything- just throw it over your head, and you're good to go. However, if you’re wanting a smaller necklace and require a clasp, you can always use one of my custom findings to get that perfect finish. Put the end of your chain through the end cap and smash down with your wide nose pliers to close the seam. But don’t forget to dip your pliers in Tool Magic to avoid abrasive damage.
Go Bananas!
What I love most about Apoxie is that it gives you instant gratification, and I can already tell I’m going to get addicted to it. Plus, it is so easy it’s almost unreal! It allows you to do so many things that you can't with other materials, which is fabulous. Plus, I always get a kick out of mixing SilverSilk with other materials to make artful jewelry pieces. And to think, we managed to make such extravagant jewelry with only clay and chain. Of course, there’s also the fact that exploring new materials tends to reignite our creativity and interest. So, I’ll suggest you go ahead and experiment to your heart’s content. Sure, you might initially need to step out of your comfort zone, but you'll actually be glad you did it! And don’t worry if your design doesn’t turn out how you envisioned it; it’s really all about having fun and learning. As Christi suggested, you can go for black epoxy with black elements for a monochrome design look, or you can explore and experiment with other colors and textures until you start getting the hang of things.
If you want to recreate the look, make sure to watch the full video tutorial on YouTube. Make sure to subscribe here because I have something extraordinary in store for you! I am doing a giveaway so you can potentially win one of two bags with SilverSilk materials as well as some Apoxie clay and the Wow it's Awesome tool- exciting, isn't it? All you need to do to enter the giveaway is go to the video tutorial and leave a comment to enter the draw. You can also check out my Instagram here for more inspiration, and as always, share your creations with me in the Silkies group here, so we can all dote over them together!
Be sure to mark your calendars because the Great Bead Extravaganza is scheduled on the 12th, 13th, and 14th of November, so gear up for loads of virtual shopping and virtual classrooms. And tell your friends because this is an event you definitely don’t want to miss!
HUGS! -Nealay
