Silver Clay Punch Pendant

No, this isn't polymer clay! Art Clay Silver is pure silver suspended in organic material. It works like an air-dry clay; so, unlike polyclay, you should have some plan before you begin. Once you've finished your piece, it will be fired in a kiln, or torched, at temperatures of about 1600 F degrees. This high temperature burns away the organic material and leaves pure silver! Shrinkage varies from brand to brand--all Art Clay Silver types shrink only 10 percent.

Art Clay Silver does not need conditioning--just open the package and use. Clay that you do not immediately use should be stored in plastic and in an air tight container. If you have clay that has dried out, it can be restored to its original condition. There isn't any waste with this medium; little scraps should be placed in water to make "slip" that is used to join pieces together.

Materials:

Art Clay Silver clay and paper
paper punches
polymer clay draping form
olive oil for resist
plastic wrap
water
brush
Nublade
small self-healing cutting mat or other work surface
playing cards for measuring thickness
PVC rod or small acrylic rod for rolling
cocktail straw for making holes
metal files
600-grit sandpaper
steel-bristled brush
steel burnishing tool
kiln
vermiculite

1. Make your polymer clay draping form and bake according to manufacturer's instructions. Cool before using.

2. Lightly coat the draping form with olive oil. Lightly coat work surface, too.

3. Make two piles of three playing cards each. Place them on your work surface, spread apart approximately 3 inches.

4. Pinch off enough Art Clay Silver to cover the draping form. Place it between the card stacks and cover with plastic wrap.

5. Press the clay out to the width of the draping form and then roll with a rod to form a uniform sheet (figure A).

6. Remove the plastic wrap, lift the clay and drape it onto the form. Do not stretch it! If the sheet is too small, add more clay and roll again.

7. Using the Nublade, trim the bottom edge of the clay (figure B).

8. Use the cocktail straw to make hanging holes in the pendant (figure C). Remove the clay from the straw and place in the slip jar. Set the clay-covered draping form aside.

9. Using paper punches, cut shapes from the paper clay (figure D). Don't worry about the paper type clay drying--it just doesn't seem to change.

10. Secure cut pieces to the pendant by first brushing water or slip on the clay, not the cutout (figure E). Brush the top of the cutout with water. Allow the entire piece to dry. Carefully remove the dried pendant from the draping form--it should NOT be fired in the kiln. File or sand off any sharp edges.

11. Set the kiln according to manufacturer's instructions. Nest the piece in vermiculite, face down. The vermiculite nest will prevent the clay from flattening during the firing process. Allow to cool before removing from kiln.

12. Lightly brush the piece with a steel bristled brush (figure F). Follow with a light sanding using 600-grit paper.

13. If you want high sheen in areas, burnish with steel tool (figure G).

14. String on a chain or cording (figure H).