| Metal clay is a substance similar to soft clay. However | | | | drawing up your design. Another important tool is a |
| when in contact with heat from a kiln or gas torch the | | | | sharp knife which is needed for cutting and etching. |
| binding agent burns off to produce a solid metal object, | | | | Following the design process, silver clay then needs to |
| which can then be polished and finished. A popular | | | | be sanded and smoothed down. |
| resource in arts and crafts, it is often used for making | | | | Silver clay is an ideal material to be used with moulds |
| jewellery, beads or sculptures. Metal clay, also know | | | | and cutters, whether hand made or commercially |
| as precious metal clay or PMC, is made up of small | | | | produced. Moulds are ideal for reproducing an identical |
| particles including gold, platinum or silver, and mixed with | | | | design either when creating a batch of one product or |
| an organic binding substance and water. Similar to soft | | | | when creating a collection that incorporates the same |
| clay, this type of medium can be shaped and moulded | | | | design across all elements. |
| by hand to create various forms in a range of sizes | | | | First steps to making Metal Clay earrings |
| and shapes. Once dried, the metal clay is heated in | | | | Using the roller, roll out clay to a couple of millimetres |
| high temperature conditions, burning away the binding | | | | thickness and use moulds or cutters to create the |
| solution to leave the metal particles. The metal clay will | | | | required amount of earrings. If the clay becomes dry, |
| shrink in size during this process, which is useful in | | | | olive oil can be added for extra moisture. Working with |
| creating the appearance of fine and intricate detail on | | | | precious metal clay is flexible and offers creative |
| the work. | | | | freedom, and whether creating designs using hand |
| There are various forms of metal clay and each | | | | etching techniques or stamps, the affect is always |
| person will have their own preference to what works | | | | unique and distinctive. Once the design has been |
| best. One of the most popular choices in jewellery | | | | completed, a hole needs to be put through the top of |
| making is silver clay, which contains silver metal | | | | the earring ready for the hanging mechanism of the |
| particles and provides a finer finish. | | | | earring. |
| Getting started | | | | Once dried, place the earrings on a furnace or under a |
| There is a selection of basic and inexpensive metal | | | | gas torch to be fired, then take some time to clean |
| clay tools to be used when working with this | | | | and polish the earrings in a range of finishes varying |
| substance; common tools include a roller, sandpaper, | | | | from a polished, glossy or natural matte look. Once |
| clear plastic and graph paper. All of these utensils help | | | | happy with the finished metal clay piece, wire can be |
| to achieve a professional and high quality finish. Clear | | | | threaded through the earring to create a loop. Finish |
| plastic is used for protecting surface areas whereas | | | | the look by adding various gems, pearls or beads if |
| graph paper helps in creating the ideal size and shape, | | | | desired. |
| but remember to take shrinkage into account when | | | | |