Create a Beautiful Duo Tone Necklace with Polymer Clay

Texturing polymer clay is fun and easy to do, especially by using everyday items you probably already have at home. In this tutorial we’ll show you how to create three unique duo tone necklaces using buttons and a wooden skewer.

Supplies

• Polymer clay
• Knife
• Skewer
• Cotton cord
• Textured buttons
• Baking paper
• Baking tray
• Oven

1. Make a Dotty Green and Beige Necklace

Step 1

Place a sheet of baking paper on your table.

Using the knife, cut two pieces of the green clay and one piece of the beige clay, all roughly the same size.

Step 2

The clay will need to be softened, so take the first piece of green clay and knead with your fingers until soft. Then, roll into a ball with your palms.

Repeat with the other two pieces of clay.

Step 3

Flatten each ball using your fingers into large, thick, round discs.

Step 4

Take one of the discs and insert the skewer near the top of of the circle. The hole needs to be thick enough to thread your cord through.

Repeat with the other two discs.

Step 5

Take one of the green discs and your skewer. Press the skewer into the surface of the disc to create spots. Cover the entire top of the disc.

Repeat with the other green disc.

Step 6

Place all three discs on the baking tray and bake using the manufacturer's instructions.

Step 7

Once cooled, take your cord and thread each disc, making sure the two green ones are next to each other.

Step 8

To finish off the necklace, create a simple overhand knot. Take the two ends of the cord and place them together so that the ends are even, holding them with your thumb and middle finger. Wrap the cord around your middle finger and then pull the ends through loop. Tighten the knot by pulling the ends and the rest of the cord in separate directions.

Step 9

Wear your lovely new necklace.

2. Make a Rose-Inspired Necklace

Step 1

Using the knife, cut two pieces of the pale pink clay and one piece of the rose pink clay, all roughly the same size.

Step 2

Again, soften each piece of clay with your fingertips. Roll into balls and then flatten into discs.

Step 3

Take your skewer and make a hole through the middle of one of the discs, all the way to the other side.

Repeat with the other two discs.

Step 4

Select the button you would like to use. Take one of the pale pink discs and gently press the button onto the surface. Cover the entire top of the disc, overlapping to create lots of lovely textures.

Repeat with the other pale pink disc.

Step 5

Before baking, insert your skewer back through each of the holes in the discs. When texturing the surface, the hole can close up, which will make it hard to thread the cord through at the end.

Step 6

Place all three discs on the baking tray and bake using the manufacturers instructions.

Step 7

Once cooled, take your cord and thread each disc, making sure the two pale pink ones are next to each other and finish off with an overhand knot.

Step 8

Show off your pretty necklace.

3. Make a Textured Square Necklace

Step 1

Using the knife, cut two pieces of the red clay and one piece of the orange clay, all roughly the same size.

Step 2

Again, soften each piece of clay with your fingertips. Roll into balls and then flatten into discs.

Step 3

Take one of the discs and press the top and bottom together to make a flat edge. Turn and repeat with the other side. Keep doing this until you end up with a rounded-edge square.

Repeat with the other two discs.

Step 4

Take your skewer and make a hole through the corner of one of the discs, all the way to the other side.

Repeat with the other two discs.

Step 5

Again, select the button you would like to use. Take one of the red discs and gently press the button onto the surface. Cover the entire top of the disc, overlapping to create lots of lovely textures.

Repeat with the other red disc.

Step 6

Before baking, insert your skewer back through each of the holes in the discs. When texturing the surface, the hole can close up, which will make it hard to thread the cord through at the end.

Step 7

Place all three discs on the baking tray and bake according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Step 8

Once cooled, take your cord and thread each disc, making sure the two red ones are next to each other and finish off with an overhand knot.

Step 9

Admire your beautiful necklace.

Wear Your New Necklaces

Did you make all three necklaces? Well done!

In this tutorial we’ve shown you how to turn polymer clay into three different shaped discs and how to texture them using a simple skewer and buttons. It's fun to experiment with the skewer and see what other marks you can make - how about small lines or bigger spots? And with so many different buttons available, the possibilities are endless for creating different textures.

What other everyday items could you use to texture polymer clay?

Do you like making your own jewellery? How did you find this tutorial? Let us know in the comments section below – we’d love to hear from you.