Polymer Clay Cabochon Bracelet Tutorial

This is a cute little bracelet as is or you could add a flower or whatever you want to the center.
The addition of mica powder gives your cabochon a marbled and shimmery effect although it's hard to see in the photos.

Supplies Needed:

Cabochon link setting - in my supply shop
Clasp - in my supply shop
Chain
Jump rings
Sculpey polymer clay - translucent
Mica powder - bishop's violet
Sculpey gloss glaze
Wire cutters
Pliers

Condition a small amount of translucent clay by rolling it in your hands. Once conditioned, flatten the clay. Shake some mica powder (whatever amount you want) onto the clay.

Knead the mica powder into the clay.

Continue to knead the clay and mica powder until you are satisfied with the results.

The clay will be a bit flaky while you incorporate the mica powder but it will return to it's normal consistency.

Flatten the clay and gently press the cabochon link into the clay. This will give you a size guide.

The cabochon bezel link leaves a great impression.

Tear or cut away the excess clay around the bezel impression.

Smooth the edges of the clay with your fingers.

Place the clay into the cabochon bezel link and shape it into a cabochon with your fingers or your clay tool. I used my fingers on the cabochon above.
Bake the cabochon in the bezel according to the directions on the clay package. I baked the example at 275 degrees for 15 minutes.

Of course, you can skip this step but I put a coat of Sculpey gloss glaze on the example. I couldn't find a paint brush so I applied it with my finger. Before you do that, check to see if the bottle says "avoid contact with skin". You can apply as many coats of the glaze as you want. You may also sand the clay with very fine sandpaper.

It's time to assemble the bracelet using wire cutters, pliers, chain, jump rings and a clasp.

Attach the chain to one end of the cabochon bezel link using a jump ring and pliers. Lay the link in the center of your wrist and wrap the chain around your wrist half way. This will give you the measurement for the chain. Keep in mind your clasp will also add length to the bracelet. I cut my chains approximately 1 3/4".

Measure and cut 2 more chains using your first chain as your guide. Attach all 3 chains to one side of the cabochon bezel link using a jump ring.

Repeat the same steps for the other side of the cabochon bezel link.

Using your pliers, open another jump ring and place all 3 chain ends in the jump ring and close the ring. Try not to twist the chain.

Repeat for the other side but also place your clasp on this side before closing the jump ring.

Your all done!

Polymer Clay And Cabochon Tutorial

I really enjoy working with polymer clay, it's such a diverse medium.

As I show you this technique, please keep in mind that I am by no means a polymer clay expert.

I am always trying different ways to use polymer clay and have had my share of failures. But...I think this necklace turned out nice, I hope you like it and will give it a try.

Materials:

Polymer Clay - Premo Sculpey Accents - Magenta Pearl and Pearl

Bezel - Secret Solace Supplies

Small Resin Cabochon - Secret Solace Supplies

Bronze Bee Charm - Tessas Lil Treasures

Heart Clasp - Secret Solace Supplies

Copper Chain

Antique Brass or Copper Jump Rings

Tools:

Jewelry Pliers - to open and close jump rings

Side or Wire Cutters - to cut the chain

Pull off a small amount of clay from each color. Try to use about the same amount of each, however they do not have to be perfect.

Condition the clay by kneading it with your fingers.

Once conditioned, roll each color clay into a ball.

Now roll your clay into little snakes.

Twist the 2 snakes together.

Knead the 2 colors of clay together to slightly blend them.

Continue to blend the colors until you have reached your desired effect.

Once satisfied with the blend, flatten the clay.

Lay the clay over the bezel and apply light pressure to the clay.

Remove the clay and turn it over. You now have an indent of the bezel opening.

You may neatly cut around the bezel indent. Or...you may rip the clay off around the indent.

Make an oval ball with the clay and place it in your bezel.
**Note - I had too much clay once I removed the excess. Therefore, I ended up over working my pretty marble look. Don't do that!**

Spread the clay in the bezel as evenly as possible.

Like this ^^^^^

This is a picture of the butterfly cabochon in my shop. You can't really see it clearly in the following photos :(

Place the cabochon in the bezel, wherever you want it. I placed mine a tiny bit higher than center.
Now push the bezel into the clay. Bake according to the clay instructions on the package.

**I wanted to see what would happen if I baked the clay in the bezel with the cabochon in place. The bezel was fine after baking and the clay is wonderfully adhered. The cabochon is wonderfully adhered as well but...it did change color slightly. I think it would be better to remove the cab before baking and glue it in place once the clay has cooled.**

I wanted to add embellishment so I selected a section to attach the copper chain. I placed the chain around the sides and bottom of the bezel to get an idea of where I wanted the chain to hang. I cut the chain the desired length and attached it to the bezel on each side with jump rings. Then I cut 2 smaller sections of chain and attached one end of each to the bezel center with a jump ring. I attached the other ends of the short chains to the same jump rings used by the longer chain.

I added an adorable bronze bee charm from Tessas Lil Treasures to the center jump ring.

Cut a desired length of copper chain for the necklace. Add a jump ring to the top center of the bezel and feed the chain through the jump ring. Attach a jump ring to one side of the chain. Attach the heart clasp to the other side of the chain using a jump ring. Your all done!

This Accent polymer clay has a lovely shimmer which you can't see in my disturbingly horrid  photos.

Once you are finished baking, you may coat the clay in a polymer clay glaze or with whatever you normally finish your clay.

Welcome to Secret Solace Supplies blog!

I hope to share some ideas on how to make items using supplies in my Etsy shop: SecretSolaceSupplies.

But...I will also add craft tutorials that aren't related to my shop or jewelry making.

I will be experimenting techniques that I have never tried and some that I just dream up. Perhaps we can learn together.