This is project was featured on PBS's Beads, Baubles & Jewels series! Tune in to your local PBS station to catch new episodes or, if it's not available in your area, call PBS and request it be added to your programming.
Supplies |
Order # | Quantity |
| BRONZclay™ | 101-007 | 100 grams |
| Dynasty texture stamps | see your Creative Arts catalog | variety |
| “The Wisemen” Dynasty stamp | 111-552 | 1 |
| Color-quick thickness guides for metal clay | 111-569 | 1 set |
| Bronze wire, 20 ga. and 22 ga. | 134-320 and 111-302 | as needed |
| Rio PVC work surface | 111-567 | 1 |
| Metal clay tool kit | 111-411 | 1 |
| Olive oil | — | as needed |
| Small bowl of water | — | as needed |
| Nail file | — | as needed |
| Rio PMC® Kiln | 703-117 | 1 |
| Stainless steel firing pan and removal fork | 703-202 and 703-206 | 1 each |
| Activated carbon Coal-based, acid-washed (intense patina) Coconut shell–based carbon (light patina) |
703-204 703-205 |
enough to cover pieces |
| Warming & drying plate | 111-735 | 1 |
| Nugget brass beads and rolled brass beads | 638-866 and 638-871 | 20 |
| Coral beads | 090-328 | 20 |
| Swanstrom round-nose pliers | 111-298 | 1 |
| Swanstrom chain-nose pliers | 111-300 | 1 |
| Swanstrom super-flush cutters | 111-305 | 1 |
| Round needle file | 114-738 | 1 |
| MIDAS® bronze oxidizer | 331-043 | 1 |
| Sunshine® Cloth | 337-039 | 1 cloth |
| Slim burnisher set | 113-028 | 1 set |
| Swanstrom round-nose pliers | 111-302 | 1 |
| Swanstrom round-nose pliers | 111-302 | 1 |
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| Steps: |
| Creating the bracelet charms |
| 1. Rub a small amount of olive oil on your hands, the PVC work surface and the Cool Roller from the metal clay tool kit. Roll out a piece of BRONZclay™ 6-cards thick (or use the red color-quick thickness guide). Using the slip brush from the metal clay tool kit, apply a small amount of oil to the Dynasty stamps you’ll be using. |
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2. Press a stamp into the surface of the clay. Use the awl from the metal clay tool kit to cut around the design and remove the stamp. Poke a small hole in the middle of two ends of the piece; later, when the clay is leather-dry, you will use the round needle file to enlarge and smooth the holes to attach jump rings. Set the stamped clay on the warming & drying plate and allow it to dry completely
Repeat the steps above to create the remaining charms, using a different Dynasty Stamp for each charm. (For this project, “The Wisemen” stamp was used to make the toggle bar and ring. Make sure to trim out the center of the ring, and use the awl to poke a hole in the ring and a hole in the center of the bar.) |
| 3. When all the stamped pieces are dry, use the nail file to refine and smooth all edges. Using the round needle file, gently enlarge the holes in all the pieces. (You can also use a drill bit to effectively clean out and enlarge the holes.) |
| 4. Place all the pieces in the firing pan, embedded in the activated carbon, making sure there is at least a 1/2"-thick layer of carbon surrounding each piece. NOTE: Choose the coconut shell–based carbon for a light color patina on your fired piece; choose the coal-based, acid-washed carbon for a more intense, colorful patina. |
| 5. Place the firing pan with lid in the PMC® kiln and ramp at 250°F/hour to 1550°F and hold for 3 hours (total cycle time is approximately 9 hours). Once the firing cycle is complete, carefully remove the firing pan using the removal fork. |
| 6. Remove the pieces from the firing pan and rinse with water to remove any residue left from the activated carbon. |
| 7. Dip the pieces into the Midas® bronze oxidizer for a few seconds to create a black oxidized finish, then dip it into a bowl of water to rinse. |
| 8. To finish by hand, use a Sunshine® Cloth to remove the oxidation from the raised texture, then use a slim burnisher to bring out the highlights. |
| Creating the bracelet charms |
| 1. Using the Swanstrom round-nose pliers, make six 5mm jump rings from the 20-ga. bronze wire. Use the jump rings to connect the BRONZclay™ pieces. Note: Do not connect the toggle and ring pieces yet. |
| 2. Using the Swanstrom super-flush cutters, cut a 3" length of the 20-ga. bronze wire. Use the Swanstrom round-nose pliers to make a wrapped loop with the wire, and attach it to one end of the bracelet. |
| 3. Add one brass bead, one coral bead and one more brass bead to the wire. Hook the other end of the wire through the small hole in the toggle ring, then wire-wrap the end. Repeat the steps above to attach the toggle bar to the other end of the bracelet |
| 4. Using the Swanstrom super-flush cutters, cut (18) 11/2"-long pieces of 22-ga. bronze wire. Use the Swanstrom chain-nose pliers to make a small spiral at one end of each of the wires to create decorative head pins. |
| 5. Add a mix of brass and coral beads to each head pin. |
| 6. Use the Swanstrom round-nose pliers to create an eye at the top of each pin; snip off any excess wire using the Swanstrom super-flush cutters. Connect three beaded head pins to each jump ring to complete the bracelet. |
