DIY Network

Polymer Clay Shoe Earrings From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-101

Get your fashionable footwear fix. No extra closet space required.

Polymer clay artist and author Deborah Anderson shares a technique that will help satisfy your craving for more shoes -- by creating shoe earrings!

Materials:

Paper
Molding mat
Indigo ink pad
FIMO soft in the following colors and amounts: Pastel orchid #8020-65, one 2 oz. block; Black #8020-9, one 2 oz. block (or use colors of your choice)
Parchment paper
A piece of crepe or rubber sole material
Index cards
Shoe template
Plastic coated wire in black
Ear wires
Pasta machine
Nublade
Craft knife
Non-porous work surface such as Plexiglass, Formica or glass
Scissors
Modeling Tool - narrow spoon #8034
Wire Cutters
Round nose pliers
Small cookie sheet

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	Figure A
	Figure B

1. Condition 1/4 block of pastel orchid clay by kneading and rolling through a pasta machine. After it is soft and pliable, roll it through the pasta machine to a medium-thin setting and place the sheet on an index card.

   
   

2. Ink up the stylus mat with indigo ink. Place the pastel orchid sheet of clay on top of the inked stylus mat, then place a piece of parchment paper on top. Burnish so that the design will transfer onto the clay evenly.

   
   

3. Separate the clay from the stylus mat carefully and let the ink dry.

   
   

4. Cut shoe template using the Nublade and craft knife for the curved part. Place it on top of the patterned sheet of clay and cut out the shoe template for both the right and left shoe (figure A).

   
   

5. Fold over the seams and press together for each shoe. These are the "uppers".

   
   

6. Place conditioned 1/4 of a block of the black clay on the uppers on top of the black sheet of clay and cut them out using the Nublade.

   
   

7. Roll out another sheet of black clay on the medium thin setting and place the sheet on top of the textured side of the sole material (figure B). Then place the parchment paper on top of the clay and burnish so that the texture will transfer evenly.

   
   

8. Make two loops with the plastic coated wire.Trim excess with wire cutters.

   
   

9. Place the loops under both shoes on the heel part.

   
   

10. Place the shoes on top of the black sheet textured side down.Trim excess clay.

    
    

11. Place both shoes on part of the black sheet textured side down for the heels and trim excess clay. Use the modeling tool to smooth the edges of both shoes.

    
    

12. Place the shoes on an index card and place on a cookie sheet. Bake in an oven at 265-275 degrees for one hour. Let cool. Attach the ear wires onto each loop of each shoe.
    

RESOURCES :

Fimo Soft Polymer Clay, Clay Blade
American Art Clay Co., Inc.
Website: www.buyamaco.com

Colorbox Stylux Molding Mat and Ancient Page Ink Pad, available from:
Clearsnap, Inc.
P.O. Box 98
Anacortes, WA 98221
Phone: 800-448-4862
Web site: www.clearsnap.com

Classy Clay
Author: Deborah Anderson, et al
To order: Thousand Canes

GUESTS :
Deborah Anderson
Owner
A Thousand Canes
Phone: 408-998-5303
Email: maraha@aol.com
Website: www.geocities.com/thousand_canes