DIY Network

Dragonfly Hair Clip by Anne Mitchell From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-507

Jewelry designer Anne Mitchell joins host Jackie Guerra to embellish a crown with her stunning jeweled dragonfly hair accessory made of liquid clay and glass cabochons. Don't be surprised if this dragonfly also lands on your lapel or adorns your purse!

Experience Level: Advanced

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Guest jewelry designer Anne Mitchell creates a stunning dragonfly accessory for your hair.

Materials --

1/2 block Premo, translucent
Pinch Premo, black
2 oz. bottle Liquid Sculpey
Gildenglitz Gilding Leaf, variegated
Wire form mesh, sparkle mesh
Pearl-ex mica pigment powder, Aztec Gold
1 size 42 flat back crystal, amethyst
18 size 20 flat back crystals, 6 amethyst, 6 royal, 6 red
1" pin back
3-1/4" barrette, French made
4" piece of ribbon
6" piece of 22-gauge wire
Polymer clay varnish
Dragonfly wing pattern

Tools --

Pasta machine (clay dedicated, Atlas brand recommended)
Work surface (granite, marble, acrylic, or ceramic tile will work well)
Wax paper
Toaster or convection oven
Oven mitts
Oven thermometer
Flat baking tray
Brush
Craft knife
Pliers
Wire cutters
Old scissors
Black fine point Sharpie
E6000 Glue
Small glass or metal dish
Skewer
Paper towels

Dragonfly Hair Clip

1. Using the Sharpie, draw around the dragonfly wing pattern placed on metal mesh. Cut out the wings (figure A) using old scissors. Be careful of the sharp edges.

2. Condition translucent Premo and roll out on a #2 setting on the pasta machine. Gently place pieces of gilding leaf over the clay to cover it completely (figure B) and burnish on carefully using your fingers. Cut off a 1/4" by 2-1/2" strip of leaf-covered clay and set aside. Roll the rest of the clay through the pasta machine one direction on a #3 setting and then turn it a quarter turn and roll it through again on a #4 setting, and then again on a #5 setting. This will crackle the leaf in both directions.

Figure A

Figure B

3. Lay the clay leaf side down on the work surface and lay the mesh dragonfly wings on top. Cut out two pieces of clay using the Exacto knife following the shape of the wings. Sandwich the mesh armature between the two pieces of clay with the leaf-covered sides facing out (figure C). Blend the edges so no mesh is showing.

4. Run a 6" piece of wire through one of the loops on the clasp end of the pin back and twist the ends together. Double back the wire so that it forms a 3/4" armature for the tail of the dragonfly, trim excess. Using leaf-covered clay scraps, cover the wire and base of the pin back with clay and shape into the form of a body and tail. Be careful not to cover the pin back clasp (figure D).

Figure C

Figure D

	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G

5. With the hinge of the pin back at the top, lay the clay-covered body onto the backside of the wings. Cut a small strip of clay to lay inside of the pin back to blend to the wings (figure E). Make sure the pin back still closes. Bend wings into shape desired. Bake for 20 minutes at 275 degrees.

Note: Check your clay's instructions for baking time and temperature.

6. Once the dragonfly is cool, if desired you can draw veins onto the wings with a fine point black Sharpie. Make a 1/4" ball of leaf-covered clay; add a drop of liquid Sculpey and press in size 42 amethyst crystal. Apply a drop of liquid Sculpey on the center of the wings on top of the dragonfly; gently press on the crystal and clay. Form two 1/8" balls of black clay and press those together and then onto the head of the dragonfly for eyes (figure F).

7. Cut the 1/4" by 2-1/2" strip into a triangular shape and accordion pleat the strip. Coat the tail of the dragonfly with liquid polymer clay and lay the strip into the liquid clay. Decorate the rest of the wings with a dot of Liquid Sculpey. Bake the dragonfly again for 20 minutes at 275 degrees. Allow to cool.

8. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of liquid clay with a pea size amount of Pearl-Ex mica powder. Mix thoroughly. Using a skewer, draw a line of the tinted liquid polymer clay all around the wing (figure G). Lines and dots can also be drawn around the stones on the wings and on the sides and top of the body. Bake once more for 10 minutes at 275 degrees. Varnish with polymer clay varnish.

9. Use E6000 to glue a piece of ribbon onto the barrette base. Turn the ends under and glue and trim. Once the glue is dry, the dragonfly can be pinned onto the barrette in the chosen direction.

DIY Tip: The dragonfly can also be used as a brooch.

RESOURCES :

Beads, crystals, pearls, jump rings, head pins & tools
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads
Website: www.firemountaingems.com

Sculpey III, Translucent Liquid Sculpey, Premo
Polyform Products
Website: www.sculpey.com

Clay Factory of Escondido
Distributor of Translucent Liquid Sculpey, Premo
Website: www.clayfactoryinc.com

Pearl-Ex Pigments
Jacquard Products
Rupert, Gibbon and Spider, Inc.
PO Box 425
Healdsburg, CA 95448
Toll-free: 800-442-0455
Website: www.jacquardproducts.com

Gildenglitz Variegated Metallic Leaf
US Artquest
7800 Ann Arbor Rd.
Grass Lake, MI 49240
Phone: 517-522-6225
Website: www.usartquest.com

Jewelry Findings Barrettes, Beads, Rhinestones, Jewelry Making Tools, Clear Elastic, E6000, Wire, Beadalon, Crimp Beads
Rings and Things
PO Box 450
Spokane, WA 99210-0450
Toll-free: 800-366-2156
Website" www.rings-things.com

GUESTS :

Anne Mitchell
Website: www.annemitchell.net