Velociraptor Claw Fossil Necklace Using Air Dry Clay
Air-dry clay is perfect for beginners because it is easy to shape and, unlike polymer clay, it requires no oven. The clay can be shaped any way you want and it only needs to dry, to create the desired item. Then it can be painted and in order to protect it from humidity, a layer of gloss can be added. The gloss makes the colors more intense and also gives depth to the design. To create jewelry, it is necessary to use small bits of clay, which have to be modeled relatively quickly, to prevent drying. By comparison, polymer clay can be modeled over a period of a couple of days. You can leave polymer clay on the table and continue modeling the following day, without the fear that it might dry out.
After modeling, air-dry clay must be left in a place with airflow, so that the moisture of the clay evaporates. It should not be put in direct sunlight, since that might lead to an accelerated drying on one side and to the formation of cracks. If you notice cracks on the surface of the clay item, you can use slip (a mixture of clay and water), to cover the cracks. If you also notice a deformation of the item, then you can use a piece of damp cloth or a damp towel, which you can place on the item and leave overnight. This should moisturize the clay and make it soft again so that it can be brought back to the desired shape.
Do you love making your own jewelry, and do you also like modeling clay? Why not combine those two passions, to create your own jewelry, that you love wearing every day? In this tutorial, I will show you how to create a velociraptor claw necklace using air-dry clay.
Materials:
air dry clay
modeling tools
a toothbrush
paint
brush
water
Take a piece of air-dry clay the preferred size.
Start creating a banana-like structure, to shape the claw.
Make the tip of the claw pointed and the base wide, so that it resembles a velociraptor fossil claw.
Use the toothbrush to create the porous surface of the claw base. As you can see, besides the modeling tools, that you can buy online or in a shop, you can also make some of the tools yourself, using simple household items.
Punch a hole in the top of the claw, for the necklace cord, using the plastic modeling tool. Remember that you can dip the tool into some water, to prevent the clay from sticking to the tool.
Make this hole large enough for the cord to pass through.
Once the shape is ready, leave the clay to dry. Lay it on a sheet of parchment paper and let it dry. This can take a couple of days, depending on the humidity in the room. Flip it over after a day to help it dry quicker.
Once the piece is dry, paint it, using a lighter color.
Then apply a darker color, making sure you create parallel lines along the claw length.
At the top of the claw use an even darker shade, to give the item a natural look.
After the paint has dried, apply a layer of gloss varnish. This will protect the clay from humidity and give the piece a unique look.
Now add the black cord to create the necklace.
Take the left hand cord and bring it down crossing over the right cord.
Make a knot next to the pendant, by first creating a loop.
Then bring the left cord up through the loop.
Pull both ends of the cord together.
Make another knot at the end of the cords.
Now that your necklace is ready, enjoy wearing your new handmade necklace.
