Polymer Clay Pearls

 I LOVE PEARLS... and I enjoy making them!

 

 It is amazing to me that I can cut a piece of Polymer Clay, roll and shape it, add luster, cure it and have any size or color of pearl imaginable to use in my PC creations. 

I want to show you the steps I use to make

  pearls, but first, the following pictures show some of my PC pieces decorated with pearls.

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Let's get started...

You will need Polymer Clay, (any color will do)

(I use Premo for just about everything.)

Pearl Ex, Powdered Pigments #652

(This is what I use but I am sure other pearl mica powders or eye shadows would work)

Cutting tool

Fan folded card stock for baking. 

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First, condition your clay to make it easy to shape. 

I usually roll the clay into a long strip (you can also use an extruder for this step) and cut the desired amount for each pearl according to the size you want to make. 

Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments, Macropearl #652

It's useful to have a little container handy so you can measure out a small amount of the Pearl Ex powder, you certainly don't want to take the risk of tipping over a full bottle of mica powder, trust me. ^^  After dipping your finger in the powder, roll it onto the clay while holding it in your opposite palm.

Place the pearls on the folded card stock for baking. 

To Cure, I start with a cold oven

 and set it at 275 degrees for 1 hour Plus 20 minutes for preheating. This is only how I do it but it may not work for your oven.  

If you have questions about baking your clay, check out this article at The Blue Bottle Tree Tutorials.

The Blue Bottle Tree (Baking Polymer Clay)

Pearls all finished, sorted and ready to go.