Maple Leaf Necklace

Clay Casting Project

Use a painted clay casting from a Rycraft cookie stamp design

to decorate a beautiful necklace, a bracelet or a ring.

All of the necklaces, bracelets and rings shown on this page

were created by our daughter-in-love Maggie Montgomery.

Materials Needed

1 Rycraft cookie stamp or craft stamp #242 – Maple Leaf

Clay – we recommend Creative Paperclay® which is non-toxic and air dries to a paintable white

1 clay casting* #242 – Maple Leaf (see Basic Clay Casting Instructions)

Sharp knife

Sandpaper or emery board

Acrylic primer

Acrylic paints: beige, rust, peach, gold and brown

Spray or brush-on varnish (optional)

1 finding to attach to the back or top of the casting to hold the chain or a straw to poke a hole for the chain

1 chain

Hot glue

*Note: Alternately, the casting for this project may be made from paper instead of clay (see Basic Paper Casting Instructions).

Instructions

1. While clay is still wet, use a knife or a cookie cutter to cut out the design. If you prefer to put a hole in the casting to hold the chain, then use a straw to poke a hole at the tope while the clay is still wet.

2. If you prefer the bent look as in this photo, bend the clay gently while it is still wet. Let dry.

3. Add any embellishmnts to the top of the leaf (as shown below) using whatever found materials you have on hand.

At left is the pendant ready for a chain,

at right is a painted paper casting. Notice that

several shades of rust, orange and red were

used to paint the leaf and coils.

4. Sand rough or uneven areas smooth.

5. apply a coat of primer to both sides of casting and let dry.

6. Apply the color of paint(s) you prefer (see photos for ideas). Let dry between coats.

Notice how the clay casting above was cut square, leaving a

flap at the top to fold over backwards, which will hold the chain or leather

thong. Use several colors of paint to get a stippled effect,

and also use a tool of some sort to roughen up the background.

7. Optional: Use varnish to give a protective coat – high-gloss if you want it shiny. Let dry.

8. Use hot glue to affix the finding to the back of the casting near the top, or glue it to the top of the casting. Hold in position until glue dries.

9. Put chain through finding or through hole at top of casting.