The idea behind polymer clay earrings is fairly simple, but managing to create two identical earrings involves a lot of trial and error.
Materials:
Polymer Clay (I like Sculpey)
Earring Hardware
Polymer Clay Glaze
Paintbrush
Baking Sheet
Parchment Paper (Optional)
Polymer clay needs to be conditioned before use. First, you have to warm up the clay. I like to do this by putting the clay I'm going to use in a ziploc bag and then sticking that ziploc bag in my pocket for about five minutes. Next, I squish it with my fingers until it feels like playdough. If the clay seems to hard, you can use clay softener.
2) Roll your pieces

3) Shaping your pieces

4) Adding your hardware
When inserting the earring post it is important that the clay covers the cap. If it isn't covered, your earrings can separate from the post after the clay is baked. Earring backs are a little more tricky. There are three types of earring backs. Earnut backs don't work. Earring clutches work better, but they're big and don't allow for a lot of flexibility. Plastic backs are your best bet, but plastic melts in the oven. I simply stick the plastic backs in the clay and let it bake. A minute or two after I take the earrings out of the oven (while the plastic is still melty), I stick in an extra post as to mold the inside of the earring. Take the post out after two or three minutes or the post will become permanent.
5) Bake your earrings!
6) Cooling
Let your earrings cool for a few minutes. This would be the part where, if you're using plastic backs, you stick in the earring posts.
7) Applying glaze

8) Let dry
I like to let my earrings dry for a couple hours. Overnight is ideal.
9) Wear!
Thanks, Hannah for being my model!!!
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