Moldmaking is a quick way to transfer the texture and shape of a favorite object to metal clay. The pendant in the featured necklace is made from the mold of a button-sized piece of decorative brass. Removing the center of the design created a wreath shape and left an open space to accommodate a spray of chain dangles. The finished pendant hangs from a simple leather cord that fastens with a sterling silver hook-and-eye clasp.
Click through the gallery below for step-by-step project instructions, or click here for the free project PDF.
Materials
- Fine-silver wire: 20-gauge (0.8mm), round, dead-soft, 1⁄2 in. (13mm)
- Metal clay: 15–18g
- Metal clay paste
- Sterling silver chain: round, cable, 9 in. (22.9cm)
- 2 gold beads: 1mm
- Sterling silver head pin: 24-gauge (0.5mm)
- Sterling silver wire: 24-gauge (0.5mm), round, dead-soft, 2 in. (51mm)
- 2 sterling silver jump rings, 18-gauge (1.0mm), 3mm inside diameter
- Leather cord: round, 2mm diameter, 16 in. (40.6cm)
- Sterling silver crimp ends with attached hook-and-eye clasp: 2mm inside diameter
Tools & supplies
- Button or other found object
- Mold-making compound
- Oven (dedicated to nonfood use)
- Olive oil or natural hand balm
- Wire cutters
- Pliers: roundnose, needlenose
- Flexible Teflon sheet
- Texture sheet
- Fine-tip paintbrush
- Craft knife
- Emery board or 600-grit sandpaper
- Kiln, kiln shelf; or handheld butane torch, firing brick, tweezers
- Finishing items (choose from): brass brush, tumbler with steel shot and burnishing compound, liver of sulfur
Instructions