PROJECT: PMC / Art Clay Silver Paper Earrings

PMC / Art Clay Silver Paper Earring Project

Just like regular paper, art clay paper or PMC sheet can be manipulated into quilled pieces, folded, cut with scissors, embossed, punched and that’s just the beginning.

Here, art clay paper has been used in a weaving technique, which is reminiscent of paper weaving many were taught at school. Although created differently from the school coloured paper version these earrings are just as easy to create.

 Materials:

 Silver paper Art Clay (75x75mm square sheet)

NB: PMC sheet is 60x60mm or 120x30mm so you may need to make some adjustments to this project to use PMC

Jump ring

Ear wire

...And your metal clay toolkit!

How to make

1. Measure and lightly score a line 1” from an edge of the Art Clay or PMC Paper, and cut along this line with scissors.

   Measure and lightly score a line 1-inch from the shorter edge of the strip. Cut along the scored line to create a 1-inch by 1-inch square.

   Forming the base for the earring
   (Repeat this process, cutting a second 1-inch by 1-inch square from the 1-inch strip for the second earring)

2. Trim the leftover 1-inch wide section into eight strips, 2mm wide, and put aside.
3. On the 1-inch by 1-inch square (base), measure 3mm from two adjacent edges. Using a pointed tool gently place a mark at the cross point.

   Repeat for all four corners and lightly score a line between the marks on two corners.
   
   Repeat, to make a parallel line between two other corners.

4. Turn the square and draw a line between two corners, perpendicular to the previous lines drawn. Measure 3mm and draw a line parallel to the first.

   Repeat until you join the marks between the other two corners leaving you with a lined grid (fig 1)

   

5. Carefully, with a craft knife or bade, cut along the horizontal lines drawn do not pass the lines drawn making the border - This 3mm perimeter around the square will act like a frame for the weaving. Repeat Steps 2-5 using the second 1-inch by 1-inch square.
6. Using an under-over pattern, weave one 2mm strip through the in one 1of your paper bases.
7. Slide the first woven strip to the end of the slits and begin weaving a second strip, alternating the under-over pattern from the first strip
8. Repeat to weave in four strips, and making sure the edges of each strip are flush to the edges of the square. Finish with even spacing between each strip. (fig 2)

   

9. Piece a hole toward the corner of the paper, or along an edge (whatever your preference) this is where the earring finding will be attached
10. Repeat the process for your second earring and fire both pieces
11. Using the flat of a file gently round down the edges of the square; burnish, polish or finish the piece as you desire
12. Attach a jump ring through the hole or each piece, and attached your earring finding.

- Project by Katherine Platt