PROJECT : Metal Clay Embellished magnetic clasp for multi-strand necklace/bracelet

Materials: (additional to basic kit)

• 4-6mm flat back pearl or kiln fireable cab

• 25g metal clay (pmc or art clay)

• Metal clay slip and syringe

• Fine silver bezel cup to fit chosen pearl/cab

• PMC Klay Kutter (in chosen shape for embellishment)

• Epoxy adhesive

• Maglettes (1-2)

• Metal files

• Moulding compound

• Round dowel or tube (for shaping/drying)

1. Lightly grease acrylic roller, texture plate and dowel or tube with badger balm or oil.

2. Roll your lump clay to 4 cards thick

3. Cut a 2 x 1 inch (2.9 x 2.5cm) rectangle and lay it across your dowel or roller (to curve). Repeat this to create 4 equal sized rectangles

4. Choose your texture plate and roll out a lump of clay to cover the portion you want to use.

5. Cut around your chosen template shape using a craft knife (to make the embellishment)

6. Cut a hole in the embellishment piece to fit your bezel cup

7. Set the embellishment piece on the tube/dowel and let dry.

8. File edges of dry rectangles so that two narrow edges of rectangles will sit together (joined)

9. Apply water to the edges of the rectangles with paintbrush

10. Using either syringe clay, or roll a snake position into the seams where the edges meet.

11. Use slip and a taper point shaper to join and smooth the edges to form a solid join.

12. Repeat with the other 2 rectangles and leave both to dry.

13. On a non-stick work surface roll another piece of clay four cards thick

14. Using the tube as a template cut out an oval shape to fit on an end. Cut a hole slightly larger than the maglette – repeat for other end

15. File the edges of one tube where the end will be attached until level and even add water and slip to the end

16. Apply water to the underside edge of an oval piece and press the two together (add slip or syringe paste as required to strengthen and smooth join) repeat with the other tube and let dry

17. File and refine edges with sandpaper/files

18. Choose which side of the clasp you wish to add the embellishment to; wet the surface of the chosen tube, and the underside of the embellishment, let dry

19. Using slip/syringe set the bezel cup into the hole in the embellishment, leave to dry

20. Fire your piece

21. Once cooled, polish or finish your piece (you may need to file adjust the size to fit he maglettes

You now have a connecting clasp

Finish to make a necklace / bracelet....

1. Cut ½ inch piece of silver wire, bend into a U shape.

2. Using the moulding compound make a small mould to fit into an end of a clasp component, insert wire into compound. Leave to set as per manufacturers instructions.

3. String chosen beads/pearls/gemstones to 4/5 x 16 inch lengths ensuring smallest possible beads/spacers at the ends (to fit inside the clasp tube)

4. At the end of a strand string a crimp bead insert through the wire loop on the compound insert, back through the crimp and crimp.

Repeat with remaining strands

Repeat for other ends/clasp

1. Prepare your epoxy adhesive dab a small amount of epoxy onto the back of an insert and push inside the corresponding clasp shell unit, repeat with other inset/clasp end

2. Epoxy the maglettes inside their respective holes. Leave to dry

3. To finish add the pearl/cab to its bezel cup and carefully close bazel wall surrounding using a burnisher