PROJECT: Make a popcorn necklace using PMC or Artclay

Make a Popcorn necklace using Precious Metal Clay or Art Clay

Materials needed:

How To:

1. Pop some popcorn, or buy a bag of pre-popped popcorn at the grocery and select the Popcorn Kernel for Your piece.
   
   Sort through the kernels and find an interesting shape! This is the fun part!

   (then you can eat the rejects! Yum yum)
   
   Decide then how you want the shape to hang.
   
   I would suspend the pendent using a piece of fine silver wire inserted into the popcorn.

   (Because the pendant will hang from a wire loop, it is important to consider where the finished pendant 's centre of gravity will be - If there is more weight on one side than another, the pendent will slip on the loop, forward, backward or to either side, until the weight is equally distributed)

    

2. Make a Loop with Your Fine Silver Wire.

   Using smooth jaw pliers, twist your wire into a loop
   You will attach this loop (known as a "bail") to the kernel, later in step 7.

    

3. Skewer Your Kernel!

   Make a hole for the final piece - plan for it to be at the bottom or back of your pendant.
   Insert a small bamboo skewer halfway into the popcorn kernel.

   
   
   

4. Check your wax

   Popcorn is a very fragile material. If you get it wet, it disintegrates.
   To solve this, we are going to coat the kernel with a thin layer of wax.
   
   NB: The type of wax is important. Standard paraffin (candle) wax is too hydrophobic (water repelling) for the PMC to adhere to it; I use "victory wax" which is a sticky, brown, sculptor's wax.

   An experiment to see if your wax will work: just dip a tiny amount of the wax you have into the PMC paste. If it sticks, you're good to go

    

5. Heat Your Wax

   (in a Double Boiler)

   NB: Wax is flammable!
   To avoid causing a fire, we are going to melt the wax in an improvised double boiler.
   
   1) Put a pan with about 1/2 inch of water on a stove.
   2) Place a glass bowl containing your wax into the water.
   3) Turn to a medium setting
   4) Wait patiently until the wax melts.

    

6. Dip the Kernel in the Wax

   Dip the kernel in the wax and give a little twist with your fingers. This will ensure that all sides are coated with a thin layer.
   
   
   

7. Add the Bail

   Stick the bail made from the 1-inch piece of fine silver wire into what you want to be the top of your pendant; The PMC paste will fuse to the bail during firing, providing a solid connector for your pendant.

    

8. Coat the Kernel in PMC Paste!

   Apply a thick layer of the slip (paste) making sure to cover all areas of the kernel evenly.
   

   Note: Try not to jostle the bail wire. However, do make sure you paint a little PMC where the wires cross to ensure it attaches to the finished piece.
   I used a #8 flat, bristle brush. However, any inexpensive, synthetic bristle artist's brush would do fine.

    

9. Dry Completely.

   Stick the other end of the skewer into the styrofoam block and place out of the way so the PMC can dry without touching anything.
   you must let each PMC layer dry completely!

    

10. Re-coat

    8 layers will usually do it for me.
    
    (Remember to let it dry completely between coats.)
    
    And after the last coat, it looks more ‘built up less nobbly’

    

     

11. Shorten the skewer

    The last thing before firing is to shorten the skewer with a pair of scissors or a wire cutter. To make it easier when firing

     

12. Fire your piece
        (you should be adept at this by now)

13. Polish
         ( with a fine (small wire) brass brush!)

    Finally...

14. Hang it on a necklace, a piece of ribbon, or a leather cord – whatever you chose to use

    ....and show it off!

    

    
    
    

EXTRA TIP...

A cluster of these on a necklace looks absolutely stunning!!!! Especially if strung with a few turquoise or other semi precious stones.