Glamorous Plumeria Choker/Bracelet Made From Polymer Clay

This project was inspired by the Glamorous Ladies of Hollywood, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Irene Dunne and some many more, The piece can be worn as bracelet or a choker. Let's jump down the rabbit hole and get started.

Prep work before you start.
Make sure the area is clean and free of dust.
Wash your hands to ensure a good clean project.

Safety Precautions
This project requires use of a knife and lighter should not be done by those under the age of 16. Even then supervision should still be required.

Also follow all directions for baking your clay. Remember any tools you use for polymer clay are not used one food,

Supply Saving tips
If you have any broken faux pearl jewelry and even pieces that are ornate like gold filigree rings, I used, use those instead of buying new supplies.Something like that adds a personal touch to the piece,

Tools and Supplies
Scissors
Craft knife
White Clay(I used Fimo soft)
Craft brush
Pasta Machine or roller [i.e. marker, rolling pin]
Tile
Pliers
jewelry thread, monofilament [fishing line]
32 glass pearls
Glue
Oven
Foil
2 large jump rings
Pan
Ivory Ribbon
Lighter
Chalk pastels
Bamboo skewer

Step 1: Making the Foundation

Step 1

Start with medium size piece of clay and condition it, Then run it through largest setting on your pasta machine , mine is 9. you need enough space to cut a two inch by one half inch rectangle.the rectangle will serve as base for this project.If you ae rolling by hand with rolling pin about 1/4 of inch thickness,

For a more precise rectangle you use the template method, of cutting a rectangle with paper and then cutting around it .

Step 2: Stick It With Pointy End!

Step 2

Stick them with the pointy end! Make four holes at ends of your rectangle! Then set your rectangle off to the side. I used a Bamboo skewer for this.

Step 3: Prep Work for Petals

Step 3

Roll a tube of clay out and slice it into 5 equal parts. Then repeat this step so you have ten pieces of clay these are start of Plumeria petals. The ten pieces of clay give you enough to make two flowers.

Step 4:

Step 4

Now roll your pieces into little pieces into football shapes. This starts first step towards making the flower. Each football is a petal.

Step 5: Making Flower Petals

Step 5

Place the football between your thumb, and squish it! Gently shape the edges Taper the bottom off as shown in last picture, Making a small valley. This valley is important because you add petals they need to overlap each other., continue to step six for the finished petal and flower assembly.

Step 6: Plumeria Assembly

Step 6

Finish your petal by folding it slightly at the top.Now that you've you made one petal set it aside carefully and make the next, when you join them carefully by overlapping each petal as you go. I have taken a photo for each petal being added, When adding the last petal gently twist the excess clay below it to lock the petals together.

Each flower takes needs five petals so when you finish assembling the first flower start the second.

Step 7: Trimming the Excess,

Step 7

Carefully run the edge of your craft blade underneath the flower to remove the excess. Go slowly and use even pressure to get nice flat surface.

Step 8: A Splash of Color

Step 8

*Br very carefully during adding color because if you mess up here you will have to make a new flower*

Here a examples of real plumeria . They come in a variety of colors and have a lovely fragrance.

In the photos below I have provided a completed and baked plumeria and an unfinished plumeria. Using a craft knife choose your colors of choice and scrape some chalk dust off. Since I used ivory colored ribbon and off white pearls, to match the colors. I used orange, mustard yellow and light yellow. Using a dry brush lightly pick some of the pigment, add this to the middle and brush outwards gently. Then add next shade and carefully blend it with middle. Lightly blow of an excess particles. Then blend in the remaning color make surer to leave the outer petals white. I typically like to add the darker hue back into the middle after I've added the lightest shade to make it pop.

Step 9: To the Oven and Back

Step 9

Before you bake your pieces, you'll need to make small armature for the foundation to create a curved surface, I did this by making a bangle out of foil and I gently formed the clay over wrist and put it on the pan. I baked the clay on the the foil armature. Then followed the directions for baking the clay. Once the pieces where baked and cooled I applied E600 and glued my plumeria flowers to my foundation. and set aside to let dry.

Step 10: Assembly

Step 10

Alright its time to put to start putting the pieces together. Thread the first hole with monofilament and double knot it, slide on 8 beads and tie it to the jump ring. Hide the ends of your string by threading back intothe beads and clipping off excess. Repeat this step for the remaining holes, Each side should have two strands of pearls attached to a jump ring..

Step 11: Adding the Ribbon

Step 11

Cut two strands of ribbon about 3 ft each and then half way in the middle add a double knot to secure it to the jump ring. Do the same to the other side and you are finished! This part can also be sewn or knotted differently. Make sure to to singe the ends of the ribbon to prevent fraying...