Easy Polymer Clay Charm

Easy Polymer Clay Charm

Materials:
1. Polymer Clay (brown color)
2. Rhinestone (flat base or those used for iron-on or manicure)
3. Keychain ring or other jewelry accessories

Tools:
1. Oven [please do not use the same oven for food after it has been used for curing polymer clay]
2. Cookies cutter (Bear shaped)
3. Tweezers
4. Rod (ball pen ink cartridge)
5. Thick hard-cover book or similar
6. Metal sheet or baking tray.

Prepare and gather the materials & tools as per the above list.
I used brown color polymer clay bought from a Japanese dollar store (Daiso).

Prepare your polymer clay. The clay is hard and dry initially when you take out from the packaging.
When trying to bend or fold the clay, it will become chappy and falling into smaller pieces.

Hold the clay in your hand to warm it up a moment to soften it.
Then, used your fingers to knead it.
You will find that it is difficult to knead initially as the clay keeps on cracking and falling apart. Later when it gets soften, it will be easier.
[Tip: You can also use AMACO Pasta Machine or its equivalent to knead clay, please don’t use it to make pasta after using it for clay. Read manufacturer instruction if it is your first time using this machine.

A softened and kneaded clay. Not quite ready yet as you can still see some chappy holes on the right. Continue to knead a little longer.

Roll the clay into a ball, round and smooth.

Use a hard-cover book or something similar to press the clay ball evenly. Flatten it to about 3/8″ thick.
Or, you can use the pasta machine if they can produce this thickness.

Position cookies cutter on the clay, press to cut it out.

If your clay is big enough, you can do 2 bears together. Otherwise, repeat the kneading, rolling and pressing on the balance clay.

Use a hollow rod to punch a hole for the keychain ring.
I used the flat end of a used ball pen ink cartridge.

Position the rhinestones on the bear with tweezers. I used 15 rhinestones, you can decide how many to use depending on your bear size and rhinestone size.

Use the rod to press the rhinestones down so that they sink into the clay.

After all the rhinestones are pressed, set it aside and wait for baking.
Preheat your oven to 210 F or follow the instruction comes with the polymer clay.

Place all your polymer clay crafts onto a metal sheet or baking tray.
Cure for 30 minutes or as per instruction on the packing.

After it is baked and cured, take out from the oven and let it cool to room temperature.
Install a keychain ring or other jewelry accessories.
~ Done ~