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Showing posts with the label bead end caps

Taking End Caps a Step Further

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Last Friday I shared by first sterling silver clay project - the bead end caps that I formed by hand.  This Friday I wanted to share my next experiment with bead end caps.  These are made with fine silver clay and I used a 2 part mold mixture from Cool Tools instead of hand forming them. The mold I made 2 parts to the mold and rolled my clay to 2 cards thick.  Placing the clay into the deep mold was more difficult than I anticipated.  The clay cracked and I had to repair it in several places.  It was a little scary taking the two parts of clay out of the molds.  After I wiggled the silicone mold, both pieces popped right out.  While they were drying on the cup warmer, I rolled the clay for the next end cap.  This time I rolled it 3 cards thick and it was easier to put into the mold halves.  It did not crack. Drying in the mold Drying on the cup warmer After both halves were dry, I attached them with clay paste and set them to dry again.  Sanding and smoothing and t

Learning New Things – 2013 Resolution!

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Kim's Beautiful Beaded Necklace and My End Caps What a way to start the New Year!   First time working with Sterling Silver Clay, using my rock tumbler and hand forming bead end caps!   A very good friend, Kim Neff ( www.beadjeweledraven.com ) needed large size end caps for her beautifully beaded spiral necklace.   When she could not find any, she asked if I would make them.   Oh, why not???   I’d never done anything quite like them but I was certainly willing.   Polymer Prototype First I decided to use the Sterling Silver clay I had sitting in my drawer for way too long.   It needed to be used and I needed to learn to work with it.   Then I decided to make a prototype with polymer clay.    Seemed like a mold would be good to create since I needed two matching caps and of course, my 2 part mold mix was way past its shelf life.   I ordered more. Being impatient, the thought of creating the end caps using the polymer prototype sounded worth trying.   I cut a circle