Rose Tinted

Make Claire Nigeon’s lifelike polymer clay flowers and use to decorate all of your jewellery creations

Claire Nigeon, MJ Designer

Making polymer clay roses is really fun and quite addictive. I often make more in a batch to use in other projects. Try a large rose on a simple chain for a super-quick make

Looking at these intricate flower designs it’s hard to believe that they are made completely from polymer clay. Who knew something so delicate and classically vintage could be made in an oven! We’ve created a whole array of sizes to make this pretty floater necklace and added gorgeous blossom decal and filigree beads for a slightly Oriental twist. Make the earrings and ring too for glamour to go! Claire Nigeon teaches jewellery making classes at Craftability, Ipswich. Visit http://www.craftability-ipswich.co.uk for workshop dates.

Making the roses

1. Take a pea-sized piece of clay and soften it between your fingers. Flatten it between your thumb and index finger into an oblong shape. Starting at one end, roll the clay delicately into a coil so that it resembles the centre of a rose.
2. To make the petals, soften and flatten small pieces of clay, creating curved tops and apply to the central piece, overlapping each to give a pleasing effect. For ease when working, make the petal shape long and thin, so as to have something to hold onto.
3. When you are happy with the petal formation, make a hole through the rose about 3mm-4mm from the top using a needle or head pin. Slice off any excess clay with a sharp knife so the bottom is flat. For the necklace, you'll need to make eight blooms ranging between 1m and 2cm.
4. Make an extra 2cm bloom for the ring and two matching 1.5cm ones for the earrings. Do not put a hole through the earring roses as these will not need to be threaded. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to bake. Once cool, coat with a polymer clay varnish.

Necklace

1. Cut three equal lengths of nyloncoated wire. Lay each strand on a flat surface and attach a piece of tape lightly at one end to keep it taught. Starting approximately 10cm from one end, thread on a crimp bead. Squash with flat-nosed pliers and pass on a filigree bead.
2. Add another crimp and secure at the other side. Secure another crimp 2cm along and add a blossom round and crimp again. Slide on a prepared polymer clay flower, leave a 1cm gap then secure another filigree bead with more crimps.
3. Add a wooden bead 1cm from the previous with bead caps at each side and crimp to secure. Move along 1cm and add a larger clay flower. To finish this strand attach another two blossom decals, framed with bead caps and separated by a set of three bicones.
4. Decorate the other two strands in a similar way, making sure the clay roses and other bead types are equally distributed for a pleasing and random arrangement. When you've finished the three strands, bring the ends together and pass on a calotte and crimp bead, approximately 2cm from the end.
5. Squash the crimp with flat-nosed pliers. Add a dab of superglue and close the finding around the crimped end. Trim the excess wire. Secure the other end the same way. Finish off with a jump ring at one side and a jump ring and trigger clasp at the other.

Ring

1. Take a 15cm length of 0.5mm beading elastic. Thread on a 2cm polymer clay rose. Thread on four bicones at one side and five on the other. Try for size, then tie a knot in the elastic a few times. Trim and hide the knot by sliding over a bead.

Earrings

1. Put a dab of superglue on the back of each 1.5cm polymer clay rose made previously. Press firmly to the centre of a flat earring back. Hold in place for approximately 10 seconds then add on a scroll finding.