Shoots and Leaves

Create Claire Nigeon's summery jewellery with multi-coloured beads and polymer clay charms

Claire Nigeon, MJ Designer

This set would look great with a summer dress. You could also make a matching ring by gluing a polymer clay leaf onto a ring base

Summer is all about colour, the brighter the better and these pretty pieces definitely fit the bill! We've made delicate polymer clay leaves using plunger cutters, then strung them onto beaded thread with crystals and ribbons to make a long, flapper style necklace. If you prefer something shorter, try creating our clustered pendant, then use any leftover clay to form a pair of matching earrings.

Necklace

1. Make up 11 polymer clay leaves; three in pink, three in green, three in blue and two in red. Soften each colour in your hand and flatten until it measures around 4mm, then cut out the leaves with a plunger cutter. Make holes at the top of each with a cocktail stick, bake in an oven following the manufacturer's instructions, and leave to cool. Afterwards, stipple the leaves with antique gold acrylic paint and allow to dry.
2. Cut two, 1m lengths of cream beading thread and knot together a few times at one end. Pass onto a needle and thread seed beads to around 14cm. Place a jump ring on one strand and thread more seeds on both strands to around 7cm. Add another jump ring on one strand and thread with 7cm more seed beads. Repeat until you have added 11 jump rings at 7cm intervals, finishing with 14cm of seeds and knotting the end tightly.
3. Cut a 3cm length of wire, feed it through the hole in a leaf and make a wrapped loop. Repeat for all the other leaves and attach one to each of the jump rings on the necklace. Thread various beads onto head pins, with or without bead caps, secure with plain loops and add two or three to each jump ring near the leaves. Cut short lengths of organza ribbon and tie onto some sections for added decoration. Secure necklace ends either side with a dab of superglue, attach jump rings to both and a trigger clasp on one to finish.

Pendant

1. Make two red leaves in the same way as for the necklace. Attach jump rings and a 20cm length of chain either side of a 40mm goldplated bar, finishing with a trigger clasp at one end of the necklace. Cut two, 3cm lengths of wire, thread onto the leaves and make wrapped loops.
2. Attach each leaf to a small length of chain. Add a jump ring to the top of one chain and another a few links along so that the chain hangs down, then attach to a hole in the bar. Thread beads and bead caps onto head pins and secure randomly to each loop, and on the small pieces of chain. Tie in short lengths of ribbon randomly to finish.

Earrings

1. Make two red leaves in the same way as the necklace, but do not add any holes. After they have been baked and cooled, stick earring backs to the reverse with superglue.