Wild Thing

Bag yourself a trophy with Corinne Bradd's funky animal print jewellery created from clay!

Corinne Bradd, MJ Designer

Try experimenting with millefiori canes to create a menagerie of different prints in funky colours. the beauty of this project is no one will ever know if it all goes wrong!

From zebra stripes to leopard spots, animal print has once again left the safari to strut the catwalk. Our chunky, eye-catching bangles are not only cruelty free, they have been decorated with layers of coloured polymer clay for a durable professional finish. Transform plain accessories or create your own striking pendants in an evening, then wear the next day as you prowl your territory!

Zebra Skin

1. Roll out half a block of white clay to a thickness of 2mm, creating a long thin rectangle a little shorter than the diameter of the bangle. Flatten one long side of a quarter block of black clay to a wedge shape and wrap with a thinly rolled out sheet of silver. Use a thin blade to cut 1mm thick slices of the silver and black piece.
2. Lay each of the slices onto the white rectangle, alternating the position of each to look like zebra stripes. Gently roll over the surface to flatten the stripes into the base. Wrap the bangle with the sheet of patterned clay and trim neatly at the join.
3. Smooth the clay over the curve of the bangle and gently ease the excess over the sides. Bake in an oven on a clean tile for 30 minutes at 110°C and allow to cool. Use a sharp knife to cut away the excess inside the bangle, rub down with fine sandpaper.

Leopard Print

1. Roll out half a block of white clay to a thickness of 2mm, creating a long thin rectangle a little shorter than the diameter of the bangle. Form a quarter block of black into a sausage shape, 1cm in diameter and wrap with a thinly rolled out rectangle of gold-effect clay, trimming neatly at the join and re-rolling to remove any air bubbles. Create another cane of red and use a thin blade to cut 25 1mm thick slices from both.
2. Roll the remaining black and gold stick down to a diameter of 5mm and cut more slices from this. Arrange the red circles on the white sheet of clay, leaving plenty of space around each. Lay black and gold in the two sizes around each red round to represent leopard spots. Gently roll over the surface of the clay to flatten the shapes into the base.
3. Wrap the bangle with the sheet of patterned clay and trim neatly at the join. Smooth over the curve of the bracelet and gently ease the excess over the sides. Bake on a clean tile for 30 minutes at 110°C and allow to cool. Use a sharp knife to trim away the excess inside the bangle, rub down with fine sandpaper and varnish as before.