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10/09/2012

Ombre Clay Bracelet

Well today I thought I’d try combining two of my current addictions: polymer clay and bracelets.

It didn’t come out quite like I was hoping, frankly.  But you know – I am happy to admit when things don’t go as planned.  I didn’t feel like making it all over again, but if I did, I’d make the beads rounder.  I was aiming for beads that were pebble-shaped, all a little odd and slightly different shapes and sizes.  I saw a gorgeous necklace in a tourist town over the summer that had little river rock pebbles, and I wanted to do something similar (without rock-hunting and investing in the diamond-tipped drill bits to accomplish it).

Well, they looked like pebbles when I first made them, but after poking a sizeable hole in them for stringing… they kind of looked like… Cheerios.  Rounder would have looked nicer, I think.  I’ll still show you how I made them, in case it inspires you to improve upon my results. ;)

What you’ll need:

Polymer clay – at least one color and white to get your ombre effect.  I used a few shades of brown.
Toothpick, needle, skewer, etc. to make your holes.
24-48″ of hemp or cotton twine
Button

I pulled out a few shades of brown clay.  Some of it I mixed together for the subtle difference in shades.

 I only mixed up a little – about enough to make four beads in each shade.

Then I broke them up into my pebble shapes.  I was happy, I though it looked promising at this point… a variety of sizes and imperfect shapes.  In my head, this was exactly what I wanted.

I used a bamboo skewer to poke holes in them, and baked according to the package directions (which is different for different brands.  (Make sure that anything you are using with your clay is not something you use with food!)

Then, I moved onto making the bracelet.  I cut off 2 – 24″ strands of hemp twine (or cotton, or whatever you’re using).  You might only need one strand – I just made big holes, so I wanted to fill them.  (Hey – creativity doesn’t always have a specific reason, LOL).  I doubled them, and knotted off a loop closure to go along with a button.  (Make sure your button fits the loop before proceeding.)  This makes a 12″ strand to work with, which is much larger than what you need – but by the time you add your knots, and you may need to trim the ends as you work if they begin to fray, it’s better to have too much than not enough.

Next, I just strung the beads on, color-block-style, with each of the same-colored beads together.  This was when I notice that my pebble shapes were not the intended look I was going for.  But, being so close to finished – I continued. ;)

When I got to the end, I knotted it off.  Check the length against your wrist.  If you find you’re short, that’s okay – just make another knot.  Then, I tied my button onto the end.  To do that, just loop two of your strands through the buttonholes from the underside, over to the other hole, and back underneath.

Then tie it and trim it.  I put a dot of glue on it to help keep it secure before trimming.  And that’s it!

I’m deeming this one a disappointment.  Not an actual fail, because I still managed to make an ombre clay bracelet – but not a success because it wasn’t the look I envisioned in my head, you know?

What do you think?  How would you improve on this idea?

I link up to these great parties!

Filed Under: Bracelets, Jewelry, Polymer Clay, Tutorials

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I love it when you love my work! All tutorials and photos published at Happy Hour Projects are copyrighted. If you would like to feature my tutorial on your website or share it on your social media you may use one photo to feature, as long as you provide a link back to the original post.

If you feature a photo, it may not be accompanied by the project tutorial or recipe, whether in my own words as it originally appears or paraphrased by you. This also includes personal sharing on social media and Pinterest. Publishing multiple photos from a project, or including instructions with an accompanying photo are not permitted and you will be asked to remove them.

I love to share my projects, and my tutorials, recipes, and e-books are ALL free for your personal use. However, photos and ideas that are published to this site are my protected intellectual property. You may print them at home, but please do not copy or distribute them. I also allow all designs to be made and sold at fundraisers, craft fairs, etc. If you are selling a piece made from one or more of my free tutorials in your online shop, I require that you use your own, original photography, and include a link back to my website to credit me as the designer.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. SUMMER says

    10/16/2014 at 12:39 pm

    I REALLY LOVE THIS IDEA! I MADE SOME PEBBLES OUT OF CLAY MYSELF AND FOUND THAT AN OLD SANITIZED TOOTHBRUSH USED FOR TEXTURE LEAVES A VERY NICE ORGANIC POROUS LOOK. JUST TAP THE BRISTLES INTO YOUR CLAY REPEATEDLY. IT SEEMS THAT THE EXTRA POINTY BRISTLES ON THE END DO ESPECIALLY WELL. :)

    Reply
  2. Candy says

    03/16/2014 at 1:08 am

    I agree with Stephie, I love your bracelet. Its earthy, natural and beautiful. I just found your page on AFJ. I hope you don’t mind I have printed off several of your disigns. You make really beautiful jewelry. I’m just starting to do some clay I don’t know if that will be for me, but I loved you eggshell bracelet.
    Candy

    Reply
  3. Stephie says

    09/20/2013 at 8:38 pm

    Adrianne I think you created and amazing earthy bracelet. Thanks for the idea. I plan on adding some silver findings.

    Reply
  4. Adrianne at Happy Hour Projects says

    10/31/2012 at 1:14 pm

    I don't… I feel like the only one, LOL. Share it to the Happy Hour Facebook page, though, so everyone can see it – facebook.com/happyhourprojects or tag me on Pinterest if you share it there, pinterest.com/adrianne55. Can't wait to see it!!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      09/19/2019 at 3:05 am

      I was playing with mixing colors and had left over clay and decided I want to make ombre bracelet out of it. When I was searching for ideas I came actos your pictures…and tought: This is PERFECT! The earthy shape, the simplicity ????
      I really love your bracelet and sometimes the best thing come out as mistakes ?
      But if you don’t want the hole to mess with the shape, drill it after you bake. I bought ordinary drills fir wood (small diameter) and made a handle from clay. And I drill the holes by hand.

      Reply
  5. bup says

    10/31/2012 at 1:03 pm

    i made this
    didnt finish from coloring it
    but i would like you to see it when im done , do have an instgram ?

    Reply
  6. Lindsay says

    10/18/2012 at 4:49 pm

    Love it! You should make a Cheerio bracelet. You know, for the kids… or for people like me who get hungry.

    Thanks for sharing at Artsy Corner! :)

    Reply
  7. Jessi says

    10/14/2012 at 6:59 pm

    I love it! They look a bit like Cheerios with the hole poked through them, but once you string them on the bracelet I think they still look like little pebbles. :-) Thanks for sharing at The Fun In Functional!

    Reply
  8. Kathy Shea Mormino says

    10/12/2012 at 6:13 pm

    Hello, new follower here! I would love to have you link up with my Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week!
    http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/10/upcycled-chicken-coop-clever-chicks.html

    I hope to see you there!
    Cheers!
    Kathy
    The Chicken Chick

    Yours in poultry,
    Kathy Mormino
    The Chicken ChickTM

    Join me on Facebook
    Follow my blog: http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

    Reply
  9. Jill says

    10/12/2012 at 1:24 pm

    This is so cool! I love it!

    Reply
  10. Jessica Lucas says

    10/10/2012 at 2:12 pm

    I like it! I like your tone in your write-up too – that's totally how I feel about some of my projects. Definitely you don't have them all come out how you envisioned. I just got my first polymer clay to play with this week – I'm really looking forward to it!

    Jess @ tupelo creative

    Reply
  11. bup says

    10/10/2012 at 5:29 am

    omg i think its perfeeect
    and looks like a pebbel
    love it

    Reply
  12. Nadine says

    10/09/2012 at 5:45 pm

    I dunno…I think it's pretty cool! Not having a love affair with the whole ombre thing but they do kinda look like little stones. I hate when I have an vision/expectation in my head and I fall short but to an outsider it's still really great! I recently saw some zen stacked stone jewelry and you've given me an idea to try to DIY something similar!

    Reply
  13. Jillian says

    10/09/2012 at 3:53 pm

    I love this! Definitely going to try and make it!
    Thanks for the great tutorial!

    Reply
  14. Kadie says

    10/09/2012 at 12:31 pm

    I'm sorry that it didn't turn out the way it was in your head, I hate it when that happens. However I think it's cute, and I love the ombre. I think if you stacked it with a few other bracelets it would look fantastic.:)

    Reply
  15. Jillian Nicole says

    10/09/2012 at 12:05 pm

    This is something I would consider giving my preteen nieces as a present. It is simple and elegant. You did a great job.
    Jillian

    Reply
  16. Danni Baird says

    10/09/2012 at 10:28 am

    Adrianne, that is so cool! I love a good ombre project and this is a great one!

    Reply

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Hello, and welcome! I'm Adrianne, an artist, author, designer, and blogger in mid Michigan. I work from home, chase my two kids, and this once-city-girl is learning how to care for chickens and adjusting to life out in the country. I have a compulsion for daily creativity... sometimes it's jewelry-making, paper crafting, metal stamping, mixing and baking, or giving new life to recycled items. But with 2 young kids, time is short! My goal here at Happy Hour Projects is to share projects and tips that you can do in an hour or less. The ideas you find here are designed to add a little creativity in your day, no matter how much (or how little) time you have!

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