Amalgam Rings With Nunn Designs Crystal Clay

Rings inspired by fused rocks

Posted by Asherah Arts (formerly Lee Rose)

About

I wanted to try a big ring on a small budget. I also wanted to try making bails on my wire jig.

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You Will Need (5 things)

  • Crystal Clay from Nunn Designs
  • Glass Bead(s)
  • Wire
  • Wire Jig
  • Paint (I used a brassy copper color)

Steps (13 steps, 120 minutes)

  1. 1

    You will need: Crystal Clay, wire, glass beads, wire jig, paint

  2. 2

    lay out beads how you will want them for your ring. I opted for one simple pattern and one complex.

  3. 3

    Set the pegs in your wire jig in a way which resembles the size and shape of your bead layouts. Go around all the pegs, inside and outside, until you feel like you've created a sturdy network.

  4. 4

    Remove wires from jig and snip ends.

  5. 5

    Braid together three strands of wire to slightly bigger than the size of ring you want and integrate them into the piece you made on the wire jig, making sure all ends are pointed toward the center of the jigged piece.

  6. 6

    When all your parts are ready, mix equal parts of compounds A and B,

  7. 7

    making sure to integrate them until no streaks are showing.

  8. 8

    clay is completely mixed

  9. 9

    take 2/3 of the portion for each ring and press it into the front side of the ring. Take the other 1/3 and press it in from the inside to make sure all wire portions except the ring proper are covered. (picture is from after first part has been applied, but before second)

  10. 10

    use this base to press your beads or stones into

  11. 11

    When they are pressed in use your fingers to pull some of the clay up around the edges so they sit well and feel solid. Don't worry about getting clay on your stone because it scrapes off pretty easily once cured.

  12. 12

    Let sit and cure 24 hours. After the cure time you can scrape off any bits that got on your stones, and any burrs which may have formed.

  13. 13

    Originally I expected the brown to be a much more vibrant shade, but the colors do not change during curing. So after it the rings were all cleaned up I laid a layer of copper colored paint over the clay to spruce it up.