How to Make Polymer Clay Pendants with a Silver Spoon
Were you born with a Silver Spoon in your mouth? How about one around your neck?
A long time ago, I made wind chimes with old silverware. So did Doug's dad (Doug is my hubby by the way). Recently his parents downsized to an apartment and I inherited a bunch of their wind chime silverware collection.
So there they were, boxes of spoons, forks and knives, sitting in my studio waiting to be sorted and stored amidst my vast collection of craft supplies. Then it hits me…
"Spoons are made of silver right? I'm always keeping a eye out for silver bevels to put polymer clay in. Why couldn't I use the spoons for bezels?" An idea is born!
Silver spoon polymer clay pendants!
Out came my hacksaw and off went the handle. (Saved for another project.) Leaving a short stub that was long enough to curl back for a bail, next I got out my file and smoothed off the cut end. I also beveled the end a bit, so that once it was bent back, it would lay down flat and smooth.
I grabbed my round nose pliers and carefully bent back the stub into a nicely rounded bail. It was quite tricky to do being short and I made a mental note to make the stub longer next time.
A fine grit sandpaper (600 grit) was used to get rid of any nicks on the spoon and to clean up the inside of the bowl. Then rubbing alcohol to clean away any residue or traces of filings.
Next I filled the bowl of the spoon with scrap polymer clay. You can press it in well and fill past the full line because it is easy to trim away the excess with your blade.
Taking slices from some of my millefiori canes, I added them to the base clay and smoothed over the joints with my acrylic rod. Trimming any clay that had pushed its way over the edge.
The pendant was baked in the oven for 1 hour at 265 degrees. Once cooled, the polymer clay popped easily out of the spoon, which made sanding and buffing quite easy. It then was glued in with Krazy glue, being careful not to squish any glue out onto the top of the pendant.
I loved it! The back of the spoon rests nicely against your skin and even warms up a little with your body heat. The clay is protected on all sides and the back giving the pendant a great deal of durability. The silver is worn and aged and has a timeless beauty to it. And it gives the piece some weight and the feeling of quality.
Since that first pendant which was given to Doug's mom for a Mother's Day gift, I have made several different versions. Some of the handles were kept on and bent into a hook. And some of the handles that were removed were made into pretty bails for making other polymer clay pendants.
One of these days I'll make a video course all about how to make polymer clay pendants if you guys are interested. Until then, look for inspiration in places you never thought to look… maybe even your silverware drawer!
Filed Under: 02: Tools, 11: Bead Projects, 12: Inspiration by Comment. 
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Comments on How to Make Polymer Clay Pendants with a Silver Spoon
9:45 am
Cindy,
I love what you have done with your web site! I have not been able to purchase any videos as I am disabled and on a fixed income and with gas prices my funds are strained. I do not like to ask my son for extras but now you are offering full videos free and I think it gives people the oppertunity to come back over and over again. Offering projects and inspirational things can;t be beat. Keep it up Cindy–it WILL only get better!!!
6:06 pm
Thanks Christine! I am glad you noticed how we have changed the site so it can become a great reference tool for people who want to make polymer clay beads! The full videos offered to people on the Beads And Beading Guest List are meant to be a gift for those who have made the effort to subscribe.
I hope other people get as much out of them as you have! I also hope that things turn around quickly for you so that you can pursue your passions!
Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Polymer Clay Sale at Michaels Arts and Crafts
11:01 am
Another great idea you came up with there, Cindy! Gave me some ideas, for sure….have quite a bit of "inherited" silverware that just sits in its chest tarnishing. What a good way for it to see daylight again!
Wondering about the handle..some of mine has beautiful patterns…hmmm, could I possible bend that forward and incorporate it as part of the bail?? (I have used them for texturing clay with wonderful results!)..
Just sitting here pondering…
Thanks for the inspiration!
10:28 am
Thanks Garnie! Yes you could bend the handle forward and incorporate it into the bail! The backside of the handle will show, though a lot of handles are very pretty on the back. I have bent them back and it works wonderfully. I would love to see what you come up with!
That is a great idea for texturizing, will have to try that sometime!
Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Polymer Clay Finishes – Which One Is Best?
4:38 am
OH MY I love this!!!!!!!!! This is soo unique I have never seen it before.
Thanks for another great post Cindy!
8:00 am
Thanks for the sweet comment Kristy!
Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Polymer Clay Tools for Softening Clay Quickly
11:31 am
Very cool idea! I'd love to see a video tutorial! :D
7:39 am
Thanks dogeatdog! I checked out your Etsy site and you have some very cool jewelry! I love the Pac Man earrings and the sweet tooth necklace… and the scull rings… and the….
I think this tutorial will be going into a pendant making course so stay tuned!
Cindy's last blog post..Adding Polymer Clay Cane Slices to Lentil Beads
8:11 am
Creative idea on the spoon. I have been so busy with baby season (I do wildlife rescue and take in orphans) that I have been unable to check your web site and just today saw the video on the food processer. Clear and very understandable.
5:36 pm
Thanks Patricia, that's sweet! I'm glad the video was helpful for you. What kind of wild babies are you taking care of?
Cindy's last blog post..Learning About Polymer Clay Color Mixing – Maggie Maggio Style
8:20 pm
Oh wow…this is amazing! I will be trying this out FOR SURE!!! There are so many ideas flying around my head right now!! WOW!!!
5:25 pm
Thank You Keri Lee! I know that feeling you get when the ideas are 'flying around in your head'… it's a great feeling isn't it? Makes you feel alive!
Cindy's last post..Jones Tones Foil Paper, Mona Lisa Metal Leaf and Polymer Clay Beads
7:31 pm
I love this project. Please make the video!!! I will be saving spoons and looking at the flea market for others!!!
4:19 pm
You're not the only one Brenda who wants me to do a video tutorial Brenda… now I may just have to!
Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Making Handmade Jewelry using Polymer Clay Leaf Beads
5:08 pm
I knew I was saving those spoons for a reason. Thanks for this article and thanks for the treasure hunt if not for that I might have missed this one.
6:50 pm
I'm glad you found it CraftyLinda! Great blog BTW!
Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Mokume Gane Polymer Clay Canes for Pendant and Bead Jewelry Making
6:54 pm
Love your work!!!!! What a neat idea using an old spoon as a bezel. I really enjoy your tutorials and your blog. It has given me the inspiration i was looking for.
8:48 pm
Absolutely, genius. I too have made wind chimes with beads, old silverware, etc. Now of course I have a whold drawer full of old silverware, this is great idea.
i will try this and send pics if i can. i have one question-"how did you cut the silver?"
thanks
6:33 pm
@Bev: Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. That is so nice to hear!
@Debi: Love to hear the word genius! I would love to see your work. BTW I cut the silver with a hacksaw. Thank you for the comment!
9:24 am
I love this idea!!! It looks good, and sure puts old silverware to good use. It gives those of us who do not want to make our own bezels a new and unique already formed bezel to use. Thanks Cindy
Adrienne
2:14 pm
I agree Adrienne… not everyone can or wants to make their own bezels from scratch. This is a beautiful and unique looking bezel that doesn't require a lot of experience to make!
4:57 am
I know my friend would laugh if I wore a spoon but it's still a unique idea
11:47 pm
thanks cindy for answering my comment, i am just starting this blogging thing. i really feel the need to be in touch with other clayers.
i have created my blogsite and have posted a pic of me and three of my dolls. i would love your feedback. i havent taken any pics of my jewerly yet.
thanks for taking the time to look and maybe you can let me know what you think and you can be brutally honest.
thanks,
debi
11:57 pm
Debi… I love your dolls! I think they have a lot of personality. I'm not crazy about the display boxes though. They aren't as classy as your dolls and I feel they take away from them.
I was thinking your dolls would make wonderful pendants if they were made smaller. They are really arty looking, and would be fun to wear!
As far as blogging, keep doing what you're doing. Post often in order to develop a strong following. And make sure to give your post titles good descriptive titles for the search engines to index. Also make sure to go out and comment on other blogs with similar themes so that other clayers will start to recognize your name.
Just be yourself. That always works best.
Thanks for being part of the community here. It's great to get to know you and your art.
11:08 am
I was just looking at your spoon idea and it is great! I get all of it how to do it but what is over the top of clay? Resin? Embossing powder? Also how do you keep level with whatever glaze you may use. Thanks. Heidi
3:44 pm
Hi Heidi! The coating I used for this pendant was just a very thin layer of Future Floor Finish. Since it is such a thin layer there is no issue with the clay staying level. If you would like to learn more about which finish to use on your pieces, click the link by my name.
9:55 am
What a great idea, Cindy!
I am sure I still have some – horribly tarnished! – silver spoons somewhere…but we're going to a huge flea market tomorrow and I am sure to find some there….I can't wait to try it :-))
11:05 am
Cool! Hope you land some great finds Caroline!
Don't polish all of your silver spoons though. Some people work very hard to get that great patina on their pieces. So you may want to keep some tarnished for certain vintage looking projects, especially if you want to get into Steampunk Jewelry. It looks best with a little age to it!
5:16 am
Yes! This is absolute genius! I've been looking at bezels now for some time and hating the cost of them. This solves that problem quite nicely!
Thanks Cindy. You are always an inspiration!
5:35 pm
Thanks aims! That is exactly the reason I thought to use the spoons in the first place!
4:58 am
Love the spoon idea. Everytime I think I have seen all your comments and valued information I somehow come across an idea I have never seen before. Will I ever catch up with everything you have sent our way. I am just baffled at all the wisdom in that cute little mind of yours. You are so kind to share all of it with us. You are a very giving unselfish human whom is loved by all who meet you. I am just thrilled to have a fraction of what is in your mind to inspire me more and more each day.
I can't thank you enough Cindy for sharing all of this with all of us.
THANK YOU MANY TIMES OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3:49 pm
And I'm just getting going Peggy. Thank you for your kind words!!!!!!
4:15 pm
i took spoons and put some clay i didn't need and put a lacy clay over it
then made 3dem roses with butterflies on top they are really quite
eye catching will send pictures if you want do i e-mail them?
4:25 pm
Yes June, you can send me you pictures. I'll forward my address to you via email.
3:36 pm
**PHOTOS ADDED: I just posted the pictures that June emailed to me of her polymer clay spoon jewelry. You can click on the "Polymer Clay creative Art Therapy" link by my name to have a look.
12:36 pm
I'm so glad this tutorial is coming up next month. If I wasn't already a member, I would be joining up now so that I could get the tutorial at the great member price! This is going to be exciting! Just looking at all the things you can do with this spoon jewelry technique has got the inspiration gears a-turnin'!
2:59 pm
Oooh, just two more weeks until your spoons video. Well, Faux Opals next week, then Spoon Pendants/Bails the following Friday. This is a wonderful tut month so far, and promises to continue it's greatness…
I just got "led" here by following a link from your Fimo Nail Art Designs post. It's amazing how the cane you used above can be reduced so tiny for Nail Art. I love that cane; it was in the first back issue I bought! (Vol-015)