Video #741: Well maybe there isn’t exactly a 1,000,0001 necklaces in today’s video, but there are sure are a lot… and I wear them all!
A little while back, we did a Million and One Polymer Clay Earrings video that was quite well received. So I thought it would be nice to do something similar, only this time with my polymer clay necklaces.
I don’t include pendants in this presentation, otherwise it would end up being a 2,000,001 video ;)
All of today’s necklaces are from own personal collection… projects that I have made throughout the years in the course of creating all the tutorials for the PcT Members Library. I wear them all.
The reasons for showing you these necklace designs, are… 1) To give you some jewelry making ideas on how to use your own polymer clay beads, charms and pendants… 2) To show you examples of pieces that you could learn how to make if you did want to purchase any of my paid tutorials… and 3) To give open your eyes to the limitless possibilities of what is possible with polymer clay.
The pieces I show in today’s video, represent my own personal style… but of course there are tons of other styles you can create with polymer as well!
If anything in particular catches your eye, just let me know in the comments section below, and I will post a link to that specific tutorial.
This video is a little longer than usual, but I hope you take the time to watch it to the very end to absorb as much inspiration as possible.
Have fun creating your own collection of wonderfully unique polymer clay necklaces!
- Related Video: A Million And One Polymer Clay Earring Designs
- Related Video: Reptile Hollow Lentil Beads Vol-074 Tutorial
- Related Video: Lay-Flat Polymer Clay Curb Chain Vol-049 Tutorial
- Related Video: Make Your Own Polymer Clay Bead Cones Vol-047 Tutorial
- Related Video: Faux Enamel & Viking Knit Vol-067 Tutorial
Do you have any suggestions for videos on tips, techniques or products you would like to learn more about? Let me know in the comments section below!
My goal is to help you to learn quicker and easier ways to bring up the professionalism in your polymer clay art.
Oh and don’t forget to give these videos a Thumbs Up click at YouTube if you are enjoying them. The more Likes a video gets, the higher it rises in the searches. And that means even more people will be able to join in on this polymer clay journey of a lifetime.
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Looking forward to hearing from you!
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I loved seeing all your necklaces (and your earrings) and really seeing all that can be done with polymer clay. You have quite an eye for design! I am a newbie and being able to see some of your early work and how you’ve grown is quite inspirational for me. It gives me hope for what I might do in the future.
Thank you Laurie! I think it is important to keep some of your own work at the various stages of you development. It helps you to see how far you have come and gives you an insight into what your true artistic voice is. You will see the styles, techniques and skills change over the years but you will also see the threads of who you are in each piece that stays the same.
Looking at my own body of work, I can see that I am an earthy person with a quirky personality. I like contrast in styles (frilly flowers mixed with heavy chain) and my color choices tend to be very nature inspired. I also tend to lean to the masculine in design (leather, metal, clunky, graphic, stone) but also love the feminine as far as subject and color (flowers, purple, pinks, crystals, etc.).
Now that you are starting out, make sure not to throw out your beginning stuff. Keep some as a reminder. Be proud of where you are and excited about where you will go. Becoming an expert at something is a result of knowledge, patience and practice. Put the time in and you’ll get where you want to go! :)
I love how you combine different types of metal chain, both the color and the type. I make beads and then think, “What am I going to do with it now?” Thanks for the inspiration.
You’re welcome Anna! That very reason was why I started making the longer full project tutorials, so that people that were stuck on ideas, would have at least one thing they could think of to make right out of the box, so to speak. I am glad that this video will give you some additional ideas. I would love to hear about what you end up making now with your beads! :)
How fun to see all those necklaces! I recognize so many elements from them and the fun I had making so many of them. I think you should have another video showing all of the canes you made. That would be so exciting!
I will definitely add that to the list Dixie Ann. Thanks for the suggestion… I hadn’t actually thought to add them. Planned on doing a million and one pendants, bracelets, and beads… but not the canes. Perhaps it would have dawned on me later when I sat staring at that wall of drawers filled with canes!! LOL
Oooh I think I’ll also add handmade findings to the mix!
I would love that. You do such a great job on them. Have you taken metal smithing classes or would you say more self taught?
I am primarily self taught Laurie, though I have consulted books and the internet if I am having a problem getting the metal to do what I want or to do research on a specific tool. I don’t have any formal training though.
This question is not related to the video – I loved seeing all your necklaces. So inspiring! I want to write a message on polymer clay and was wondering hat kind of pen I should use. Also, do i write it after it is baked and then bake again? Will the micron pens work?
Hi Cheryl, I haven’t done a ton of writing on clay. I have used the Sakura Micron Pens and the Sakura Souffle pens. I find they do better if they are heat set. You can write on the clay after it is baked and then hit it with a heat gun or pop it in the oven for 10 minutes to set it.
I have also used the Sharpie Oil Markers… there is a video on it. And I just got some fillable paint markers that you can put any acrylic paint in, which work really well. I need to do more testing and experimenting with that though because there are so many options that are out there and not all of them will work with polymer clay.
I wish there was more time to try all that I want to try! :)
As you went counter-clockwise around all your necklaces, I kept waiting for you to talk about the most prominent two that are on the cream-colored padded necklace displays. You stopped just short of them! Do you mention them in another video?
I’m sorry Lani, I noticed that after I was done filming… I was rushing at the end because it was getting pretty long!
The knotted green bead necklace with the purple flower ends is the sample necklace from my Crocus Bead Lariat Tutorial.
And the Green and Purple Neckwires on the other bust are from the Reptile Pattern Hollow Lentil Bead Tutorial.
Beautiful Designs Cindy.
Dear Cindy,
I enjoyed this review. It’s just what I needed. I’m really struggling with necklace design, and I’m so tired of just putting pendants on a chain.
Thanks to you I can do a lot of wonderful things with polymer clay, but I need better ways to use the pieces. This was a great overview.
I really enjoy it when you talk about the wire gauge you use, and how to make your own findings for certain projects.
Can you recommend a resource to teach me about fibers, and rubber cording, and leather and when to use wire and pieces of chain? I’d like to know how to balance a side pattern and the optimal curve for a bib type necklace? I’d like to understand metric chain measurements. I know the mechanics of attaching findings, but I don’t know how to mix different media for innovative pieces.
Thanks for experimenting with all these stuff so you can pass it on!
Lynn
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Hi Lynn, thank you so much for your comment! I will be adding more info about all the things you mentioned, over time. There are so many different mediums/supplies/techniques that can be used in jewelry design that there is an endless supply of ideas that can be shared. What I recommend is that you make sure to experiment and try every type of material and design style that ‘comes across your desk’. What I mean is that when you go through the past tutorials or try a new one… do the full project, even if it is in a style that you don’t really like. Also feel free to swap out a material like leather instead of chain. That kind of thing. Even if you design isn’t that well done, you will gain experience working with the material. There are lots of others on Youtube who design with other materials as well that you can learn from. There are magazines, books and videos everywhere. I know the imortance of understanding how to work with a variety of materials, so I promise to continue to share what I have learned. But I also believe that playing and experimenting is a great way to learn. Good design comes from constantly trying new things and not being afraid to make lots of bad designs until you get to the good ones. Most importantly have fun!
Lynn, trust me what Cindy has said about trying everything! Many times I wasn’t that excited about some tutorials but found after getting halfway through them, I really did learn something and the excitement of realizing I could change it up really got the juices flowing. Never give up! Like Cindy says, go back and try it again later when you feel more adequate to complete things. Good luck, you sound like Me at one time. Wanting to learn everything at once! lol
Well said Dixie Ann! :)
Hi Cindy,
I was watching your video (Million and One Polymer Clay Necklace Designs) and saw a bead you mentioned you have a tutorial for called the Frosted leaf tutorial (you weren’t sure about the name). It comes up at about 15:16. I’ve searched both Youtube and your website for this tutorial and can’t find it. Help please! I’m in the middle of a necklace I’d planned to make these for not thinking it would be hard to find the tutorial. It’s for an upcoming birthday gift.
I’m in love with your videos. By far the best I’ve found anywhere. Being fairly new to polymer clay I find that the details so many others miss are of huge importance. You go into those, thank goodness. I roughed my way along loving working with the clay but with many more failures than successes until I discovered your channel. Now I have more successes than failures!
Thank for the kind words Terri. So glad to hear that my videos are leading you to more successes than failures :)
That tutorial you are asking about is the 3rd lesson in the Vol-044 Back Issue. Here is the link… Frosted Rainbow Beads