Art Deco Pendant with Polymer Clay

A little bit of creativity + affordable materials = instant gratification for lovers of the Jazz Age.

• Difficulty Level: Beginner
• Completion Time: 1 hour

Watch a video overview:

In the 1920s and 1930s, Bakelite - a form of lightweight but durable plastic - was used to create streamlined jewelry designs available to fashionable individuals of all budgets. However, Bakelite fell out of favor as it was flammable! We can help you create that Art Deco look and realize your favorite designs with cost-effective, lightweight polymer clay designed for jewelry... but unlike Bakelite, this clay is designed to take the heat.

What you'll need

Before you begin, make sure you have all the supplies you'll need. The list below contains all the products we used to create the example shown in this demo. Materials are optional based upon your own design.

• Soft polymer clay (we used Sculpey Souffle Oven-Bake Clay in Pistachio, Igloo, Poppyseed, and Pumpkin, a lightweight clay designed specifically for jewelry; however, Fimo Soft in transparent colors produces a translucent effect much like actual Bakelite)
  • Note: You can also find multicolored Fimo assortments and Sculpey multipacks
• Chain or other Jewelry Findings
• Needle-Nosed Pliers
• Craft or Utility Knife
• Oven or Toaster Oven
• Rolling Pin or Cylinder
• Ruler/Straightedge

1. Prepare Your Clay

Knead the clay with your hands until it is soft and easy to work with.

2. Roll and Cut Your Pieces

Roll your clay into a flat sheet about 1/8 in. thick. Using your straightedge, trim into a square shape and set aside. Following the same process with a different color, cut a rectangle that is approximately 1/4 in. narrower and 1/4 in. taller than your square. Repeat with a third color, also narrowing and lengthening by an extra 1/4 in.

3. Stack and Press

Stack the rectangles symmetrically atop the square, with the narrower of the two on top. Press gently to fuse the parts together.

4. Make Your Loop Piece

For your center band, which will also serve as a loop for your pendant to hang on a chain, roll a piece of your fourth color into a thin rope and then roll flat. Carefully trim the edges and lay atop your rectangles like a vertical belt, folding around the bottom to the back. Fold the top into a loop with enough room for your chain to easily pass through. Press the band section gently across the front and back to fuse.

5. Bake

Bake your pendant in an oven or toaster oven at 275° for 30 minutes per 1/4 in. of thickness. As our rectangles and loop piece were less thick than our square, ours took approximately 45 minutes. Do not exceed the recommended baking time!

6. Add Your Chain

After your pendant has fully cooled, thread your chain through the loop at the top. Enjoy!

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