Activ-Clay Bead Necklace

Supplies

• 1 - Package White Activ-Clay
• 1 - Poly Blade by AMACO
• 1 - 20 Ft. Spool Beadalon Gold .015 Bead Stringing Wire
• 1 – 1 Ounce Package, Bead Heaven Amber Sm. glass beads
• 1 - (Three gram) Package Size 2, Beadalon Gold Plated Crimp beads
• 1 - (Two gram) Package Size 1, Beadalon Gold Plated Crimp beads
• 1 - Beadalon Crimping Tool
• 1 - 16 piece Package of Crystal Innovations Swarovski Crystal Beads TOPAZ
• 1 - (17 grs) Tube of Blue Moon Topaz glass pony beads
• 1 - 2 fl. oz. Folk Art Artist Pigment Raw Sienna Acrylic Paint.
• 1 - Package (assorted sizes) Hirschberg& Schultz Co. Jump Rings
• 1 - Package Hirschberg& Schultz Co. Gold plated Lobster claw clasps
• 1 - Pair Hirschberg & Schultz Co. Needle-Nose Pliers, Pencil, scissors, sponge, paper plate, and small plastic container for water.

Directions

STEP 1 Dampen your hands and then form and flatten 2 rectangles of Activ-Clay that are 1/4” thick, 1” long and 3/4” wide. Cut one of these rectangles in half creating two smaller same sized rectangles.

STEP 2 Unfold the paper clip to create the tool that you will pierce your beads with. In the large rectangular bead you will make two holes running parallel to each other through the vertical length of the bead. Space the holes 1/4” apart at the center on the bead’s edge. (See Illustration #1) Make a couple of passes in both channels from both directions (top to bottom to top). Reshape, smooth and flatten if necessary being careful not to close up your holes.

STEP 3  Repeat this process on both of the smaller rectangular beads only pierce the smaller beads on the width (horizontal side).

STEP 4  On the large bead, using your pencil draw opposing spirals, making one slightly larger at the top. Repeat this process on the smaller beads only making one spiral per bead, filling most of the face of the bead. Let beads dry. (See Illustration #2)

STEP 5  Squeeze out a dime sized portion of Raw Sienna acrylic paint on the paper plate. Use the paintbrush to mix in water to thin the paint and create a wash. Dip a dry sponge in and then dab off excess paint until very little is left in the sponge. Next dab over the entire surface of your beads as you see fit. Making them look aged and more valuable.

STEP 6  Cut four 26” strands of Gold stringing wire.

STEP 7  Hold two 26” wires together as one, and string a Size # 2 crimp bead 1” from the end, through the loop end of the lobster claw clasp and then back through the crimp bead. Crimp it. Repeat this process with the second two strands attaching them to a jump ring (the second half of the clasp).

STEP 8  On the lobster clasp strands, measure down and leave 7” of stringing wire bare, then hold the two ends together and string a Size #1 crimp bead and crimp. Repeat this step on the second (jump ring) strand.

STEP 9  Next you will be creating a two-inch length of space before the first small clay beads are added in which you will separate the strands and decorate them individually. To do this start on the lobster claw (L.C.) strand, separate the two wires. You will be randomly suspending small groups of beads on each wire before going down into one of the small Activ-Clay rectangular beads. Do this by first stringing a crimp bead on one of the wires and crimp it. Next add a combination or group of selected beads of your choice (between 3 – 8 beads) and then string on a second crimp bead (and crimp) to hold them in place. You must MAKE SURE to leave at least 1/2” of space wire at the end of each wire, at the bottom 2” length of space (before the Activ-Clay bead). See Illustration #3, after that half inch of space string one Size one crimp bead, crimp it and string 1 topaz pony bead before running the wire down through the right hole of the small rectangular bead. (Spiral face up) String a crimp bead and crimp to secure. Add another topaz pony bead and another crimp bead. Crimp it.

STEP 10  Repeat this same process on the second wire. Except you will run the wire down through left side hole of the rectangular Activ-Clay bead. Also you will want to place the small bead group in a slightly different place, using a different group of beads.

STEP 11  Repeat steps 11 & 12 on the wires of the jump ring strand. Use different beads and place in different places only remembering the 1/2” of space before the rectangular bead. You want the crimp bead, pony bead, crimp bead combo (after the 1/2” of space) to be in the same place so the wires lay nicely. Make sure they are not twisted before crimping the bead after stringing it through the Activ-Clay bead.

STEP 12  Next you will follow this very same process on both sides (or strands) of your necklace to create a space between the small rectangular beads and the large focal point rectangular bead where the strands all come back together. The space this time is 2 1/4” in length, and there is no need to leave any wire showing directly before entering the large Activ-Clay bead. On each of the 4 wires within the 2 1/4" space make.

STEP 13  On the jump ring strand split the two wires and begin stringing on one by creating one or two grouping of beads suspended with crimp beads. This time filling up most of the space, though do leave some wire showing in places. Use many of the crystal beads here. When you reach the bottom of the 2 1/4" space (the top being just below the small clay bead above) bring the two wires back together and string a Size 2 crimp bead and crimp. Next thread these two wires down the top, left hole of the large rectangular bead. String another Size #2 crimp and crimp it.

STEP 14  Repeat this step on the L.C. strand using different beads and differing bead groupings.

STEP 15  To create the fringe, cut a 10” strand of the gold stringing wire. String a Size #1 crimp bead on it, no need to crimp. Double the wire in half and holding both ends together thread down through the top right hole of the large rectangular bead. String a Size #2 crimp bead on and crimp.

STEP 16  Choose your favorite beads for this section using many of the crystal beads here for glitz. You will work on each wire individually placing random groups or individual beads with spaces of gold wire showing in between groups. Each bead or combination of beads will be held in place by a crimp bead above and below bead or group of beads. Make each of the wires different using different beads and placing them in different places. Trim the wires so each wire is a different length with the longest being 3 3/4” long. Trim wire off ends so no wire is left showing on ends.