How I Make Polymer Clay Earrings

Every artist tends to have their own way of making polymer clay earrings and it is more interesting than you can imagine. Depending on the style I am going for, my process also changes but there is a standard procedure I follow when it comes to making polymer clay earrings and I wanted to share it with you. 

A lot of people look down on handmade jewelry makers and polymer clay artists which is why we aren't taken seriously as artists and that needs to change. My hope is that by learning more about my process, you will fully realize how much work goes into even one pair of earrings and that it is not as simple as it seems.

First I come up with a theme or a concept I want to work on. Sometimes my best work comes from those go-with-the-flow moments where I am just playing around, without a plan in sight. And other moments, I like to draw out my ideas and what themes I want to work with.

Playing and exploring is how I figured out my preferred process and style of art. I realized I do not like sticking to a niche, so I started making collections instead so that I can explore all the ideas in my head. Why limit myself with art?

Once I have an idea, I select my clay colors or custom mix my colors. For my best sellers, I like to use premade colors as much as possible to keep the process cost and time efficient. I then condition the clay, by hand and with using a pasta machine (yes, a pasta machine strictly for clay). Conditioning allows for the clay to become more pliable and will prevent breakage post baking. 

Depending on whether I want to make 3D or flat pieces, my process also differs. With hand sculpted pieces, I go right in without needing any prep, beyond conditioning the clay. I use my fingers and various tools to achieve the proper texture and shape that I want. This requires a higher level of skill, and one I enjoy doing the most.

For flat pieces, it requires more prepping steps. First, I use my pasta machine to usually thin out the clay to a desired size (pasta machines usually have a sheet dial on the side which retracts the blades narrower or wider to create thick or thin sheets of pasta). Then I add 3D elements on top either by using texture, paint, hand sculpted shapes or cutting more shapes and pieces on top of the flat clay. Then I cut out the final earring shape, either freehand, with a cutter or a blade. 

Once my pieces are cut, and I feel they look as best as they possibly can, I bake them in the oven at the appropriate curing temperature for a certain amount of time. Then once it is baked and cooled, I can sand, drill and assemble the pieces. 

Sanding is also a laborious process but one that allows for my finished pieces to look polished and professional. I often get compliments on how clean my work looks and how I pay attention to the backs of my pieces as much as the front. This is a huge compliment for a handmade artist like myself. There are many different sanding processes, but I personally prefer using my hand drill since it is fastest for production (especially since I create 20-50 pairs of new earrings for every public in person event).

• Now I wanted to answer a question I get all the time: how long does it take you to make your earrings? It depends. For something that is one solid color, one shape it could be as quick as 5-7 minutes (excluding bake time and assembly). But for something like my hand sculpted florals, or more intricate miniature sculptures like my anatomical hearts, it can take anywhere from 2-3 hours for ONE pair of earrings. That is also why prices range from $20-$150+ depending on how much effort, time and money a pair took me. 

Are you exhausted just reading all this? Now imagine spending hours doing this for work! I love my job so much, but I also want people to know that it is WORK and there is a reason why my pieces are priced the way they are and why we call ourselves artists. 

I work really hard to make beautiful, detailed jewelry and decor, so I want others to value the process as much as the finished result. I want people to know how seriously I take my full time job as an artist, and the tremendous care and effort I put into every pair of earrings.

Thank you for reading and I hope you learned something new today!