Have you ever wanted to add a personal touch to your keys but couldn’t find a keychain that truly represents your style and personality, or do you want to give an original DIY gift?
Polymer clay is an easy way to create a unique, one-of-a-kind keychain.
This tutorial will show you how to create a simple fish charm.
We will need the following tools:
- Headpin
- Roller
- Cutting knife
- Wire cutter
- Needle-nose pliers
- Tile (for baking the clay)
And also the following material:
- White polymer clay
- Blue polymer clay
- One large oval bead
- Two small round beads (can be made of any material)
- Jump ring
- Strap
First, we string the beads onto the headpin in the order shown in the picture, leaving a small amount of space at the top for the loop. Cut the excess wire using the wire cutter. Use the needle-nose pliers to create a loop at the top of the headpin.
Now, we draw the fish according to the size of the bead.
We knead the polymer clay until it is soft and pliable and rolling out the clay until it is a uniform thickness. Then we can place the fish template and cut out two identical fish shapes.
Now, we take one of the fish shapes and place the beads onto it, ensuring that the loop on the headpin is facing upwards. Gently press the beads into the clay to secure them in place. The beads should be embedded in the clay, but the loop should still be visible and accessible.
Then we take the second fish shape and place it on top of the first one, making sure the beads are sandwiched between the two layers of clay. Gently press the two layers together and smooth the edges to join the pieces. If you feel that the tail of the fish is too large, you can use the cutting knife to trim off a small piece of clay until you are satisfied with the size.
Next, we take a small amount of white polymer clay and roll it into a thin, narrow strip. Then we cut the strip into small, equal-sized pieces and roll it into a small ball using our fingers.
Finally, we press the individual balls onto the fish and make decorative grooves on the tail. When we are finished, we bake in the oven at 130°C for 30 minutes.
