How to use Epoxy Clay on Crystal Points to Create Unique Pendants Tutorial + Video

Over the years I have purchased many strands of crystal points. Enough strands worth that I had to say to myself, “unless you can design a way to use these, you can’t buy another crystal point!!” Do any of you have this issue?

This tutorial was the result of the design challenge I provided myself.

Supplies Needed:
• Crystal Points
• Epoxy Clay
• Clay Squishers
• PearlEx Mica Powders
• Rhinestone Chain
• 9mm Textured Jumprings

Other Supplies:
• Wet wipes
• Q-Tips
• Toothpicks

Tools:
• Needle Nose Pliers
• Flush Cutters
• Scissors

Step 1:
Using two pairs of needle nose pliers, make sure that the opening of the jump ring is flush. Place the tips of your needle nose pliers on the jump ring at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock. Move the jump ring back and forth with the needle nose pliers until the gap in the jump ring is flush. I like to complete this step while my hands are clean and before I start to handle the Epoxy Clay.

Step 2: 
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the handling and mixing of the Epoxy Clay. While wearing gloves, pinch off two equal sized balls the size of large blueberries of Part A and Part B and blend together fully until the clay is no longer marbled and uniform in color. You have approximately 90-120 minutes of working time before the clay starts to harden, so take your time. Once the clay is thoroughly mixed, remove your gloves to make it easier to work with the clay.

Step 3:
Pinch off a pea size mixed ball of the Epoxy Clay and set-aside for Step 6. Roll the remaining ball of clay in the palms of your hands until smooth and round. Any creases in the clay will be more challenging to smooth out later, so roll until it is nice and smooth.

Step 4:
Once your ball of Epoxy Clay is nice and smooth, use your fingertips to start to shape the ball of clay into a flat patty that is even in thickness. Place the flat patty of Epoxy Clay in the center of the end of your crystal point and wrap the clay around the point with your fingers until it is fully attaching to the crystal. Continue until the Epoxy Clay is smooth and you have an interesting sculpted look that you like. It will take a bit of playing to get the shape, coverage and thickness that you want when you first start playing with this technique. Give yourself time to explore knowing that you can peel the clay off of the Crystal Point and start all over if you don’t like how it looks. You have plenty of time to work with the clay before it starts to harden.

Step 5:
To attach the jump ring onto the main crystal point, roll the pea size ball of Epoxy Clay that you saved from Step 2 into a round ball using the palm of one of your hands and the fingertips from the other hand. Roll until the ball is smooth and without creases. Once you have a round smooth ball, create a snake like shape with the ball by rolling it the palms of your hands.

Step 6:
Thread the snake of the Epoxy Clay through the 9mm Textured Jump ring. Attach both ends of the Epoxy Clay snake onto the wrapped Crystal Point by pinching the clay with your fingertips until it is smooth and blended in with the clay wrapped around the crystal point.

Step 7:
Use a Q-Tip to apply some PearlEx Mica Powders to the surface to the Clay Squisher. PearlEx Mica Powder will create visual interest and highlights to the clay. The Mica Powder will also help the clay from sticking to the surface of the Clay Squisher.

Step 8:
Holding your Crystal Point, gently roll your Epoxy Clay covered Crystal Point across the Clay Squisher. To get even a better impression, you can also pick-up the Clay Squisher and wrap it around the Epoxy Clay covered crystal.

Step 9:
If you aren’t happy with your impression, use a wet wipe to remove some of the PearlEx Mica Powder. Use your fingers to gentle reshape the Epoxy Clay until the poor impression is no longer visible. Then repeat Step 8.

Step 10:
If you would like to add some bling to your Crystal Point, measure and cut a piece of Rhinestone Cup Chain. I like to make sure that I’ve cut the extra little bit of metal that is retracting in between the cups. To do this, try to make the metal piece show itself and snip it with a pair of Flush Cutters. Lay the measured and cut Rhinestone Stone Cup Chain along the top edge of the Epoxy Clay and press gently but firmly to embed it into the clay.

Step 11:
Move the jump ring attached with the Epoxy Clay back and forth to make sure that there is a large enough hole for the jump ring to move freely.

Step 12:
Lay your uncured and therefore soft and bendable Crystal Point on a section of a Zip-Lock or plastic with the Jump ring section of the pendant hanging off the edge of the table. Let cure for a minimum of 2 hours. Your piece will be firm, but it will continue to cure over the next 24 hours.

Watch the Video!

Watch me create one of these in this Beadaholique video.

Design Options:

Here is a sample of the crystal points being attached to a Nunn Design Open Bezel Channel Deep Large Circle. Same steps! Different finding! Awesome result!

And here is a sample using the crystal points on a Nunn Design Hammered Ring!

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