DIY Polymer Clay Jewelry Dish, Clay Jewelry Bowl Tutorial with Gold Leaf Edges, Craft Tutorial

In this video, I show yow how I make jewelry dishes with polymer clay for my website and online shop, www.timberandchain.com.
UPDATE! I know clay jewelry artists feel that Sculpeyiii is evil. It may be for jewelry, but mixing it with Sculpey Premo, Souffle, or even FIMO and other brands is key because of the ease and pliability. It works spectacularly for bowls and dishes. If used alone, it's brittle and bubbly after baking, but when mixed, it works great for bowls and dishes.
Each week, I'll give you easy to follow, step-by-step instructions and suggestions on making each piece in my online shop, from jewelry and jewelry holders to paintings and sculptures. And, on every video I'll leave a list of all materials used and links including where to purchase them.
Let me know in the comments what you'd like to see next, and thanks for watching! Subscribe so you don't miss a thing.
MATERIALS: The direct links for these can all be found on my blog at www.timberandchain.com/blog.
I had links in the description below, but KZbin made them non-functional. I've listed where I purchased everything so you can just search those.
Sculpey Polymer Clay (you can get this at most craft stores, and on Sculpey.com, but polymerclaysuperstore.com and Hobby Lobby in-store have the best selection at the best prices. Michaels.com online (for the little bit the have stocked) has the best prices. Sculpey Gloss Glaze, and Liquid Leaf in Classic Gold by Plaid are also found at these larger craft stores (especially at Hobby Lobby) and are half the price as online on Amazon.
Clay Conditioning Machine from Amazon
Acrylic Rolling pin from Hobby Lobby or PolymerClaySuperstore.com
Non-stick oven-safe silicone work mats from Amazon
Wet/Dry sand paper from Amazon
Paint Brushes: I buy mine at Blick Art Supplies online, but any quality brushes will do. If you stay away from the plastic and synthetic brushes, you'll have nice, even glazing. The cheap craft brushes make lines and streaks.
Feel free to comment below, email me www.timberandchain.com/contact , or DM me on Instagram (follow me / timberandchain or @timberandchain) with any questions about the process. I’d be happy to walk through it with you.

[@nancylee1883]

Your designs are so nice and organic 😍

[@MizzRivera86]

I'm new here😊love sculpey,just found my clay ...and started creating again!!I'll be watching and making more creation's tomorrow,just received some new glaze and thing's in the mail today!

[@nirateller5603]

Very beautiful creations. Thank you for sharing. I learned a lot from your video.😊

[@jeannepaglio5582]

gorgeous bowls

[@libbygarnett891]

this was so helpful and answered all my questions! yours are so beautiful 🤩 thanks!

[@TimberandChain]

That’s wonderful to hear...thanks so much!

[@nicholep392]

Just gorgeous!!!!

[@TimberandChain]

Thanks so much!

[@lisavigus-brown8247]

They are lovely. Thank you for explaining so nicely 😊

[@TimberandChain]

Thanks for watching!

[@nancypenir9076]

I'm thinking of all the uses for these stunning little gems! Beautiful organic wonders!!!

[@TimberandChain]

Thank you for watching!

[@user-id3zu7kf7l]

I made beautiful dishes for my family using this video. SO helpful!

[@TimberandChain]

That's great to hear!

[@jerrycallender9927]

Greetings from Tucson, Arizona USA. I just discovered your channel and subscribed.

[@lisavigus-brown8247]

They are lovely, I must try try them. Thank you

[@TimberandChain]

Thanks for watching and commenting! I’d love to hear how they turn out. They’re a lot of fun and very forgiving.

[@jennifermarch3706]

I loved this thank you

[@TimberandChain]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@avantilicious]

Thanks so much for this tutorial and you have such beautiful hair!

[@TimberandChain]

That's so nice! Thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@MrsDavis-vm8tq]

I really enjoyed this tutorial and I wont have to buy so many supplies either. 😊 Thanks for keeping this beginner friendly ! 😂

[@TimberandChain]

Thanks so much for your comment! I’m glad you enjoyed it and I hope you can use it.

[@MrsDavis-vm8tq]

@@TimberandChain You are welcome !!!

[@lovelygirl1730]

Beautiful

[@TimberandChain]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@annasoucek416]

Very nice , great video

[@TimberandChain]

Thanks for watching !

[@PastorDavidHopper]

Love it

[@TimberandChain]

Thanks for the comment!

[@CB-kg4zt]

I love it!!! Done subscribe

[@TimberandChain]

Thanks so much! And thank you for watching.

[@MizzRivera86]

I've got to look for that cutting tool!

[@ican615]

Absolutely looking royal ...I loved it, I will also try to make. May I know what is this, blue n golden flakes like..have you used something or it is reflection?🙄🙄

[@TimberandChain]

Thanks so much! Those iridescent glitter flakes are the opal clay by Sculpey. I will say the last several packages I’ve received are so crumbly I haven’t been able to use them, even with oil. I started using regular translucent clay and adding iridescent glitter and it works perfectly.

[@ican615]

@@TimberandChain thank you so much for your reply...☺️

[@23Bentley45]

Excellent tutorial! Can I make small flower pots using oven save bowls as molds?

[@TimberandChain]

Hi! Thanks for the question. Absolutely you can. I just wouldn’t glaze the inside of the pot. The clay itself become waterproof plastic, but the glaze will eventually break down. And be sure to make them thick enough.

[@lilly6239]

how did you put the gold leaf splatter on the inside of the bowl in the end? I didnt hear it mentioned? It looks beautiful

[@TimberandChain]

Hi Lilly! For the speckle, you can mix the clay with gold leaf sheets (they’re synthetic) or use opal clay which is translucent with iridescent glitter. You do this when you mix and roll the clay before shaping and baking. Hope that helps!

[@framreptile8510]

Hello! How can you coat polymer clay so that it can be used as a food plate?

[@lawaikhiang]

cool! how did you get the opal one? I LOVE that color!

[@TimberandChain]

Opal is actually a Sculpey Accents color. It comes like that. It's awesome.

[@shelbychapman8854]

If the gold part gets wet will it come off?

[@insd890]

I love your chains! How'd you get those charms?

[@TimberandChain]

Hi! Thanks for watching Do you mean the chains and charms at the end in the dishes? The chain is gold filled from a wholesale mart in Los Angeles, and the freshwater pearl charm I hand wired. The quartz points dipped in gold leaf I got from a family owned quarry in India.

[@kylahansen7336]

Thanks for such an amazing explanation. Can I paint my clay before adding the glaze? Or would I have to paint after the glaze?

[@TimberandChain]

Thank you for the comment! You can paint before the glaze.

[@kylahansen7336]

@@TimberandChain OK! Thanks

[@mokkw2]

Thankyou ! Wonder if I can make this thicker?

[@TimberandChain]

Absolutely! I actually make them a bit thicker now...about 4 layers. I make them about 45 minutes. Thanks so much for watching!

[@krissyd3391]

Beautiful work! Could I use gold flakes then glaze over it?

[@TimberandChain]

Thank you so much! I would roll or press the gold leaf flakes into the clay before baking, and when it’s cool, glaze over it. You could experiment with it and glaze over gold leaf and then bake again if you want. I’ve never done it.

[@tinaanderson200]

Yeap, I'm new to.

[@Anointedempress]

These are so lovely! Would you recommend mod podge to seal?

[@TimberandChain]

I haven’t tried that. I think if I were to seal it completely, I’d choose a resin or something similar.

[@kerriefearby9542]

Never use Mod Podge on polymer clay it reacts badly after a while

[@mayoridelcarmenmercadoguer6401]

I live in Madrid,España

[@serenaadairboder1239]

Hi, just found this video and its really helpful. I have a question, can I use gold acrylic paint for the edging?

[@TimberandChain]

Hi! You can. It will be a dull gold, though. If you already have the gold acrylic paint, maybe try it on a small edge and see if you like it. The liquid gold leaf is SUPER metallic and shiny because it's lacquer-based, which is the look I wanted. I also feel the paint is more watery, so you'll need multiple coats as the clay will show through the sheerness of the paint. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@Emi-hf2gk]

this helped a lot! could you use a nail filer instead of sand paper?

[@TimberandChain]

Hi! Thanks for watching. Yes! That would be SO much easier. An emory board would be ideal. Thanks for the tip! And again, the Dremel tool is super easy I you have one.

[@CompilationCreations]

what a great video!!! Can you please update the links in the description bar? Almost all of them are not found anymore. :)

[@TimberandChain]

I have tried but I think youTube keeps discontinuing them. You can find them all on my blog at www.timberandchain.com.blog.

[@TimberandChain]

Ok, I updated where I get everything since much of my supplies are found in store (online stores have been sold out for most of the pandemic).

[@laladybluejeanbaby7193]

Thank you for this video. What clay conditioning machine are you using specifically? There are so many on Amazon. Thanks.

[@TimberandChain]

Hi there, and thanks for watching. I’m using one that I would not recommend. It’s the same one that Michael’s and hobby lobby carry. I’m planning on purchasing one that’s a little better. The handle on mine isn’t attached and falls off constantly, and the plastic bolt on the clamp broke so I can’t secure it to the table anymore. Definitely check out reviews before buying.

[@yamilehodson4362]

beautiful !! One question , Do you use conventional oven ? Thanks :)

[@TimberandChain]

Thank you! I do. Just my kitchen oven, which is convection. I always leave the door open for a few minutes afterward, and ideally open windows.

[@sugarcoder]

Do you put on the glitter and gold speckles before glazing it? If you mentioned it, I must've missed it. I only saw you painting the edges, not putting glitter on the plate.

[@TimberandChain]

Hi there! I show towards the beginning how I mix in gold leaf sheets with the machine and they disperse throughout the clay the more you mix it so it looks like glitter. Thanks so much for watching!

[@sugarcoder]

@@TimberandChain Thank you for the fast response! I need to see that part. Do you happen to know the exact second in the video? I still don't see the part where you add the gold flakes. I replayed the video again and my eyes must be playing tricks on me.

[@kristinaebert822]

If my completely cooled dish cracked taking it off, what could be wrong? Any suggestions on what I'm doing wrong?

[@TimberandChain]

Hmmm...It may have been too thin. Mine are about 5mm thick. And it should be baked long enough to be stiff and not flexible when cooled. You could try cooking it longer, or making it thicker. If it wasn't too thin, maybe it was taken off the mold too quickly. Once cooled, if it doesn't just pop off easily, I slowly run my fingers around the edge little by little so I can hear it crackling off the seal. But, if it's thick enough and you're using a smooth, oven safe material like pyrex or glass, it should come off easily.

[@THRIVEAFFIRMATIONS]

Hello! Can you tell me the brand of the gold liquid leaf? The amazon link is broken. Thank you!

[@TimberandChain]

Hi! Of course. It’s classic gold by Plaid. Links are all on my blog (KZbin removes them) at www.Timberandchain.com/blog. The liquid leaf can be found at most craft stores for half the price of Amazon & eBay.

[@THRIVEAFFIRMATIONS]

@@TimberandChain Thank you so much!

[@bricarbajal8069]

is 1/4 thickness enough for a medium sized bowl? or does it need to be bigger to avoid breaking?

[@TimberandChain]

I would think 1/4 inch would definitely thick enough.

[@bricarbajal8069]

@@TimberandChain ok thanks! Good job on your creation very lovely

[@kerriefearby9542]

I would not recommend Sculpey lll for this project as it is way too brittle after baking. Sculpey Premo or Sculpey Souffle would be a more durable option.

[@TimberandChain]

I do say that in the description. When Sculpeyiii is mixed with Premo or soufflé or other versions, it turns out great. I wouldn’t use it alone as it will bubble when baked and eventually crack. But the beige is completely different in the Premo, and the Sculpeyiii is this amazing peachy beige color, so I use it in marbling. Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@hotcris3]

Hi I tried these last night and they’re super cute but after you bake them are they supposed to be rock hard or soft and kind of still pliable ? Also do we sand the bottom? I did that and now I feel like I can see all the scratches from the sand paper.

[@TimberandChain]

If you bake them longer than it says on the package directions (I bake for 45 minutes and the package says 15 minutes) they will be rock hard and not pliable. If you don't bake long enough, they will be rubbery. I don't sand the bottom or the inside. I only sand the edges. You can wash them with water after sanding to clear some of the sanding debris, and the glaze and gold leaf cover the sanding marks. Hope this helps and thanks for watching!

[@hotcris3]

@@TimberandChain Awesome thank you for the tips. I’ve been enjoying all your videos and I barely found a few days ago. I always thought that if you bake the clay for more it would crack or break. So thank you for that tip as well.

[@hotcris3]

@@TimberandChain One last question, if I wanted to put in my clay dishes again in the oven and bake for another 15 minutes to make it hard would that work or do you think that we can’t re-bake an item?

[@TimberandChain]

@@hotcris3 I've baked pieces multiple times on many occasions and they're just fine. I would say if it's a bowl larger than a jewelry dish, you should bake it on the mold or its own weight will make it collapse.

[@hotcris3]

@@TimberandChain awesome thank you!

[@nasharasinclaire674]

Would i be able to break these with my hands? I tried making on and decided to test it out by breaking it with my hands and it just crumbled.

[@TimberandChain]

HI there. You can break anything made of polymer clay if you try. I'm not sure why you'd try to break it, but it shouldn't crumble. If it crumbles, I would think something is very wrong or it is way too thin.

[@nasharasinclaire674]

@@TimberandChain thank you. I was just curious about it “durability”.

[@nidhimaheshwari2930]

Why didn't you bake clay?

[@jerrycallender9352]

The first thing one needs to learn about working with polymer clay is that the oven used to bake the clay should NEVER be used for food!

[@mayoridelcarmenmercadoguer6401]

WHERE CAN I BUY THE MACHINERY, PLEASE¡

[@TimberandChain]

I'm not sure about delivery in Spain, but you can get it on Amazon and at Michaels. If you go to www.timberandchain.com/blog, click on the blog post and it is linked there. Good luck.

[@Simplelifealgiers]

This is not air dry right ?

[@TimberandChain]

Correct. This is polymer, so it needs to be baked or cured in an oven.