Material needed

Premo! Sculpey polymer clay- burnt umber
Composition metal leaf
Woven metal mesh
Needle with eye large enough to accommodate mesh
Chain nose pliers
Clasp
Pasta machine or clay roller
Craft knife
Ruler
Index cards
Toothpick
Oven thermometer

Instructions:

Turning the coins into dangles
1. Condition clay before beginning by rolling or kneading the clay in your hands or on your work surface or by rolling it several times through a pasta machine set at the thickest setting.
2. Use the clay roller or pasta machine to roll out a sheet of clay approximately 1/8-inch thick. Carefully apply sheets of composition metal leaf to the sheet of clay. The leaf is delicate, so handle it gently to minimize tearing. Use your fingers to burnish the leaf gently onto the clay. Remove excess leaf and save for another project.
3. Use the pasta machine or clay roller to flatten the leafed clay. Rolling the clay flatter causes the leaf on the surface to crack in interesting patterns. The final sheet of clay should be very thin- approximately 1/16-inch thick.
4. Trim this clay into a rectangle. Along one long edge mark the clay every inch. Along the other long edge, measure in 1/2-inch and mark this spot, then mark the rest of that edge in one-inch increments.
5. Cut the clay into triangles by matching up the marks. Connecting the offset marks will create long skinny triangles of clay. (see diagram)
6. Beginning at the wide end of a triangle, wrap it around a toothpick, pressing slightly when you get to the end to secure the clay. This is just like the rolled paper beads you may be familiar with, but no glue is needed!
7. Slip the finished bead off the toothpick and place on index card for baking. Tip: to prevent roll-away beads accordion-fold an index card and place the beads in the folds for baking.
8. Bake finished beads at 275 degrees F for thirty minutes. Allow to cool. Note- always use an oven thermometer when baking polymer clay, and bake at the temperature recommended for the brand of clay you are using.

Assembling the necklace:

1. String the beads onto the metal mesh. Pull the mesh apart between the beads to space them as desired. Twist the mesh on either side of the distortions to secure it.
2. Attach a clasp to the mesh to complete the necklace.

Project Images