JEWELRY Articles 3 min read

Free Metal Clay Video Tutorial: Creating Textured Shapes

how to texture metal clay free video tutorial
Join us at Maker Festivals Colorado, the ultimate crafting extravaganza in Loveland from April 10-13, 2024, where the beloved Yarn Fest evolves with an exciting addition of beads and jewelry artists!

Metal clay is like magic to me. You can create almost anything with this amazing material. It does have its benefits though, as well as times where it just doesn’t make sense to use. I recommend using metal clay when something else doesn’t already exist. Like wire, for example. Why make wire from metal clay if you can just use wire? And why create a smooth piece of metal when you can just use metal? There are times when you need to bend this rule but it’s a good one to follow, most days. In the case of creating designs with texture and in shapes that might be hard or take a long time to form, now that’s the ticket, for me!

To follow is an overview of creating textured clay and cutting out simple shapes you can use in many different finished jewelry designs, from charm bracelets, to earrings, to fabulous pendants.

How to Texture Metal Clay

Materials:

  • 20-25 grams fine-silver metal clay
  • olive oil or similar release agent
  • water
  • work surface
  • Teflon non-stick worksheets
  • thickness guides (5 cards, 4 cards, 3 cards)
  • roller/brayer
  • texture tiles or similar
  • work surface
  • fine-pointed paint brush
  • fine-mist spray bottle filled with water
  • small dish of water
  • fine-pointed awl or similar
  • plastic wrap
  • template or shape cutters
  • salon board: medium to fine grit
  • polishing papers in 400-8000 grit
  • sanding pads from medium to ultra-fine (80-1000 grit)
  • kiln and kiln shelf
  • brass-wire brush
  • rubber block

Optional:

  • burnisher
  • rotary tumblers, mixed stainless-steel shot, burnishing compound
  • butane torch and firing brick, fire extinguisher, and kiln-safe gloves

Steps:

1. Apply a release agent to your work surface, tools, and hands. Spritz your texture with a release agent, too.

2. Position your thickness guides on your work surface, starting with the thickest. Place a pad of clay in between the guides. Roll across the surface of the clay, thinning it to meet the thickness guides. Try to also guide the clay to the right shape – long and thin if you’ll be cutting a thin shape, round and wide if you’re going for a wider shape.

3. Move the clay to the texture of your choice. Place the thinner guides alongside the clay. Roll across the surface of the clay. By reducing the thickness you allow the clay to receive the texture.

4. Move the clay to a non-stick worksheet. Place the template of your choice on top of the clay. Draw the tip of the awl around the outline of the template. Or, cut the clay with a shape cutter. Remove the excess clay and wrap it in plastic wrap.

5. Dip the paintbrush into the dish of water then run a bead of water along the edge of the clay. Smooth the edges and remove any excess pieces of clay you don’t want. Sometimes the awl will leave some “drag” and a cutter will have a bit of an overlap at a seam that creates a ridge. If you leave these pieces they can be removed after the clay has dried but it’s better to refine the design to the best of your abilities at each stage.

If you’re going to hang this design, you can start a pilot hole or use a circle cutter to open the clay in the area(s) you plan to use for connecting once the component is finished.

Set the clay aside to dry. The drying time will vary by location and current climate. You can expedite drying on a warming plate. Be sure to flip the design over from time to time; this process will cause the clay to curl as the moisture evaporates at a quicker pace then if left to dry naturally.

6. Once the clay is bone dry, you can refine the surface with the sanding tools. I start with a salon board then work into the polishing papers. Use jeweler’s files or sanding needles to perfect any openings you plan to have in your finished design.

7. Once the design is as perfect as you can make it, fire it using your method of choice. If using a kiln, place your design on a kiln shelf then fire to 1650-degrees Fahrenheit for 2 hours.

Designs smaller than 25 grams can successfully be fired using a butane torch. Read Torch-Fire Metal Clay Jewelry Marking for tips on firing metal clay with a torch.

This is not the optimum firing method for metal clay, but it is an option. Be sure to fire safely and with a fire extinguisher, water, and fire-safe gloves on hand.

8. Once the components are fired and cooled to room temperature, brush the surface with a brass brush. Continue to polish the surface to your designed finish. You can use a burnisher or a rotary tumbler, mixed stainless-steel shot, and burnishing compound. Once polished to your liking, you can apply a patina for an aged look and to enhance the texture.

For more information and instructions, be sure to check out all of these resources:

Metal Clay Jewelry Making from the Top

Free Metal Clay Jewelry Project: Stencil Masked Design

Free Tutorial: How to Make Metal Clay Rings

Create Your Own Domed, Textured Metal Clay Ring

Can You Fire Stones in Metal Clay?

Free Metal Clay Jewelry Project: Make a Lentil Pendant

Tammy Honaman
Director of Content, Interweave

  • Getting Started Precious Metal Clay Series: Torch Firing Projects: Faceted Stone Earrings

    $24.99

  • Getting Started Precious Metal Clay Series: Torch Firing Projects: Overlay Earrings Online Workshop

    $24.99

  • Getting Started Precious Metal Clay Series: Torch Firing PMC Projects – Molded Earrings Online Workshop with Darlene Armstrong

    $24.99

  • Getting Started Precious Metal Clay Series: Torch Firing PMC Introduction Online Workshop with Darlene Armstrong

    $24.99

  • Sale!

    6 Fun, Fashion Jewelry Projects Video Download Bundle

    $119.95

Join the Conversation!

Choose the membership you’d like to join​

Bead & Jewelry

Annual Charter Membership ​

(Limited Time Offer)​

$78.00 $24.95/year

Interweave Knits

Annual Charter Membership ​

(Limited Time Offer)​

$78.00 $24.95/year

  • 250+ Projects should be ​ ($2,000+ value)
  • 100 Member exclusive ​ should be ($800+ value)
  • 10,000+ Pieces of Expert Advice (Priceless)​​​
  • To View All Benefits Click Here for Bead+Jewelry or here Interweave Knits

The membership you’d like to join​

Interweave Knits

Annual Charter Membership ​

(Limited Time Offer)​

$78.00 $24.95/year

  • 250+ Projects – Fresh for Each Season ($1,400 value)​
  • 100 Member Exclusive Projects ($500 value)​​​
  • 10,000+ Pieces of Expert Advice (Priceless)​​​
  • To View All Benefits Click Here for Bead+Jewelry or here Interweave Knits

The membership you’d like to join​

Bead & Jewelry

Annual Charter Membership ​

(Limited Time Offer)​

$78.00 $24.95/year

  • 250+ Projects – Fresh for Each Season ($2,000 value)​
  • 100 Member Exclusive Projects ($800+​ value)​​​
  • 10,000+ Pieces of Expert Advice (Priceless)​​​
  • To View All Benefits Click Here for Bead+Jewelry or here Interweave Knits

The membership you’d like to join​

Interweave Knits

Annual Charter Membership ​

(Limited Time Offer)​

$78.00 $24.95/year

  • 250+ Projects – Fresh for Each Season ($1,400 value)​
  • 100 Member Exclusive Projects ($500 value)​​​
  • 10,000+ Pieces of Expert Advice (Priceless)​​​
  • To View All Benefits Click Here for Bead+Jewelry or here Interweave Knits