Terrazzo Jewelry Holder

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 1 lb of white polymer clay
• Five different 2oz colors of polymer clay (we used red, pink pearl, pale blue, hazelnut & tan)
• Polyform gloss glaze for polymer clay
• Paintbrushes
• Unfinished wood ball knob
• Glue gun/glue gun sticks
• Measuring tape
• Wax paper
• Clean, smooth work surface (ceramic, glass, craft mat, or wax paper)
• Glass vase, cup, or votive with flat, straight sides to use as a mold for clay shape (optional)
• Cardboard or plastic file folder (to cut template)
• Acrylic rolling pin for polymer clay
• Polymer clay rolling machine (optional)
• Clay cutting blade or single edge razor blade
• X-Acto knife
• Clay piercing tool or toothpick
• Cookie cutters (optional)
• Oven
• Baking sheet
• Plastic bags or storage containers for clay storage

DIRECTIONS:

Review the instructions on the polymer clay package for baking temperature and timing. These instructions make one terrazzo jewelry holder.
1. To begin, knead polymer clay to soften.
2. Use a measuring tape to determine the circumference of your glass container and add 1" to that length. This extra length will help you cut and join the seam later.
3. Decide how tall your jewelry holder will be (we made ours 3" tall).
4. Using these dimensions, cut a rectangle template out of cardboard or a plastic file folder.
5. Roll out a 1 1/4"-thick slab of white clay using an acrylic rolling pin or polymer clay machine.
6. The slab needs to be larger than the template.
7. Set aside.
8. Sandwiched between two pieces of wax paper, roll out individual clay colors to thin pancakes.
9. Next, cut small shapes for the terrazzo pattern using your cutting tool.
10. Cookie cutters can be used to randomly punch overlapping shapes creating the terrazzo look from the intersecting forms.
11. Arrange terrazzo shapes across the white slab.
12. Colorful pieces should be small and spaced far apart because the slab will be rolled one more time, and they will "smoosh" slightly.
13. After terrazzo shapes are placed, cover the slab with wax paper and gently roll to smooth the surface. Careful not to add too much pressure and distort the terrazzo shapes.
14. Place the rectangular template on the clay slab and use it as a guide to cut the top, bottom and one side of the slab.
15. Wrap the slab around your glass container to form the curve shape and trim off the excess.
16. Gently rolling the slab will leave a mark in the clay, indicating where to cut off the excess slab.
17. Remove the slab from the glass container, cut off the excess, crisscross the joining seam, and blend with your finger.
18. Roll two circles of 1 1/4"-thick white clay large enough to be used as a lid and a base.
19. Use the glass container to trace and cut the clay base with an X-Acto knife.
20. Place the completed terrazzo slab on the circle base, crisscross the joining seams, and blend with your finger.
21. Use the second white clay circle to make the lid. The now completed terrazzo jewelry container will be the template. Trace and cut with an X-Acto knife. Add terrazzo shapes.
22. Cover with wax paper, and gently roll to smooth the surface. Careful not to add too much pressure and distort the shape.
23. Bake the terrazzo jewelry holder and lid on a baking sheet lined with wax paper or aluminum foil according to the instructions on the polymer clay package.
24. After the clay has cooled, add two coats of gloss glaze.
25. Hot glue the wood ball to the lid as a handle.

JOANN HACKS:

• Polymer clay can become dirty quickly; wash hands, rolling pin and tools when switching to work with a different color.
• After baking, you can lightly sand minor imperfections from the white clay. However, you should test before sanding terrazzo pieces, as some colors of polymer clay will leave a rough finish when sanded.
• Save the cut-off portion of your terrazzo slab, and bake. This piece can be used for sanding tests and testing the gloss varnish.