Silver Clay Keepsakes: Family-Friendly Projects

Silver clay isn’t just for artists! The beauty of metal clay is that it is relatively simple to make lasting, classy items. Working with silver clay can involve other family members in the creation process or as gift recipients. The authors embrace the spirit of celebration of life events, presenting projects that make elegant, meaningful tokens for new parents, grandparents, teens, graduates, newlyweds, even the family pet.

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Author: Katie Baum & Judi Hendricks
Softcover; 8 1/4 x 10 3/4; 112 pages; ISBN: 9780871162854

Katie Baum, a former middle school teacher, is a Senior Art Clay Instructor and the director of the Art Clay Society. Katie travels widely to participate in conferences, studio events, and trade shows to share her love and knowledge of the medium. Co-author Judi Hendricks is an artist and consultant with many areas of expertise – silver clay, ceramics, garden design, and energy healing, among others.Silver Clay Keepsakes is their first book.
Judi Hendricks wants to help people express whatever it is they are meant to create. She believes that silver clay's ultra-fast learning curve and affordability makes it a perfect playful medium for reopening the door to personal creative expression.

4 Introduction/How to Use This Book

5 Gearing Up
6 About Metal Clay
7 Techniques and Tools

23 Projects: Simply Silver
24 Uh-Oh, Fingerprints! charm
27 A Good Impression charm
30 Sir, Yes Sir! “dog tag” pendant
33 Good Sport personalized pendant
36 Keys, Please! key chain
39 See Spot Sparkle pet tag
42 Best Friends Forever lock-and-key
45 Quotable impressed link bracelet
49 Wealthy & Healthy baby spoon
52 Celtic Charm pendant

55 Projects: Silver Plus
56 Birthstones link bracelet
59 From “Sorry!” to Silver pendant
62 Not So Tacky tie tack
64 Captured Moments silver pendant
67 To the Moon embellished photo frame
71 Silver Couture cuff links
74 PL8 4U mini vanity plate
77 Fistful of Dollars money clip

81 Projects: Silver On Ceramics
82 Silver Savings painted piggy bank
84 Fancy Flowers customized flowerpot
87 Sip in Silver personalized drinkware
89 Let Them Eat Cake inscribed server
91 What a Treat! embellished canister
94 Family Tree decorated plate

97 Appendix
98 Gallery
100 Patterns
101 Firing Schedules, Birthstones
102 Gemstones and Silver Clay
103 Making Toggle Clasps
104 Making Photopolymer Plates
106 Adding Color
107 Published Resources; Sources for
Supplies, Tools, and More
108 Glossary
110 About the Authors
111 Acknowledgments

Metal clay is an amazing, easy-to-use material that is ideal for making personalized gifts. Making jewelry is fun and satisfying, and one does not have to be a silversmith to create great pieces. Coauthors Katie Baum and Judi Hendricks help readers enter the world of silver clay and explore its many creative possibilities through 24 original projects.
Silver Clay Keepsakes shows crafters and do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) how to replicate the look of fine silver through a method far easier to master than traditional metalwork –and that uses a material that is both easier to obtain and easier on the wallet.
With Silver Clay Keepsakes, readers can:
•Get started with everything they need to know about metal clay types, techniques, and tools.
•Understand firing options for taking metal clay from its pliable state to solid silver.
•Expand their creative options with a bonus section that includes an idea gallery, information on specialty techniques, and other extras.
The book’s 24 projects celebrate life: a silver baby spoon, a silver-painted piggy bank, personalized cake-serving utensils, cufflinks and money clips, a fashionable take on the dog tag, a Celtic knot pendant, a birthstone bracelet, and other elegant, meaningful tokens for new parents, grandparents, teens, graduates, newlyweds, and even the family pet. Illustrated with 400 color instructions, Silver Clay Keepsakes covers the basics of working with metal clay, along with information on necessary tools, firing and drying schedules, torch and stove-top firing, and online resources.
Co-author Baum, a former middle school teacher, is now a Senior Art Clay Instructor and the director of the Art Clay Society. She works for the only distributor of Art Clay in the U.S. and travels widely to teach and speak about the medium. Co-author Hendricks is an artist and consultant with many areas of expertise – silver clay, ceramics, garden design, and energy healing, among others.
An introduction defines what metal clay is, where readers can find it, and what the basic clay types are: lump, paste, syringe, paper and overlay. The Techniques and Tools section explains how to work with both wet and dry clay, the required tools, how to fire, finish, and assemble it, and how to care for and recycle it.
Silver Clay Keepsakes presents imaginative projects for making priceless jewelry and decor. Readers will learn how easy it is to add details that transform metal clay into personalized gifts for baby, teens, parents, and even the family pet. Easy to follow, the book will also inspire readers to expand their creative options.
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