Opalized Coral Fossil Pendants

by Jo Finn
(Pensacola, Florida)

Opal Coral Fossil Pendant

What brand of clay did you use?


Sculpey Premo





What colors did you use? If you mixed them yourself you can include a color recipe here if you like.


Opal, Turquoise, green pearl (white pearl mixed with dark green)and Translucent





What products did you use? e.g. Lisa Pavelka Crackle Texture Stamp, or Pearlex Antique Copper Mica Powder. (The more detail the better.)


Graduated tear drop cutters, two layers of plastic wrap, Kato Polyclay liquid, and Dura CLear High Gloss





Any special tools that other polymer clayers may be interested in?


Translucent cane made using opal as center and wrapped with turquoise and green pearl on outside
Two layers of plastic wrap




Tell us how it went. Was it fun? Easy? Hard? Did you struggle with anything?


This was a fun project and I love how it turned out. I used two layers of plain translucent for the base with slices of the cane on top. I covered it with paper to prevent darkening, but translucent still yellowed on the back. Maybe I should have put it on a towel to bake??
I did not have any resin so I put a thin coat of liquid Polyclay and baked for smoothness and shine. Also added 2 coats of Dura Clear, to get even more shine.




Do you have any tips for others trying this technique?


The Opal is hard to get a smooth finish, even with sanding and buffing, hence the liquid Polyclay added to the second bake.




Do you have any ideas for variations on this technique?


I think making the cane smaller would have given better results for "coral" look




Anything else you would like to share with us?


Would appreciate tips for getting the Premo Opal smoother.