Gilded Feather Pendant

This Gilded Feather Pendant is truly elegant but easy to make. This necklace is a stunning piece of jewellery that will perfectly complement many different outfits.

Materials

Oven-Bake Clay, White

Clay roller

Goose or Duck Craft Feathers

Toothpick or Small Dowel

Gold Chain

Instructions:

Preheat oven according to temperature on clay packaging.

Warm a small amount of the clay with your hands by kneading it and stretching it until it becomes soft and easy to work with.

Cover your work surface with parchment paper or wax paper and tape it down as unbaked clay can damage finished surfaces.

Roll out your clay with the clay roller until it is about 1/4″-1/8″ thick.

Pick out craft feathers the size and shape you would like create copies of for your ornaments. Lay the feather on top of the rolled out clay.

Roll over the feather, pressing it gently into the clay.

Carefully lift the feather off the clay and you should see the imprint of the feather left behind. Use the toothpick or dowel to make a hole in the clay at the shaft of the feather for hanging.

Use the x-acto knife to cut out around the shape of the feather impression and then remove the excess clay. Use the x-acto knife to exaggerate some of the details of the feather impression and create small marks along the edges of the feathers working along the natural “grain” of the feathers to create a more feathered look.

Gently fold the clay feathers slightly to give them shape. Use the dowel or toothpick to create a hole in the stem large enough for a hoop or your chain.

Place the parchment and feathers on a cookie sheet and bake according to the package directions.

Cool completely, then paint the feather using the white paint. Paint several thin coats being careful to follow the “grain” of the feathers with your brushstrokes to avoid washing them out with paint. Allow to dry completely between coats.

Use painters tape to block off section of the feather and paint with the liquid gilding to make it look as if it were dipped in the paint. Go thicker with the gildong, but still follow the “grain”. Let dry completely.

Thread pendant onto your chain and wear**!

**Please note: Gilding should never be placed against your skin so this pendant is intended to be worn over clothing and not directly on your chest.

Elizabeth Lampman

Elizabeth Lampman is a coffee-fuelled Mom of 2 girls and lives in Hamilton, Ontario. She enjoys travelling, developing easy recipes, crafting, taking on diy projects, travelling and saving money!

Stephanie LaPlante

Wednesday 16th of November 2016

This is a beautiful pendant. Totally love the idea.

shelly peterson

Tuesday 15th of November 2016

This is a neat idea! I love the look of this feather pendant.

DanielleS

What a neat project. I am going to have to keep an eye out for a good feather to use.

Ali P

Very nice!