What you will need:
- FIMO modelling clay (any colour – we’ll paint it later!)
- Cutting Board
- Craft Knife
- Rolling Pin (cover with clingfilm so you don’t stain it)
- Brown Cord
- Small circular objects as guides (e.g. keyrings, bottle caps)
- Jewellery ‘Endings’
- Lobster Clasp
- Jewellery Pliers
To begin with, I cut one quarter of a standard sized block of FIMO. I bought ’emerald green’ as they had it in stock but it wasn’t necessary as I fully covered it in paint in the end, so you could just get white.
I warmed the block in my hands to make it malleable and rolled it out into a small circle. I used a small bottle cap to press a hole in the bottom. I then started carefully working all of the details in with a craft knife. I used a cocktail stick for the small holes in the design. It’s best to do little bits at a time rather than trying to cut out large chunks at once; it’s easier to cut out more bit by bit than to try to correct it if you cut out too much! I worked through about three designs before I was happy with it.
I then baked it in the oven at 110C/230F, for 30 minutes. I left it to cool so that it would set and then began painting. It will take several coats of paint in different colors to achieve the desired shading effect. I used acrylic paint, mixing green with white for lighter areas, and green with black for the shadows. I studied the render picture to decide where the shadows would fall. When I was happy with the paint job I set it with a ‘gloss varnish’ paint, although you can use hairspray.
Lara’s necklace has two pieces of cord: one fits almost like a choker around her neck and the other hangs a little lower to suspend the pendant.
Measure your 2 pieces around your neck and cut to the appropriate length. To suspend the pendant, fold the longer piece of cord in half; push the fold point through the top hole in the pendant, from front to back. You’ll have a small loop peeking out of the back now. Take the 2 sides of the cord together from the front and pull them through that loop and you’ll have tied it just the same way Lara does.
To tie my necklace I attached endings to both pieces of cord using pliers (slot the cord into the ending, crimp it together with pliers) and used small loop ‘findings’ to link them together. I attached a lobster clasp to one side and that’s how it connects! If that’s a bit of a hassle, you could just tie your necklace in a knot each time. I just did this because ultimately it will be easier to put on and remove and it will be more secure than tying a knot. Whatever works for you!
Hope you have fun making the necklace! – Laura
