Icy Snowflake Necklace Polymer Clay Tutorial

The beauty of winter, with its shimmering snowflakes and sparkling frost, serves as the perfect inspiration for my icy snowflake necklace project. In today's tutorial, I'll show you how to create a stunning polymer clay necklace using a simple yet mesmerizing faux stone technique. The icy look combines cool blues, whites, and a touch of sparkle to give your pendant a frosty, wintery feel that’s sure to stand out. Whether you’ve been making jewelry for years or are just starting out, this project is a great way to add some winter charm into your collection—and perhaps gift it to someone special this season. Let’s begin creating a cascading snowflake necklace that captures the magic of winter.

What You'll Learn

Materials Needed

These are the materials I used in the tutorial, but feel free to choose clay colors and finishes that suit your style.

• Polymer Clay
• Sculpey Premo White Translucent - 30 grams
• Alcohol Inks
• Ranger Cloudy Blue
• Ranger Cobalt
• Ranger Denim
• Ranger Patina
• Holographic Glitter
• Leobro Laser Silver
• Acrylic Paint
• Liquitex White
• Rockrose Snowflake Clay Cutters
• 1.50 inch
• 1.00 inch
• 0.75 inch
• Rockrose Frosted Snowflake Stamp
• Rockrose Beaded Comfort Grip Stamping Handle
• Clay Tools (tissue blade, acrylic roller, pasta machine)
• Cardstock, makeup sponge, Armor All
• Ceramic Tile
• Oven (for curing your polymer clay)
• Ultra Dome UV Resin
• UV Lamp
• #55 Drill Bit
• Dremel Drill Press Rotary Tool Workstation
• Dremel 3000 Variable Speed Rotary Tool
• Jump Rings
• 8mm
• 6mm
• 4mm
• 2mm Cable Chain (24 inches)
• 9mm Lobster Claw Clasp

 Video Tutorial

Catch the full tutorial on my YouTube channel @RockroseClay, where I'll guide you through each step in detail. Plus, I'll share helpful tips for working with polymer clay to ensure your project turns out just right!

Instructions

Prepare the Faux Stone Effect:

1. Begin by thoroughly conditioning your translucent clay, either with a pasta machine or by hand. Next, divide the 30 grams of polymer clay into two equal 15-gram pieces.

2. Add three drops of Cloudy Blue alcohol ink and one drop of Cobalt alcohol ink to one of the 15-gram pieces. For the second 15-gram piece, apply three drops of Denim, one drop of Cobalt, and five drops of Patina alcohol ink.

3. Smooth the alcohol ink over the flat surface of each piece and let them dry before fully blending the ink into the clay.

4. Once the alcohol ink is fully blended into the clay, apply a layer of white acrylic paint to one side of each piece.

5. Once the acrylic paint has fully dried, flip the clay sheets over and apply a layer of holographic glitter to both sheets.

6. Place one sheet of clay, paint side down, onto your work surface. Then, take the second sheet and position it, paint side down, against the glitter side of the first sheet.

7. Use your acrylic rod to roll and bond both pieces together, then roll the two sheets into a jellyroll shape.

8. Reduce the jellyroll until it reaches 10 inches in length. Then, bend about 1.5 inches of the roll back against itself. Take another 1.5 inches and fold it over the first two, stepping up onto the top of the first fold as you do. Continue this zigzagging pattern until you reach the end of the roll.

9. Shape the cane into a square. Once the cane is squared, gently squeeze the corners inward to flatten them, then reshape the cane back into a square.

10. Allow the cane to rest before slicing. Once it's rested, trim off the edges and cut the cane into four equal pieces.

11. Place the slices on your work surface and shape them into a sheet of clay. Roll over the clay with your acrylic rod to even it out, then pass it through your pasta machine on its thickest setting. From there, reduce the thickness to your desired setting—I used setting #3 in the tutorial.

Cut and Shape Your Snowflake Pendant

1. Once your faux stone clay sheet is rolled to the desired thickness, take your 1.50-inch Rockrose Snowflake Clay Cutter, lightly dabbed onto a sponge soaked in Armor All, and carefully cut out a visually appealing piece of the sheet. Before lifting the cutter, insert your Rockrose Beaded Comfort Grip Stamping Handle and Frosted Snowflake Stamp into the cutter. Apply even pressure to the handle to imprint the stamp, then lift the stamp and finally the cutter. For the necklace, you will need the following:

• 3 qty - 1.50" Debossed Snowflakes
• 3 qty - 1.00" Snowflakes
• 4 qty - 0.75" Snowflakes

Bake, Cool, and Sand

1. Preheat your oven to the temperature recommended on your clay packaging, typically 265°F to 275°F (130°C), but always double-check the specific instructions for your clay. Place your clay pieces on a baking tray lined with cardstock paper or a ceramic tile to ensure even heat distribution, and gently tent them with aluminum foil, avoiding direct contact with the clay to prevent marks. Bake according to the recommended time—generally 30 minutes per 1/4 inch (6mm) thickness—though I typically bake my pieces for 60 minutes.
2. Allow the clay to cool completely before handling.
3. Once the clay has cooled, lightly sand the edges. I used 800-grit sandpaper to achieve a finish I was happy with.

Paint and Resin

1. After sanding, clean your pieces with soapy water and dry them thoroughly. Then, using a small-tipped paintbrush, apply white acrylic paint to the debossed snowflake on the 1.50" pieces. It’s okay if some paint spills outside the pattern—simply wipe the surface clean with rubbing alcohol. Allow the paint to dry completely before applying resin.
2. For the final touch, apply a thin, even layer of resin to the surface to achieve a glossy finish. I used a paintbrush to apply the resin to the debossed snowflakes, giving them a shiny look while preserving the texture of the piece. When working with resin, always wear gloves and ensure you're in a well-ventilated area, as resin can be sticky and may cause skin irritation. After applying the resin, use a lighter or torch to carefully remove any air bubbles. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for curing time and temperature to achieve a durable, high-quality finish.

Drilling and Assembly

1. Before drilling, I like to mark reference points on my pieces to help avoid mistakes. Arrange your pieces in the design you want for your necklace, then carefully mark the spots where you want to place the holes using a Sharpie. Next, use a #55 drill bit to carefully drill the holes. I prefer using my Dremel tool with a Drill Press workstation, but a hand drill works just as well. Always wear eye protection and pin up your hair when using tools to ensure safety.
2. Remove any excess sharpie marks on your pieces before assembly. 
3. Using a pair of pliers, open a 8mm jump ring by twisting it sideways (never pull apart). Slide a snowflake onto the jump ring, then carefully close the ring by twisting it back into place. Repeat this for all the snowflakes you need for your necklace.
4. Next, you’ll need four 6-inch lengths of 2mm cable chain. Attach two pieces of this chain to the 6mm jump ring on the last snowflake. Repeat this process on the other side of the necklace.
5. To finish your necklace, use 4mm jump rings to attach a clasp to one end of the cable chain. If you're using a lobster clasp, attach it to one end, and a 6mm jump ring to the other end for closure.
6. Check the length of your necklace and adjust the number of snowflakes or chain lengths as needed. Ensure all jump rings are securely closed and the necklace is properly assembled. My finished necklace was approximately 21 inches long.

I hope you enjoyed making this icy snowflake necklace! I’d love to see how your creation turns out, so feel free to share your results on social media and tag Rockrose Clay Co. for a chance to be featured! Be sure to check out the full video tutorial for a more detailed step-by-step guide. This technique is so versatile—it’s not just for necklaces! You can easily adapt it into earrings, bracelets, or other accessories to bring some winter magic into all your designs.

Ready to make your own snowflake necklace? Visit my shop for the Rockrose Snowflake Cutter and other tools featured in this tutorial.

Snowflake Clay Cutters

Rockrose Frosted Snowflake Stamp

Rockrose Beaded Comfort Grip Stamping Handle

Don’t forget to watch the full video tutorial on my YouTube channel @RockroseClay and subscribe for more fun and creative polymer clay projects. Happy crafting!