How to Make Polymer Clay Mokume Gane Earrings

18 Materials
$20
40 Minutes
Easy

Today, I'm going to show you how to make some trippy, abstract kind of earrings.


This is a technique called mokume and it is from Japan. This technique is mainly used on metal, but here we’re going to be using it on polymer clay.


If you want to find out how to make mokume gane, keep reading.

Tools and materials:

  • Five colors of polymer clay
  • Sparkle clay
  • Pasta machine
  • Acrylic rolling pin
  • Paintbrush
  • Cutting blade
  • Cookie cutter
  • Tracing wheel
  • Tissue paper
  • Gold leaf
  • Cookie cutters
  • Sanding tool
  • Drill
  • Gloss glaze
  • Needle tool
  • Jump rings
  • Earring backs
  • Pliers
Flattening the clay

1. Flatten the clay

Take the five colors of polymer clay you’ll be using for this DIY and run them through your pasta machine individually on the thickest setting.

Stacking and cutting clay

2. Stack and cut

Then stack the clay pieces one top of the other. Cut this stack in half.

Rolling clay

3. Roll 

Roll both stacks through the pasta machine on the thickest setting.

Stacking and cutting

4. Stack, cut and roll again

Stack the two pieces together, then cut them in half and run them through the pasta machine again.


Then repeat this step a few more times. Then push together and roll the stack so that you have a block that is about 2x2 inches (5x5cm).

Poking holes

5. Poke holes in the clay

For this part, you can use any tools that are lying around. I'm using a paintbrush, and I'm just trying to poke holes randomly.


Make sure when you're poking holes that your tool goes all the way through.

Cutting the clay

6. Cut the clay

Use a blade to cut pieces in the clay, but don’t separate them.


Push them all together and push the sides in to retain the shape of the block of clay. Then use the roller to flatten the top.

Making shapes and marks

7. Make shapes and marks

Continue making shapes on the block. I'm using a cookie cutter and then putting back the pieces that I cut off.

Making shapes and marks

Then I'm using a tracing wheel to make marks in the clay. Compress the clay at the sides and make the top smooth by rolling out the clay.


Continue poking and cutting the stack with various objects. I know it looks really mad, but there is a method to this madness that you’ll be able to see.

Leaving clay to set

8. Leave to set

After all the cutting and slicing, smooth the stack of clay one last time and pop it in the freezer for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Slicing the clay

9. Slice the clay

Once the clay is nice and chilled, slice thin layers of it from the top down. You want to cut pieces of different thicknesses and sizes.

Placing clay pieces onto a slab

10. Place onto a slab

Place the pieces that you’ve cut on a flat, thick piece of scrap clay.

Rolling the clay

11. Roll the clay

Place a piece of tissue paper over the clay and roll it to smoothen the slab. Then run it through the pasta machine.

Applying gold leaf

12. Apply gold leaf

Rub some gold leaf between your fingers and add it to your clay.

Cutting shapes

13. Cut shapes

Cut shapes out of the clay with cookie cutters. You can cut whatever shapes you like.

Baking the mokume gane earrings

14. Bake the earrings

Bake the earrings at 225 Fahrenheit (107 celsius) for one hour and let them cool down.


As you can see, I added some black sparkle clay to some of the earrings to offset the busy pattern.

Sanding the pieces

15. Sand the pieces

Sand the pieces by dipping them in soap water, and then use the sander to smooth the edges.

Drilling holes in the pieces

16. Drill holes in the pieces

Drill small holes in each piece.

Finishing touches

17. Add finishing

Apply two or three coats of gloss glaze to finish the earrings.


I used a needle tool to help me hold the pieces in place as I did this.

Adding earring hardware

18. Add earring hardware

The final step is to add jump rings and earring backs.

Mokume gane earrings

How to make mokume gane earrings

Here are the finished earrings and I just love the abstract mokume pattern.


I know the process of poking holes and cutting shapes in the clay seemed a bit odd, but the finished earrings reveal the gorgeous design that we created in the clay.

Mokume gane earrings

The gold leaf shimmers as it catches the light and adds a really pretty touch.


If you enjoyed this tutorial, let me know in the comments down below!

Suggested materials:
  • Five colors of polymer clay
  • Sparkle clay
  • Pasta machine
See all materials

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