https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/octopus-tentacle-pendant • Posted by IntrepidMoose
I like octopi. They're great. But I don't really want to take one's tentacle for my jewellery. Or buy resin to put it in. Or buy a merchant's version of an octopi tentacle on Etsy. Therefore, I decided to make my own. These tentacles can be used for anything. Make two, and you have earrings. Put your tentacle on the end of a chain (What I recommend if you don't have pierced ears). Just have fun! That's what I did! It says embroidery needle on the list of things you'll need, but you can easily use the tip of a pencil, the aglet (hard plastic part) of a shoelace, or some thick wire.
I like octopi. They're great. But I don't really want to take one's tentacle for my jewellery. Or buy resin to put it in. Or buy a merchant's version of an octopi tentacle on Etsy. Therefore, I decided to make my own. These tentacles can be used for anything. Make two, and you have earrings. Put your tentacle on the end of a chain (What I recommend if you don't have pierced ears). Just have fun! That's what I did! It says embroidery needle on the list of things you'll need, but you can easily use the tip of a pencil, the aglet (hard plastic part) of a shoelace, or some thick wire.
ASSEMBLE! Your materials. First, take the polymer clay you don't want/need, constitute it, and roll it across your work surface and your hands, cleaning them off. This ensures that when you form the tentacle(s) they don't get stuff on them from dust or animal fur or anything.
Now lets get down with your first colour of polymer clay. Roll it out onto your work surface, making a little cone shape. However long you want to make it is fine, but I opt for 6 to 7 cm.
Next, take your second colour of polymer clay and roll out a long, thin strand. Cut the strand into small sections, about 2mm long.
Roll each of the new sections into little balls and flatten (not like pancakes, make sure each still has a bit of hight to it, like the width of a penny, maybe a little flatter depending)
Start placing the dots on the cone. I like two rows on my tentacle, but you can obviously do more or less depending on how shaky your hands are, or how pleasing it is to your eye. All up to you! As you go down the cone, the dots can get bigger than you want them to. Just carefully take the dot off, shave a bit of the clay off, re-roll into a ball, and flatten. That might do the trick. If it doesn't, repeat.
Now take your embroidery needle (or the tip of a pencil) and poke a hole in the centre of each little sucker.
Now shape it! Twist it around something, free form it, whatever! Work it, gurl!
Now poke a hole in the top of the cone (the big end). If you decide not do do this step and drill a hole in the top later, that's totally fine. (I have a wire loop in there because the hole kept on collapsing, and it needed support)
Anywho, once you're done with that, put it into an oven-safe something, throw that into the oven (Please, not literally) and bake according to the manufacture's instructions (I've always wanted to say that). You can support your piece with tinfoil, if you'd like.
WOOT! Look at what you've got now, a tentacle! SHWEET! Nice job, guys! If you chose not to poke a hole in the top before baking, you can drill the polymer clay once it's cool. If you want, you can sand it with a very fine grit. Or finish it with a craft gloss. Just do with it what you please!