Appeal to customers with a delicate pearl and polymer clay lily set

What you need...

• NECKLACE Pearl beads, 8mm x 90, FIMO Soft polymer clay, white, cherry red, FIMO Effects translucent polymer clay, Calottes, Jump rings, 5mm, Caribiner clasp, Clear fishing line filament, 0.4mm
  
  TOOLS Pliers, round-nosed, flat-nosed, snipe-nosed, Wire cutters, Soft chalk pastels, pink green, Crimson acrylic paint, Florist wire, Paper stamens, Kitchen foil, Ball tool, Glue
  

instructions

1. Necklace - 1. Download and print the petal templates from the link above. Trace a template for a large lily petal onto stiff card and cut out. Slice a 56g pack of white and translucent clay in half, combine and condition well. Roll the clay into a 1.5mm sheet. Place the template over the clay and cut out six petals in total. Run a ball tool along each of the petals to simulate the natural texture of a flower. Scrape green and pink chalk dust onto separate pieces of paper. Dip a soft bristled brush in the green chalk dust and gently brush onto both ends of each petal. Brush pink chalk dust along the central length of the petal, until the correct depth of colour is achieved.
   
   2. Turn each petal over to the back. Cut a paper stamen in half and discard the bobble at the end. Position the stamen down the centre of a petal and press it lightly into the clay. Roll out a cylinder of clay and place over the stamen, smoothing over the join with a ball tool. This will support the petal and hold its shape. Shape the petal by placing a cocktail stick underneath the clay and crimping it into small waves. Repeat for each piece and place to one side.
   
   3. Cut a length of floristry wire in half and make a hook at one end. Roll out a small tube of white clay and insert the floristry wire, pinch the end of the tube around the hook to secure and dust with green chalk. Arrange three petals around the green stalk, pinching the base so that they stick together, then add the remaining petals underneath. Make two horizontal holes in the base of the flower and cut off the excess wire. Arrange the petals and support the flower on scrunched up foil, cut the rest of the stamens in half and push into the centre of the flower. Bake to the manufacturer's instructions.
   
   4. Dilute a small dab of crimson acrylic and paint along the centre of the flower, building up the colour gradually. Add small dots of colour along the centre of the flower. To create a rose, pinch off a small amount of red polymer clay and flatten, then coil it to form the first petal. Roll out another ball of clay and flatten to make the second petal. Fold it around the first petal. Add another five petals in this way. Repeat to make a second red rose. Put two horizontal holes through each flower and bake to the manufacturer's instructions.
   
   5. Cut two 50cm lengths of clear fishing line filament. Thread 21 pearls onto one end, followed by one rose, three pearls, a lily, three pearls, one rose and another 21 pearls. Repeat with the second strand, taking it through the second hole in the lily and each rose. Thread a calotte onto each end of the necklace and tie the filaments in a tight knot to secure. Secure the knots with instant glue if necessary. Trim the ends of the filaments and close the calottes shut. Add jump rings either end and a clasp to finish.
   

2. Make it yours - To create a matching gift box, make one lily and five red roses as before. Cover with decorative paper and secure the flowers. Add ribbon to finish.