We’ve made pretty clay necklaces before — the kind of dressy thing you’d wear to summer weddings + brunch dates with your boo. While they’re the ideal accessory for RSVP-worthy occasions, they’re not so perfect for beach bummin’. And as summer sneaks up on us (faster, faster!), we’re looking to don a lazy day accessory that will still make a statement over any tank, swimsuit cover up or one piece. So what better place to take inspiration from than our June-August destination of choice: The ocean?! This clay shark tooth necklace is sure to become just as much of a beach-bound must-have as your sunnies.
Materials:
– air-dry clay
– colored nail polish (we used pink)
– clear nail polish
– gold leaf flakes
– gold chain
– gold jump ring
– gold box closer cord end
Tools:
– paint brush
– 2 needle-nose jewelry pliers
– toothpick
Instructions:
1. Shape a piece of air-dry clay about the size of a ping pong ball into a rough triangle with rounded corners.
2. Mold it to look like a shark’s tooth: Squeeze the middle of each side slightly into the center and shape the bottom corner into a point.
3. Take a sharp object like a toothpick and draw a rough line across the clay parallel to the top edge.
4. Use your toothpick to define the outer edge and add texture.
5. Flatten the box clasp cord end with pliers and insert into the top of your shark tooth.
6. Let it rest overnight to dry and harden.
7. Paint the bottom of the tooth with bright nail polish color — you may need a few coats for complete coverage.
8. Cover the top of the tooth with gold leaf. You can use clear nail polish as the gold leaf adhesive: Spread a little polish on the tooth, and using one finger, place the gold leaf over the top. Smooth down with a dry paintbrush.
9. Once fully dry, attach the shark tooth to a chain using a jump ring.
It’s way easy to shape your soft clay into a sharp chomper: Mold it into a triangle with rounded sides and squeeze the middle and sides just slightly, so that it looks just like ours above. Use a toothpick to create that signature line that divides the tooth into a top and bottom half, and to add texture or define the overall shape, too. Then, flatten your box clasp and stick it deep into the top center of your tooth. Let this beast rest overnight until it’s completely hardened.
Now customize your shark tooth. We’re being resourceful and using pink nail polish to paint the bottom part of the tooth — a few coats will make the color really bold + super shiny, which will totally match the gold leaf we’re about to add to the top part. Who said Jaws couldn’t have a gold grill ;)
You can secure the gold leafing with special adhesive or hack it like us with clear nail polish. Just let it dry before you toss it onto your chain with a jump ring.
Sling it on and surf’s up!
What are your favorite accessories that you’ve made out of clay? Tell us in the comments below.
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.