Perhaps you can tell from the title of this post that I have been enjoying an earring-making binge. It really got started at a workshop with Marie Segal from California. Thank you Marie! If you ever have a chance to take a class from Marie, or to get her book, do so! She is filled with information and ideas that don't quit.
This particular workshop, sponsored by the Southern Connecticut Polymer Clay Guild, focused on the use of translucent polymer. Marie has used a wide variety of translucents, and introduced us to her favorite: Cernit. Cernit translucent proved to be an incredibly versatile product, and we couldn't find enough time to play with all the different options. I particularly liked using the colored translucents mixed with the clear, and incorporating composite goldleaf into the clear translucent. Pictured in this post are several pairs of earrings demonstrating different applications.
The round disk-shaped earrings demonstrate the translucent qualities the best. Light shines through these earrings from the back, giving them an overall glow. The blue and purple earrings have colored translucent swirled on top of clear. Marie showed us how to make narrow tubes of swirled lines and I couldn't resist making the leaf shapes with them. The aqua earrings have a smaller disc of pressed gold-leaf composite, and these discs really sparkle.
The pairs in red and gold highlighted both the true red color of the Cernit clay, as well as some other techniques that Marie helped us develop.
In addition to disk earrings, I made some of my favorite triangle shapes. I added pearls and crystals. Because of the shape, the clay took on a different look and did not seem quite as transparent.
These last earring shown here are not made with Cernit translucent. Instead, these are made from canes I made using Premo! polymer clays. I used special ear wires that I could include in the design. These are really pretty and fun to wear. The long wire in back is especially nice since it not only adds to the design but helps ensure a secure fit.
I really love to work with translucent clay. There is a warmth about it that changes the tone of what you are making, and it often seems to glow from inside. Recently, I taught a workshop in which we used translucent to make Skinner blended stacks with white stripes. Taking thin slices from the stack and criss-crossing them over one another is a lovely way to make a base for a bead. A raspberry, coral and light gold stack made this sweet teardrop shape. I encircled it with glass pearls and included brass heishi in the chain. 
