The Nutcracker is my favorite ballet, and I have had the joy of seeing it as a tradition every December since I was 2 years old or so. To celebrate enjoying a production of the Nutcracker live for the first time since the pandemic, I made nutcracker-themed necklaces for all of my friends attending the ballet.
I began by crafting my mini nutcrackers from oven-bake clay. The clay I used and more details about getting started in clay sculpting are described in more detail here. I used varying colors of clay to make their red suits, black hats, etc. before baking the clay to harden it.
I then went on to use acrylic paint and a fine paintbrush to add details to the nutcrackers, specifically faces with nutcracker teeth and jacket details.
After painting the fine details of the nutcracker, I used gold colored and silver colored chain to make necklaces. I used a necklace I own for length reference and cut the chains of metal accordingly with jewelry shears. Then I added a large loop to one side and a lobster clasp to the other using jewelry pliers. Nutcracker-themed gift baggies from Amazon were used to package the homemade nutcracker necklaces.
I wore my nutcracker necklace to the ballet where I gifted the remaining necklaces to my friends attending the show. The necklaces were a big hit and were well enjoyed by my fellow Nutcracker Ballet enjoyers!
Millennial's Delight 