How to easily make polymer clay rosebud earrings

It's late spring, almost summer and roses are blooming in my yard like gangbusters!  I have mostly red ones but these yellow ones are so delicate and pretty.  So I thought it would be helpful if I listed the meanings of the colors of roses. The meanings, however, are pretty flexible.  Make your rose any color you would like because roses are beautiful any color!

Red rose - love and romance

Pink rose - love, gratitude and appreciation

White rose - marriage, purity and spirituality

Orange rose - enthusiasm and passion

Yellow rose - friendship, joy and good health

Red and white together - unity

Lavender - love at first sight

You will need:

Small amount of polymer clay in desired color

Clay needle tool

Post earring backs

E600 glue

Gloss finish (optional)

Small paintbrush

Home oven set at 275 degrees

Cookie sheet covered with aluminum foil

1.     You can make your earrings as small or as large as you desire depending upon how large your clay balls are.  Roll eight pieces of clay into balls.  Make them all the same size.  It is easiest to work on the end of a clay needle tool attaching your roses to the end.

2.     To make an earring use four of the clay balls.  Take one of the clay balls and flatten with your fingers.  Roll this onto the needle tool, pressing at the base.   This is center of your rose.  (See photo)

3.     Flatten a second ball with your fingers and attach to the base of the rose. This is the first petal.  Curl the ends down.  (See photo)  Continue flattening and attaching petals with the other two balls of clay like you did with the first one pressing at the base to secure them.  Remove the rose from the needle tool and set aside.  Repeat steps 2-3 for a second earring.

4.     When you have finished making your earrings you will need to bake them. Set them on a cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil and bake in a 275 degree oven for 20 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let cool.

5.     Using E6000 glue attach each earring to an earring post.  Let dry completely.  

6.     After your earrings have dried, brush on some clear gloss on the petals and let dry.  (optional)