How to Make Beads
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Here’s how to make round polymer clay beads using a bead maker!
I’m no expert on polymer clay, but I do like using it from time to time. I recently received this polymer clay bead maker as a gift and I thought it would be fun to try it out and take you along for the ride! So here’s how to make some cute round polymer clay beads using a special bead maker! Please note that this tutorial contains affiliate links.
You’ll need these tools and materials to make some polymer clay beads with me:
1: Some polymer clay.
2: A polymer clay bead maker. I used this Sculpey Tools branded one.
3: A carving tool or something similar that has a long pin on it for making the bead hole.
4: Some baking paper and foil for working on and baking. It is best to use a baking surface just for polymer clay and not trays you prepare food in. I like to fashion a little tray out of foil and then recycle it when I’m done.
5: An oven.
Follow these steps to make your polymer clay beads:
1: Choose the size of bead you want to make and fill the corresponding measuring cup with polymer clay. I chose 18mm.
2: Scrape off excess clay so that the clay sits flush in the cup.
3: Take the clay out of the cup and then roll it into a ball shape.
4: Put the the bead roller inserts that are the right size for your bead into the roller base. I used 18mm rollers.
5: Put the polymer clay ball between the two rollers.
6: Push the rollers back and forth with the polymer clay inside to make the ball round.
7: Take the ball out of the rollers and poke a hole through it using the poker tool.
8: Now you can decorate your ball, you might want to roll it again gently to reshape it after making the hole. I used the other end of my poker tool to add some cross designs on my bead.
9: Bake the bead according to the instructions on the package of your chosen brand of polymer clay. I made a couple more beads before I baked them. Here they are before being baked.
Once your bead is baked it is ready to use in your jewellery designs! Stay tuned for a tutorial where I use my polymer clay beads in a design!
Here are the baked beads. If you liked this tutorial, here are some other ways to make polymer clay pieces to include in your jewelry designs:
- Here’s how to make polymer clay earrings with a beaded tassel
- Here’s how to make polymer clay charms for long statement earrings
And here are some pieces that make use of polymer clay beads and charms:
- A bracelet made using polymer clay beads and beading thread
- Maybe you’ll make a funky beaded lanyard with polymer clay beads?
- Make a cute charm bracelet with your handmade polymer clay beads.
- Use some cube shaped polymer clay beads to make a fun stacking ring
- Add some polymer clay beads to a funky beaded phone strap
- Or use polymer clay beads to make a unique anklet
- Maybe you’ll add polymer clay beads to an amazing mixed bead statement necklace.
If you want to make beads in other materials here are some tutorials:
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Need some sweet scents in your life? Here’s how to turn your clay beads into oil diffusers!
If you’ve made yourself some cool clay beads and pendants using our clay bead tutorial you might be looking for some creative ways to incorporate them into your DIY jewelry designs… well this tutorial is for you! We’ll show you all the steps you need to take to turn your clay creations into wearable essential oil diffusers.
You will need the following tools and materials to make your clay diffuser pendant:
1: A clay pendant or bead.
Make your own using some air dry clay
2: Your favorite essential oil. I used some lavender oil.
Follow these steps to turn your clay creations into essential oil diffusers:
1: Open up your bottle of oil.
2: Turn your pendant over to expose the back or choose the part of the bead you want to add your oil too.
3: Put some oil on your finger (you don’t need very much).
4: Apply the oil to the back of the pendant or bead using your finger.
5: Now you are done! You can add your great smelling clay diffuser to a special piece of jewelry or add oil to clay jewelry you have already made.
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Want to make something sweet for Mom? How about a handmade heart?!
Mom’s love something that comes from the heart… so why not make her a pretty rustic handmade heart pendant or bead out of air dry clay? Here are some instructions for making handmade hearts two different ways to give to your mom this Mother’s Day.
You will need the following tools and materials to make these clay hearts:
1: Air dry clay.
2: A skewer.
Follow these steps to make these cute clay hearts:
1: Pull out two small pieces of clay from the package.
2: Work the clay a little bit and form them into balls.
3: Take one ball and flatten it slightly.
4: Using your fingers form the flattened clay into a rough triangle shape.
5: Use the skewer to define the top of the heart.
6: Poke the skewer through the top of the heart to turn it into a pendant.
7: Create your desired pattern on the heart pendant. I used the end of the skewer to create a polka dot effect.
8: Repeat steps 3 to 4 to form the second heart shape.
9: Use the skewer again to make a hole through the center of the second heart that runs from top to bottom.
10: Create a pattern on the second heart.
11: Set both hearts aside to dry!
12:Now that your clay hearts are dry all that’s left to do is to add your new beads to some stunning jewelry designs. What will you make for your mom?
Here are a couple of pics to give you some heart-filled inspiration!
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Give Your Jewelry a Unique Edge by Making Your Own Beads!
I love making jewelry with pretty beads and pendants made out of different materials like gemstones and glass, but sometimes I want to my jewelry designs to have a special, one of a kind edge. To make sure that my designs are truly unique, I sometimes make my own beads out of air dry clay. Using clay allows you to get really creative with the shapes and forms that you create. Not only can you make your own beads, you can made some beautiful pendants and charms as well. Using air drying clay requires a little bit of extra patience (As you wait for them to dry) but it is an easy fun (and slightly messy) material to work with!
In this tutorial I will show you a few different ways that you can make unique clay beads and pendants.
You will need the following tools and materials to make these clay beads and pendants:
1: Air dry clay. I used terracotta colored Fimo Basic air dry clay.
I used terracotta colored Fimo Basic air dry clay but this DAS air dry clay in terracotta gives a similar finish. You can also purchase it in white!
2: Baking paper. Baking paper is a great surface to work on and helps to keep your surfaces clean!3: A skewer for making holes in your beads and pendants.
4: Buttons or other materials for adding pattern to your beads and pendants.
The Steps:
Here are the steps for making a round clay bead:
1: Lay down a piece of baking paper.
2: Take out a portion of clay.
3: Begin rolling and shaping the clay in your hands. Forming a spherical shape can be easier if you roll the piece on a flat surface.
4: Once you are happy with the shape you have made, take the skewer and poke a hole through the center of the bead.
5: Your shape might be a bit disfigured after poking the skewer through, carefully reshape it again and poke the skewer through the hole from the other side. This will ensure that the hole is evenly shaped on both sides.
Here are the steps for making a textured round clay pendant:
1: Take another piece of clay and begin shaping it into a sphere.
2: Take the spherical shape and then flatten it between your palms to make a disk shape.
3: smooth the surfaces out by pressing each side lightly against a flat surface.
4: Once you are happy with your shape, take a button and press it into the upper face of the clay. Make sure you press down firmly to get a good impression in the clay.
5: Remove the button to reveal the impression made in the clay.
6: Take the skewer and use it to create a hole in the pendant disk. As with the round bead, you may need to poke the skewer through from both sides.
Here are the steps for making a rectangular clay pendant:
1: Form a rectangular shape with a piece of clay using your fingers to make your desired shape.
2: Take another button or charm and press it firmly into one end of the clay shape.
3: Remove the button to see the impression it has left in the clay.
4: Use the skewer to create a hole at the top of the pendant. Make sure you poke the skewer through to create an even hole.
Here are the steps for making a coiled clay pendant:
1: Roll some clay backwards and forwards on a hard surface using your fingers.
2: Continue rolling until your piece of clay is a long flexible log shape.
3: Coil the log into a spiral shape and pinch the end to create a space for the hole to be placed.
4: Poke the skewer through the top part of the pendant. Make sure to even out the hole on both sides.
When you have finished making all of your clay designs, pop them outside to harden in the sun. If that doesn’t suit you can leave them to dry inside.
Once your pieces are dry you can get to beading with them right away or you can add some extra pizzazz by finishing them off with some paint.
Here are some tutorials that show you can use your handmade clay beads and charms:
- Turn your clay charms into scented diffusers
- Make a flower necklace with clay beads
- How to make clay love heart charms
- Make a double strand necklace with clay statement beads
Here is some more inspiration for making jewels out of your handmade clay beads and charms.
Some of these beads have a metallic finish that was achieved by mixing gold acrylic paint into the clay when it was still wet. 
These clay beads were painted with acrylic paints after they had dried. 
These hand formed cube beads were painted with red and gold acrylic paint. 
A memory wire bracelet made using hand painted clay beads and blue glass seed beads. 
Handmade clay buttons This tutorial contains affiliate links
