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.

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2: A polymer clay bead maker. I used this Sculpey Tools branded one.

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3: A carving tool or something similar that has a long pin on it for making the bead hole.

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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.

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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!

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:

• Here’s how to make beads from air dry clay
• How to make a love heart bead out of clay
• How to use essential oils to turn your clay beads into sent diffusers!