Funeral flower beads
Flowers are a part of many funeral traditions. They are often preserved as a memento of the event. The dilemma is what to do with them. Save the flowers from a loved one's funeral and make them into beads. These funeral flower beads can be fashioned into jewelry, charms, key chains or rosaries to share with family and close friends. Only a small number of flowers is needed.
Instructions
1. Crush a handful of dried flower petals into small pieces. Roses, lilies, carnations or any kind of flower are suitable.
2. Condition the polymer clay by working and kneading it in your hands until it is soft and pliable.
3. Sprinkle a pinch of crushed flowers on the clay and knead to work it into the clay. There is no specific amount to include; the goal is to have specks of the flowers in the clay, not large clumps.
4. Break off a small amount of the clay and form it into a bead. It can be round, square, disk, oval or pebble-shaped.
5. Pierce the bead with the wire and leave the bead on the wire.
6. Prop the wire across the oven-proof dish leaving the bead suspended over the dish to prevent a flat side from forming on the bead during baking.
7. Form more flower beads and feed them onto the wire, leaving spaces between each bead.
8. Preheat the portable oven to the temperature specified on the polymer clay package. Temperatures vary by brand.
9. Place the dish with the suspended funeral flower beads into the oven and bake according to package directions.
