Making Polymer Clay Beads
Tools and Materials
Making polymer clay beads is a simple craft project that you can do with a few tools and materials. A pasta machine is a handy way to stretch, blend and smooth the clay for any polymer clay project. You will also need a clay knife to cut the clay strips into small sections, a knitting needle to make the center hole for your beads and a metal skewer to hold the beads as they bake in the oven. Make your clay beads shine by applying Future Floor Polish or Varathane Diamond Polyurethane interior coating. Both of these products work will with polymer clay, providing a shiny, hard finish for your beads. You can find all of the clay supplies at your local craft store and the finishing products at hardware and grocery stores.
Techniques
Begin making your beads by kneading the polymer clay with your hands until it becomes soft and pliable. For round beads, pinch off sections of the clay and roll them in your hands until they are the size of bead that you prefer. To make flat beads that are the same size, roll a piece of kneaded clay on a hard surface with the heel of your hand until you have created a snake. Continue to roll the snake until it is the desired thickness of your clay beads. With your clay knife, slice off even sections of the snake for flat beads. Work a knitting needle through the sides of the flat beads or through the center of the round bead to create an opening. Place the beads onto a metal skewer and bake them according to the clay manufacturer's directions. The skewer will keep the openings uniform as they bake. Let the beads cool and coat them with Future or Varathane polish.
Alternate Designs
To create multi-colored clay beads, run a solid color of kneaded clay through the fourth largest setting on your pasta machine. Repeat this process with as many colors as you would like to have in your beads. Stack the flat sheets on top of each other and roll them into a snake. Slice bake and finish the beads as previously described. You can also stack layered colors and roll them through the pasta machine to create a tie dyed effect for your beads. Get creative with your polymer clay. There is no right or wrong design for your beads.
