If you have discovered bead making like so many others recently, you know how addictive it can become. There are so many shape and color possibilities that it never gets boring. Time easily gets away from you when you are in full bead making mode. Since you are already addicted to this great hobby, I don’t think there is any harm in me telling you about making polymer clay beads. If you have not worked with polymer clay for your bead making before, you are in for a treat. Although polymer clay is not clay in the scientific sense, it does not contain any clay minerals, its texture and working properties are very similar to mineral clays. Polymer clay can easily be colored and worked with everyday household items such as a pasta machine. That makes it perfect for the bead making hobbyist.
If you are an experienced bead maker or a novice, it is a good idea to get some basic knowledge on how to use polymer clay before you begin making your beads. But don’t worry, this is a very user friendly material to work with. One of your best resources for learning the basics of polymer clay is of course the Internet. But your local library, book stores and craft stores should be stocked with a good number of how-to guides to get you started. While there you may be tempted to load up on all the specialized bead making tools. There are many handy devices available, but don’t feel as though they are a requirement for this hobby. One of the great things about polymer clay is that it is so easy to work with and works well with a number of regular household items. Just remember to keep a separate set of these items for clay making so you are not using them for food preparation as well.
So now that you have read up on the basics of polymer clay I am sure you are excited to learn how to make polymer clay beads. First, decide what colors you want to make. It helps if you know your end project as well. A necklace or bracelet? Or do you just want a big bowl full of colorful handmade beads? Take your translucent clay and blend it with your colored clays through a hand crank pasta machine to make custom colors. Color recipes are plentiful on the Internet. Now you are ready to start forming your beads. You can roll tubes with a toothpick in the middle to form the stringing hole or make free formed shapes by hand. The possibilities are limitless and totally up to you. Final step is the baking. The great thing about polymer clay is that no kiln is required. You can bake it right in your oven or toaster oven. Voila, your beads are ready for stringing or just admiring.
If you haven’t found out already you are sure to discover the addictiveness of bead making. Using a material like polymer clay only makes it easier and more fun. Before you know it you will have created one of a kind personal masterpieces with ease.
When researching how to make polymer clay beads and how to use polymer clay be sure to visit AMACO, the website of the American Art Clay Company. This is a fantastic resource for the expert bead maker or anyone just starting out with making polymer clay beads.
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