How to Make Fimo Beads
Fimo beads are handmade beads that originally came from South Africa. They are generally made of polymer clay, but they can be created from nearly any kind of malleable material that anyone can purchase at a hobby or craft store. There is no particular shape or size for all Fimo beads, and they can be made into shapes such as spherical, cubical or even cylindrical. Once a set of beads have been created, they can be used to make many different kinds of jewelry, including necklaces and bracelets.
Assemble your Bead Materials
To make Fimo beads, it is important to assemble all of your materials before you begin. You will need polymer clay (or any other type of malleable clay-like material that may be available to you. You will also need some sort of device to help you make shapes other than a sphere (you can make a sphere with just your hands). A knitting or crochet needle will also be needed in order to make the holes in the center of the beads. Finally, a high temperature oven will be required to allow the beads to harden. Varnish and paint will also be necessary in order to customize your creations.
Step One: Knead the Clay
The first step in creating Fimo beads is to knead the clay in order to get it warm and easy to work with. Once the clay is easily malleable, you should divide it into small balls of equal or different sizes. You should make sure that the balls are of equal size in order to create more authentic Fimo beads, but they can be any size that you wish for your own jewelry making purposes.
After the clay has been separated into different balls, you should take each ball and start rolling it in your hands in order to turn it into a cylindrical shape. This rolling should create a vein-like pattern in your clay which can be used for various designs in your beads. At this point, you should make a decision about what shape your beads will be. Keep your beads as they are if you want cylindrical beads, otherwise you can roll them into a circular shape or you can use a mold to create cubical beads.
Prepare the Beads for the Kiln
Once your beads have been shaped, you can make a hole through the center of them with the needle you set aside earlier. Simply slide the needle through the center of the bead and then leave it in. After your beads have been sculpted, hang them in an oven and set the temperature to approximately 2650 Fahrenheit. The beads should be hardened in about thirty minutes. Once the beads have cooled you can remove the needle safely without jeopardizing the shape of the bead. As a final bit of customization, you can paint and varnish the beads to your specifications.