How to Make Clay Beads
If you want to make lovely, but inexpensive jewelry, your best option is to use beads made from clay. You can easily purchase these from an arts and crafts store, but if you’re feeling creative, you can make some in the comfort of your own home. Making clay beads isn’t difficult, as long as you follow these steps.
What You’ll Need:
4 cups of flour
One tablespoon of vegetable oil
One cup salt
1 1/2 cup of water
Paper clips
Food coloring (get several different colors)
Old rags and newspapers
A large mixing bowl
Several small bowls
Mixing spoon
Cookie sheet
Aluminum foil
Oven
Procedure:
Prepare your work surface. Lay old rags and newspapers around it, so it won’t be stained or damaged during the process. You’ll be using dye for the beads, so be careful to cover all areas you don’t want to be harmed.
Get the mixing bowl and put in the water, salt, flour and vegetable oil. Mix them well, until they combine completely, and there are no loose ingredients remaining. You’ve now created your clay dough.
Separate the dough into several different bowls. Then, add a few drops of food coloring, a different color for a different bowl, then mix well, so the dough will absorb it and will change color.
Decide what shapes you’re going to use for your beads. You can make squares, ovals, stars, rectangles, hearts, crescent moons, diamonds, and even small animal shapes. Be as creative as you can. The cuter the shapes, the better your beads will look.
Get a paper clip and unwrap it, so it becomes long and pointed. Use it to poke holes in each of the beads. Make sure the holes are big enough to allow whatever string material you’re going to use to pass through. For example, if you’re using thread, small holes would suffice, but for yarn, you’ll need bigger holes. Make sure the hole goes from one side of the beads to the other, otherwise you won’t be able to thread them.
Get the cookie sheet, then line it with aluminum foil. This will prevent the beads from sticking in the cookie sheet while in the oven.
Put the beads on the cookie sheet, then insert it in the oven, at a 250 degree Fahrenheit temperature. Let them stay there for 15 to 20 minutes. Check on them every five minutes, making sure they’re not burning.
When the beads have started to harden, take them from the oven, and allow them to cool.
Once the beads have cooled enough, take them off the sheet. String them with your yarn or thread and have fun making clay jewelry!
Whether it’s for a necklace, bracelet or anklet, clay beads are a lovely addition. With these steps, you’ll never have to purchase beads from a store again!