How do make my own beads?

Question

How do make my own beads?

Answer 1

I also would go with polymer clay.  You can make almost any shape or style bead you want.  You can make a bead any color you can imagine, by blending colors.  Try this link for some helpful hints:  http://www.crafts-for-all-seasons.com/wo... then check out this link: http://www.crafts-for-all-seasons.com/po... which shows you how to make canes.  Slices from the cane can be placed over a round ball of clay (your bead) for a really unique look.  

Answer 2

I use a ceramic clay and roll them to size, put in the whole and fire them in my kiln{ I do ceramics for yrs and then you have to put on the glaze ot what ever you want. and fire again. they have special firing holders for the beads, while being fired. They are a lot of fun to do,

Answer 3

You could make beads from paper. Here's some examples: http://enchanted-art.blogspot.com/2007/0...

Or plastic: http://craftydaisies.com/2007/07/18/recy...

Or from polymer clay using these tools: http://www.poly-tools.com/

I've used them and they're really easy and helpful for getting perfectly shaped beads.

Answer 4

I'm just getting into making my own beads too!

http://www.janewear.com

Answer 5

Polymer clay can be baked in your kitchen oven. Sculpey Polymer clay is the easiest to work with. You can also buy a bead rack so you don't get a flat side to your beads ;)))

Answer 6

Try "sculpey." It's kind of like clay, only it doesn't dry out until you bake it, and you can buy some at Wal*Mart fairly cheap. You sculpt your bead, place it on a oven safe plate or container, and then bake for about 15 minutes (depending on the size of your bead) on the lowest setting on your oven, usually 175F.

*Tip: When you check on your sculpey in the oven, squeeze your bead (softly). It should still be kind of soft and squishy right before you take it out. If you wait for your bead to be hard, you run the risk of burning it. As it cools off it will harden.

Answer 7

If you're talking about beads made from polymer clay (some brand names are FimoClassic, FimoSoft, Premo, Kato Polyclay, Sculpey*/various lines, and Cernit), then there are loads of ways to make them, plus all kinds of patterns, textures, and special effects that can be built into them or added as well.

Check out these pages at my polymer clay "encyclopedia" on making beads, pendants, and other jewelry with polymer clay (though other pages at the site will deal with all the coloring, texturing, patterning, etc. techniques that can be used to make any of those beads):

http://glassattic.com/polymer/beads.htm

....and http://glassattic.com/polymer/beads-hole...

http://glassattic.com/polymer/jewelry.ht...

http://glassattic.com/polymer/pendants_c...

http://glassattic.com/polymer/wire.htm

* you won't want to use the Sculpey, SuperSculpey, or Sculpey III lines of polymer clay for any beads which will have _thin_ or projecting areas because those lines of polymer clay are very weak after baking in areas like those (...fat rounded beads are fine since they're inherently strong shapes)... those 3 Sculpeys aren't the best for handling characteristics and getting good detail either since they're *very* soft when raw

HTH if you're wanting to make beads with polymer clay,

Diane B.