How To Make Your Own Designer Jewelry Beads

Trollbeads are great, but let's admit it, they're not cheap.  And although, we will keep adding Trollbeads to the collection, sometimes we want to have our own custom made beads to give our charm bracelets their own unique look and style to match our fashion and personality.   Their are many ways to do that, but by far the easiest way is using a clay called polymer clay.  It is very cheap, but durable, and bakes right in your oven.

What you will need to make your own beads are first, polymer clay.  The best brands are Sculpey, Fimo, and Prosculpt.  If you want lots of colors, usually Fimo or sculpey is best, but if you want a cheaper clay you can by Sculpey(white) or Super Sculpey(skin color), and then paint it the color you want.  These clays can be picked up at most art and craft stores and are only a couple bucks for enough to make quite a few beads.

Second, you will need some tools to shape the clay, a sewing needle, and preferably a pasta machine to flatten the clay.  The best tools I use are knitting needles, and the back ends of paintbrushes, but there are many you can buy also.

Next, I recommend leaching Sculpey, because sometimes it can be too soft or too sticky to work with especially in humid-hot areas.  Leaching is simply flattening the clay to about 1/8th inch thick and then placing it between two pieces of paper.  Add 10-20 pounds weight on top of the clay(books work best) and leave for several hours.  Once done pull the clay out.

Next, mold your shape.  This is left up to your creative juices but one method to consider for beads is called millefiori and involves placing different colors of clay together to form images in the clay.  Google it for more information.

Finally, poke a hole through your bead with a small knitting needle or sewing needle.  To get a more perfect hole heat up the needle with a lighter before poking the hole.  You may need to patch the sides around the hole.  Place talcum powder inside the hole and on the needle and push the needle back through the hole, and leave it there.  Make sure it is slightly loose, but just enough that the hole doesn't mis shape during baking.

Then bake the clay according to package instructions, pull out and string it to your favorite charm bracelet!

Bright Good 4 pcs Millefiori Art Ceramic Round Glass Loose Beads 10mm  Beautiful
Bright Good 4 pcs Millefiori Art Ceramic Round Glass Loose Beads 10mm Beautiful
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24  Vintage Lampwork Beads Red w Color Millefiori 10 mm
24 Vintage Lampwork Beads Red w Color Millefiori 10 mm
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4pcs  Millefiori Art  Ceramic  Round Glass Loose  Beads 10mm Mix color Brand New
4pcs Millefiori Art Ceramic Round Glass Loose Beads 10mm Mix color Brand New
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4pcs Millefiori Art Ceramic Round Glass Loose Beads 10mm  Beautiful Bright  Good
4pcs Millefiori Art Ceramic Round Glass Loose Beads 10mm Beautiful Bright Good
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PUGSTER MILLEFIORI GLASS CHARM BEAD FOR BRACELET A04
PUGSTER MILLEFIORI GLASS CHARM BEAD FOR BRACELET A04
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New Hot 4pcs Millefiori Art Ceramic Round Glass Loose Beads 10mm Mix color
New Hot 4pcs Millefiori Art Ceramic Round Glass Loose Beads 10mm Mix color
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PUGSTER® BEAD MILLEFIORI GLASS CHARM FOR BRACELET O74
PUGSTER® BEAD MILLEFIORI GLASS CHARM FOR BRACELET O74
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PUGSTER® BEAD MILLEFIORI GLASS CHARM FOR BRACELET Y91
PUGSTER® BEAD MILLEFIORI GLASS CHARM FOR BRACELET Y91
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PUGSTER® BEAD MILLEFIORI GLASS CHARM FOR BRACELET Q55
PUGSTER® BEAD MILLEFIORI GLASS CHARM FOR BRACELET Q55
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Free ship 16pcs millefiori glass round spacer beads 8mm
Free ship 16pcs millefiori glass round spacer beads 8mm
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Greenish Heart Necklace Bracelet/Millefiori Glass Beads
Greenish Heart Necklace Bracelet/Millefiori Glass Beads
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5pcs  Millefiori Glass Beads Fit charm bracelet b149
5pcs Millefiori Glass Beads Fit charm bracelet b149
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5pcs Millefiori glass beads  fit Charm Bracelet b146
5pcs Millefiori glass beads fit Charm Bracelet b146
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10ps Millefiori Square Bead fit Charm Bracelet 28
10ps Millefiori Square Bead fit Charm Bracelet 28
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2 String Oblate Millefiori Lampwork Bead Free P 110871
2 String Oblate Millefiori Lampwork Bead Free P 110871
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PUGSTER® BEAD MILLEFIORI GLASS CHARM FOR BRACELET C78
PUGSTER® BEAD MILLEFIORI GLASS CHARM FOR BRACELET C78
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A0079132 1 strand Millefiori Glass 6mm loose bead 15.5 inch
A0079132 1 strand Millefiori Glass 6mm loose bead 15.5 inch
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5pcs  Millefiori Glass Beads Fit charm bracelet b148
5pcs Millefiori Glass Beads Fit charm bracelet b148
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Posted under: Articles Friday, August 14th, 2009