Hand Made Marbled Polymer Beads

Polymer clay is a pliable, blendable polymer compound for crafters. It comes in dozens of colors, and you can blend clays together like paints to make your own colors. A few popular brands are Sculpey (which is a little softer and easier to work with) and Fimo – both of which are easily found in arts and crafts stores.

Tip: Place wax paper on the table to keep your work surface clean.

1. Pick two or more colors of clay.

2. Roll the clay between your hands (roll into snakes and back into balls) until it’s soft and pliable. Do this for a few minutes with each color of clay.

3. Take a small chunk of each clay color and mix them together, rolling and twisting to create a marble look.

4. When you like the effect, pinch off a piece of the marbled clay and roll it into a small ball between your hands. (You can also use a non-serated, dull or plastic knife to slice the ball into smaller beads). Then use a toothpick or a wooden skewer to pierce a hole through the center. You now have your first bead!

5. Roll the rest of the clay into beads, following directions #3 and #4. You can match sizes or make all different sizes of beads. Try different shapes, too - cube beads, long skinny beads, flat ovals for a pin or earrings, etc.

6. Line a cookie sheet with plain white paper and put the beads on it. Have an adult place them in the oven at 250 degrees for 30 minutes or so to bake them. Take them out and let them cool thoroughly.

7. When the beads have cooled, string them into a bracelet or necklace.