Craft Project - Peppermint Swirl Necklace

By Lisa Galvin, CCD, CPD

Materials

Necklace designed by Lisa Galvin CCD, CPD Peppermint Swirl Necklace FIMO® Soft — 2 oz. blocks of: Emerald (#56), Cherry Red (#26), Lemon (#10), White (#0), and Translucent (#014)
AMACO® Tri-Bead Roller™
AMACO® Bead Making Tool Set
AMACO® PolyRoller
FIMO® Lacquer
Polyester Batting
Metal Baking Sheet
Home Oven (or dedicated toaster oven)
Bead Reaming Drill
Beadalon® 19 Strand Bright Silver Flexible Beading Wire
Silver Barrel Clasp
3 Silver Plated Eye Pins, 2″ Long
2 Silver Plated Head Pins, 1″ Long
22 Gauge Wire, Any Color
Two 4mm Faceted Beads
Silver Seed Beads
14 Silver Plated Metal Bead Caps, Size 10mm
Crimp Beads
Round Nose Jewelry Pliers
Wire Cutters
Crimping Pliers

Step 1
Preheat home oven (or dedicated toaster oven) to 265ºF (130ºC). Knead clay to condition. Make three nickel size balls of Translucent. Knead one of the balls to gradually blend in a pea size ball of Emerald. Repeat to blend Lemon and Cherry Red with the remaining Translucent balls.

Step 2
Make three more nickel size balls of Translucent. On a covered work surface use PolyRoller™ to roll all balls flat to make six thin sheets of clay. Stack sheets, using Translucent to separate the colored layers. Use roller to lightly press layers together then roll “jellyroll” style to create a rope. Follow directions found with Tri-Bead Roller™ to make three round beads from the layered rope.

Step 3
Knead remaining rope slightly then roll flat. Fold in half and roll again, repeat as needed to create a narrow sheet with your preferred color blended pattern. Tip: Knead or roll too much and colors will blend completely. Follow instructions found in AMACO® Bead Making Tools set to create a wrapped bead from the clay sheet using small triangular template (pointed), cutting blade and small mandrel.

Step 4
Knead and then roll a quarter size ball of White to make a thin sheet. Blend a quarter size ball of Cherry Red with a dime size ball of White to soften color tone then roll flat. Stack the White sheet onto the Red and roll lightly. Cut the layered sheet into three equal pieces and stack on top of one another. Use roller to lightly press the layers together. With Tri-Bead Roller™, create two bi-cone and two oblong beads from cut strips of the layered clay.

Step 5
Use dimple tool to mark drill hole openings on all but the wrapped bead, indenting slightly to create a guide hole that will be used for easy drilling once clay has been cured. Place all beads onto polyester batting and bake in home oven for 35 minutes. Let cool.

Step 6
Drill holes in beads then slip them onto 22 gauge wire. Apply 2-3 coats of FIMO® Lacquer. Let dry completely while suspended on the wire. Remove beads from wire and mandrel.

Step 7
Create dangling pendant referring to diagram. With one 2″ eye pen use round nose jewelry pliers to bend a matching eye-shaped loop at straight end. Fold in half to find center, then shape referring to diagram (see Figure 1).

Step 8
Insert an eye pen through wrapped bead and bend an eye-loop on opposite side. Use eye-loops to connect the two pens referring to diagram (see Figure 2a). Press loops closed. Slip a faceted bead, then four silver seed beads onto eye pens, bend a eye-loop at straight end then connect at both ends of the wrapped bead (see Figure 2b).

Step 9
Slide two crimp beads, bead cap, round clay bead, bead cap followed by two more crimp beads onto remaining eye pen. Crimp beads to hold the arrangement in place close to eye. Bend remaining end to create another eye-loop then attach the dangling pendant referring to photo. Press loop closed.

Step 10
Cut beading wire to desired hang length plus 2″. Slip two crimp beads onto wire, thread same wire end through loop on barrel clasp then back through crimp beads. Slide crimp beads close to barrel loop leaving a 1″ tail length of wire. Use crimping pliers to flatten crimp beads; holding barrel clasp secure. Cut wire tail close to last crimp bead.

Step 11
Refer to photo to slide beads onto wire, repeating the same sequence used in instructions number 9 for each added clay bead. Once all beads are on wire, slip wire end through remaining loop on barrel closure, attaching it just as with first side to connect, crimp beads and cut tail end of wire.

Step 12
Open eye pin on dangling pendant, slip onto wire separating the beaded strand, press eye pen closed. Place necklace onto a flat surface evenly arranging the beads as shown. One set at a time crimp beads to hold the beaded sections in position on wire.

Peppermint Swirl Necklace in PDF format

Craft Project - Indian Ocean Bracelet & Earrings

By Helen Bradley

Materials Needed:

Polymer clay – Black, Transparent Red, Transparent Orange, Transparent Yellow
AMACO® Rub ‘n Buff® – Pewter, Silver Leaf
Plaid Blaze Old World Bronze
Plaid Blaze White
Earring wires
Silver wire
Beadalon Bead wire, crimp beads, toggle clasp
Neck wire

Tools Needed:

AMACO® Professional System Bead Rollers – Set 3
AMACO® Professional System Bead Rollers – Set 6
AMACO® Tube Bead Rollers- Set 2
AMACO® Professional Bead Baking Rack
AMACO® Flexible PolyBlade
Paper towels
Wire working tools

Step 1
Mix a custom yellow color of clay using 16 parts of Transparent Yellow to 1 part Transparent Orange polymer clay.

Mix a custom orange color of clay using equal parts of Transparent Yellow, Transparent Orange and Transparent Red polymer clay.

Condition the two clay mixes as well as 1oz. Transparent Red and 1 oz. Black separately until the clays have a good working consistency.

Step 2
Place an oversized portion of the yellow clay mix in the Set 6 bead roller and rock the lid back and forth pressing down to make a large puff or lentil shape bead. Pierce with a beading pin and set on the bead baking rack.

Repeat and create a large orange bead using the same process.

Step 3
Using the Set 6 roller this time with the recommended amount of clay, roll four orange beads and two yellow beads. Use the pin guide in the bead rolling kit, pierce each bead with a beading pin and set on the bead baking rack.

Using the Transparent Red clay and the Set 3 bead roller, roll two red beads using the larger of the two forms. Use a clay knife to cut into the surface of the bead to texture it and make small surface holes using the tip of a bead pin. When the surface is distressed to your taste, pierce the bead with a beading pin and set on the bead baking rack.

Step 4
Using the Set 2 Tube Bead Roller on its smaller setting and black clay, roll out a long narrow tube bead. Use the smaller measuring guide, roll across the tube bead to mark it into sections. Cut the length of tube bead in two and set half aside. Cut the remainder of the tube bead into individual beads each one half the length you marked. Pierce with a bead pin and then press a second bead pin repeatedly around the edge of each bead to make a textured edge much like the edge of a coin.

Take the reserved length of tube bead and cut into small ¼ lengths. This time pierce the bead the other direction across the longest edge. Press a bead pin longwise into the edge of the bead four times around its circumference to dent its surface so it looks like a large grain of wheat.

Roll a long think snake of black clay and coil into small pointed coils to mimic bead caps. Press the coils together so the clay sticks to itself but do not smooth too much.

You will need twelve bead caps, eight small round beads and two larger grains of wheat shape beads.

Step 5
Cure all pieces following the manufacturer’s instructions on the clay package.

Step 6
Paint all the large beads (except the red ones) with the Old World Bronze glaze. Allow the glaze to partially set and then rub any excess paint off the beads. Repeatedly glaze the surface until you get a pleasing transparent sheen.

Paint the two red beads with white glaze. Allow the paint to set slightly and then wipe the surface of the beads to remove the excess glaze.

Apply a very thin coat of Pewter Rub ‘n Buff® to the black beads that will become your silver bead caps. The aim is to get the metal look onto the surface of the clay but not into the creases. Wipe any excess Rub ‘n Buff® from the clay pieces and then add a small touch of Silver Leaf Rub ‘n Buff® sparingly to the surface.

Step 7
Assemble the necklace by removing one wire end and thread the beads onto the necklace wire. You will need four bead caps, two small silver beads, two orange beads and the large yellow bead. These beads may need to be drilled to make a larger hole for the neck wire to pass through.

For the bracelet, assemble the beads on a length of Beadalon beading wire and affix the silver toggle to the ends using crimp beads. You will need the large orange bead, two yellow beads, two red beads, four bead caps, two grains of wheat shape beads and 6 small silver beads.

Assemble the earring pieces on a length of silver wire. Twist a loop in each end and attach one end to a silver earring wire. Each earring uses two bead caps and one large orange bead.

Craft Project - Holiday Necklace

Materials Needed:

AMACO® Craft Porcelain – Red, English Green, White
Delta Air Dry Perm Enamel paints – basic colors kit (includes red and green)
2 earring wires
2 jump rings
3 fancy sterling silver headpins
2 crimp beads
sterling silver necklace clasp
Beadalon bead stringing wire

Tools Needed:

AMACO® Tri Bead roller
AMACO® Professional System Bead Roller – Set 6
AMACO® Tube Bead Roller – Set 2
AMACO® Bead Baking Rack
Thin knitting needle
Wire cutters
Needle nose pliers
Crimping tool (optional)
Tissue blade or craft knife

Step 1
Condition a 1/8 package each of English Green, Red and White porcelain clay (see conditioning tips following these instructions). Using the Tri Bead Roller, roll 20 green bi-cone beads, 20 red circular beads, and 20 white oval beads.

Using the green clay and the tube bead roller, roll a tube of green clay and mark it into bead lengths using the 8mm marks. Leave the clay to dry (overnight works well), then trim into 20 short green tube beads.

To make the holes in the beads, pierce them using the bead pins from the Bead Baking Rack. Hang the beads on the pins on the Bead Baking rack and set aside to dry.

Step 2
Using the large bead roller and white clay, follow the directions on the roller for determining the amount of clay needed to roll the bead. Roll a large white bead. Pierce the bead with a bead pin and set aside on the bead rack to dry.

Step 3
When the large white bead is dry, use Delta Air Dry Perm Enamel paints in red and green to paint the bead.

Start by dipping the top of a fine knitting needle into the green paint and hand paint holly leaves onto the middle of the bead. You will get four sets of holly leaves around the bead alternating the direction they point in (one up, one down etc.).

Dip the knitting needle into red paint and dot holly berries below the leaves. Set aside to dry. When dry, dip the knitting needle into red paint again and paint a small cross-stitch style pattern around the top and bottom of the bead. Finish by painting a small flower over the hole at either end of the bead and set the bead aside to dry.

Step 4
For the earrings, set aside two green bi-cone beads, two red beads and two white beads.

Assemble a green, red and white bead onto a fancy headpin and create a wire wrapped loop using your needle nose pliers. Trim the end of the headpin if necessary. Attach the beads on the loop to an earring wire using a jump ring. Repeat to make the second earring.

Step 5
To assemble the necklace, pass the remaining headpin through the large bead and create a wire wrapped loop at the other end. Loop the large bead onto a 20″ piece of Beadalon stainless steel beading wire and thread the remaining beads in a pattern of your choice building it up either side of the central bead. Measure the necklace and add/or remove beads as desired to fit. Attach a fancy clasp at either end of the Beadalon wire using a crimp bead to secure it.

How to Condition AMACO® Craft Porcelain Clay
Michelle Zimmerman’s tips and tricks for conditioning Craft Porcelain clay for bead making.

If the clay is sticky to the touch, pull a bead size piece from the clay and work in your hand until it warms up and until the outside dries sufficiently that the clay forms a thin skin much like bread dough.

If the clay is hard and does not give easily when pressed between your thumb and forefinger, wet your hand slightly with water and knead the clay. If it gets so wet that it sticks to your hand, continue working it until the piece of clay picks up the porcelain that is stuck to your hand. Continue until it feels warm to the touch and it forms a ball with a slight skin. You are now ready to make your bead.

Form the clay into an approximate bead shape in your hand, place the clay in the bead roller to roll the final shape.

Craft Project - Oriental Turquoise

Designed by: Linda Peterson

Materials Needed:

AMACO® Pro Bead Roller in size or shape of choice (this project used set #2)
AMACO® Polyblade
AMACO® Bead Baking Rack
AMACO® Polymer Clay oven
AMACO® Poly Roller
Polymer clay – Light Blue or Light green (the color of a robin egg), Black
Acrylic Paint – Black
Make-up sponges
Adirondak Ink (alcohol based ink) – Earth tone colors
15 large ½” silver jump rings
Toggle
400 grit wet/dry sandpaper. (optional)
Basic Jewelry tools
Disposable worksurface or ceramic tile

Note: There are various colors of turquoise. It is not absolutely necessary to be precise in the base color. Some turquoise leans more to the blue side, others more to the green. A variety of color makes the turquoise appear more natural.

Step 1
Working on a clay tile, use the Polyblade to slice a single color of clay into random shaped bits and pieces. These should be several sizes of small, medium and large pieces.

Step 2
Gather the clay pieces together. Add a drop or two of paint to the top. Use make-up sponge to cover all the pieces of clay with paint. Allow to dry, usually about 20 minutes. When the paint is dry to the touch, gather these pieces and form a ball. Slice the ball in half with the Polyblade to reveal the texture of the turquoise pattern.

Step 3
To create pillow beads, use more than the amount of clay that is recommended in the oval shape of the bead roller. Lay the ball into the oval section and place the top down onto the bead to “smash” the bead. Next, simply “rock” the bead back and forth. The extra clay inside the section will level out to create a pillow shaped bead. In this case, the bead does not roll over, it rocks! Practice with different amounts of clay.

Step 4
Slice off very thin sections of the turquoise pattern that you just created. The shavings should be random in size and extremely thin. It is okay if you do not get a full slice. Place shavings onto black base bead where desired. Use the poly roller to set the shavings into the bead to give it an inlaid look.

Step 5
Gently poke holes through bead with a toothpick. Place beads onto piercing pins and bake on baking rack for one hour according to the temperature suggested by the manufacturer.

Step 6
Gently sand each bead if desired with 400grit wet/dry sandpaper. This is optional but greatly enhances the look of your bead.

Step 7
Apply a drop of alcohol ink to a make-up sponge and daub onto the turquoise areas in a random pattern. This gives the turquoise a more natural organic appearance and enhances the natural look. Gently buff on a piece of denim for a matte finish.

Step 8
Working off the spool, thread wire through the bead, creating loops at each end. Attach these loops to the large jump rings. Add chain at each end. Add toggle and clasps to end of chain. Measure the desired length of chain for the inside necklace and add to necklace with jump rings.

Step 9
Earrings: Add a bead to a loop. Attach loop to earring wire.

Craft Project - Filigree Overlay Bead Necklace

By Sue Lee

Materials

FIMO® Polymer Clay, Colors of choice (Sahara was used for the large beads and Plum for the small beads in this project)
FIMO® Decorating Gel
Release Agent
Spacer Beads
AMACO® Tools:
Pasta Machine
Bead Roller – Large Round
Professional Bead Roller – Set 8
Round/Oval Bead Roller
Bead Piercing Pins
Bead Baking Rack
PolyBlade
Molds – Small or Tiny Flower and Leaf

Step 1
For rolling beads that will be overlaid with filigree, measure conditioned clay according to the instructions with the Bead Roller. After rolling the beads, pierce them using the bead piercing pins included with the Bead Baking Rack and bake according to FIMO® package instructions. Allow to cool completely. Apply a very thin layer of FIMO® Decorating Gel around the bead, place onto bead piercing pins, and suspend on Bead Baking Rack. The gel will help adhere the filigree elements to the bead, and yet is nearly invisible after curing.

Step 2
To create the flowers and leaves, start with plenty of clay, press into the mold, then shave off the extra clay from the mold with the PolyBlade. To remove flowers and leaves from mold, use a small amount of scrap clay as a ‘handle’ to lift the molded flower or leaf out of the mold. Use the PolyBlade to carefully slice a thin piece of the embossed clay to lay across each bead. The blade can help you place the filigree onto the beads. Hold the bead by the pin it is suspended on, and handle the filigree with the blade.

Step 3
Place the decorated beads back in the oven on the Bead Baking Rack for an additional 20 to 30 minutes to cure the flowers and leaves and allow the FIMO® Decorating Gel to permanently adhere them to the bead.

Step 4
String the necklace and earrings with the clay beads on wire, string or fish line and incorporate spacer beads as shown in the photo or use your own design for bead arrangement.

Filigree Overlay Bead Necklace & Earrings in PDF format

Craft Project - Faux Turquoise Jewelry

By Linda Peterson

Materials

FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay – White
Amaco® Pro Bead Roller #3
Pinata Alcohol Inks – Lime Green, Baja Blue, Havana Brown
Make-Up Sponge
91% rubbing alcohol in spray bottle
Stretch Jewelry cord
Misc. silver beads
Future Acrylic Floor Wax
Soft brush
Optional – Amaco® Bead Baking Rack – not necessary, but extremely helpful

Designer’s Note: This project is very addicting! Experiment with base colors of beads and unusual color combinations. With a little practice you will be able to “eye” the amount of clay that you will need for the bead rollers. Instructions for measurements of clay are included in the package. I recommend though that you experiment with different amounts of clay. Doing so will create slightly different shapes. You can also flatten the beads creating unique shapes as well.

Step 1
Roll a ball of white clay. Place into the channel of the bead roller. Match up the lid. Follow the instructions with the bead roller to create the beads.

Step 2
These beads have been pierced from the side using the piercing pins included in the bead rollers. To pierce even holes, slightly rotate the pin back and forth like a drill as you apply gentle pressure. When the end begins to poke through the other side, retract pin and press through other side. These beads have two holes each, poked on the side approximately 1/4″ apart. You will need approximately 14 beads for an average size wrist. Adjust your beads up or down according to your wrist size. Additional beads may be made for coordinating necklace and earrings.

Step 3
Bake all beads at 265ºF (130ºC) for 1 hour. Allow to cool.

Step 4
TIP: For this step, you may want to use rubber gloves.

Apply a small amount of lime green ink to make up sponge and daub onto bead randomly. Repeat with baja blue and add a small amount of brown. Notice that when the colors overlap they darken and blend. Spritz the alcohol into the air and allow the droplets to fall onto the bead. You will notice a watermarking effect. You can add more by repeating until the desired effect and color have been achieved. If you happen to apply too much alcohol and the colors run, simply daub off excess, re-ink and spray again. It takes a little practice, but practice makes perfect. When finished, apply acrylic sealer and allow to dry thoroughly. String onto stretch cord and add coordinating silver spacer beads as desired.

Faux Turquoise Jewelry in PDF format

Craft Project - Exotic Necklace

By Scott Mizevitz

Materials Needed:

AMACO® Professional Bead Roller Set #1 – 19 x 7mm oval
AMACO® Professional Bead Roller Set #2 – 12mm round
AMACO® Professional Bead Roller Set #4 – 28 x 11mm oval
AMACO® Professional Bead Roller Set #8 – 6mm round, 7mm round
AMACO® Rub ‘n Buff® wax metallic finish – Autumn Gold
AMACO® Needle Tool
AMACO® Bead Baking Rack
Polymer clay – Navy Blue, Brown
Sandpaper or sanding sponges – fine, extra fine
Black Cording – stretch, hemp or nylon
12 copper Seed beads / 4 copper Spacer beads
2 complimentary Glass beads (11mm round)
Future® floor polish
Fine paint brush
Polybonder (recommended) or some form of CYANOACRYLATE glue such as Super glue or zap a gap
4 Head pins (Copper)
2 Eye hooks (Copper)
Wire Ear ring hooks (Copper)
(optional) Preferred clasp (Lobster claw, Toggle, etc.)

Step 1
Following manufacturers instructions, use Bead Roller Set #1 to make two 19 x 7mm ovals with brown polymer clay. Pierce each of these beads 1/4″ from the top (sideways) for stringing. Place one seed bead onto a head pin and insert into the opposite end (bottom) of each bead until the seed bead sits flush against the clay. Do not press the seed bead into the clay as shown in image #1.

Make four 28 x 11mm oval beads using Bead Roller Set #4 with navy blue polymer clay. Two of these beads should then be pierced 1/4″ from the top (sideways) for stringing. The remaining two beads are going to become your earrings. To do so, one eye hook should be inserted flush with the top of each bead (see image #2) and a seed bead and head pin inserted into the bottom (see image #1).

Make two 6mm, two 7mm and two 12mm rounds also in navy blue, using Bead Roller Set #2 and #8. Pierce each of the beads using the AMACO® Needle Tool through the center and place them on your bead baking rack. Set all beads aside.

Step 2
Next you will form the cabochon or centerpiece of your focal bead. Using the navy blue polymer clay, shape a 1-1/4″ oval. The top will be slightly domed or rounded and the back is flat (see image #3).

Once the cabochon is formed, pierce a hole at the top (approximately 1/4″ from the edge). You must ensure that the hole is large enough to fit several pieces of cording through it (approximately 1/4″). Place on a flat surface and bake along with your beads according to manufacturers instructions.

Step 3
Once the beads have cooled, you will want to sand them to remove any imperfections using a fine sanding sponge. I recommend wet sanding as this keeps the dust to a minimum and allows for a smoother finish. You can add a drop of dish detergent to the water as well. When finished, switch to an extra fine sanding sponge and continue to sand until the beads are smooth to the touch. Repeat this step on your cabochon and earring beads.

Step 4
Make a 4″ coil or clay snake (between 1/4″ and 1/2″ around) using brown polymer clay. Shaping both ends to a point (see image #4), wrap the coil loosely around your pre-made cabochon and shape. Be sure not to cover the hole you have already made previously in your cabochon. Next, do the same thing for the earrings using a much thinner coil of clay. Wrapping the coil around the earring in an “X” pattern (see image #5). Use Polybonder to attach the coil to the pre-made bead. Using the included application brush, paint the Polybonder onto one side of the coil and place over the earring carefully. Bake these pieces according to manufacturers instructions.

Step 5
Once your focal piece has cooled, you must carefully separate the coil frame from the cabochon. This makes it easier to apply the Rub ‘N Buff® to the entire coil without getting any on your blue cabochon. This will be reattached later.

You are now ready to add Rub ‘N Buff® to create a metallic look. Using a soft rag, paintbrush or your finger, apply enough Rub ‘N Buff® to the coil to completely cover the brown clay. Buff with a soft cloth to desired finish and allow to dry. Set aside and repeat this step for the two brown oval beads you made in Step 1. For the earrings, use a fine paintbrush to apply the Rub ‘N Buff to the brown clay detail. You can also add some Rub ‘N Buff® details to your complimentary glass beads at this time.

Step 6
Using a paintbrush, apply several thin coats of Future® floor polish to each of your navy blue beads, including the earrings. Use caution to avoid the decorative coil details you added. Do this to the centerpiece (cabochon) of your focal as well. These can then be heat set for added shine in a warm oven (no hotter than 200 F) for 10 minutes.

Step 7
After your Navy cabochon has cooled, apply Polybonder to the outside edge of your cabochon and join it to the coil frame. A small amount of pressure will help to insure a seamless connection.

Step 8
Loop the cording through the opening in your focal piece several times allowing 1/4″ extra for each loop. This excess cording is how you will thread your necklace and join it to the other beads. Secure in the back with a knot. String your beads onto a new piece of cording as follows:

One seed bead
One spacer
One 6mm navy round
One spacer
One 7mm navy round
One seed bead
One glass focal
One seed bead
One large navy oval
One seed bead
One small copper oval
One seed bead
One 12mm navy round

At this point you will thread your focal bead onto the cording and then repeat the remaining beads in reverse. Finish with your preferred clasp or just a knot.

Craft Project - Day and Night Mobile

By Helen Bradley

This sweet mobile will hang in pride of place in any nursery or child’s room. It is made using FIMO® Soft clays and the Professional Bead Roller Set #6 which creates large perfect oval focal beads. The bead caps are small flower shapes cut using AMACO® PolyCutters Set #3. The mobile hangs from a recycled CD which is painted in pastel shades to match the beads. This project is not only fun to make but it is also a way of learning more about color as it uses a base color for the topmost beads and successively lighter tints of that color for the other beads.

Materials
FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay – one 2 oz. package each: Cherry Red, Pacific Blue, Nightglow, Mandarin, Tropical Green, Plum, Lemon and two 2 oz. packages of White
Two 18″ lengths of soft ribbon
Crimp beads
Tiger Tail beading wire (approximately 2 yards)
Discarded CD
AMACO® Professional Bead roller #6
AMACO® Tri-Bead Roller
AMACO® Poly Cutters Set #3 flowers
AMACO® Designer Push Molds – Moon and Sun
AMACO® Bead Baking Rack
Pliers
Perm enamel paints or similar and small brush
Small hand drill
Pasta machine or clay roller
Tissue blade

Step 1
To make the beads, condition each of the colored clays and the white and nightglow clays.

Following the instructions in the bead roller packet, press the clay into the top section of the two-piece bead roller, trim to level and press the ruler into the clay to mark it. Measure and set aside the required clay (5/8 inch), for one bead in each of the six colors (red, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange).

Also measure out the clay required to roll one small round bead of each color using the Tri-bead roller.

Step 2
For the second tier of beads, cut half the required clay from the solid color and the other half from the white clay except for the yellow bead where you will need 1/3 yellow and 2/3 white to achieve the desired tint.

For the third tier of beads measure and cut 1/6 of the clay allowance in the colored clay and 5/6 in white – do this for the red, blue, green and orange beads.

Roll all the beads in the bead roller – you should have 6 small round beads and 16 large focal beads.

Push a pin through the centers of each bead lengthwise and place the pins on the bead rack and bake according to instructions on clay wrapper.

Step 3
For the purple and yellow third tier bead you will be molding a sun or moon shape. Of the amount of clay that you need to mold the shapes you will need 15/16ths of it to be nightglow clay and add to this approximately a 1/16 amount of purple or yellow clay so the nightglow is only barely tinted with color.

Mold the sun shape using the yellow tinted nightglow clay and the moon shape using the purple tinted nightglow clay. Pierce each shape lengthwise with a pin from the bead roller kit and bake according to instructions on clay wrapper.

Step 4
While the beads are curing, roll a thin sheet of white clay using setting #5 on your pasta machine or approximately 1/16 of an inch thick.

Using the small metal flower shape cutter, press out 32 flower shapes from the clay.

When the beads have been removed from the oven and when they are cool, press a flower shape onto either end of the large oval beads to make a bead cap.

Insert the pins back through the beads, place the capped beads back on the bead rack and bake again.

Step 5
While the beads are curing the second time, paint the underside of a CD with enamel paints to cover up any label on the CD. Pastel enamel paints in the colors of the rainbow were used in this project.

Drill six holes around the top of the CD equally spaced and then drill another set of four holes in from these that will be used to hang the CD. One simple way to mark these measurements is to make a template from the CD on a sheet of paper, cut it out and fold it in half and quarters and in sixths. Use the fold marks as a guide to marking the points to drill holes in the CD.

Step 6
To assemble one bead string: take a 12 inch length of tiger tail, thread one end of the tiger tail through a crimp bead and then back through it again to make a very small loop and crimp with pliers. Add the lightest color bead.

Approximately one inch above that bead, add another crimp bead and crimp with pliers. Add the bead that is slightly darker and one inch above that bead add another crimp bead. Crimp it with pliers and add the final large (darkest) bead.

Push the end of the tiger tail through the CD, add the small full color bead and finish with a small loop and a crimp bead to hold in place. Trim excess tiger tail if needed.

Repeat this process for each of the other strands taking care to use the yellow and purple molded shapes in place of the lightest beads on those strands. Ensure that the strands are threaded through the CD in the correct color order so that they run red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple around the CD and that the beads hang at the same length on each string.

Step 7
Using the four holes you drilled in the CD, thread one length of ribbon through two opposite holes and tie a knot in each end on the underside of the CD. Repeat for the second length of ribbon and, before you tie the final knot, make sure the ribbons are the same length so the CD hangs level.

Craft Project - Crocus Charms Bracelet

Designed by Scott Mizevitz

Supplies:

AMACO® Tri-Bead Roller (7/16″ round)
AMACO® Professional Bead Baking Rack
AMACO® Needle Tool
FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay – Metallic Pearl, Metallic Purple, Metallic Gold
One charm bracelet (WESTRIM brand crafts style # 54920) Gold or Silver
Two packages 8mm bead caps (WESTRIM brand crafts style # 5302/4) Gold or Silver
One package 2″ eye pins (WESTRIM brand crafts style # 5817/4) Gold or Silver
One package 6mm jump rings (WESTRIM brand crafts style # 5905/3) Gold or Silver
Wire cutters
Lisa Pavelka’s Poly Bonder (JHB International Inc.) or super glue
Super fine grit sandpaper or sanding sponge
Future brand (S.C. Johnson) acrylic floor finish or preferred gloss finish
½” paint brush

Step 1
Tint FIMO® Metallic Pearl clay by adding a small amount of Translucent Yellow. Repeat with Metallic Pearl and Metallic Purple until you achieve the desired pastel colors (approximately 1 part color to 10 parts pearl).

Following the directions included in the AMACO® Tri Bead Roller, measure enough clay to form six small, round beads of each of the three colors (pastel yellow, lilac and pearl).

Step 2
Form one end of each bead to fit inside the bead caps. Using the eye-pin, pierce the bead through the center hole of the bead cap until the eye-pin is visible through the center of the opposite side.

Step 3
Following the lines as shown in Diagram A, place the AMACO® Needle Tool lengthwise over the center hole, making impressions across the bottom to form the bud shaped petals.

Step 4
Remove the eye-pins and set aside. Bake the beads on the AMACO® Professional Bead Baking Rack according to package instructions.

Step 5
Make six very tiny balls of each of your three custom FIMO® colors. Using a tiny yellow ball on the white beads, a tiny purple ball on the yellow beads and tiny white ball on the purple beads, place them in the center hole of each bead as shown in Diagram B. Attach each ball with a small drop of poly bonder adhesive. Bake again according to package instructions. If any of the bead caps are loose you can secure them with a small drop of poly bonder adhesive.

Step 6
(Optional) At this point you may want to “wet sand” any little imperfections in the clay (fingerprints, etc.) using a super fine grit sandpaper or sponge.

Step 7
(Optional) Apply several THIN coats of future acrylic floor polish to each bead using a fine bristle paintbrush. Allow beads to dry 20 minutes between coats. For an even more brilliant shine, you can then place them in a warm oven (200 degrees) for ten minutes.

Step 8
Using wire cutters, cut the eye-pin length to fit into the pre-made holes as shown in Diagram C, so the eye-pin is flush with the top of each bead. Use poly bonder adhesive or super glue to secure the eye-pins in place. Insert eye-pins and attach in the pre-made holes so they are flush with the top of each bead.

Step 9
Using 6mm jump-rings, attach beads to the bracelet alternating colors with one bead on every other link.

Craft Project - Coffee Bean Necklace & Earrings

By Linda Peterson

Materials

FIMO® Soft Polymer Clay – Chocolate, Sahara, Caramel
AMACO® Tri-Bead Roller
AMACO® Bead Baking Rack
AMACO® Bead Making Tool Kit
AMACO® PolyBlade
AMACO® Pasta Machine
FIMO® Waterbase Lacquer
Toggle Clasp
Beading Wire
4 Crimping Beads
Jewelry Pliers

Note: beading combinations can vary to suit your style.

Step 1
Bulls-eye Canes. Roll a log of Sahara clay 1/4″ diameter by 3″ long. Flatten Chocolate clay to a #5 setting on pasta machine then wrap around Sahara clay log. Repeat this step with Caramel. Reduce cane by gently rolling back and forth to elongate it to double its size. Allow cane to rest.

Step 2
Repeat the above with Caramel clay in the center, followed by a wrap of Chocolate and Sahara clay. You can alter the combinations to suit your taste.

Step 3
Beads. Measure correct amount of clay according to instructions included in the package. Place ball into middle section of bead roller to create the oval bead. Create approximately 40 Chocolate, 5 Sahara and 5 Caramel beads.

Step 4
Bulls-eye beads. Slice thin slices of cane made in step 1, apply to Sahara and Caramel beads, and roll until smooth.

Step 5
Tube beads. Flatten Chocolate clay to a #5 setting on pasta machine. Using the smaller metal rod from Bead Making Tool Set, wrap clay around rod. Trim off excess and smooth seam until it disappears. Bake clay on rod for 1 hour. Allow to cool and remove rod. Slice clay beads with Polyblade. The beads can vary in width from 1/8″ to 1/4″, they do not have to be exact.

Step 6
Place beads onto pins and suspend on bead baking rack. Bake for one hour at 265°F (130°C). Allow to cool completely then apply FIMO® Gloss Lacquer to all beads. Allow to dry.

Step 7
Stringing. Place a crimp bead onto beading wire. Thread beading ewire through hole on toggle and back through crimp bead. Pull tight and crimp.

Strand #1: 3 chocolate, 2 tube, repeat. Finish with crimp bead stringing through opposite toggle.

Strand #2: Attach beading wire as above using the same toggle. Beading order: 2 chocolate, 1 tube, 1 caramel bulls-eye, 1 sahara bullseye, 1 caramel bulls-eyes, 1 tube, repeat.

Coffee Bean Necklace & Earrings in PDF format