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        Clay Bead Making and Bracelet

        Use a simple tool to transform clay into perfectly shaped handcrafted beads that look great strung together.

        More in Decorating

        clay bead bracelet is ready to wear and enjoy

        Materials and Tools:

        1 oz. (1/2 block) pearl Premo
        Luminarte powered pigments
        Sculpey gloss polymer clay finish
        needle
        waxed paper
        round nose pliers
        wire clippers
        crimp pliers (optional)
        small spoon or stir stick
        brush for Sculpey gloss
        Sculpey Super Slicer
        toaster oven
        aluminum foil
        oven thermometer
        oven mitts
        Tri-Bead Roller?
        acrylic clay roller
        jewelry wire
        crimp bead
        crimping pliers
        jewelry spacers
        lobster-claw clasp

        Steps:

        1. Prepare the clay by kneading it, both by hand and with an acrylic roller, until soft. When it's soft, add powdered pigment to the dough.

        2. Roll the clay into small balls and shapes with the Tri-Bead Roller.

        3. With the clay spiral laid flat between two fingers, slide a needle through the center of each bead.

        4. Keep the beads separated on aluminum foil that has been folded into accordion pleats.

        5. Prepare 15 beads: bake them on the pleated foil for 20 minutes at 275 degrees, remove them from the oven and let them cool.

        6. Paint one side of each bead with Sculpey gloss and let it dry. Flip each bead over, coat the second side and edges with Sculpey gloss and let it dry.

        7. When the beads are dry, string one end of the jewelry wire through a crimp bead, one side of the lobster clasp and back through the crimp bead. Crimp with crimping pliers.

        8. String beads and spacers to make a bracelet.

        9. After stringing the last bead, thread the wire through a crimp bead, the other side of the clasp and back through the crimp bead. Crimp with crimping pliers. Snip ends of wire.

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