DIY Network

Bicone Bead Bracelet From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-301

Jackie Guerra's bicone beads.

Materials:

3 colors of Premo Sculpey polymer clay
Black elastic beading cord, 0.8 mm
6 mm lavender and chartreuse crystal beads
10 mm black crystal beads
Elasticized black velvet ribbon, 3/8" wide
Crimp beads
Bicone Bead Roller from Polytools, Inc.
Ruler with raised 1/16" increments
Clay blade
Needle/awl or small drill bit
Crimper
Pasta machine for use with polymer clay (optional)

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

1. Choose the colors of clay you want to work with and roll a log of clay from the base color, conditioning it well (figure A)

2. Press the log of clay into the 7/8" roller and trim excess with clay blade.

3. Press the ruler into the clay inside the top of the roller.

4. Lift the clay out of the roller, place it on work surface and cut lengths of clay into 3/4" lengths.

5. Roughly hand-form clay into a ball, place it in the base of the roller, and place the roller top over it. Move the roller top back and forth until your new bead is formed.

6. Roll skinny logs of the secondary colors of clay (figure B). (If you have a pasta machine, the small size cuts work well.) Lay strips from point to point on your basic bicone bead.

7. Place the bead at one end of the base roller, place the roller top over the bead, and roll the bead from one end of the base to the other (figure C). Repeat, being careful not to turn the bead around, and roll again in the same direction.

8. Allow beads to rest 2-3 hours before drilling holes with the needle awl.

9. Bake in the oven per manufacturer’s instructions.

10. Cut a piece of black velvet ribbon to 4" long and make small loop knots on each end. The velvet should be around 3-1/2" long now from end to end.

11. Run one end of elastic cord through the loop and back, crimping close to the knot.

12. String 3-1/2" of beads onto the elastic cord, run through another crimp bead, thru the other knotted velvet loop, and back through the crimp bead & the first 3-4 beads.

13. Crimp and cut off any excess elastic cord. The elastic will allow you to put the bracelet on and off.

RESOURCES :

Bead Roller Sets
Poly-Tools Inc.
Website: www.poly-tools.com

Beads and Jewelry Making Supplies
Fire Mountain Gems & Beads
One Fire Mountain Way
Grants Pass, OR 97526-2373
Toll-free: 800-355-2137
Website: www.firemountain.com