Polymer Clay Pandora Style Bracelet

Make your own beads from polymer clay with little hearts.  These are so very easy you will want to make some in all colors, especially since you are threading them onto a bangle that opens with the twist of a screw.  Voila, presto change-O.

You will need:

Twist end bangles (they come three to a pack)

 Polymer clay in blue, green or desired color for base of bead

Polymer clay in small bits of white

Sculpey gloss glaze

Antique Metallic beads

Flat metallic spacer beads

Wooden barbecue skewer

Aluminum foil

Rolling pin (Use this only for clay, do not use for food)

Slicing blade for clay

Waxed paper

Ruler

1.     Cover your work surface with waxed paper.  Make the beads.  Measure from the end of the block of polymer clay, ½” and make a line with a pin or the tip of a pencil.  Mark this into (4) ¼” sections. One bracelet is made using three polymer beads and the other used four. Cut the pieces and roll each one into a ball in the palm of your hand. 

2.     Use the rolling pin to slightly flatten each round bead.  Center the tip of the bar-b-cue skewer in the middle of each bead and make a hole using a twisting motion.  Thread the bead on the skewer and add the hearts.

3.     Pinch off a teeny piece of white clay and roll with your finger putting more pressure on one end to make a tiny tear drop shape.  Repeat for another teardrop.  Place one tear drop shape on the side of the bead and add the other teardrop meeting the points. Repeat this three more times.  Roll the skewer with the bead attached on the work surface to adhere and define the heart shapes.  Make two more beads in the same way.

4.     Preheat your oven to 250 degrees.  Cover a pan with aluminum foil and bake the beads for 20 minutes.

5.     When the beads have cooled, brush some Sculpey gloss glaze on the beads one side at a time.  Let dry.

6.     Unscrew the end of the bangle and string the beads as follows:  start with a flat spacer bead, antique metallic bead, spacer bead, polymer bead, spacer bead and continue alternating. (See photo)

Alvin S3301 Sculpey Clay Sampler Set-30