How to Make Creative Clay Beads With Kids

Making polymer clay beads with kids is a great idea for a craft project. Polymer clay comes in a huge variety of colors. Sometimes the clay can even be found in fluorescent or glow-in-dark varieties. There's very little mess and the clay becomes extremely hard after just a short time in the oven. Don't just think round with a hole in the middle. There are endless possibilities with these beads. Encourage kids to use their imagination with the shape, size and colors of the beads they create.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Polymer clay in a variety of colors
• Wax paper
• Tooth picks
• Clay knife or razor blade, to be used by adults only
• Oven

1. Give each child a sheet of waxed paper to use as a work surface. Look at the clay together and start to get some ideas.
2. For a traditional bead, take a small amount of clay, roll it on the work surface or between hands until it forms a ball. For interesting color combinations, try using 2 or 3 colors of clay, partially blending them, and then rolling the bead. This creates a swirl effect.
3. For unique beads, roll several colors into long thin ropes. Press the ropes together and roll on the work surface to make the outside smooth. An adult can use a clay knife or razor blade to slice the rope into 1/2-inch discs which are dotted with color.
4. Make square-, round-, oblong- and disc-shaped beads of multiple colors. Use some large disc-shaped beads to make letter beads. Roll a thin rope of clay, shape a letter with it, and press it onto the front of the bead.
5. When all the beads are finished, use toothpicks to make a generously-sized hole in the middle of each bead for stringing. An adult should bake the beads in the oven following directions on the clay packaging.

Tips & Warnings

• This would be a good group project for a classroom setting or a party.