How to Add Glitter to Polymer Clay Beads

Polymer clay beads make beautiful necklaces and bracelets. Sparkle is easily added to the beads by rolling them in super-fine glitter. If you're making color swirl beads with various lines of color, glitter can enhance the appearance of the beads. You can also make a solid glitter bead that you shape after adding the glitter.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Glitter
• Wax paper
• Bowls
• Varnish
• Paintbrush

1. Set up your work area by laying down a piece of wax paper, which you lay the beads and glitter on, or you can put the glitter into a small bowl. Keep the glitter far from anything you don't want glittered, since this embellishment sticks to almost any surface.

2. Roll balls of polymer clay into the glitter and set them aside on wax paper. After you've rolled all the clay balls, shape them with your fingers into barrels, triangles or leave them as round balls.

3. Gently roll your beads into the glitter. Pick colors that complement the beads, and add a bit of sparkle rather than adding the glitter all over.

4. Press the clay beads just hard enough to attach the glitter. If you press too hard, the glitter folds into the bead and you'll lose the sparkly look once the clay is baked.

5. Seal the glitter on the bead by brushing the clay with varnish after you've baked the beads.