How to Make Plastic Beads

One of the easiest and most versatile ways to make plastic beads is with polymer clay. Before polymer clay is baked, it can be formed into almost any imaginable shape. Baking the clay turns it into PVC, a common form of medium-hard plastic that makes sturdy beads.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Polymer clay
• Toothpicks
• Oven
• Rubber gloves (optional)
• Polymer clay paint (optional)

1. Choose your colors. Polymer clay comes in a wide range of colors, including translucent and opaque colors, fluorescents and metallics. It's also possible to mix colors, so you can get a lot of different results from a few colors of clay.

2. Work the clay in your hands to bring it to room temperature. The more it warms up, the easier it will be to work. If you want to mix colors, work them together at this point, mixing a little for a marbled effect or thoroughly for a more uniform look.

3. Break off small pieces of clay and form them into spheres, cylinders, cubes, or other bead shapes. Use toothpicks to add texture and images to the surface of the beads if you like.

4. Carefully use a toothpick to poke one or more holes all the way through each bead. After baking you can use these holes to string the beads.

5. Bake the beads according to the directions on the clay package. Let them cool thoroughly.

6. Use special polymer clay paints and glazes to add finishing touches if you like.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind that polymer clay shrinks about 10 percent when baked, so remember to make plastic beads and threading holes slightly larger than you think you should be.
• While baked polymer clay is PVC, a common plastic which is thought to be relatively safe, some safety concerns have been raised about the chemical content of unbaked polymer clay. If you choose to use this material, form and bake your pieces in well ventilated areas, clean up thoroughly, and consider wearing rubber gloves while you handle the clay.