Things You'll Need:
- Block of polymer clay, any color
- Pasta machine or clay roller
- Ruler
- Clay cutter
- Decorative stamp
- Round and square clay cutter
- Cookie sheet
- Future floor polish
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Step 1
Cut half of the polymer clay block and condition the clay by kneading it until it is softened. Flatten the clay by pressing it with the palm of your hand. Roll the clay through the pasta machine set on the highest thickness. You could also use an acrylic roller to flatten the clay, but you may end up with a lumpy pillow bead.
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Step 2
Cut the rolled sheet of clay into three 3-by-4 inch rectangles. Stack the rectangles on top of each other. If you would like to make multicolored pillow beads, use three different colors of clay to make the rectangles.
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Step 3
Roll the rectangle stack through the thickest setting of the pasta machine. Cut the rolled stack in half, stack it again and roll it through the thickest setting of your machine. Again, cut the rolled stack in half and run it through the machine on the thickest setting. If you are making multicolored pillow beads, stack the rectangles so that same colors are not side by side.
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Step 4
Add texture to the finished rectangle with a decorative stamp, wire mesh or anything that will make an impression on the surface of the clay. You can find textured sheets made specifically for polymer clay that you can run through the pasta machine with the clay rectangle.
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Step 5
Cut a 3-by-4 inch rectangle from the textured clay sheet and place it in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes so it's easier to manipulate into your pillow bead.
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Step 6
Make the stuffing for your pillow bead by conditioning and then rolling the remaining half of your clay block through the thickest setting of your pasta machine as you did in Step 1. You can use scrap clay if you have it, as the stuffing will not be seen.
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Step 7
Cut a circle from the rolled clay with your circle cutter. You will need one circle for each pillow bead you make. Make the circle into a ball by rolling it in your hands. Flatten the ball slightly.
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Step 8
Cut out two squares from the chilled textured clay sheet with your square cutter. If you're making more than one bead, cut out two squares for each bead.
Sandwich the clay ball in the center of the two squares. Pinch each of the corners closed with your fingers, then pinch the sides together to form your pillow. Smooth the seams with your fingers until they disappear. -
Step 9
Insert a small knitting needle halfway through the center of one side of the pillow bead and remove it. Insert the knitting needle halfway through the center of the other side of the pillow bead until it meets the first hole and creates an opening all the way through the bead.
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Step 10
Preheat your oven to 275 degrees F and bake your beads on a cookie sheet for about 40 minutes. Once they are cooled, coat the beads with Future floor polish or clay glaze to make your pillow beads shine.
