How to Make Bead Designs
Beads can be made from many materials, including paper, bread glue dough and polymer clay, Each type of bead has its own tips and techniques. Beads can also be made from metal, glass, rock and semi-precious stone. The more expensive bead materials can be used together in the same piece. Paper, cloth, dough, self-hardening clay and polymer clay are usually not used in the same piece with them, except as an artistic statement.
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Things You'll Need
- Various types and colors of paper Non-stick cooking spray Clear acrylic Soft bristled artist's paint brushes Bread slices White glue Powdered tempera paints Dish liquid Canape cutters Plastic picnic knife Childrens' modeling clay tools Rolling pin Polymer clay in red, blue, yellow and white Old credit cards 2 playing cards Wooden skewers Silver, copper, stainless steel or brass wire Fishing line Embroidery floss Parachute cord Jewelry findings: clasps, caps, jump rings, pin backs, posts, and hooks Instant adhesive
Instructions
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How to Make Bead Designs
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Make paper beads from long, thin triangles of various types, grades and colors of paper. Cut the paper into triangles with a 1/4-inch to 1-inch long base and a 1-inch to 3-inch height. Wrap the base of the paper triangle around a mandrel or a length of wire coat hanger that has been coated at the end with non-stick cooking spray. Keep an even tension on the paper so that it wraps as tightly as possible while still being able to slide off the mandrel.
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Apply a drop of instant adhesive to the underside of the tip of the paper triangle and press it into place. Allow the adhesive to dry. Apply several coats of clear adhesive with a fine artists' paint brush, allowing it to dry completely between coats. The more coats of adhesive you apply, the more your beads will resemble glass beads. Make a variety of sizes and colors of paper beads. Arrange them in alternating sizes and coordinating colors in whatever pattern pleases you. Alternate large and small beads, solid and patterned colors. String the beads on fishing line or coordinating parachute cord once they are dry. Tie knots before and after each large bead to keep them in place.
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3
Remove the crusts from 3 to 5 slices of white bread. Pulse in the blender or your food processor for a few seconds to make bread crumbs. Coat your hands and all utensils with nonstick cooking spray. Mix in white glue a few tablespoons at a time until you get a workable clay that does not stick to your hands. Add two or three drops of dish liquid. If you want colored clay, add powdered tempera paint a half-teaspoon at a time until you get the desired intensity.
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Roll the dough flat and cut with canape cutters, a plastic picnic knife, or children's modeling clay tools. Use a straw or skewers to make holes in your beads. Allow the beads to dry for several days before stringing them. If desired, seal the beads with several coats of clear or colored acrylic paints. You can also roll bread dough clay like polymer clay and shape and sculpt it like modeling clay. Bread dough clay can be used to make animals, leaf impressions, molds, face shapes, and three-dimensional sculpted beads, cameos and pendants. Force the clay through a garlic press to make hair and fur.
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Roll polymer clay into long, thin strings 1/16-inch to 1/4-inch in diameter. Make a bundle of nine strings, three by three. Roll the bundle until all the strings are fused into one. Squeeze together and push between two playing cards to square the bundle. Use an old credit card or a piece of wire to cut the bundle into even chunks, 1/4-inch by 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch by 1/2-inch, and 1-inch by 1-inch. Bake clay chunks as directed by the manufacturer. Each brand of polymer clay may have slightly different baking times and temperatures. For solid color beads, pull a piece of polymer clay and work it into the shape you desire. Make holes using wooden skewers or thin drinking straws. Alternate three-dimensional polymer clay beads with flat pendants. Use metal bead caps and spacer beads between polymer beads for a more polished look. String on stainless steel or copper wire, embroidery floss or waxed coat thread.
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Tips & Warnings
It is best to use like-quality materials in each beaded piece you make. Plastic or polymer clay beads can be strung on fishing line, shoelace string, leather lacing, parachute cord or plastic lanyard. Use fishing line or coated dental floss to string paper beads. The Artful Crafter.com has several recipes for bread and glue-based clays, as well as tips for using them to make beaded mobiles and jewelry. Once you reach the site, go to Home>Craft Ideas>Clay>Bread Clay Recipes.
