How Do You Make Air Dried Clay Beads?

Air dried clay beads are a fun and easy craft project that both kids and adults can enjoy making. Air dried clay is a modeling material that dries at room temperature, without needing to be baked in an oven. It stays workable and flexible as you shape it, then hardens as the moisture evaporates over the next day or two. The finished clay beads can be painted, varnished, decorated, and strung into jewelry or ornaments.

Clay beads are great for making necklaces, bracelets, keychains, holiday decorations, or kid’s craft projects. The beads can be molded by hand or shaped using cookie cutters and other craft tools. Once dry, they can be threaded onto string, ribbon, cord, or even wire. Air dried clay is an accessible material for beginners because it doesn’t require any special skills, tools, or equipment beyond household items. It’s also inexpensive and reusable. Making your own clay beads allows you to create customized designs that would be difficult to find elsewhere.

Gather Materials

Making air dry clay beads requires just a few simple materials. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Air dry clay – Choose an air dry polymer clay that will harden at room temperature like Original Sculpey or Crayola Model Magic. Get various colors.
• Rolling pin, clay cutters, molds – For shaping the beads, you’ll want tools like a roller, plunger cutters, and silicone molds.
• Toothpicks – Helpful for poking holes before drying.
• Acrylic paint – If painting designs, acrylic craft paint works best.
• Varnish – For finishing, use a water-based polyurethane sealant.
• Embellishments (optional) – Items like glitter, gems, beads, charms and more can decorate.
• Headpins, string – For assembling jewelry.

With this simple set of supplies, you’ll be ready to start crafting unique handmade polymer clay beads in all kinds of shapes, sizes and designs.

Condition the Clay

Before you can shape your air dry clay into beads, you’ll need to knead and condition it. Take the clay out of the package and start working it in your hands. Knead the clay continuously for several minutes until it becomes soft, pliable, and easy to shape. The warmth from your hands and the kneading motion helps relax the clay and makes it more malleable. Be patient during this step and keep kneading until the clay reaches an ideal smooth, supple consistency. If it still feels stiff or crumbly, continue kneading to warm it up fully. Properly conditioned clay is essential for sculpting intricate beads and avoiding cracks as the pieces dry and cure.

Shape the Beads

Once you have conditioned your air dry clay adequately, you can begin shaping it into beads. There are several techniques you can use to form the basic bead shapes:

Roll balls by hand – The most basic bead shape is a round ball or pearl. To make these, simply roll small pieces of clay between your palms to form smooth, round beads. Adjust the size to create larger or smaller beads. Roll the clay into a smooth ball by applying even pressure as you roll.

Use cutters – Clay cutters, much like cookie cutters, are great for making uniform bead shapes quickly. Press the cutters into rolled out slabs of clay to cut out shapes like circles, squares, hearts, stars etc. Use cutters to easily make lots of matching beads.

Use molds – For more intricate and non-symmetrical bead shapes, use silicone molds. Press clay into the molds to easily recreate detailed bead designs. Let the beads dry completely before flexing the molds to release them.

Cutters and molds allow you to speed up the basic bead shaping process while still achieving neat and consistent forms. Combine these with hand rolled balls for a variety of interesting bead shapes.

Embellish

Once your air dry clay beads are formed and have dried a bit, you can add decorative elements to make them unique. Get creative with different embellishments!

Press small gems, glitter, beads, sequins, buttons, charms, or other items into the clay while it’s still soft. Make patterns, shapes, and designs. You can also glue items onto the surface of the hardened clay beads using craft glue or E6000.

Try using a toothpick or skewer to scratch or draw patterns into the soft clay. Add color with acrylic paint, markers, or nail polish once dried. The options for customizing and personalizing air dry clay beads are endless!

Poke Holes

Once you have shaped and embellished your air-dried clay beads, the next step is to poke holes in each bead before letting them dry. This hole will allow you to string your beads onto cord, wire, or elastic when finishing your project. Be sure to pierce each bead with the hole in a consistent place, so they line up nicely when threaded and worn.

To create the holes, you’ll need a specialized clay tool like a skewer or needle tool. These tools have thin, sharp points designed to pierce through soft clay without distorting the shape. Gently push the tip through the top of the bead, keeping the bead stabilized on a flat surface. Make sure to pierce all the way through so the hole goes cleanly from one side to the other.

The size of the hole will depend on what you plan to string your beads on. For most craft cords and elastic, aim for a 1-2 mm hole. For thicker options like leather cord, make the hole slightly wider at 2-3 mm. Making uniform holes takes practice, so pierce slowly and check each one. It’s better to start with holes on the small side, as you can always enlarge them slightly later if needed.

Getting clean, centered holes while the clay is still soft prevents frustration later when trying to string dried beads that lack holes or have off-center holes. Take your time at this step, and you’ll have an easier time assembling your pieces once firing and drying are complete.

Let Dry

Patience is key for this step. Lay your beads flat on a baking sheet or wax paper to air dry for 24-48 hours. Make sure the beads are not touching each other or stacked on top of one another. This allows air to properly circulate and dry the beads evenly.

Avoid rushing the drying process. If beads are not fully dried, they can crack or break when handled. You’ll know the beads are ready when they are no longer cool to the touch and feel solid all the way through. Gently touch the beads to test for dryness before moving to the next step.

Depending on factors like humidity, thickness, and size of the beads, drying time can vary. Larger beads may take longer. Just remember – slow and steady wins the race when air drying clay. Take your time and let the beads dry thoroughly before attempting to string or embellish further.

Finish the Beads

Once your air dry clay beads are fully dry, you may want to sand or paint them for a more polished look. Here are some finishing touches to consider:

Sand the Beads

If there are any small cracks or imperfections on the beads, you can gently sand them. Start with a fine grit sandpaper, around 220 grit. Gently rub the sandpaper over any rough areas to smooth them out. Be very light, you only want to remove the tiniest amount.

You can also sand to soften any sharp edges or give the beads an aged, worn look. Sand lightly in a circular motion and wipe away any clay dust between sanding.

Seal or Paint the Beads

Applying an acrylic sealer or paint can help protect air dry clay beads and give them a glossy finished look. Acrylic paint works well for adding color. Make sure to get paint specifically made for clay or ceramics.

Apply in thin layers, allowing each coat to fully dry before adding another. Let the beads cure for a few days after painting before wearing or stringing them.

A water-based polyurethane sealant can also be used to seal the beads. This helps protect the clay from moisture and gives a nice sheen. Apply 1-2 thin coats with a soft brush, allowing each coat to dry fully before adding another.

String and Display

Once your air dry clay beads have fully hardened, it’s time to string them together to create jewelry or ornaments. There are several options for stringing air dry clay beads:

• Jewelry wire – Use a thin jewelry wire and string beads onto it. Add clasps on each end to turn it into a necklace or bracelet. For jewelry wire, try 24-gauge or 26-gauge.

• Cord – Leather cord, waxed linen thread, or other types of cord work well for stringing beads. Tie knots between each bead or use jewelry crimps to secure.

• Elastic cord – Elastic cord is perfect for stretchy bracelets. String the beads then knot the ends. Make sure the elastic is sized appropriately for the wrist.

• Ribbon – Pretty satin or grosgrain ribbons add a feminine touch. Lace ribbons through the bead holes to make the strand.

• Fishing line – Clear fishing line can be nearly invisible, giving beads a floating look. Use a needle to string beads onto the fishing line.

Display your finished air dry clay bead strands in a jewelry box or hang them on jewelry stands. Give them as gifts or sell at craft fairs for some profit from your bead creations.

Store Properly

Properly storing your finished air dry clay beads is just as important as creating them. Air dry clay is susceptible to moisture, which can cause finished pieces to soften or break down over time. To prevent this, be sure to store finished beads in an airtight container like a plastic bin or zippered plastic bag. This seals out humidity and prevents moisture from reaching your creations.

Look for an airtight plastic container just larger than your collection of beads. Line it with a silica gel packet or two to absorb any excess moisture. Then carefully place your bead strands, loose beads, and any bead-making supplies inside. Securely close the lid to seal the contents from humidity.

You can also use zippered plastic bags for storage. Look for thick plastic that won’t easily tear. Slip your beads inside along with a silica gel packet, squeeze out excess air, and tightly zip the bag closed. This creates an airtight environment to store your air dry clay beads between crafting sessions.

With proper storage, your air dry clay beads will keep their shape, colors, and textures for a long time. Just be sure to check periodically that the storage container is still securely closed. Follow these tips, and your beads will stay in great condition until you are ready to string, paint, or showcase them in your next project.