Thinking of making my own beads.

[Jonesi]

How do people get "pictures" onto their beads, something like THIS (http://www.etsy.com/listing/38909988/dozen-sea-garden-polymer-clay-round?ref=em), are these painted or is the pattern in the clay?

[Janx]

I'm no polymer clay expert, but, I would say they aren't painted but make in the clay.

At a guess I would think that the designs (the flower, the butterfly, the leaf) are done individually, I would imagine she makes them in canes.

The balls would be made from scraps with a final layer of the colour wanted then with slices of the canes added probably smoothed out in some way and then baked.

hth

Jan x

[Moonbeam Angel]

Janx is right, I bought polymer buttons with flowers and hearts on and being the nosey bod that I am, I asked the lady how on earth she got the designs on, and she explained it as Janx has.

[Janx]

It must take some skill to make them, they are stunning designs and some of them are really intricate and so small!

jan x

[Jonesi]

Ah ok, that explains it! Can you buy canes or do you have to make them yourself?

[microburt]

You can buy canes or make them yourself! There are cane tutorials on YouTube. I've been making beads for a while now and have done a few canes but my beads are nowhere near this standard! Amazing... I hope to be that good one day. Have you checked out Emma's site too? It is ejrbeads.co.uk. She sells amazing beads too. xx

[craftybeader]

You can buy canes or make them yourself! There are cane tutorials on YouTube. I've been making beads for a while now and have done a few canes but my beads are nowhere near this standard! Amazing... I hope to be that good one day. Have you checked out Emma's site too? It is ejrbeads.co.uk. She sells amazing beads too. xx

You have made some amazing beads Amanda, I have just had a look see at your website. I especially love your Spring bracelet :-) Keep up the good work

I second Amanda, go visit Emmas website, she has some lovely beads!

[Jonesi]

I just placed an order with Emma today for some tools and bits n bobs :D
Does anyone know where to buy the canes from? I do plan to make a few but would like to buy a few too. I found some on Etsy but they were all overseas and would prefer UK if possible. I've googled but can only seem to find ones for nail art which have already been baked and am assuming I'd have to use raw clay canes?

[silvermaid]

Basically, the canes are made in the same way a a stick of rock, lots of 'snakes' of different colours laid on top of each other then squeesed untill they are small enough for the size you want. Then you cut off thin slices and lay them on whatever you want.

Melanie

[craftybeader]

Polymer Clay Central is a great resource for beginners and experts alike. Here is a link to a multitude of canes, with instructions

http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/masterindex.html#canework

[krielj]

I make my own beads using canes. You can make very simple canes or intricate ones but often the simple ones end up the best in my opinion. I think you should give it a go yourself!

[Jonesi]

Just bought myself a Makins extruder so I think I will be having a try :) Thanks for all the advice and links, can't wait to get stuck in!

With regards to storage, what do you guys use to put your open packets of clay in? Am assuming the air will dry them out?

[Bev478]

Drying out is not so much of a problem - it's keeping the dust off!

I use the clear plastic hobby boxes. You know the ones, with 20 odd little 2" x 3" compartments. I also sometimes put the clay in zip lock bags as well. Some people wrap clay in cling film, you have to be careful tho' as all brands are not created equal & there is always a danger that p. clay will react with other plastics.

I know have 3 of these boxes. 2 are full & the last one is getting there ;)

Bev

[NatSiddle]

Plastuic boxes are great, but you want the ones made out of the slightly flexible and opaque plastic. I bought some of the rigid, clear boxes (used for beads) for my clay beads and foolishly bunged some unbaked ones in one time. They actually MELTED through the compartments, ruining the box and making a slimy mess of my beautiful beads :( zip-lock bags are great as well for odd scraps and blends, just pop them in and seal! I ue them all the time for opened blocks of clay.

[microburt]

Thanks for the compliment crafty! I use little baggies for my clay.... xxx

[craftybeader]

I use zip lock bags or cling film

[Hazer]

If you do want to buy canes, have a look on Etsy for 'polymer clay uk' - there's a few uk people on making lovely canes for their beads, and they take custom requests so they may be willing to make some canes for you.

P.S. Have a look at etsy user 'Zuleykha' for some amazing uk beads - I love her work :)

[silverjewelleryworkshop]

I'd definitely have a go at making your own canes as Jayne suggests. It's not that difficult and every cane you make is exclusive to you!

Caroline

[Jonesi]

Still waiting for my clay to arrive but have received part 1 of my order from Emma, found some useful tools on the Silver Clay website too and am waiting from my extruder from the U.S. so will be a while before I get all my bits together but in the meantime am reading up on tutorials regarding canes and I found some stuff by Donna Kato that's really interesting regarding building canes. I have a feeling Polymer may become my new obsession, it's so interesting and I love all the colours you can mix and all the different techniques. I bought a few cane ends from Etsy that I'll use with some beads but I fully intend to start my own designs, it looks like a right challenge!

[ejralph]

Polymer clay beadmaking is certainly a challenge, but a very rewarding one.

Too bad on the timing though - our extruders came in finally today. Even though I was told not to expect them for another 2 weeks grrr!

[Jonesi]

Ah my own fault for being so impatient, I saw you were waiting on them so I went off in search and found one on Ebay.com that shipped to the UK, will just have to hold my horses until it arrives :)

[ejralph]

Oh I wouldn't blame anyone for being impatient! I was out of stock of the blinkin' things for weeks! But glad to say they are replenished now, for the time being at any rate ;-)

Emma

[Cristina]

I make beautiful leaf, petals, swirls, milfori, etc polymer clay canes, let me know if you are still intrested and i will forward you some photos.
Cristina