How To Make Large Polymer Clay Beads without Using a Lot of Clay
Want to know how to make big beads that are light and use less clay?
One of the popular trends this year is really large chunky beads and pendants. When you are making oversized beads out of polymer clay, you run into a couple of problems. First the weight of the bead; and next the amount of clay it takes to make just a few beads. As well, because of the sheer size of the bead, it can be tricky to get it to cure properly without having to bake it for a really long time (2 hours plus).
Recently, several subscribers of my Polymer Clay Guest List have asked this common question in some form or another… "How do I make large polymer clay beads (tennis ball sized) without using too much clay?" And… "What can I use to dummy out the inside and not add much weight to it?" Here's a link to where you can see where questions like this and others have come up: Polymer Clay Instructions
One really neat way to solve this big bead problem is to wad up a piece of tin foil as a dummy bead. You could also use masking tape instead of tinfoil if you like. Compact it as tight as you can so it is really hard and so that it holds its shape. Cover the ball with a thick sheet of polymer clay. You can then continue making your bead, adding canes, patterns, texture, etc.
It can be a little tricky to pierce the bead when there is foil or masking tape inside. Try using something strong and sharp like a darning needle or knitting needle since bamboo or wire won't be strong enough. Once pierced, bake the bead as normal.
Make sure when you make beads like this that the outer clay layer is thick enough that it won't wear thin when you are sanding it.
It is important when you are learning how to make polymer clay beads that you ask as many questions as you can. I know that many of you out there have lots of questions. Don't wait to see if someone else speaks up first. Ask right now in the comments section below. I would love to hear from you. This blog and my beginner bead making course will become a much better resource for you if you do!
Filed Under: 05: Techniques, 06: Bead Shapes by Comment. 
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Comments on How To Make Large Polymer Clay Beads without Using a Lot of Clay
3:36 pm
If you haven't made a comment on my blog yet, ask yourself, "What have I got to lose?"
Besides you could always use a fake name if you are a super secret person. I don't mind. Or if you don't want to feel embarrassed asking a newbie question, you could always use the fun approach where you say… "I have this friend…" :-)
Seriously though, I love newbie questions. No need to be embarrassed or shy. So go ahead ask away…
Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Buy Courses on How to Make Polymer Clay Beads and Canes
4:14 pm
You are on top of things, Cindy! No question goes unaddressed. :) A do have a question further about this subject though. If you dummy it out with tinfoil, won't the clay take on the irregular shape (i.e. all the lumps & bumps of the crumpling)? I'm thinking or making something along the line of an ornament, but I want to make a nice round shape.
5:57 pm
Yeah it can take a few layers of clay and a fair amount of clay to get rid of the bumps, but it is completely do-able. If you're making an ornament, why don't you just cover a glass ornament with clay? It can handle going into the oven no problem!
Cindy Lietz's last blog post..How to Bake Sculpey Polymer Clay
1:14 pm
Cindy, I want to create large polymer clay beads for a necklace. This will be my first try at polymer clay. In my research, I have learned that I need to use tin foil then cover it with the polymer clay (to eliminate using as much clay and to reduce the overall weight of the entire necklace). I understand I need to use a needle to create a hole through the bead, but how do I get a hole through the tin foil portion of the bead? I rolled up a piece of tin foil into a ball & it was virtually impossible to force the needle through it. Any suggestions?
9:25 am
Hi Natalie! I used a sharp pointy tool with a handle to get a hole in the foil. If you are still having trouble you could try scrunching the foil around a skewer or needle, so that you start with a hole. Then you can pull it out to shape the bead better and then pierce it again where you started the hole. Hope that works for you!
The tool I used is pictured in the post that is linked by my name.
10:44 am
Cindy, A pointy tool with a handle sounds like it will work perfectly. My main problem with using the needle thru the tin foil was that my fingers just slipped off the needle each time I tried to apply enough pressure to get it thru the tin foil. A handle should remedy that situation completely. I cannot wait to get started. Thank you so much for the valuable information!!
6:33 pm
You are so welcome Natalie!
3:46 pm
Is that what they mean when they say a necklace is made with hollow beads?
6:13 pm
Probably not Billie. If they said hollow, there is probably just air inside. Hollow polymer clay beads are usually made in two parts and glued together after baking.
3:22 am
Hi Ms. Lietz!
My name is Jenn and I'm new to working with polymer clay. In high school I sculpted with clay that we had to heat in a kiln. I didn't know what clay to start with when I was out of school so I bought sculpey, premo and fimo. And to test each one I made my first trial sculpture out of all three.
I was wondering; since my sculpture is mostly sculpey clay with a bit of the others mixed in, will it look different when baked? I haven't had the heart to bake it because I'm too scared!
It's about as tall as your wrist to your elbow and about as long. A picture of my sculpture is posted here: smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Rhalen/?action=view¤t=mlsculpt.jpg
It is all clay with no other elements inside. I think it has dust and cat hair on it too that might burn. Do you think it will shrink? I know you mostly work with jewelry and I know there are no guarantees so I hope I'm not wasting your time. I'm sorry if I am!
Anyways, I appreciate all your tips on your site. It's very very helpful! I was also wondering. have you ever used wire that people use for flower arrangements inside your clay? What wire works best inside clay? I like your tip about using the aluminum foil as filler instead of clay! Thanks so much for taking time to read my email and if you can't help I totally understand!
Thanks for your time.
8:49 am
Hi Jenn – Welcome to the blog! I included your questions about sculpting and clay brands in the Q&A section of todays blog post. The link by my name will take you there. Thanks for being part of the community.