Comments on: How To Make Large Polymer Clay Beads without Using a Lot of Clay http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/ "I learned by making mistakes... Now you don't have to." Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:54:22 -0700 hourly 1 By: Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Inlay Techniques http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-30384 Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Inlay Techniques Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:49:43 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-30384 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. 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.

]]> By: Jenn Vernetti http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-30362 Jenn Vernetti Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:22:55 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-30362 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&current=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. 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&current=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.

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Buffing Polymer Beads http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-21163 Cindy Lietz@Buffing Polymer Beads Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:13:15 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-21163 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. 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.

]]> By: Billie http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-21142 Billie Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:46:48 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-21142 Is that what they mean when they say a necklace is made with hollow beads? Is that what they mean when they say a necklace is made with hollow beads?

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Bead Hole Drilling http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-15341 Cindy Lietz@Bead Hole Drilling Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:33:44 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-15341 You are so welcome Natalie! You are so welcome Natalie!

]]> By: Natalie Spears http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-15021 Natalie Spears Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:44:14 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-15021 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!! 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!!

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Sizing Polymer Clay Bead Holes http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-14401 Cindy Lietz@Sizing Polymer Clay Bead Holes Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:25:24 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-14401 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. 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.

]]> By: Natalie Spears http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-14090 Natalie Spears Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:14:40 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-14090 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? 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?

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Lessons http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-1192 Cindy Lietz@Polymer Clay Lessons Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:57:48 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-1192 <p>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! </p> <p><em>Cindy Lietz's last blog post..<a href="http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-bake-sculpey-polymer-clay-toaster-oven/128/" rel="nofollow">How to Bake Sculpey Polymer Clay</a></em></p> <p> </p> 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

 

]]> By: Cynister http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-1174 Cynister Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:14:47 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/how-to-make-large-polymer-clay-beads/126/#comment-1174 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. 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.

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