Polymer Clay Tutorial | Make Trumpet Flower Beads From Cane Slices
Vid #96: A Pretty Polymer Clay Bead for Your Spring Making Jewelry Projects:
For those of you who have been asking for a demonstration of how to make my dainty little trumpet flower beads… you're in luck! The full tutorial video will be posted in the Polymer Clay Tutor Library later this week!
In this polymer clay tutorial video, I will show you how you can take a slice form any round polymer clay cane, and create these delicate ruffled flower beads.
If you have followed this blog for awhile, you will know that I absolutely love to make flower beads. There is something so freeing about the way the clay ripples and folds. Even old polymer canes or ones with distorted ends can be used with this flower bead making technique to produce beautiful results.
The bead shown in the photo above is referred to as a Trumpet Flower Bead because of its long neck shaped like the horn of a bugle or trumpet instrument. It lends itself wonderfully to dangling earring designs, beaded pendants and fresh looking flower charms.
If you are interested in learning how to make this trumpet flower bead the full tutorial video will be available in the members library later this week [See Video 009-4].
But you can watch a preview clip right now if you like, by scrolling down on this page a bit. Or just click here to go straight to the preview video player.
More information about my Polymer Clay Tutor Library is posted right below the preview video.
Here's That "Link Below" Referred To at End of the Video
>> Polymer Clay Tutorials <<
The full version of the "Flower Bead" preview video shown above, is available for purchase at my Polymer Clay Bead Making Videos Library in the Volume-009 Back Issue Package.
In the "Trumpet Flower Bead" video I walk you step by step through the process of using an artist's brush, a cane slice and some cornstarch to create stunning, sculptural flower beads for your next jewelry bead project. Specific topics covered in the video include:
- Why cutting the cane the right thickness is important.
- How to get your flower beads to look as much like real flowers as possible.
- Tips for tapering the clay at the edge of the cane slice properly.
- Tricks for avoiding fingerprints and why fingerprints are particularly important to avoid with this bead shape.
- How to keep the petals from deforming during the baking process… using corn starch.
- Making sure that the color of your beads don't fade in heat and exposure of your polymer clay or toaster oven.
- What to do with canes that have translucent backgrounds in order to get wonderful dimensional petals.
Filed Under: 06: Bead Shapes, 15: Promotions by Comment. 
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Comments on Polymer Clay Tutorial | Make Trumpet Flower Beads From Cane Slices
6:41 pm
Beautiful! Thank you so much for making the tutorial so quickly – looking forward to making these beads…:)
7:15 pm
Can't wait Cindy. I actually tried doing this on my own this week but had mixed results…very timely! Thanks!
7:09 pm
@Maria: Thanks! I hope you like the video!
@Sue: I'm glad! It is one of my favorite bead shapes to make. I think you'll like making them too!
7:50 pm
Cindy I really liked the Video 009-4: Trumpet Flower Bead. Now I'd like to know if you can do a video on how you made the pink/red cane wrapped in green cane for the flower. I'm sure everyone would like to see it. Thanks!
9:19 pm
Cindy, JoAnne asked one of my questions about the Trumpet Flower Bead: can you show us how to make the pink/red cane wrapped in green? Great colors for Spring!
My 2nd question is: The Trumpet Flower Bead with the ball bead in the center — WOW – it looks like glass, just beautiful, so glossy. Is that from heavy buffing or just how did you achieve that, . . . fantastic, I am so impressed!
Also, are you telling us that if we want to keep our pure colors bright with no fade, we should bake in cornstarch like you did in this video?
Debbie McLelland
4:47 am
I love these beads!! When I saw them for the first time, I had hoped you would do a tutorial on them. Thank you for sharing with us. I do have a question….when you bake them on cornstarch, do you have to allow more time to bake them, or do you use the same amount of time when doing in the oven? Thank you, keep those wonderful tutorials coming!
Theresa
8:17 am
I am SO excited to find you! Thanks for adding me to your faves, I've done the same. Clay has been next on my experiment list for weeks now – in fact, I've been researching books. I think I'll wait, though, until I've had a chance to peruse your lovely site. I, too, am a middle-aged with 2 kids, married 20 years to my best friend and soul mate for life. (love your profile:)
thanks again!
6:31 pm
Hi Cindy,
Just watched the video and now I know what my mistake was. These beads are beautiful. I'd love to know how to make some of these canes. Will you do a tute on those sometime? Your "finger gloves" cracked me up…(yep that was what I was thinking.) Thanks for another great video!
Sue
3:01 pm
@JoAnne: That cane takes more than one step so I will have to make a mini-course on it as soon as I can. Looks like you're not the only one who wants it! I'm going to have to get my butt in gear!
@Debbie: There was a fair amount of Pearl clay in the cane on that flower bead with the brown center. That is partly why it sparkled so much. It was also heavily sanded and buffed as well there was a coat of Future on it. That is why it is so shiny. Yes, about baking in cornstarch. It really seems to make a big difference. Test is both ways and you'll see.
@Theresa: You could bake for longer if you want. I always bake for an hour so it seems to be good enough for small beads like this. If you have a particularly thick bead I'd add another 15 minutes or so to make up for being buried in cornstarch.
@Patti: That's great! If you want to get started the right way with making polymer clay beads, I do have a 39 video Bead Making Course for Beginners that would save you a lot of time and hassle learning on your own. If you want more info on that, click the link by my name. That is cute that we have so much in common like that. Isn't the internet great for making friends?!
@Sue: Excellent! I'm trying to get filming some cane courses ASAP. Everyone is begging me to! I know… funny about the finger gloves! I was going to mention that people should keep their heads out of the gutter but forgot. Kind of got embarrassed and couldn't think of what to say next! :-)
4:53 pm
Cindy,
Could you tell us exactly what clays & colors you used for both types of trumpet flowers? I would like to have those on hand to start experimenting a little while we wait for you to do the video on how you made the canes for both of them.
Again, they were breathtaking!
Debbie McLelland
8:22 am
I love the flowers they're beautiful! I've just started to "play clay". I'm amazed at all the possibilities. When baking your beads in the cornstarch do you bake them for the same amount of time? and does the cornstarch stick to the beads? I'm so glad I found your website.
6:35 am
Hi Cindy,
I love the Trumpet Flower bead. I noticed in the beginning you had made a pair of earrings from two of the small ones (at least that's what I thought they were). I can see a lovely boquet of them in a small vase, but I'd like to know how you would use them.
I'm unable to spend much time working with my clay, but I'm enjoying my membership and learning everything I can for when I can get my hands back in it.
Best regards,
Lou
10:36 am
@Debbie: You can use any of the color recipes you been getting in the Newsletter, since they are all pretty. Why don't you try one of the Spring Palettes?
@Jeanne: Clay is so versatile isn't it?! I love that about it. As far as your question, I answered it for Theresa just above. Hope that helps!
@Louise: I'm glad you are enjoying your membership! As far as your question, I am not sure what you are asking. Maybe you could ask in another way so my tired brain can understand?
8:37 am
These beads are just beautiful. Thanks for the video. I am definitely going to bake my beads on cornstarch. you can really tell the difference in the colors. And it works perfectly for the those particular flowers.
Thanks!
5:23 pm
You're welcome Lupe! It was quite hard to see in the video what a big difference in the colors were by baking under cornstarch. Test it you'll see. I am doing a lot more beads this way because of it!
2:39 pm
Beautiful, Cindy!!! And I love the length of this video! I am learning soooooo much…now if I could find more time :)
Huge hugs to you, Cindy E.
6:58 pm
Yeah I know what you mean about the time Cindy… I sure could use some more myself!
Glad you liked the video!
1:35 pm
Cindy,
Because of the great interest in this bead, you said you hoped to do a video showing how you made the cane for these beads. We all love these Trumpet beads!. Did I somehow miss the cane video, or do we all need to lovenly let you know we still would like you to create this video? Please, please . . .
One of your ardent admirers,
DMc
2:23 pm
I have the same question Cindy. Do you have an actual date you can give us? Thanks!
11:44 am
Debbie and JoAnne: The plan is to definitely make a mini-course on this cane. It takes several steps and its a matter of getting the time to film it and getting them ready for purchase.
I am in the process of figuring out ways to streamline the day to day tasks around here so that I can get more videos done in a quicker manner. Bear with me, I'll get to it as soon as I can.
10:42 pm
Yea, and thanks Cindy!
I am sure we will all be patient. Bless your heart, I can only imagine how busy your days must be.
I am excitedly waiting,
Debbie
5:24 pm
Thanks Debbie!
4:06 pm
Dear Cindy,
I would like to thank you for the 4 free videos. I am a beginner in this beautiful art and i find them very useful. You made them simple, clear, easy to understand- in one word -just wonderful!
When searching the net i came across your page and i fell in love with the trumpet bead and the roses. Your creations are lovely!
I am from Bulgaria.The art of polymer clay is not popular here. That is why it was a bit difficult to find and get materials and some tools, not speaking of books or guides-practically there are none :)
I have in mind your wonderful offers.
Thank you once again. Wish you love,
Nevena
4:14 pm
You are very welcome Nevena. I'm so glad you enjoyed the videos. Hoping to hear more from you here at the blog.
8:14 am
Cindy's reply re the Trumpet Flower: I am not sure what you are asking. Maybe you could ask in another way so my tired brain can understand?
Hi Cindy, Sorry, my tired brain didn't ask a very clear question did it??? Let me try again. LOL
I noticed in the beginning you had made a pair of earrings and I know a beautiful pendant can be made with this beautiful 3-D flower. What I liked also was the lovely bouquet in a small vase. I'd like to know what you used for the stems that was stiff enough to hold them up? I'm guessing you used floral wire and green floral tape to attach them to that stem? They look so pretty.
Thanks for your patience.
Louise
11:40 am
Hi Louise! You must have seen those flowers somewhere else, because I haven't done anything quite like that. You idea for using floral wire and floral tape will work nicely for your project. Sent pics if you end up putting your trumpet flowers on stems. Would love to see how they turn out!
1:52 am
I love this tutorial! This is such a cute flower bead, and so simple once you've seen the video! I really need to make some of these for spring. They're really lovely. Great job on yet another fantastic tutorial, Cindy…