Polymer Clay Tutorial | Poppy Flower Beads for Your Jewelry Projects

Cindy I remember when polymer clay enthusiast spent their days in hardware and kitchen supply stores for their tool. Did you know that a garlic press is a great tool for creating tiny worms. The pasta machine came from the kitchen. So for those people who can't find those tools they will need to be inventive. Look around the house and be creative.

I'm looking forward to this Cindy – anything unusual and I'm in there!

@Claycass: Great point, I'm always about improvising! If you don't have these tools (which I will use in future projects, so you may want to try and get them eventually) then I have just now thought of a couple of tools you could use instead. A marble or large bead glued onto a stick, pencil or some kind of rod could work to replace the large stylus. You would have to use a super strong glue like an epoxy. A small straw could also work to replace the etch and pearl tool. Hope that helps those that need to improvise for now.

@aims: Thanks! I hope you enjoy it! :-)

I love your bracelet. Poppies are popular with Veterans Day in the USA. I don't see as many veterans selling them as I did when I was a child but I do remember them being sold in the fall.

Earlier you said that you found copper wire at the hardware store. I seem to be unlucky. I have only seen covered wire that I would have to strip. I guess I better go get some, so that I can be ready for Friday.

I have found polymer clay tools can be expensive like any craft so I'm always looking for items I can use in their place. The last trip to the dentist I decide to ask them if they had any instruments they couldn't use anymore, I told them I worked with polymer clay, she said she would check, when she came back she handed me 11 different tools!! WOW I felt like a hit the jack-pot! So many different tips all perfect for claying. :)
.

Ooh whats happened to the blog format? It appears to have changed.

Cindy, love this poppy bracelet and cannot wait to try it! Another great design with casual all season wearability. But, especially with the reds in the upcoming holiday season, think they'd be very popular.

Cannot wait to see how the tools are used, too.

Love the copper bracelet, but doubt my hands would hold up to much wire work. Anyone have good sites for purchasing the copper components and bracelets?

@Claycass: Did you try Home Depot? Ours here has huge spools of copper wire cable that you can buy by the foot. The wires are bare, so you don't have to strip them. You just have to untwist the strands.

@Jeanne: My husband Doug's dad is a retired dentist, so I got all his dental tools and drill bits. Teeth are pretty hard so when the tools get the least bit dull they just throw the tools and bits out. They are still incredibly sharp and are great for polymer clay. I think most dentists would be happy to give them you to you instead. Cool you thought of asking!

@Polyanya: Yeah things have changed a little with the format. The blog software had to be upgraded and with upgrades come a few changes. Expect to see a few more, over time. (I've been looking at the same site for almost two years now, so it's a bit of a shock for me to see the new format. I like it though and hopefully everyone gets used to it fast!)

@Jocelyn: Thanks! I'm glad you like the beads. There are several sellers on Etsy the make copper headpins, jump rings and other components very inexpensively. Just search for 'copper findings' in the supplies section.

I noticed the change immediate. But I figured it most have been an improvement from the old, ie. loads quicker, takes up less memory, something…. But I missed the old. I came to – let's say – enjoyed it. This layout is really white.

Loved it Cindy thanks so much :) you are the best!

Liking this video Cindy! Fun technique, might have to mix up a load of reds and have a go!

Since poppies are one of my favourite flowers, I'm all over this great video, Cindy. Off to check out Michaels for the Sculpey tools. Love the bracelet. I can just see one done with jet swarovskis interspersed with little bunches of poppies hanging off jump rings. Yippee!

These are so cool. Had the tools on hand so mixed up the Succulent Red and it was off to make the poppies. Will have to try some other colors too. Really had fun with this. Thanks Cindy.

Cindy, thanks for sharing in a future tutorial for how to use copper to make the pistil,

I ask for the tools from a dentist and I was told NO because of spreading germs or something like that. So I found some simular tools at Harbour Freight. They are picks for mechanical purposes or something like that. I have found alot of neat things at that store. I figured if the dentist just got rid of the tools why not give them to somebody that could use them. They know I work in polymer clay and still no go on the tools. Oh well where there is a will there is a way. Hello hardware store etc; no place is above or below the eyes of an artist. My family tease me cause all I think about is "can I get texture from that or a mold." Oh well you never have to much of a good thing no matter where it comes from.

Thank you everyone!

@pamagela: I will make a tutorial on the copper head pins in the future. Thanks for asking!

@lynn: Just ask them to sterilize the instruments first. Surely if they can put them into someone else's mouth, you can use them for clay. Sounds like you found what you needed though. That is cool!

Love the new video and hope to try to make some this weekend. I need the Etch and Pearl Set from Sculpey so hopefully Hobby Lobby will have it and I can use the 40% off coupon they have on internet site this week. If not I think I might try just putting half of a small round bead on it. Wish me luck either way I am going to try smiling all the way.

Another option to the Etch and Pearl tools Peggy, is to use a small straw. If you make the ball slightly bigger than the straw opening, you can push the ball onto the flower with the straw. The edges will ooze out and get embedded like it does with the pearl tool. Plus since the straw is open, the top will stay domed and won't get flattened out.

I use these Sculpey tools just the same way you do to make 3D flowers. Those tools are great! Only I make flowers out of cane slices. :)

@Cindy,
Do you know a reliable place online we can order the tools to make the poppy beads? One that ships to/in the U.S.?

~Lisa

Hi Lisa! Polymer Clay Express would be a good place to get the tools online.

A question: After viewing a video (in the members' area), what's the quickest way to return to the others in that set?
Thanks.

I'm enjoying the videos! Good job!