Polymer Clay Tutorials | Piercing Lentil Beads | Unique Bead Shapes

6 tips on how to pierce holes through swirly lentils for jewelry making projects:

The polymer clay lentil bead (aka swirly beads) has a very unique shape that resembles natural lentils used in various culinary dishes. But it's this unique form that poses challenges when drilling holes through them for stringing into necklaces, bracelets and other handmade jewellery projects.

Here are 6 important tips to keep in mind:

1) Always let a freshly swirled lentil bead rest for awhile before putting a hole through it. This allows the clay to cool and firm up right to the core of the bead. Less distortion will happen when making the holes.

2) Wear gloves or coat your finger tips with cornstarch to avoid getting finger prints on your bead.

3) Use a light touch. Try not to squeeze your bead while you are piercing it.

4) Cover your bead piercing pins with cornstarch so that they enter the clay with less resistance.

5) Twist the pin gently as you push it into the clay.

6) Go slow. This will create less distortion at the edges of the bead and will allow you to redirect the hole if it is a little off.

For all of you visual learners, the next edition of my upcoming Polymer Clay Tutorial Video Newsletter will demonstrate the bead piercing techniques listed above. No matter how well I try to describe this process in words, a video is always better for learning exactly how to do it right. If you don't already receive my newsletter, you can sign up here: Polymer Clay Tutorials Guest List

And if you have never swirled these unique bead shapes before, here are a few previous posts to check out:

• Swirling Fimo Clay Lentil Shapes Can Be Very Addictive
• Making Lentil Beads From Scrap Polymer Clay
• Cool Tool for Rolling Swirly Lentils