Charms Handmade Using Polymer Clay, Bead Wire, Crimps, Jump Rings

“Very Pretty! I can see them on hair slides or grips or similar. Or how about wine glass charms for parties?” ~Silverleaf

As a polymer clay bead maker, you are probably always keeping an eye out for ideas on what to do with the beads you make. Polymer clay beads can be easily transformed into charms for hanging from key chains, cell phones and of course charm bracelets.

A common way to create a charm when using flat beads such as the leaf cane bead in the photo above, is to hang the bead from a jump ring. The thicker the bead and the further away the hole is from the edge, will determine the size of jump ring needed to create the charm.

A heavier gauge jump ring (the lower number, the heavier the gauge) will be stronger, but will need a larger bead hole. So keep that in mind.

Another alternative for hanging charms, is to use bead wire and a crimp, like the round bead charm in the photo. This was created using a folded length of colored bead wire. The two wire ends are passed through the bead and crimped under the bead where the two wires stick out like tails. The fold becomes the loop to hang your charm.

I like to use this bead wire charm as dangles for earrings. The colored wire adds interest and the little tails give the bead a playful look.

There are other many other ways as well, to make polymer clay charms using headpins, links, etc. Do you have any questions or ideas you’d like to share about making polymer clay charms? Let me know in the comments section below!