Itsy Bitsy Spider Jewelry and Beads Made with Polymer Clay Canes

Spider Cane Design

Do you want to make some Gothic Jewellery, a Harry Potter Pendant or really cool Halloween Costume Jewelry? Then you’ll love this very buggy clay cane project:

I just love the look of Spiders. They are graphic, mysterious and just a little spooky. There is also something ‘science-ee’ about them… as if you might learn something if you were to look at them long enough!

This Spider Cane I designed is special because of the huge design possibilities it has. I can envision it being made into a simple bug jewelry pendant hung on a black leather cord, suitable for a girl or a guy.

Another interesting option would be to give the little insect a more distressed ancient look. Making it into a piece of Harry Potter Jewelry. Something maybe Hagrid or Hermione might wear. But not Ron Weasly of course… fans know that he is deathly afraid of spiders!

While I’m on the topic of Harry Potter, check out this article too: Luna Lovegood Radish Earrings – there’s a conversation happening over at my Lovegood page that needs your input. Love’em or Hate’em… that is the question!

One choice of costume jewelery you could make using a spider clay cane, would be something more Gothic Style or perhaps something to go with the edgy steam punk fashion trend. Spider webs, antique silver finishes, and Victorian styling would add to the spooky Goth look. Go to this post if you want to see exactly what steam punk is all about: Steampunk Fashion Jewelry

And for you nail technicians and poly clayers interested in making Fimo nail art canes for beauticians, the spider image is a great one. It is graphic enough to scale way down to the nailart cane size and still be recognizable as a spider. Just think how great a little web and tiny spider would look on some long pointy fingernails at Halloween (…or at a New York Nightclub anytime of the year :)

For those of you that shop or sell on Etsy, you may have noticed the feature awhile back where they listed all the handmade jewelry and crafts that had a spider image. If you enter the words “itsy bitsy spider” into the search box at etsy.com, a long list will still come up of sellers making spidery inspired handicrafts because of their continued popularity.

So whether you want to make itsy bitsy spider jewelry for a witch costume, a Harry Potter fan, or for polymer clay beads and pendants for yourself… learning how to make these insect polymer clay canes will come in very handy!

Cindy Lietz SignaturePolymer Clay Tutor


  1. Cindy Lietz, 21 July, 2008

    Do you love spiders, or do they give you the Heeby Jeebies? And if they do bug you (get it, b-u-g you ha ha), you that stop you from making them if I showed you all the steps and tutorial instructions?

    Last post..Faux Amber Jewellery from Polymer Clay – Books by Victoria Hughes

  2. Marianne Huber, 24 July, 2008

    PC fingernails..WOW. How would you attach them to your nails regular phony nail clue? I could really get into that, what a great idea. Or, do you attach them to the phony nails then to your fingernails.
    My husband wants to know if I am going to feed him today…I don’t think so.

  3. Cindy Lietz, 27 July, 2008

    The nails aren’t made of polymer clay Marianne, just the nail art on them!

    You make a teeny tiny polymer clay cane and bake them before you slice them. Then you warm them up in boiling water so you can slice them really really thin.

    These Fimo Nailart slices are then glued onto false nails with glue and acrylic gel nail stuff covers them to protect them. (I need to learn more about the application techniques in order to be more technical than that!)

    The important thing is to not use regular nail polish because it has a chemical reaction with the polymer clay and will ‘pop’ off the nails if you do.

    Currently I am working on courses so people can learn how to make the canes, but have more to learn as far as applying them. So stayed tuned for that!

    Cindy Lietz’s last blog post..A Polymer Clay How To Tip for Making Beads Using White Fimo Clay

  4. Rhonda, 02 January, 2009

    What is the cost to order nail art canes and how do
    you apply them? Thanks.

  5. Cindy Lietz, 02 January, 2009

    Hi Rhonda,

    Here is a link to an online store where you can find out more about the cost of ordering nail art canes and and nail art products: Beauty Tech Shoppe.

    For applying nail art designs, you warm the canes slightly in hot water and then slice them very thin. After a layer of acrylic is added to the nails, the slices are glued on with nail glue. You can sand the nail art slices slightly if you wish and then add a couple layers of acrylic on top of them. Don’t use regular nail polish with nail art cane slices because it will react with the clay and get all sticky.

    Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any further questions.

  6. Phaedrakat, 13 March, 2010

    I love your spider cane, Cindy! It’s very cool! I am going to have to attempt one of these (after I get going on all those other things on my list.) I just had to tell you how much I appreciate this creepy, crawly spider, though!

  7. Cindy Lietz, 13 March, 2010

    Thank you Phaedrakat for saying so. I appreciate it!

  8. Jennifer H, 04 September, 2010

    Cindy, I have been looking all over for a Spider Cane like this one and all I can find is Spider Web Canes….can you give me some pointers? Or point me in the right direction? Thanks so much!

  9. Cindy Lietz, 04 September, 2010

    Hi Jennifer, nice to have you here! I have been planning on doing a tutorial on this Spider Cane for awhile. If we get enough interest, maybe I can do it this Fall.

    So what do you all think… would you like to learn the Spider Cane for Halloween this year?

  10. pollyanna, 04 September, 2010

    I’d like a tute. Hate spiders but this one is good….won’t bite and halloweens coming.

  11. DJ, 04 September, 2010

    I would love a spider cane tut. I’ll throw in a request for a pirate crossbones one too, just for the heck of it. =)

  12. Phaedrakat, 04 September, 2010

    LOL, Pollyanna! I’d love a tutorial, as well. (And a ‘me, too’ on the Pirate Cane, DJ!) This isn’t a difficult cane, but Cindy will no doubt find a way to give us even more of those ‘a-ha’ moments. Count me in!

  13. Tanya L, 05 September, 2010

    Me too (for BOTH!!)! I’m trying to come up with ideas of things to make for Halloween. Christmas being right on it’s tail!

  14. Phaedrakat, 06 September, 2010

    So true (about Christmas…) Can’t believe how quickly time’s flying by these days. I see the holiday stuff being put on the shelves at Michael’s…how can it be that time already?

  15. Linda K., 06 September, 2010

    I don’t like spiders, but I’m sure I’d learn some new techniques that I can use on other canes. So count me as a Yes.

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