Scrap Clay Rolled Arizona Beads | Polymer Clay Tutorial

Video #230: “Capturing art in your leftover polymer clay. You just don’t know when that next bead will turn up. BAM, you just did it Cindy.” ~Peggy-B

Over the years, I’ve discovered that some of the neatest ideas happen purely by accident… and they are often super simple to replicate as well. This was definitely the case with a polymer clay bead design that I came up with a while back, called… Arizona Beads.

Now if you’ve ever been to Arizona (and I know there are quite a few members here, who actually live there), you probably will agree that the beautiful and rugged desert landscape can be very stunning. The canyons and outcroppings are craggy and jagged, with horizontal stripes not only in the rock faces, but also in the magnificent graphic sunsets and sunrises.

So when I originally tripped across this bead shape after playing with some scraps of polymer clay left over from the Tribal Cane Tutorial, the first thought that came to mind was a southwestern desert landscape.

What can I do with a not-so-beautiful cane? I could do lentil beads, but I’ve made so many I’m a little sick of them. I’ll try putting some of the ends thru the pasta machine to see what develops. But I’m wondering, what do you all do with canes that didn’t turn out? ~Rose-M

Yep, some of my favorite beads were destined for scrap. Scrap jupiter beads, scrap slice pendants, and you just never know what you get when you run your scrap through the pasta machine a few times. ~Katie-C

I will pay more attention to my scrap clay from now on — something beautiful like this could happen and I’d miss it trying to hurry and mix my scrap! I love the ragged edge on these beads. What a great idea you had! ~Phaedrakat

I just love these beads, Cindy! Perfect Southwestern Beads, very typical of the Arizona colors. Sometimes, scrap clay turns out better than expected! Thanks for all your tips and ideas, Cindy…keep it coming. ~Lupe-M

Beautiful colors! I’m glad you can invision colors. Nature is a great source for inspiration and living in Arizona I enjoy the earth tones of the desert, the wonderful colors from our cactus and wildflowers, the color influence from Mexico and of course the sunsets. Wow one could stay a wake all night just dreaming up colors. As a very new clayer I find your website very informative, you’re a very gifted person. ~Jeanne-C

Marvelous colour combination. It looks very Southwest and makes me want to fly off to Arizona for some heat and sun. ~Lawrence-S

Love those Arizona scrap clay beads. So pretty. I have came across many happy accidents as well and made outstanding things with those. It’s exciting to hear of others, happy accidents and the beautiful things that come out of that. ~Lynn-W

Oh man, These are awesome! I live in the southwestern US and the rustic orangy colors in these beads are so typical of sunsets in this part of the world. They also remind me of pottery I have seen around here. In fact some of my favorite mugs, though in different colors have this striping effect on them. Thanks for sharing your serendipity, Cindy. ~Elizabeth-S

Oh my! The genius of that Lietz gal! You and your serendipity, Cindy, long may they wave! Lerve, lerve, lerve those Arizona beads! ~Mary-U

Naturally when a cool idea like this comes my way, I’m happy to share it with all of you. So… coming up tomorrow (Friday, November 18, 2011) in the Vol-042-3 members video at the Polymer Clay Tutor Library, I will demonstrate how to make these easy and cool looking, large hole Arizona Beads. Perfect for all of your organic style jewelry projects.

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Please Note: A general prerequisite for all of my weekly tutorials is that you have a good understanding of the polymer clay basics, including: conditioning clay, using a pasta machine, clay blade and other simple tools, making Skinner Blends or Teardrop Blends, baking clay, as well as sanding and finishing. If you need help in these areas, my Polymer Clay Beginners Course will get you up to speed quickly. There is also plenty of free information on this blog. Use the search box at the top of the page to find articles on specific topics.

Supplies & Tools: Video-042-3 Southwest Arizona Beads:

• Scrap polymer clay and/or canes. All colors will work, but it is good to have some contrast between them, in order to get more dramatic looking beads.
• Embossing Powder (optional). I used Stampendous Embossing Powder .5 Oz-Pirate Gold Opaque, but you can use the color of your choice
• Pasta Machine.
• Bead Rack.
• Clay Blade.
• Mandrel. I used a 3mm steel mandrel for creating the large hole in these beads. You can use any round rod or dowel in the size that you prefer. Ideas are bamboo skewers, knitting needles, Sculpey Etch ‘n Pearl Tool, crochet hook, anything that a bead can be wrapped around and slide off of, will work. Since you won’t have to bake on the rod, it doesn’t even have to be oven safe to work.
• Ruler.
• Acrylic Roller (optional).

The full version of the Vol-042-3 Scrap Clay Arizona Beads video will be posted in the Polymer Clay Members Library on Fri Nov 11, 2011. But here is a sneak peak you can watch right now…

The full version of the “Arizona Beads” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Volume-042 Back Issue Package.

Customer Feedback About Membership Value:

Hi Cindy. I enjoyed your pirate tute. I’ve got a special guy friend who is all about pirates and I think a macrame and pirate bead wristband would be perfect for him. I watched several of your other tutes today. Prior to that, I watched a number of tutes on Youtube, most from ‘professionals’. Once again, I am impressed with the quality of yours – direct and to the point instructions, great camera work, clear sound, good lighting, uber friendliness – I could go on. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – it’s some of the best money I’ve ever spent and I wish I had found you way sooner. It would have made the learning process so much easier for me. Thank you for all you do and have a great day. ~Angela-M

What an exciting month! Thank you, Cindy… for providing us such a wonderful selection of cool tutes/techniques. An amazing array — from Pandora-type beads to hand-forged (and inexpensive) wire rivets. Plus, a lovely cane, a super-smart way to mix our own crackle paints, stunning color palettes, etc. — a lot to be grateful for (and worth WAY more than the $3 membership!) And, of course, everything’s explained and demonstrated beautifully in your videos. Thanks, Cindy…!!! ~Phaedrakat

Hi Cindy, I got your beginners course 2 days ago, finished it last night and became a member today. I signed up for the membership plus the 3 month backdate offer. I want to tell you that you have helped me more in the last 3 days than all the reading I’ve been doing for the last 3 months. Thanks Cindy. ~Linda-F

The following topics are included in this week’s Polymer Clay Tutor Library, Rolled Scrap Clay Arizona Beads video tutorial:

• See examples of Arizona Beads in several different sizes and color ways, as well as a macrame hemp bracelet using some Arizona Beads.
• Discussion of the tools, supplies and techniques needed to create this wonderful bead shape technique.
• Find out how imperfections actually add to the character of this unique rustic bead.
• Learn a great way to use up your scrap polymer clay and cane ends to make great bead sets, reminiscent of the Arizona Landscape.
• Discover an easy and effective way to add an unexpected gilded bead cap to the ends of this, or any other bead for that matter, using a product normally used in scrapbooking projects.
• Plus, with some creativity and ingenuity, there are many ways to come up with other unique designs of your own.

The full version of the “Arizona Beads” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Volume-042 Back Issue Package.