{"id":1498,"date":"2008-12-01T15:11:36","date_gmt":"2008-12-01T22:11:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/?p=1498"},"modified":"2014-02-21T18:16:11","modified_gmt":"2014-02-22T02:16:11","slug":"polymer-clay-tutorial-making-keepsake-flower-beads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/polymer-clay-tutorial-making-keepsake-flower-beads\/1498\/","title":{"rendered":"Polymer Clay Tutorial | 4 Tips For Making Keepsake Flower Beads"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Polymer<\/p>\n

Flower Petal And Rose Beads Can Also Be Used To Make A Rosary:
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I get more emails requesting information about how to make rose petal beads, than on any other topic. It’s because in most cases, these unique flower beads<\/span> hold such deep meaning for the person making them… often having something to do with the memory of a loved one, or the celebration of a special occasion. They are also commonly used for rosaries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Flower petal beads can be created easily, using dried flowers and translucent polymer clay. Here are 4 tips that you may find to be useful: <\/span><\/p>\n

1) <\/strong><\/span>Save and dry the best flower petals you can. Separate the petals and spread them onto paper towel to absorb any moisture. I like to dry them in the microwave between paper towels in 1 minute intervals. Checking for hot spots and turning them to make sure they are completely dry.<\/span><\/p>\n

2) <\/strong><\/span><\/span>Break up petals into small pieces. Pieces that are too large tend to fall out of the bead leaving an unsightly hole.<\/span><\/p>\n

3) <\/strong><\/span><\/span>Start out by mixing just a few petals into some raw translucent polymer clay. Fimo translucent is a whiter shade and Premo is a little more yellow. Choose the color you prefer. Make a small test bead and bake it up. Sometimes the flowers lose or change their color after baking. So before mixing everything up all at once, it’s always best to do some small test beads first.<\/span><\/p>\n

4) <\/strong><\/span><\/span>If the flower petals are making your clay color change from what you want, simply add tiny amounts of colored clay to tint as desired. This can also be done with alcohol inks. Remember that if you add too much opaque colored clay, the bead will lose it’s transparency and will hide the flower petals. So here again, test small.<\/span><\/p>\n

I can’t think of a better way to preserve strong memories, than to memorialize the flowers from a meaningful event into rose petal or flower beads. So at the next graduation, baby shower, wedding or funeral that you attend, be sure to gather up some of the petals for making flower petal beads tat will be cherished forever.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you are interested in purchasing a tutorial video that will show you how to make Flower Petal Inclusion Keepsake Beads, then check out Volume-003 at the Polymer Clay Tutor Members Library. The specific title in the Volume-003 order form is referenced as:<\/span><\/p>\n