30 June 2010

Clay Jewelry


Howdy! So nice to see you today!

This week, I'm taking you on a shopping trip
in New York City.

I can spend many hours here to savor a snack
and browse through the shelves.

This is what I bought -- I'm trying out the crafts
with my blah to TADA! touch.

On Page 37, the author has a recipe
for clay jewelry.

Here's what we'll need:

3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup salt
1 tbsp warm water or as needed {I used 8 tablespoons}
liquid tempera paint & paint brush

Mix together the flour, cornstarch & salt.
Add water gradually until the mixture
forms a soft dough.

Roll the mixture into balls to make beads.

Allow the beads to dry for a few hours,
then poke a hole using a skewer.

Allow to dry.
The smaller the beads,
the faster the drying time.

{It took me about a week to get
the beads to fully dry & harden.}

Here's what they look like.

Now, it's time to paint!

To quickly get paint all over the bead, use this
trick of putting each bead on a skewer.

You'll need two to three coats of paint.
Make sure to paint the bottom hole too,
once the bead is removed from the skewer.

Let this dry for a few hours.

TADA! Your very own handmade beads!

String them on thread (regular or elastic).

And make your own jewelry like a necklace or bracelet!

This is a fun summer activity for kids
that they can proudly wear.

27 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this idea! My daughters would probably LOVE this! :)

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  2. Wonderful recipe! How about adding food coloring water first? So you have a good basic color, homogeneous or marble-look-alike, depending on how the dough, and when the beads are dry you can add a few details, like flowers, butterflies or simply "paint" with sheer and glittered nail polish.

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  3. Hello Lanie! Oh, your girls will definitely love making their own jewelry. Have fun!

    You are right Melafragola -- the next time I make this, I'll add food color. That marble idea sounds fantastic! Thanks for such wonderful tips!

    Thanks for visiting today!

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  4. oh wow! I had no idea this could be done!!! amazing Claire =D

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  5. Thank you for always being so sweet Nuit! :)

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  6. Claire,

    You are so creative! I am loving your site. The concept is unique and brilliant.

    xo Marcie

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  7. Oh Marcie! Thanks so much! I hope you'll find a lot of stuff to make & create. :)

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  8. Kids? I love this! I wasn't sure about it, but with that ribbon it looks great.

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  9. Thanks for the comment Miss Destined For Now!
    I guess you're referring to the rough texture when the dough dries and the imperfection of the round shape. I think these add to the character :)

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  10. The Necklace is so beautiful, the colour is just lovely!

    xoxo
    Alien

    http://alienslabyrinth.blogspot.com

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  11. Welcome to my blog Aline! Thank you for stopping by & for linking me to yours :)

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  12. this look SOOO great! love love love it!

    -elizabeth

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  13. Welcome to my blog Elizabeth! Thanks for your sweet comment!

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  14. This is a great idea. Thanks for sharing :)

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  15. Love the idea, and I love how you put the necklace together with fabric. Don't the beads chip easily though? I would caution the wearer to take very good care of them so they don't get weird angles and spots on them.

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  16. You're right, Maggie! The shaping of these beads can be a little rustic. Thanks for stopping by!

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  17. Nice...I like the combination of beads& fabric

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  18. Can we make any shape with this clay or is this only for jewellery? Can we make trinket dish with this clay?

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  19. Yes you can! You can shape it into a trinket dish and let it dry on a curved surface like a bowl or inside a muffin tray. :) Thanks lal!

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  20. Hi I was wondering if it is safe to put the clay in the oven! I made clay rings yesterday and they are kind of hard but I was wondering if I could speed up the process by placing them in the oven! Thanks :) -Amiya

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    1. Thank you for your question, Amiya. I've never tried but maybe you can experiment with a few pieces. I suggest a low temperature oven to avoid cracks and breakage. In case I'm able to try it, I'll let you know if it's successful.

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  21. Hi if I want to bake it how long should It take. Thank you

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  22. Hi Claire,
    What would be the best way to give them a shiny finish?

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    Replies
    1. That's a good question! I might experiment with clear nail polish or maybe Mod Podge Gloss. I hope it works!

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Your comments are very much appreciated!