Clay Beads: A Versatile Craft Right at Your Fingertips

Beads are among the easiest things to make with clay. Made right at your kitchen table with tools you can already find around your house, crafting clay beads is accessible to any level artist at any age. If you’ve always wanted to make your own jewelry, keychains or phone charms, learning how to make clay beads is one of the best places to start.

Learning to Make Clay Beads

Crafting your own clay beads is a skill any crafter should add to their creative repertoire. In just a few steps, minimal materials and easily accessible tools, you’ll know how to make clay beads and be ready to use them in even more crafts like jewelry making.

Polymer Clay Beads

Two hands hold a package of white polymer clay wrapped in plastic over a terrazzo style countertop. — Still from Skillshare Class Clay Beads and Things (Making clay beads for a necklace) by Amber Wade Oven baked clay like this polymer clay is great for durability.

When making clay beads at home, there are two main types of clay: air dry clay and oven baked polymer clay. These clays don’t need the high drying temperatures from a kiln, which makes them a very approachable art form. Since air dry clay doesn’t require an oven it’s great for kids. It’s also easy to work with and less expensive than polymer clay.

If you’re looking for durability, oven baked polymer clay is going to be the best option. Air dry clay can crack as it dries, which makes it much more fragile. This makes polymer clay a great option for clay canes. Plus, while polymer clay is moisture resistant once baked, air dry clay will come apart if it comes in contact with water.

Roll Your Clay Into a Ball

A hand holds a small ball of white clay between the thumb and pointer finger. In the background is a terrazzo countertop and two unfinished beads and a ball of clay. — Still from Skillshare Class Clay Beads and Things (Making clay beads for a necklace) by Amber WadeRolling the ball of clay between your fingers and the palms of your hands will help you get that perfect spherical shape.

Now that you’ve chosen the right clay for you, take off a small piece from your clay block and roll it into a ball. You can do this by rolling it between your fingers or your palms.

Toothpick Time!

Two hands are visible over a terrazzo countertop. The left hand holds a small ball of clay, while the right hand holds a toothpick that is being pushed through the center of the clay ball. — Still from Skillshare Class Clay Beads and Things (Making clay beads for a necklace) by Amber Wade If you don’t have a toothpick on hand, try a pin, skewer or an undone paper clip.

Next up is creating the hole through your bead. One of the simplest ways to do so is by using a toothpick to poke a hole through the center of the clay sphere.

Rolling Your Clay Bead

A hand sits with an open palm over a terrazzo countertop. Another hand holds a toothpick sticking through a small ball of clay which lays against the open palm. — Still from Skillshare Class Clay Beads and Things (Making clay beads for a necklace) by Amber Wade You’re really on a roll now!

You’re going to widen the hole by rolling the bead up and down your palm by slowly twisting the toothpick. If you push down too hard or roll your bead for too long, the bead will grow longer and thinner. This creates a different bead style that can sometimes get stuck to the toothpick and become a little more fragile.

Luckily, if your bead doesn’t turn out how you want it to, you can always squish your bead and start from scratch.

Make Final Adjustments

Two hands hold a small ball of clay with the thumb and pointer finger, forming it into a cube-like shape. — Still from Skillshare Class Clay Beads and Things (Making clay beads for a necklace) by Amber Wade Reshape your clay bead to your heart’s desire, but be sure to avoid closing up the hole you made.

Once you’ve reshaped your bead so it has a flattened, donut-like shape, your bead is ready to be baked! While you’re here don’t be afraid to play around with a few different shapes and see which you like best.

Experiment with Other Clay Bead Designs

Two hands work over a flat, square-shaped piece of clay laying on a terrazzo countertop. One hand holds the top and bottom edges of the piece of clay with the thumb and pointer finger. The other pokes a hole through the center with a toothpick. — Still from Skillshare Class Clay Beads and Things (Making clay beads for a necklace) by Amber Wade No rolling required for this flat bead!

You can create different bead shapes by softly molding a completed bead between your fingers to make it more circular or rectangular. You can also start with a completely new bead shape and size like a long noodle-shaped piece or a flattened shape like the one above. For these flat clay beads, you can create the center hole by placing it on a flat surface and using a toothpick to make a small opening.

Bake or Dry Your Bead

A hand holds a doughnut-shaped piece of clay between the thumb and pointer finger. In the background are a few pieces of clay and a toothpick on a terrazzo countertop. — Still from Skillshare Class Clay Beads and Things (Making clay beads for a necklace) by Amber WadeBaking your clay will help it last for years to come.

Depending on the brand of your clay, its baking and drying time might be slightly different. Most polymer clays need to be baked for fifteen minutes at 275 degrees Fahrenheit per quarter inch of thickness. Air dry clays usually need to sit out for one to three days, but it’s always a good idea to double check with the directions from the brand you’re using.

Get Out Your Paintbrush

A hand holds a toothpick with a white circular piece of clay on the end. Another hand uses a pink paint brush to paint overlapping lines across the clay shape. In the background a finished bead and a toothpick are visible. — Still from Skillshare Class Clay Beads and Things (Making clay beads for a necklace) by Amber Wade Painting overlapping lines, polka dots and stars are just a few ways to decorate your clay beads.

Now that you’ve baked your beads, it’s time to get colorful! Acrylic paints will work best for polymer and air dry clays, but tempera and oil paints will also work well for adding the beautiful design of your choice.

Leave Your Bead to Dry and Admire Its Beauty

A styrofoam plate covered in tiny holes sits on a terrazzo countertop next to a string with two finished clay beads on it. A hand holds down the side of the plate, while another sticks a green painted clay bead on a toothpick into the plate — Still from Skillshare Class Clay Beads and Things (Making clay beads for a necklace) by Amber WadeProperly drying your paint is key to prepping your bead for the next step.

If you painted around your entire bead, it will need to dry without touching any surfaces. Grab a styrofoam plate or floral foam and place the toothpick holding your bead into the plate or foam to dry.

Glaze Your Clay Bead

A container of white ceramic glaze sits on a terrazzo countertop. Next to it, one hand holds a toothpick holding a light green clay bead while another hand uses a green paintbrush to cover the bead in glaze. — Still from Skillshare Class Clay Beads and Things (Making clay beads for a necklace) by Amber Wade Adding a glaze will help you achieve that shiny, finished look.

With kiln-fired clay pieces, glazes are used for both fashion and function. Glazes help seal the clay and make it waterproof. With oven baked and air dry clays, glazes aren’t able to seal the clay so they don’t provide any functional use. It will just help cover imperfections and provide slight protection from wear and tear.

Also, if you’re looking for a more classic, reflective look that’s similar to kiln fired ceramic pieces, then a glaze will help you achieve that. Once your paint dries, you’ll just need to paint on your glaze of choice and let it dry for at least twenty four hours.

Other Types of Clay Beads

Polymer clay beads are just one of the popular clay bead craft materials out there. If you’re looking for other material options for your clay beads, this quick guide to other clay options will help you make the best choice for you.

Porcelain Clay Beads

Requires firing in a kiln
Has a pure white finish
More expensive than most clays
Dense, durable and waterproof

Air Dry Beads

Requires no extra tools to use
Can crack when drying
Very cost effective
Can lose durability over time

Stoneware Beads

Requires firing in a kiln
Creates an off-white to cream color base
Mid-range pricing
Durable and waterproof

Clay Bead Ideas

With clay beads there are so many opportunities right at your fingertips. You can mold the smooth clay between your fingers or use a variety of tools to manipulate its shape and texture.

Clay Bead Bracelets

There are a range of methods to fill clay bead bracelets. Craft little circular beads for a simple aesthetic or play with different charm shapes for something a little more fun. Shapes like stars and hearts can easily be turned into a bead with a quick poke from a toothpick.

Clay Bead Necklaces

Another clay bead jewelry idea is taking it one step further than the bracelet and crafting a necklace. If you’re inspired by terracotta jewelry making, a necklace can be a great place to start for beginners since you can also create a single statement bead instead of a whole chain.

It’s Time to Roll

From spiral-shaped beads to doughnut-shaped, there are so many ways to get creative when making homemade clay beads. With a craft as accessible and correctable as working with clay, this is a great option for someone early on in their crafting career. This week, try creating a variety of beads and seeing which you like best. You’ll have a completed necklace, bracelet or keychain before you know it!

Written By

Calli Zarpas

Producer & Writer by occupation. Ceramicist & Newsletter Editor by avocation.