Flowers and polymer clay make a beautiful combination for creating unique, handmade beads. With just a few simple steps, you can preserve natural flowers and herbs in clay beads for jewelry, decorations, and craft projects. Not only is it fun to personalize beads with your favorite flowers from the garden, but it allows you to enjoy their beauty all year long.
Supplies Needed
- Fresh flowers and herbs
- Polymer clay (Sculpey, Fimo, etc.)
- Tissue or paper towels
- Knife or cutter for clay
- Toothpicks
- Acrylic roller or pasta machine
- Oven for baking clay
- Fine grit sandpaper or nail file
- Clear glaze or varnish (optional)
Preparing the Flowers and Herbs
- Select your favorite edible flowers or herbs with small, delicate blossoms. Some common choices are pansies, marigolds, rose petals, lavender, tiny wildflowers, thyme, sage, and rosemary. Avoid poisonous flowers.
- Gently rinse and dry the flowers/herbs thoroughly between paper towels to remove dirt and moisture. Press gently to flatten the blossoms and allow to dry completely before use.
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Conditioning the Polymer Clay
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- Take a 2-3 inch blob of polymer clay and knead it between your fingers until smooth and pliable. This helps warm up the clay and makes it easier to work with.
- Run the clay through a pasta machine or roll it out thinly with an acrylic roller. Adjust to the thinnest setting or roll out to approximately 1/8 inch or thinner.
Making the Clay Beads
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- Cut the prepared clay sheets into long strips about 1 inch wide. Take one strip and place a small flower or herb onto the side of the strip.
- Lift the edge of the clay over the top of the flower and gently press to encase the flower completely in the clay, shaping it into a ball as you wrap it. Try to eliminate any air bubbles around the flower.
- Use a toothpick to tidy up the seam and smooth out the bead. Create a hole with the toothpick by poking through the center of the bead in both directions.
- Place the finished beads on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil. Leave a little space between the beads to allow for expansion.
Baking and Finishing the Beads
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- Follow the package directions and bake the polymer clay beads in the oven. Generally bake at 275°F for 15-25 minutes.
- When cooled, you can leave the beads with their matte finish or sand them lightly with fine grit sandpaper to create a smooth, polished effect.
- Optionally, you can apply a clear acrylic glaze or craft varnish to give the beads a glassy, glossy look and add extra protection. Apply thinly and evenly and allow to dry fully.
- String your unique flower beads onto cord or wire to create necklaces, bracelets, keychains, and more! Mix colors and shapes for endless variety.
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Tips
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- Work quickly with the flowers to prevent wilting or discoloration.
- Avoid getting clay on the petals or leaves to keep their color and texture.
- Let the clay warm up a bit before conditioning for easier use.
- Roll the clay out thinly so the beads keep their shape around the flowers.
- Bake the beads a little longer or at a slightly higher temperature than normal clay to dry out the flowers completely.
- Glaze or varnish isn't mandatory, but can help retain vivid colors.
Making your own beads with real pressed flowers in polymer clay is an enjoyable way to combine nature and crafting. Let your imagination run wild with various flower types, clay colors, and bead shapes. Give your finished beaded creations to loved ones or display them around your home as tiny reminders of the beauty of blooming flowers.
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