How to Make Patriotic Beads- a Picture Turtorial!

So when Sarah (the Clay Rosary Girl) left my house, I just couldn't stop making beads! So I made a bunch of red, white, and blue ones. They are a lot of fun to make because they have such high contrast, and they're really cheery! Once you make them, you can use them for religious necklaces, bracelets, rosaries- whatever! (I did not make the letter beads.)



I used Sculpey for making mine, although any polymer clay will work. You can get sculpey at any craft store- in fact I think you can get it at Wal-Mart! It's great for kids and adults! But use a cutting board for working because it will ruin your finish. I seriously don't care about my table- I have already ruined it with past crafts. Lol! So here's my picture tutorial on making your own patriotic beads.

Making Star Shaped Polymer Clay Beads:
1. Take some white clay and make 5 triagular "prism" shapes by pinching with your thumb and first finger while "smooshing" the clay against the table for the 3rd side. Also, make one fatter round coil.
 2. Arrange the prisms around the coil as evenly spaced as possible, and stick them on firmly. Then trim off the edges to make all the ends even.
3. Make 5 more long triangluar prisms with some blue clay, and fit them in between the spikes of the star pointing inward.
 4. Make a nice big flat pancake with some more blue clay by rolling it out, and wrap your star cane inside.
 5. Trim the edges to make everything even again.
 6. Roll the cane with your hand until it is the desired size for your bead. Be sure to do this slowly and evenly so you don't distort your shape too much.
 7. Slice it into beads about 1/4 inch thick.
 8. Put holes through your beads using a paper clip, or whatever you want.
 9. Bake according to package directions.

Making Patriotic Stripes Beads:
1. Roll out your red and white clay.
 2. Stack the clay and trim the edges to make them both the same size of rectangle. Cut this in half and stack it on top of each other again. Then slice it four times.
 3. Rearrange the four pieces into your desired design.
 4. Press the cane smaller into a square rather than rolling it into a tube. You can also flatten it with your fingers and keep flipping it on different sides as you go. Finish up as you did with your star beads.

Here's a patriotic "jelly roll" bead. I just stacked red white and blue, then rolled it jelly roll style! Use your hand to roll it out to your desired bead size.

Here's a variation on the stripes to make a little flag. Just rearrange your stripes differently, then add a blue square to the corner. Roll it out as you do with square beads.

When you bake them, try not to burn them. Unless you want a really cool "antiqued" look. That's what I did. Burnt them on purpose. *eyes shifting*. Ya. Purpose.... (Ok, I've only ever claimed to be an artist, not a chef!)

They did come out kind of cool.

Use them to string whatever you want! 
We made a "God Bless America" necklace:

"In God We Trust" bracelet:
Yes, I even made a rosary!
To make the round beads that I used for the "Our Father's", just slice the beads off the cane really thin. Then make a ball with your clay, and stick the thin slices of bead on all the way around. Next just roll it gently in your hands again until it is smooth!

Hope you guys have as much fun with this as I have! Be careful- making beads is totally addictive! ;-)

If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by email or RSS. Photobucket

25 comments:

  1. Hi Lacey,

    LOVE your beads, thanks for showing us how to make them & thanks for introducing us to Sarah & her blog & website I have just been over there & ordered some of her Rosaries...to be honest I want one of all the ones she makes...is that gluttony ??? I have also put a post about her sites on my blog.... Lovely Lady Dressed In Blue.

    Have a great day Lacey, I love all you do,
    God Bless & take care,
    In Christ,
    Hugs Robyn xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, they look awesome! I want to make them. Thanks for showing us how to make them. Have a great Fourth of July. God Bless!

    ReplyDelete
  3. They look awesome! How easy!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lacy, the jewelry turned out so well- way to go! You make it look so easy! Just so everyone knows not to leave the uncured clay on the table or it will take off the finish! I wouldn't want anyone's nice tables to be ruined by this cool craft. Use a cutting board, please!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Good point, Sarah! I updated the post to let people know :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh my, these are adorable and making me want to go out and buy some Sculpey! But we just finished a tie-dying cake-pop-making Sacred/Immaculate heart Tea Party yesterday (thanks to your ideas, I'll get some photos up soon), so this will probably have to be one of next year's patriotic projects. I'd love to hear exactly how to make the rosaries; looks like a beautiful thing to start making this fall to give as Christmas gifts! I'll have to go check out Sarah's blog!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Too cute!! can't wait to give this craft a try.
    Amy Hutcheson

    ReplyDelete
  8. That Rosary is gorgeous!! Can I buy one? :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, you are incredibly creative ! Thanks for sharing this, and for linking up !
    Happy Fourth

    Kate

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi, Lovely USA BEADS!
    Hope you don't mind us leaving a comment to let you know that you can source a range of FAIR TRADE, RECYCLED PAPER & NATURAL BARKCLOTH & BANANA LEAF BEADS from our website. All handmade in UGANDA(:

    Thank you for your support.
    http://www.mzuribeads.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your beads are truly wonderful, looks like so much fun. I know if I started making these, I WOULD get addicted and end up with a whole houseful of them!

    ReplyDelete
  12. That looks like so much fun! They turned out so pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks Lacy! You saved me again. My faith formation class is going to make these as sacrafice beads for lent and I'm going to let them know they can also be a rosary. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I found this site from The Beading Gem's Journal..What a wonderful find..I love the beads and needed something to inspire me as I have been in a funk lately..God Bless..

    ReplyDelete
  15. Really no matter if someone doesn't be aware of after that its up to other viewers that they will assist, so here it takes place.

    Here is my web site - virtapay money exchange

    ReplyDelete
  16. You actually make it seem so easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be actually something which I think I might by no
    means understand. It sort of feels too complex and very broad for me.
    I am looking forward in your next publish, I'll try to get the hang of it!

    Here is my web-site; jills click corner

    ReplyDelete
  17. It is actually a great and useful piece of
    information. I'm satisfied that you just shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

    my web-site :: miscrits sunfall

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your website, how could i subscribe for a blog site?
    The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this
    your broadcast provided bright clear concept

    Here is my web site dj software free download

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi, I do believe this is an excellent web site. I stumbledupon it ;) I'm going to revisit once again since I book-marked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.

    Feel free to surf to my blog: castle ville

    ReplyDelete
  20. excellent submit, very informative. I ponder why the opposite specialists of
    this sector don't understand this. You must continue your writing. I'm confident,
    you have a huge readers' base already!

    my homepage - youtube hits

    ReplyDelete
  21. Howdy! I'm at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the great work!

    my web page ... aimbot download

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your means of describing everything in this piece of writing is genuinely
    nice, every one be capable of easily understand it, Thanks a lot.


    Here is my webpage - watch movies tv free

    ReplyDelete
  23. Someone necessarily help to make significantly articles I'd state. That is the very first time I frequented your web page and to this point? I surprised with the research you made to make this actual put up incredible. Wonderful process!

    Feel free to surf to my weblog :: sharecash surveys

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi colleagues, its wonderful piece of writing about teachingand
    completely defined, keep it up all the time.

    Have a look at my weblog: minecraft accounts

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your comments! They're the icing on my cake ;-)