Clay Bead Bracelet Concepts – Paper and Sew

By Admin2010

September 13, 2025

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Getting into the world of clay bead jewellery with some kid-friendly clay bead bracelet concepts.

Clay Bead Bracelet Concepts – Paper and Sew

About two years in the past, I acquired into clay bead bracelets, necklaces, and different jewellery making after my son introduced residence a bracelet he made in school.

I began trying up clay beads on Etsy and because it seems, there’s some actually cute beads on the market for jewellery making. And a lot selection too. You can also make clay bead bracelets utilizing solely small flat beads. You can also make bracelets utilizing extra tubular clay beads. And likewise shapes and themes of each type. A great deal of choices – and nice for necklaces and keychains as properly.

So I assumed I’d share a few of my sources for clay beads and how one can make these cheerful equipment with simply a few provides.

colorful polymer clay beads lined up in a bracelet design, repeating pattern

Provides

To make these clay bead bracelets, you actually solely want beads, one thing to string them onto (that’s stretchy), and a pair of scissors. However there are extra provides and instruments that can be utilized, if desired, to make issues simpler.

polymer clay beads in numerous shapes and/or flat spherical polymer clay beads*
elastic wire or stretchy jewellery wire
scissors
collapsible eye needle or beading needle (non-obligatory)
bead spinner (non-obligatory – extra on that beneath)

*Flat spherical polymer clay beads are additionally knowns as heishi beads and polymer clay disc beads. So, in case you’re not discovering what you’re in search of once you search flat spherical polymer beads on Etsy for instance, attempt a kind of key phrases.

You too can use steel crimpers and clasps and all of that. However for this tutorial, I’m protecting issues fundamental, straightforward, and quick. So that you received’t want any of these additional objects.

child's hand reaching into a bowl of clay beads, who is wearing a lot of clay bead bracelets on his wrist

The place to Purchase Beads

There are really so many locations you will discover clay beads. In all places from craft shops, like Michaels and specialty bead shops, to Amazon and Etsy. I’ve purchased beads from all of those locations and there’s a fairly strong choice. Some are greater high quality than others. I’ll share the place I’ve had good luck discovering beads…

This set of polymer heishi beads (the flat rounds) has 15,000 items and comes with an enormous vary of colours. I’ve this set and have been proud of it. It additionally comes with clear stretchy cording, scissors, some charms, and a bunch of alphabet beads.
Amazon does have some good high quality beads. I’ve this animal set from there, and several other others.
There’s an Etsy store referred to as Your DIY Provide that has a TON of polymer clay beads in all completely different sorts of types / themes. Etsy on the whole has tons of nice polymer clay beads.

Utilizing a Bead Spinner

To make beading simpler (and far sooner), you may go for utilizing a bead spinner. There are handbook bead spinners and electrical bead spinners. I’ve an eclectic one, in order that’s the one I’ll speak about. The beauty of these electrical bead spinners is that they lower the period of time it takes to make in half (if no more). So, when you’ve got a variety of bracelets that must made, for a party or an occasion, this can be a nice little machine to have.

Mainly, you connect your jewellery cording to an extended needle, activate the beading spinner and begin hooking the beads from the spinner onto the needle. It’s very easy and truthfully, sort of enjoyable. The one draw back to utilizing a machine like that is that it solely works for the flat spherical polymer clay beads. It can’t be used on thicker beads which might be formed.

lining up clay bead bracelet designs with various shapes and colors of polymer clay beads

The way to Make Clay Bead Bracelets

1. Measure and lay out the design.

Lay out your design and decide the variety of beads wanted for the correct size. I discover it simpler to rapidly lay out the beads on a flat floor first, within the order I believe I’ll need them in. Then I can swap something out that doesn’t sit properly or look the way in which I need it to earlier than I get began beading.

However earlier than I give you the design, I must know roughly how lengthy the completed bracelet might be. Which is so simple as realizing the wrist dimension of the individual the bracelet is for. That may decide what number of beads I would like to finish the design.

2. Lower the elastic wire.

Subsequent, lower a bit of elastic wire or stretchy jewellery wire that’s about an inch longer on either side (so 2 inches whole) as your completed bracelet might be. Ex: For those who want the bracelet to be 7 inches lengthy when completed, you’ll lower a bit of wire that’s 9 inches lengthy.

child putting together a colorful beaded bracelet by stringing clay beads onto a clear string

3. Then begin including beads to the wire.

For those who’re utilizing a beading needle of some type, place the tip of the wire by means of the attention, and you can begin including the beads onto the needle after which by means of to the wire, within the order of the format you designed in the first step. For those who’re not utilizing a beading needle, you can begin stringing beads immediately onto the wire.

And in case you’re utilizing a bead spinner, thread your needle with the wire, add your flat spherical beads, activate the bead spinner, and begin threading the beads onto the needle. It could take a few tries to get the grasp of it, however when you do, it goes fairly quick. I might begin at a gradual or medium velocity till you get the grasp of it and go up from there as wanted.

4. Tie it collectively and lower off extra.

Double test to verify the finished size of the bracelet works for you. Then pulling the 2 free ends collectively, tie them into a good double or triple knot.

Lower off any extra string that’s left after the knot. Watch out to not lower into the knot, so give a little bit additional area round it earlier than chopping extra cording. OR go away the surplus and simply twist / transfer the beads round a little bit so that they go over the knot and string and it’s able to put on.

bowls of beads and clay bead bracelets laying out on wood surface with scissors and other supplies

Extra Clay Bead Bracelet Concepts

Now that you understand how to make bracelets with clay beads, listed here are some concepts for various sort of designs that may be made, to suit distinctive personalities and pursuits.

Shade blocked bracelets – Use flat spherical beads to create shade blocked sections for a playful design.
Monochromatic shade schemes – Use beads which might be all the identical shade, with numerous tones of 1 shade.
Complimentary shade schemes – Shade principle to the rescue with complimentary shade schemes that simply go collectively. Examples of complimentary shade schemes for bracelet concepts: crimson and inexperienced / yellow and purple / orange and blue.
Use letter beads to customise a bracelet along with your identify or one thing / somebody you’re keen on.
Animal lovers bracelet – Listed below are some animal clay beads that I’ve used, with all completely different sorts of animals.
Sports activities lovers bracelet – There are many choices from workforce colours to sports activities themed beads.
Tremendous hero / Pokemon bracelet – Plenty of Pokemon beads on Etsy.
Rainbows and unicorns bracelet- Your DIY Provide had some cute rainbows.
Life within the backyard – with beads formed like flowers, bugs, fruit, and extra.

child designing beaded bracelets at a table surface

supplies for making polymer clay bracelets

kid making small bracelets with polymer clay beads