by 16 people |
Make Your Own Fimo Beads
One of the most popular styles of beads today is the fimo bead. Fimo beads are made from polymer clay that is molded and baked. With the right tools and techniques, you can create a large variety of shapes and designs for your beads. This lens is going to focus on the basics steps of how to make fimo beads.
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How to Make Fimo Beads: The Basics
Soften your polymer clay
Shape the Clay
Using your hands or a sheet of plexiglass, shape your beads. You can make them into balls, squares, logs of multiple colors rolled together and sliced, or any other shape you can think of. You are only limited by your imagination.
Make the Hole
Assuming you plan on stringing your beads, you are going to have to make holes in them. You can do this before or after baking. The easier method is to make the hole beforehand. To do this, gentle twist a skewer back and forth into your beads. Place multiple beads on one skewer for baking and make sure they don't touch one another. Alternately, you can drill holes in your beads after baking. Drilling is more difficult, but won't distort the shape of your beads.
Bake the Beads
Again, making sure that the beads don't touch one another, suspend the beads on skewers on a bead baking rack.
Finishing Touches
Once your beads have cooled, slowly remove the beads from the skewers and sand any rough spots that may have developed from making the holes. Spray them with a coat of varnish, if desired.
Links on How to Make Fimo Beads
- How to Make Fimo Beads
- Teaching you how to make fimo beads. Educating you on the supplies, tools and techniques necessary to make your own fimo beads with fantastic patterns and phenomenal results.
- How to Make Beads from Polymer Clay
- A slide show and instruction list on how to make a slew of 5-color polymer clay beads.
Books on How to Make Fimo Beads
Making Polymer Clay Beads: Step-by-Step Techniques for Creating Beautiful Ornamental Beads
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/11/2009) 
Make Your Own Great Earrings: Beads, Wire, Polymer Clay, Fabric, Found Objects
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Polymer Pizzazz: 27 Great Polymer Clay Jewelry Pro (Best of Bead & Button Magazine)
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 07/11/2009)
Making Beautiful Beads: Glass * Metal * Polymer Clay * Fiber
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Videos on How to Make Fimo Beads
Reader Feedback
Mrs_Kittens wrote...
I really want to give bead-making a try so this has been really informative.
Posted April 15, 2008
Noadi wrote...
Great lens, I added it as a featured lens on http://squidoo.com/sculpting_tips
Posted September 21, 2007
NicholeB wrote...
Cool lens! I lensrolled you to my Artisan Wire Jewelry lens. Hope you can visit my lampwork lens and my bead group!
~Nichole
http://www.squidoo.com/makebeads/
http://www.squidoo.com/groups/beadlovers
Posted July 27, 2007
faerydae wrote...
Great site! Five stars all the way!
I added your lens into my lensroll at PolymerArt!!
Posted July 26, 2007
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Kathleen Gagne, known by her peers as "K.C.", is a work at home mom of two young chil... (more)
