Create exciting and unique lightweight clay beads,  using anything that makes an
interesting texture on clay.  The designs below are made from
clay stamps I have created and sell myself.


Use your new clay texture stamps to make some elegant
and light weight puffed clay beads and pendants.
In my examples here I have used porcelain clay and Raku
firing but you can use any clay and firing you wish.
Of course you could even use Fimo or other low firing clay.
Roll out your slab very thinly, about an eight of an inch.
Use texture stamps to decorate the whole surface of the clay,
don't worry about placement just use various stamps and decorate all over.
 Interesting to leave small bare areas too.
Use small cutters to cut out your bead tops after covering the slab
with a sheet of plastic wrap.  Use small cutters, cookie cutters, household lids etc,
 pressing right through the wrap.
This will give you a nice rounded over edge.

        


After you have cut all the textured slab out roll out another
plain slab and cut out the smooth shapes for the back of your beads.
Keep your cut out pieces soft by covering with the wrap.
 

Use your fingers to push out the centers of your textured bead tops, you can
leave the backs flat or puff them too. I lay the pieces in the palm of
my hand and lightly push in the centers.
Join tops and backs by brushing on a small amount of slip around
the inside edges and lightly pressing the pieces together.  Use a
large tooth pick or bamboo skewer between the halves where you
would like the stringing hole to be.  Smooth the edges of the bead with a
dampened finger tip then put your beads in a shoe box or similar to dry safely.




Bisque fire when dry,
and then glaze as desired.   I used Raku glazes and black wax resist
to outline featured areas of the stamped design.  You can use underglazes on the
backs or just leave bare clay.

These are easy to make and everyone will ask how you did it.
I would love seeing photos of your finished beads.

If you find this guide interesting or helpful please vote below.  Thanks and keep watching for new ideas.