Making Hollow Beads

     Hollow polymer clay beads have been around for a while and I'm sure there are many tutorials available online. I have seen several great ideas how to build an armature for polymer clay beads and sculptures, especially if the aim is to achieve bigger size. It can be made with help of card stock, wire, styrofoam, polymer clay itself and many other tricks. 

     My hollow cylinder beads developed from the ruffled earring bead design I started to make back in January and the only armature I use are few small foil balls inside the cylinder while shaping the first end and then removed. Once out of curiosity I ruffled and closed both ends instead of just one, very soon I wanted to increase the size and that's how I started to make my cylinder beads. The finished bead is  4cm tall and 2.5 cm diameter and I really love this generous size. 

     Scroll down to have a look at step by step process and see the finished necklace below. Pictured beads are made from translucent polymer clay in four colours and I have used silk Chinese knotting cord to string beads. 

Hollow Cylinder Bead Necklace / Valg Studio

April One Colour Challenge

     It is the last day of April and it's time to get organized and write my Monthly Challenge post. Last month I was challenging myself with tropical colours, this month I challenged myself with one colour. I always wanted to try to make something with one polymer clay colour and see the possibilities.

     Early this month I was impressed by fellow 12 Polymerclay Projects in 2013 members' work using only one colour - blue.

Water Anemone by Elvira Krick.

     Days were galloping quicker and quicker, I didn't have time to make new cane but I had ideas for curvy shapes. Actually I made my first black wavy beads two months ago but then I was just playing, thinking about neutral complementary beads for my neck pieces. During April I have developed my wavy bead designs and I'm pleased with the results. They are little steps, I still have a lot to learn.

Wavy Beads Necklace by Valg Studio.

     One of the ideas was to create long wavy bead, I decided to try it with one colour, just to see if it works. Process was very interesting. I was curious how durable the big wavy bead will be. I had a surprise, it feels like a piece of leather, very flexible and soft!!! More testing needs to be done, but I feel very good about these long wavy beads.

Black Elephant Liquorice by Kni.Kni.

     Can anyone stop time, days are galloping too fast.