Anyone else love to play with clay? Jude and I can't get enough of the stuff! We recently made a bunch of polymer clay beads and marbles. The process is simple and rewarding. This is the kind of project that a school aged child can do all on their own, but I dare you not to get in on the fun.
I love that this low stress craft makes it super easy to spend time with your kiddo. You can relax into a comfortable rhythm where your hands are busy but your mind is free to chat. I find Jude and I have the best conversations when we work side by side. In fact for me, that's the best part of making with kids. I love the beautiful beads, but even more I love the connection making them fosters. White clay is chic, blue clay is stunning, but smashed together they become something even more beautiful. The magic is in the togetherness.
DIY Marbled Beads
You'll Need:
- Polymer clay* in at least two colors (Fimo or Sculpey brands work great)
- Toothpick
Directions:
- Take two small piece of clay and roll them into "snakes"
- Swirl the snakes together
- Smash the clay against a smooth surface and smear it out with the palm of your hand or fingertip.
- Roll your clay into the shape you want for your bead.
- Stab a toothpick through the center.
- Bake according to your clay's instructions, until the beads are no longer pliable. For us that was 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes.
- String and enjoy!!
Jude also made several "marbles" simply by forgoing the toothpick step. Both boys had so much fun rolling the marbles as they wonkily made their way across the floor. It turns out it's really fun to have a trick marble that could voluntarily hang a hard right at any moment. While the boys played with their marbles I made a simple necklace that I've been wearing ever since!
Happy Making!
* This post contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase on Amazon.com after clicking I will receive a tiny commission, thank you so much for your support!