Asian Bead Bracelet
Design by Lynn B. Krucke
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 Materials:
- Premo White
5001 and a "pinch" of Ecru 5093
- Chinese calligraphy
rubber stamp (Stamp Francisco, Hero Arts) or stamp of your choice)
- Memories dye
based ink pad (black)
- Ruler
- Sculpey
Super Slicer
- Needle tool
or wooden skewer
- Waxed paper
- Paintbrush
- Burnt umber
acrylic paint
- Cotton rag
- Elastic cording
- Spacer beads
- Crimp beads
- Pliers
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Directions: |
| Condition clay
by kneading and rolling in your hands until clay is soft and pliable.
Mix a small amount of ecru clay thoroughly into the white clay. |
Roll clay into a log approximately 3/4 inches in diameter. Cut one inch
pieces from this log for the beads. |
Roll each one inch section into a ball. Don't aim for perfection here
-- the idea is that these beads will look very old and hand made! |
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Using the skewer or needle tool, make a hole in the first round bead.
Pierce the clay from one side, going through to the other side without
exiting. Remove needle tool and go in from the other side to ensure
that holes are neat, with no rough edges.
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Flatten bead
to create an oval, or "lozenge" shaped bead.
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With bead still
on skewer or needle tool, ink rubber stamp with Memories ink and place
stamp face up on work surface.
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Press bead firmly but gently onto stamp. Turn the bead over and repeat.
Placing a piece of waxed paper between your fingers and the bead will
prevent smearing of the ink, as well as fingerprints.
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Remove bead from
needle tool and place on baking tray. Repeat until you have enough
beads for the bracelet.
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Bake beads at
275 degrees F in an oven that has been calibrated for temperature
accuracy for 30 minutes per 1/4" of thickness. Remove from oven and
cool.
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Brush each bead with a coat of burnt umber acrylic paint, working
the paint into the crevices of the stamped images. Wipe paint away
before it dries. Repeat if desired for a more "antiqued" look.
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Starting with
a crimp bead, string beads onto elastic cording, adding a spacer bead
between each larger bead.
 
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Once stringing
is complete, bring last end of cording through crimp bead (in the
opposite direction). Pull taut. Squeeze crimp bead with pliers to
close it. Trim ends and enjoy!
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