Sculpey Soufflé™ Thistle Multi Bead Bracelet

Getting Started:

Please make sure your work area is covered and you are not working on an unprotected surface. We recommend working on the Sculpey® Oven
Safe Work Mat, wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Uncured
clay may damage unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Be sure to
cover your crafting area appropriately.

Start with clean hands, unwrap and knead clay until soft and smooth, or condition by running clay though a Pasta Machine. We recommend using a designated machine for clay purposes only. When working with multiple colors, clean hands with soap and water or baby wipes (we have found that baby wipes work best) before switching colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces firmly together.  Wash hands
after use.

Baking (also called Curing):

Begin by preheating oven to 275 °F (130 °C). After you are done creating; for best results bake clay on an oven-proof surface such as metal, aluminum foil, an index card or the Sculpey® Oven Safe Work Mat at 275°F (130 °C) for 30 minutes per ¼" (6 mm) of thickness according to package directions. Oven safe glass or ceramic
surfaces are also acceptable for baking; however please note that the baking
times may take longer as the glass or ceramic surfaces take longer to heat
up. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE
OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME.

Let’s start by making the Tube Beads and the Heishi Beads first. They are very similar in the way they are made. Roll 1/8 bar Antique Gold into a rope about 1/4” thick. Roll 1/16 bar Thistle into a rope that is just a little thinner than the Antique Gold rope. Making them different diameters will add more interest to the finished bracelet.

Pierce the Thistle rope through the long way with the small Etch ‘n’ Pearl.

Roll the Thistle clay on the Etch ‘n’ Pearl between your hand and the work surface to smooth it.

What we are going for is an evenly sized rope of clay on the tool. It’s okay if the ends are kind of wonky.

Repeat Steps 3-5 with the Antique Gold rope. You can put the Antique Gold on the medium Etch ‘n’ Pearl.

Here’s a look at both ropes. The Antique Gold is still a bit thicker than the Thistle. Bake both clay ropes on the tools and allow to cool completely before handling. By baking the clay on the tool, the hole in the beads will be built in. Believe it or not, we will slice the beads after baking.

While the Tube Beads and Heishi Beads are baking we can make a Lentil Bead.

Form a 3/4” ball that is half Thistle and half Ivory.

Partially knead to marble the colors together but don’t mix completely.

Place the bead under the Lentil Bead Maker. To make a Lentil Bead, swirl the Lentil Bead Maker over the clay ball, pressing it to the work surface. Rotate the tool around in circles keeping the ball in the center of the tool and moving the ball in circles between the tool and the work surface.

The first thing you will notice is that the ball will turn into a bi-cone bead with a tip on the top and a tip on the bottom. If the bi-cone has not formed after a few spirals, try applying more pressure from the tool. Always keep the tool level to the work surface.

Here’s a look at the bi-cone bead.

Once the bi-cone has formed, keep swirling the bead between the tool and the work surface. Once the clay has swirled (forming a kind of ocean wave look), make smaller and smaller swirls and then the bi-cone will change to a lentil shape. This is a tricky technique and it required me to practice it over and over until I finally could consistently make lentil beads.

Use the Mini Needle Tool to pierce the bead in whatever way you prefer. I pierced this particular bead at and angle from back to front.

For the Cube Bead, form a ball of White about 3/4” in diameter.

Press down on the top with the Lentil Bead Maker.  Pushing down from the top will make both the top and the bottom flat.

Turn the bead and press again making a right-angle side. Repeat for all sides making a cube.

Cut up little bits of Black using the Mini Clay Blade.

Push the little bits all over the White cube.

Use the Lentil Bead Maker again to help press the bits into the White cube until they are level from all sides. Pierce the cube with the Mini Needle Tool. Bake the Cube and the Lentil following the baking instructions for Soufflé™. Allow to cool completely before handling.

Here’s a look at our collection of baked items for making beads.

Use the Mini Blade to slice the Antique Gold rope and the Thistle rope into very thin Heishi Beads. Be careful when slicing the baked clay into beads because the tiny Heishi beads can go flying once released from the tube. Also slice off an Antique Gold Tube Bead that is 3/4” to 1” long.

String onto a double cord of stretchy bead cord filling in with coordinating seed beads.