Clay Beads

What You Need:

• Toothpicks
• Polymer baking clay, such as Sculpey, Kato or Fimo
• Baking Tray
• Parchment Paper

What You Do:

1. Help your child condition the polymer clay by kneading and squeezing it to make it malleable and easier for little fingers to stretch.
2. Have your child warm the clay between her fingers so it'll be easier to mold.
3. She can now pinch off a piece of clay and roll it between a flat surface and the palm of her hand, or between both of her hands to create a bead about 1/4" in diameter.
4. Have her push a toothpick through the bead to create a hole for stringing it later.
5. Encourage her to mix and blend colors, alter the shapes by making them longer, or even twisting them as she continues creating her customized beads.
6. Place the beads on the pan and follow the baking instructions.
7. Once they cool down, she can string them however she likes!

Helpful Tip: Pushing the toothpick in halfway, then removing it and pushing it halfway from the other side, will help to give an even hole through the entire bead.