| Animal beads look so cute, isn't it? Why not try | | | | putting it into the mold. |
| making some of them? Making animal beads with | | | | - Now press the clay firmly into the mold. Take |
| polymer clay is so simple and fun that you'll just | | | | care not to press so hard that the bottom gets |
| love it! It's very easy to mold polymer clay just | | | | flattened. |
| by pressing and giving shape with hands. So, | | | | - Fill up the mold until the clay gets even at the |
| practically you can make any kind of animal shape | | | | top edges and flat all the way across. |
| having howsoever complex structure. After all, | | | | - Now, turn the mold over and slowly bend the |
| not all animals are straight lines and circles! If you | | | | rubber to release the animal shaped clay. If you |
| wonder how perfectly will you be able to mold | | | | see any rough edges, smooth them with fingers. |
| the clay to give a perfect shape to your bead, | | | | - With the help of a bead reamer tool or a thin |
| you have other option too- you can use a press | | | | piece of wire, drill a hole through your animal bead |
| mold to give shape of an animal to your bead. | | | | shape. If the beads are too soft to make a hole, |
| How to Make Animal Bead with Press Mold | | | | place them on a piece of wax paper and put |
| Get some soft polymer clay, animal shaped clay | | | | them in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. |
| molds (you'll find them in any crafts store), bead | | | | - After making hole, put your animal beads on a |
| reamer tool, piece of cardboard, baking tray, | | | | piece of cardboard on the baking tray and set |
| varnish, paint. Now you are ready to make animal | | | | your oven. To know at what temperature and |
| beads with your polymer clay. | | | | for how much time you have to bake your |
| - If your polymer clay is hard, take a small portion | | | | beads, check the package of polymer clay as |
| of it and make it soft (softening of clay is called | | | | each brand of clay is different. Ensure that the |
| "conditioning" the clay). To soften polymer clay | | | | room is well ventilated. |
| rub it within hands. The warmth of hands and a | | | | - When you finish with baking, let your animal |
| little stretching and working with the clay will | | | | beads cool completely. |
| make it soft enough to place it in the mold for | | | | - Once the beads have cooled down, give your |
| giving desirable animal shape. | | | | choice of finishing to them. You can varnish, paint |
| - If you want a single color animal bead, put the | | | | or glaze them. You can even use a fine-grain |
| clay into the animal shaped mold. However, if you | | | | sandpaper to give some texture to your animal |
| want multiple colored animal beads, you have to | | | | beads. |
| mix required number of colorful clay before | | | | |