Clay Beads
Clay Beads
Applications of Precious Metal Clay (PMC)
Precious Metal Clay (PMC) made its first appearance in the 1990's and has become popular in jewellery making. The clay is a combination of binders and tiny particles of precious metal suspended in the clay.
Once heated, the binders burn off, allowing the particles of metal to combine and resulting in a solid metal piece. The most common type of PMC is silver clay, although gold and even bronze clays are available (the gold clay being very expensive).
This remarkable material means that you can create solid silver or gold items of jewellery as easy as using any other form of modelling clay. (Do be aware, however, that there is around a 10-15% shrinkage rate during firing.) The possibilities with PMC are only limited by your imagination.
The surface of PMC accepts impressions extremely well, allowing you to give your pieces texture and patterns. By using patterned rollers or any item that comes to hand such as lace, leaves or even bark, you can create a textured surface in silver or other metals that would be difficult to replicate without the use of specialist equipment. Once the clay has been fired and finished, the pattern will be clearly visible on the surface. This is a perfect way of making interesting and unique beads, for example, or for creating a patterned finding for a broach.
With practice and skill, PMC can be utilised in fine work such as filigree or cloisonné, but do remember that the PMC will shrink during firing, so be sure to allow for this in the initial stages.
One of the easiest pieces of jewellery to make with PMC is a bangle. By simply rolling out the clay, placing your design on the surface and joining the ends, a beautiful silver bracelet can be produced in a very short time. Once the clay has been fired, it can then be polished and finished to produce something that will complement any outfit.
PMC is most often used to produce Silver Beads, again lending itself perfectly to this application. The blank shapes can be easily produced by hand, or, if you want to add a more complex design, by using a mould. Once the basic form has been made, it is simply a matter of placing a hole through the bead and firing. The temperature for firing PMC has to be carefully monitored though - too low and the binders will not completely burn off, leaving the finished item vulnerable to breaking or crumbling, too high and the metal will blob, leaving you with an ingot and nothing more. The usual firing temperature of PMC is 1500 degrees F, so the use of a kiln, which will enable the user to monitor the temperature closely, is advisable.
PMC has proved to be so popular in jewellery making that a number of guilds and organisations have developed around its use. The PMC Guild has a wealth of information, video clips and project ideas available on its website to help you get started, including tips on how to work with this versatile material and incorporate it into your jewellery making.
About the Author
Adam Hunter - E-commerce Marketing Manager of cooksongold.com. Cookson Precious Metals offer a choice of jewellery making supplies from over 10,000 products including gold and silver wire, jewellery findings, tools,
precious metal clay (PMC)
and gold and silver sheet. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Adam Hunter E-commerce Marketing Manager Tel(DDI): +44 (0) 121 212 6491 E-mail: adam.hunter@cooksongold.com
 |
 30 Pcs mixed Polymer Clay Loose Lily Flowers Spacer Beads Findings 5 x 12mm R67 $2.98 Time Remaining: 9d 9h 2m Buy It Now for only: $2.98 |
 Free ship 15pcs mixed clay butterfly Spacer Beads 8mm $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1h 41m |
 28x 110714 ON SALE Assorted Flowers FIMO Polymer Clay Bead 20mm FREE SHIPPING $2.26 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 24m |
 2 pcs baby heads FIMO Polymer Clay Beads 5x16mm 2RT014 $0.99 Time Remaining: 45m |
 100 pcs Mixed Oblate Fimo Polymer Clay Animals Beads 10x10mm 10x9mm $2.45 Time Remaining: 13d 7h 11m Buy It Now for only: $2.45 |
 20Pcs Pink Memory Fimo Polymer Clay Flower Beads 15MM 110919 $3.48 Time Remaining: 1h 28m |
 60x Mixed Polymer Fimo Clay Spacer Charms Beads 110491 $4.74 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 1h 40m |
 50x New Black Rose FIMO Polymer Clay Stick on Beads 110718 $4.20 Time Remaining: 25d 7h 20m Buy It Now for only: $4.20 |
 free ship 10pcs mixed Clay Spacer Bead 12mm P0144A $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 10h 2m |
 Magenta Dress Dairy Clay Bead Scrapbook Miniature Bow Center Embellishment $8.99 Time Remaining: 1d 21h 57m |
 50 PCS Mixed Color Fimo Polymer Clay Cross Beads 30x25mm $6.99 Time Remaining: 7h 30m |
 12x 110538+ FREE SHIPPING New Charms Black Rose Flower 40mm Polymer Clay Beads $4.38 Time Remaining: 8d 12h 29m Buy It Now for only: $4.38 |
 lesale 15pcs Cute Fimo Ceramic Clay Beads 40MM B1107 $5.99 Time Remaining: 6h 38m |
 50 PCS Mixed Color Fimo Polymer Clay Colorful Rose Hold Flower Beads 20mm $6.99 Time Remaining: 6h 30m |
 150pcs mixed clay Flower Bead spacer 8mm S0127B $4.99 Time Remaining: 26d 19h 11m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 50 PCS Mixed Color Fimo Polymer Clay Colorful Rose Hold Flower Beads 15mm $5.99 Time Remaining: 6h 49m |
 50 PCS Mixed Color Fimo Polymer Clay Flower Beads 15mm $4.99 Time Remaining: 7h 12m |
 30 PCS Mixed Color Fimo Polymer Clay Flower Beads 30mm $7.49 Time Remaining: 7h 51m |
 30x 15mm Flowers Fimo Polymer Clay Beads Free P 110653 $3.56 Time Remaining: 25d 14h 36m Buy It Now for only: $3.56 |
 2 Vintage Handmade Multi Color Clay Ceramic Beads $2.99 Time Remaining: 5h 42m |
 50 HOT Mixed Bear Paw Fimo Polymer Clay Beads 15mm B853 $5.98 Time Remaining: 8h 21m |
 60x Fruit FIMO Polymer Clay Beads 10mm 110497 FREE PP $2.56 Time Remaining: 23d 13h 39m Buy It Now for only: $2.56 |
 30 PCS Mixed Color Fimo Polymer Clay Flower Beads 30mm $5.49 Time Remaining: 9h 9m |
 15pcs Fimo Flowers Ceramic Polymer Clay Beads Fit Bracelet B1112 $5.49 Time Remaining: 8h 5m |
 A Cape Charles Garden Polymer Clay Bead Set By Allison Create Beautiful Jewelry $7.95 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 14m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 20 Mixed Color Fimo Polymer Clay Plumeria Flower DIY Charms Beads 20mm free ship $2.88 Time Remaining: 4d 9h 46m Buy It Now for only: $2.88 |
 50 PCS Mixed Color Fimo Polymer Clay Flower Beads 20mm $5.99 Time Remaining: 8h 29m |
 30 PCS Pick Color Polymer Clay Fimo White Petals Plumeria Flower Beads 30mm $5.49 Time Remaining: 8h 49m |
 100 PCS Mixed Color Fimo Polymer Clay Flower Beads 30mm $19.49 Time Remaining: 23d 4h 53m Buy It Now for only: $19.49 |
 30 PCS Mixed Color Fimo Polymer Clay Flower Beads 30mm $5.49 Time Remaining: 9h 49m |
 30 PCS Mixed Color Fimo Polymer Clay Flower Beads 25mm $4.99 Time Remaining: 9h 29m |
 Wholesale 15pcs 40MM Fimo POLYMER Clay Bead Fit Bracelet B1106 $5.99 Time Remaining: 10h 55m |
 D Princesses Polymer Clay Bead $4.00 Time Remaining: 25d 23h 42m Buy It Now for only: $4.00 |
 WHOLESALE Craft Beads 30 PCs 20X8MM Handmade Polymer Clay Tube Beads clay075 $0.01 Time Remaining: 6h 12m |
 10pcs mixed clay Flower Bead spacer 12mm P0144 $1.04 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 18h 7m |
 60x Flower FIMO Polymer Clay Bead 12mm 110491 FREE PP $4.27 Time Remaining: 23d 13h 30m Buy It Now for only: $4.27 |
 5Pc Green Polymer Clay Flower Daisy Loose 14mm Beads Finding Spacer Fit Bracelet $1.88 Time Remaining: 3h 4m |
 Red Burgandy Garden Polymer Clay Bead Set By Allison Create Beautiful Jewelry $7.95 Time Remaining: 1d 1h 5m |
 A Daisy Garden Polymer Clay Bead Set By Allison Create Beautiful Jewelry $7.95 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 2m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 30pcs 110335+ FREE SHIPPING Polymer Clay Beads Black Lotus Flowers Charms 25mm $4.28 Time Remaining: 1d 53m Buy It Now for only: $4.28 |
 15 black Fimo Polymer Clay Charms Bead Fit Bracelet 40MM B1104 $5.99 Time Remaining: 9h 52m |
 WHOLESALE Craft Beads 46 PCs 8MM Handmade Polymer Clay Round Beads clay123 $0.95 Time Remaining: 6h 4m |
 |
AMACO Polymer Clay & Craft Oven
List Price:  |
DescriptionThis handy countertop oven is perfect for warming/baking polymer clays or any craft product requiring heat up to 300 degrees fahrenheit or 149 degrees celsius. It includes a 30 minute timer to prevent over-baking and free projects with the instruction book... |
 |
4MM Bead Maker Mold
Sale Price: $25.99 |
DescriptionMake beautiful beads with this silicone mold. May use rolled fondant, rolled buttercream, chocolate paste or any edible clay-like icing. Use luster and pearl dusts and the beads look real! |
 |
Grehom Handmade Bowl: Bowl with beads; Beautiful Gift; Handmade in UK
Sale Price: $75.00 |
 |
Innovations: A Polymer Clay Series - Bead Shapes and Design Volume II with Karen Lewis
Sale Price: $19.50 |
DescriptionVolume II reveals more tips and techniques to use simple canes and scraps resulting in fabulous textured beads including folded beads, carnival beads and lantern beads. |
 |
Mixed-Media: How to Make Polymer Clay Beads by Ronna Sarvas Weltman
List Price: |
DescriptionThis may be more suited to the novice rather than someone more advanced in the crafts. |
 |
PMC Beads
List Price: |
DescriptionPopular author and teacher Tim McCreight has designed five beads to illustrate innovative ways to work with Precious Metal Clay. This is a hybrid, McCeight says. It is not a project tape, but it doesn t limit itself to technique either... |
 |
TIGI Bed Head Men Matte Seperation Work Wax 2.65 oz.
|
 |
Moist Heat Therapy Warming Neck Wrap - 174-101-10
List Price: |
DescriptionSpa Necessities Moist Heat Neck Wrap is a self Hydrating Moist heat wrap. Moist heat adds moisture to the skin and muscle tissue and will be much more penetrating and comfortable than dry heat, especially in dry winter months... |
 |
Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew 3-Way Cleanser, Resurfacing, 5 oz.
Sale Price: $2.75 |
DescriptionUse 3 Ways: 1. daily cleanser; 2 exfoliating scrub; 3. purifying mask. Vitamin B5. Kaolin clay. Micro-beads. This unique cleanser works 3 ways for deeply cleansed, super-smooth and radiant skin. Use either as a dally cleanser, exfoliating scrub or purifying mask... |
 |
Meguiar's NXT Wash & Wax Kit
List Price: |
DescriptionThe Meguiarâs NXT Wash & Wax Kit is a 6-piece collection of the most advanced synthetic formulas on the market today. Youâll have everything you need to keep your vehicleâs exterior looking clean and shiny... |
|
|
Clay Blue Krobo Bead Earrings (Kenya) $17.09 These earrings feature hand-painted clay Krobo beads from Ghana and small accent beads. These lovely handcrafted earrings are made by artisan Paul in Kenya, Africa. |
|
|
Search Press Books 'Polymer Clay Beaded Jewellery' Book $10.86 Learn how to make colorful and unusual beads and turn them into stunning pieces of jewelry with this practical guide. This book lets you explore the wonderful versatility of polymer clay by showing you how to create a range of jewelry. |
|
|
Andes Earth-tone Clay and Thread Mountain Necklace (Chile) $16.49 Add an elegant touch to your wardrobe with handmade jewelry from Chile. This beautiful necklace is made with clay beads and hand-knotted thread in an earth-toned color palette. |
|
|
Base Elements Silver Overlay Large 12.7-mm Adjustable Square Ring Base $5.39 This Base Elements ring base is handmade and perfect for your jewelry design. Use this jewelry base with resins, polymer clay, beads and more to create unique fashions. |
|
|
Base Elements Silver Overlay Adjustable Rectangle Bracelet Base $5.39 This Base Elements bracelet base is handmade and perfect for your jewelry design. Use this jewelry base with resins, polymer clay, beads and more to create unique fashions. |
|
|
Base Elements Silver Overlay 31.77-mm Square Pendant Base $3.36 This Base Elements pendant base is handmade and perfect for your jewelry design. Use this jewelry base with resins, polymer clay, beads and more to create unique fashions. |
|
|
Designer's Deep Welled Square Silver-overlay Ring Base $5.36 Create beautiful jewelry with a designer's silver ring baseJewelry-making accessory offers a deep square well to customizeUse the ring with clay, beads and anything else that will nicely fit and create one-of-a-kind pieces |
|
|
Base Elements Silver Overlay 39.3-mm Circle Pendant Base $5.89 This Base Elements pendant base is handmade and perfect for your jewelry design. Use this jewelry base with resins, polymer clay, beads and more to create unique fashions. |
|
|
Making Polymer Clay Beads $16.31 A comprehensive introduction to the materials, tools, equipment, and techniques used to make unique beads with a variety of shapes, colors, and finishes. The straightforward instructions discuss topics that include conditioning raw clay ... |
|
|
Tasty Trinkets (Paperback) $9.85 Demonstrating the entertaining and simple process for creating food-themed polymer clay beads, this guide also illustrates how to fashion them into attractive accessories. Beginning with advice a... |
|
|
Making Polymer Clay Beads $33.89 A comprehensive introduction to the materials, tools, equipment, and techniques used to make unique beads with a variety of shapes, colors, and finishes. The straightforward instructions discuss topics that include conditioning raw clay and making simple shapes; producing more complex shapes, such as rounds, canes, and spirals; decorating the beads with foils, powders, and milléfiori; and creating faux effects like ivory, bone, turquoise, marble, and silver. A gallery of beads by internationally renowned artists, hundreds of step-by-step photographs of new beads designed by the author, and a clay gauge that allows one to estimate how much clay is necessary to make a specific quantity of beads are included, making this a comprehensive guide that will provide inspiration, demonstrate the range of effects that can be achieved in polymer clay, and teach beaders how to incorporate these beads into jewelry designs. |
|
|
Metal Clay Beads $10.93 Create spectacular metal clay beads with inspired shapes and textures Combining metal clay and beading, this unique, comprehensive reference includes 22 outstanding projects. Internationally renowned metalworker and jeweler Barbara Becker shares time-tested, inventive techniques for making exquisite beads from metal clay. She emphasizes the most important advantage of this accessible jewelry-making material creating hollow forms with sophisticated surface textures. An introductory section guides the reader through all the fundamentals, from forming and joining the clay to firing and finishing. Learn how to add gemstones, glass, and other objects; use molded and carved texture plates; etch photos into a surface; develop rich patinas; and more. From the Porcupine Pearl Bead to a Polygon Box Bead, the projects are both timely and sophisticated. Projects below created by artist Barbara Becker Simon. |
|
|
Pugster Rainbow Stripes Polymer Clay Beads $16.32 Ride the latest wave of European bead fashion jewelry with an exquisite Pugster rainbow color stripes polymer clay beads for your lampwork polymer clay beads bracelet. Fashion of white polymer clay in the shape of round and decorated with rainbow color stripes, this bead is a great addition to your European bead bracelet or necklace. Create a traditional European beaded bracelet with many lampwork polymer clay beads, or hang just one or two from a special lampwork polymer clay bead bracelet chain. Either way, your European beads bracelet will be a treasured addition to your jewelry collection. Crafted and authenticated by Pugster, rainbow color stripes polymer clay Beads are available for both wholesale and retail purchase. This bead fits Pandora/troll/chamilia Bracelet. -- All murano glass beads are hand-made by artisans. There will be slight variations on color and positioning of designs. |
|
|
Pugster Green And Blue Patch Polymer Clay Beads $16.32 Ride the latest wave of European bead fashion jewelry with an exquisite Pugster green and blue patch polymer clay beads for your lampwork polymer clay beads bracelet. Fashion of white polymer clay in the shape of round and decorated with green and blue patch, this bead is a great addition to your European bead bracelet or necklace. Create a traditional European beaded bracelet with many lampwork polymer clay beads, or hang just one or two from a special lampwork polymer clay bead bracelet chain. Either way, your European beads bracelet will be a treasured addition to your jewelry collection. Crafted and authenticated by Pugster, green and blue patch polymer clay Beads are available for both wholesale and retail purchase. This bead fits Pandora/troll/chamilia Bracelet. -- All murano glass beads are hand-made by artisans. There will be slight variations on color and positioning of designs. |
|
|
Polymer Clay Beads $18.71 This book is in New - Excellent condition |
|
|
16 pc large handmade clay beads - Pack of 120 $83.35 16 pc large handmade clay beads. Dimensions:. Length: 13. Height: 13. Width: 13 |
|
|
16 pc large handmade clay beads - Pack of 90 $62.52 16 pc large handmade clay beads. Dimensions:. Length: 11. Height: 11. Width: 11 |
|
|
16 pc large handmade clay beads - Pack of 60 $51.88 16 pc large handmade clay beads. Dimensions:. Length: 10. Height: 10. Width: 10 |
|
|
16 pc large handmade clay beads - Pack of 30 $35.28 16 pc large handmade clay beads. Dimensions:. Length: 8. Height: 8. Width: 8 |
|
|
16 pc large handmade clay beads Pack of 30 $45.36 16 pc large handmade clay beads. Dimensions:. Length: 8. Height: 8. Width: 8 |
|
|
16 pc large handmade clay beads Pack of 60 $66.7 16 pc large handmade clay beads. Dimensions:. Length: 10. Height: 10. Width: 10 |
|
|
16 pc large handmade clay beads Pack of 120 $107.16 16 pc large handmade clay beads. Dimensions:. Length: 13. Height: 13. Width: 13 |
How to Make Polymer Clay Bead Necklaces : How to Add Crystals to Polymer Clay Beads
Tags: Beads, clay, clay beads designs, clay beads for kids, clay beads how to make, clay beads jewelry, clay beads wholesale, crafts, polymer, polymerclay