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Fimo Fun: How to Make Fimo Beads
Here's a fun and easy crafting project you can enjoy with your kids.
With an infinite range of design options available, the art of making
your own Fimo beads is getting lots of buzz in the crafting world.
Suitable for both adults and children (ages 8 and up), working with Fimo
beads is one of those rare activities that can unite generations. And it
can give you whole new way of having fun with your kids.
What are Fimo beads?
Fimo beads are beads that you make out of Fimo polymer clay. Fimo, which
is actually an Eberhard Faber brand name for this type of crafting
material, can be molded into a variety of different creations.
Then you simply bake the clay in your home oven to create a hard,
durable material that you can drill, slice, sand, and paint to achieve
even more creative effects.
Because Fimo is so easy to work with, the modeling compound has become a
popular way to make your own beads for jewelry- making.
Make Your Own Fimo Beads
The process of making Fimo beads is simple. Just pinch off a bit of the
clay, knead it in your hands and then shape it into the form you like.
You can make Fimo beads in a variety of different shapes, using a
variety of techniques and tools. There's no real limit except your
imagination, and you can work with the clay over and over again (until
it has been baked.)
Molding Fimo clay requires firm pressure, but it keeps its shape well
once fixed. It is easiest to work with when it's slightly warm, so if
you are having trouble getting it to cooperate, you may need to move to
a warmer work area or warm up your hands a bit.
Shapes. Rounded beads are simplest for the beginner but you can soon
learn how to make beads that are square, star shaped, heart shaped or
designed to look like tiny animals. Flower shaped Fimo beads are also
very popular.
Colors. To make Fimo beads in different colors, start by choosing from
the numerous colors of Fimo clay that are commercially available.
You can achieve a marbled effect by working with multiple colors at
once.
Once your Fimo creations have been baked, you can paint them with
acrylics or even fingernail polish to give them extra gloss and
sparkle.
Making Holes in Fimo Beads
It's simple to make holes in Fimo beads, so you can thread them together
into bracelets or necklaces or sew them onto clothes. You can drill
holes in the hard beads, once they have been baked. Or you can make
holes in the soft clay before you bake your beads.
A toothpick is perfect for piercing holes through Fimo clay, once the
beads have been shaped. Wiggle the toothpick around to make sure that
the sides of the holes are smooth and bits won't fall down to clog them
during baking.
You can also use a wooden skewer to make holes in your beads. Carefully
push a skewer through the center of your finished bead, being careful
not to change its shape. Fill the skewer with beads (making sure that
they don't touch each other). Then support the skewer on a baking rack
or other oven proof container so the beads don't change shape during
baking. You can bake the beads directly on the skewer.
Baking Your Fimo Creations
You'll need to bake all your Fimo creations to make them hard and shiny
and to ensure that they keep their shape. You can do this in an ordinary
oven on an aluminum or glass sheet, but, again, follow the instructions
on each packet of Fimo to make sure you get the temperature just right.
(If the polymer clay is baked at too high of a temperature, it can emit
dangerous gases.) Your Fimo beads will be hard and ready to string
together into jewelry once the clay is baked and cooled.
Note: The manufacturer recommends this type of polymer modeling
compound for ages 8 and up, with adult supervision, because the use of
an oven is required, and the product should not be ingested.
Once you have the basics down, experiment with different varieties and
brands of polymer clay, each of which has a different level of
malleability. You can also get Fimo clay in a variety of effects, such
as translucent, iridescent, and glow-in-the-dark, to create beads and
jewelry that are truly one-of-a-kind.
Shop:
Fimo Classic:
Fimo Soft:
Fimo Assortment:
Fimo Bead Baking Rack
Fimo Bead Making Tools
Helpful Links:
This is a great Beads Fimo Tutorial
(with how to videos)
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