Make a statement with Ellen Kharade's bright polymer clay charm beads

What you need...

• BEADS: Crystals, flat back, 3mm, selection of pink shades
  
  FINDINGS: Polymer clay, Fimo Soft: white (0); raspberry (22); cherry (26); Indian red (24); lavender (62); tangerine (42); plum (63), Cord, leather, brown, thick, 2mm x 70cm, Chain, silver-plated, 3.5cm, Keyring fob, Head pins, silver-plated, Bead sleeves, silverplated x 17 pairs, Jump rings: 3mm; thick, 5mm, Clasps, 9mm, sterling silver (NVF2 L09) x 2, End caps, fold over, 3mm, sterling silver (NVO 216)
  
  TOOLS: Pliers: round-nosed; flat-nosed, Scissors, sharp, Skewers, metal, tapered, Cutter, blossom, Glitter (optional)
  

instructions

1. Necklace - 1. Choose a clay shade or create a mix, then roll into a small ball, roughly 6mm in diameter. Gently push a tapered metal skewer through one side of the ball and out through the other (Fig.1).
   
   2. Continue pushing the skewer through until the hole is large enough to take a bead sleeve. Take your time with this process so as not to distort the shape of the bead. If the clay is too soft, pop it into the fridge for half an hour to firm up before trying again. Once the hole is big enough, slip a bead sleeve into both ends and gently re-shape with your fingers (Fig.2).
   
   3. Leave the bead on the skewer to add the decoration. Mix up more clay and pinch off four small evenly sized balls. To make a petal, roll one of the balls between your fingers, flatten it and pinch into a point. Carefully position the petal onthe side of the bead (Fig.3), make three more petals in the same way and position them to complete the flower motif.
   
   4. Roll out a small ball of clay and position in the centre of the flower (Fig.4). On the opposite side of the bead add another flower as before. Roll out more small balls of clay and position in between the flowers (Fig.5). Make up another seven beads in the same way, varying the colours and surface decorations, as shown. Leave on the skewers and bake for 20 minutes at 110°C.
   
   5. Condition a ball of Indian red clay and roll into a long sausage, then cut into eight evenly sized pieces, about 5mm. Roll the pieces into balls and make a hole through the centres using the skewer. Remember to make the holes large enough to thread a 2mm diameter length of leather cord through. Bake for 15 minutes at 110°C.
   
   6. Roll out a ball of lavender clay measuring roughly 2cm in diameter and make a pilot hole through the centre using a needle, then push a long head pin through. Mix up some pale pink clay and pinch off four evenly sized pieces, form them into petals and arrange on the ball of clay.
   
   7. Roll out a small ball of white clay and place in the centre of the flower. Make up another flower and arrange on the opposite side of the ball. Add a row of white balls in between the flowers and decorate with pink flat back crystals. Roll out a white ball of clay and thread onto the head pin. Bake the ball for 30 minutes at 110°C.
   
   8. Trim the head pin to size and turn into a neat loop, then attach to a small jump ring. Cut 46cm of leather cord and attach a fold-over end cap at one end. Thread on a red bead and a decorative bead, then repeat three more times. Thread the large decorative ball onto the middle of the cord followed by the remainder of the beads. Slip the other end of the cord into a cap and add jump rings to either end, plus a clasp.
   

2. Make it yours - For ease, make up all of the beads at the same time and leave them to firm up in the fridge for half an hour before decorating.