I always seem to be the parent hanging around at the Play Dough table at playgroup. Long after my child has moved onto another activity.
Play Dough will be the next Colouring-In-For-Adults craze. You heard it here first.
These DIY Clay Bead Necklaces allow you to indulge your inner-kid Play Dough desires, in a grown-up kinda way.
I love a project that requires minimal skill-set but delivers awesome results!

You will need:

• Oven-bake clay. I use Sculpey.
• Sharp implements. There are fancy (proper) instruments that you can use, but I’m all for making do with what you have at home.
  A knife for cutting clay; a skewer for making holes in your beads; any object you like for marking your clay (if you so wish.)
• A place mat to roll on.
• I use twine and cord to string my necklaces. You can go all fancy and use chain.
• A baking tray lined with baking paper.

As you can see above, the Sculpey blocks are divided into 4 rows.
I then cut the rows into thirds.
Take a third and roll it between your palms.
With not too much effort, you will get a nice sphere.

With the purple bead, I just used the tip of the knife to create those markings.
With the pink bead, I used the head of the pin pictured.

If you want to get funky, roll your little square of clay into a log/worm*.
Roll another colour in the same way.
Entwine the two logs/worms then roll it back and forth.
Fold the log/worm in two. Roll back and forth.
If you keep folding the log/worm in half, the colours will continue to combine. The strength of some colours may dilute slightly.
That pink and silver log/worm created that nice sphere above.
I use a skewer to create a hole through the middle of the bead.

* I’m sure there is a fancy-schmancy term for log/worm. I just call it how I see it.

Experiment! I created a tricolour log/worm.
I delicately pushed a skewer through the middle.
Removing the skewer gently, I then turned my log/worm into a smile.
This bead is featured in the top picture. It looks so happy, no?!

To create circular discs, press a ball of clay gently under a jar.
Pop your baking tray laden with beads into the oven (as per instructions on packaging.)

Once baked and cooled, string them onto your cord.
And there you have it- a necklace!

This really is a project that is limited only by your imagination.

Here are some more creations to get the inspiration flowing…

If you engage in some quality adult Play Dough time, tag your necklace pics with #thiscreativeday on Insty or upload a pic to my FB page.
Can’t wait to see your creations!