Handmade Jewelry for Kids

Bread-Clay Beads

Let the kids' creativity run wild with these handmade projects using beads, clay, and office supplies. With their new baubles, they'll never have to borrow your jewelry again.
There's no finer necklace for summer than a string of colorful beads. And when you make the beads yourself, they're sure to look especially pretty. Use a mixture of white bread, glue, and a few drops of lemon juice to make a perfect clay that can be colored with acrylic or tempera paint mixed right in.

How to Make Bread-Clay Beads

To make the clay, kids can remove crusts from 3 slices of white bread. Tear bread into small pieces, and place in a bowl. Add 3 tablespoons of white craft glue and 3 drops of lemon juice. Mix it with your hands (apply cold cream to hands first or wear gloves) until it forms a workable ball. Add drops of paint to get the color you like; for multicolored beads, make batches of different colors and press gently together. For flat beads, roll or pat clay into a pancake; cut with a drinking straw or mini cutters (blow the beads out of the straw or cutter to keep from mangling them). Shape spherical beads by hand. Let beads dry 1 1/2 to 2 hours, then make holes: For small holes, string beads onto 18-gauge wire, and leave them there until dry. For big holes, pierce beads with a straw or a chopstick. Let beads dry overnight, and then string.
Thank you MarthaStewart.com.