When I saw this set of ocean creature charms, sea glass seemed the natural choice to go with them.

But I didn’t have any sea glass beads, and didn’t feel like going shopping for some. Instead, I made my own.

So today I have two videos for you, one showing how to make the faux sea glass beads and the other showing how to make the bracelet.

The above photo of the far more realistic looking sea glass is what I show how to make in the first video. It has a higher proportion of clay to ink and therefore lets more light shine through, giving a more real sea glass appearance.

If you create something based on these tutorials, please share photos with us on Keepsake Crafts’ Facebook page. You’ll find a special folder, entitled “Your Creations” under “Photos” > “Albums.”

Enjoy the videos and happy creating!

To Make Faux Sea Glass Beads:

• translucent polymer clay
• alcohol inks in colors of your choice (I used Ranger’s Stream and Bottle)
• needle for piercing beads

1. Condition until soft, then roll out 1/8 package (1/4 ounce) translucent clay into a flat sheet. Rub the edge of alcohol ink dropper on the clay, spreading a thin smear of ink an inch or so long.  Allow ink to dry until there are no shiny spots.
2. Repeat for as many colors as you’d like. Each 1/4 ounce will make six or seven beads. (Rubbing alcohol or  Alcohol Blending Solution will remove the color from your hands.)
3. Roll each color of clay into a log and break into pieces the size of the beads you want. Roll each piece into a ball. Use a smooth tool like an acrylic block to slightly flatten each ball from three different directions. This will give each piece a random shape.
4. Pierce each bead with a needle to create the stringing hole.  Accordion fold a piece of cardstock for a baking rack and bake at manufacturer’s recommended temperature for recommended time.

To make bracelet:

Materials:

• 8-10 sea glass (or faux sea glass) beads
• 8-10 ocean theme metal charms
• bracelet with clasp and chunky chain (my bracelet chain has 16 links)
• head pins
• 3mm spacer beads
• jump rings

Tools:

• chain nose pliers
• round nose pliers
• wire cutters

1. Onto a head pin string a spacer bead, a sea glass bead and another spacer bead. Use chain nose pliers to grasp wire just at point where it exits last bead.  Bend wire at 90° angle.  Grasp bend with round nose pliers and wrap wire around pliers as far as possible to start to make a loop.  Reposition pliers to finish loop.  Slightly twist loop open and insert a link of bracelet chain. Close loop and hold with chain nose pliers. Use another pair of chain nose to wrap remaining wire around wire below 90° bend. Use wire cutters to trim, if necessary. Use chain nose pliers to tuck in end.
2. Repeat to add a sea glass bead dangle to every other link of bracelet chain.
3. Arrange ocean creature charms between sea glass on bracelet in the order you’d like. Attach each to a link of chain with jump rings.

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