How to Make a Bead Garland Using a Melon Baller

Using a melon baller to make clay beads for home decor.

Supplies. I purchase air dry clay on Amazon, but you can find it in most craft stores. The clay is white and easy to work with. It hardens as it dries. No baking or firing the clay is necessary. The other supplies I gathered are:

• Dental floss
• Needle to string the beads
• Two buttons to add to the ends {they hold the beads on the floss}
• Wood skewer
• Craft paints and small brush
• Melon baller {this helps make the balls approximately the same size

Why the melon baller helps. I started cutting squares from the clay, but found the balls were different sizes. Then I use a melon baller to make the beads about the same size. Easier and faster.

Rolling the beads. Then roll the clay in your hands until smooth. It you add a bit of water to your hands the clay will become smoother.

Making the hole. I used wood skewers to make the hole in each bead while the clay is still wet. Let the beads dry over night. They will shrink and the hole becomes smaller as the clay dries.

Painting the beads. I grab two colors of craft paint in my favorite colors. I used a soft peach and soft gray. Tip: Add a small amount of paint in a bowl. Then using the wood skewer, roll the beads in the paint. I painted 9 beads peach and 9 gray leaving 9 white.

Threading the garland. I started with a button and threaded the floss through the button several times. Then made a knot. I added a white, then gray, then peach, then white...continuing until I ran outta beads.

Can you tell I didn't use water on my hands when rolling the balls. I wanted a rustic "Flintstones" look to my garland. It's heavy and I enjoy draping it around my home decor.