Q&A for How to Make Clay Beads

If you are working with air dry clay, place the beads on a tray, spritz a sheet of plastic wrap with water, then cover the tray with it. Th plastic wrap will try moisture and keep the clay from drying out. If you are working with polymer clay, simply cover it with some plastic wrap, a bowl, a cup, or anything else to keep it dust free.

No. You can use your home oven.

No. Polymer clay does not harden until you bake it. It may become brittle if you do not use it for several years, however.

If you mean mixing color into the clay to make a solid-colored bead, you can--but it will be very messy and the paint may not mix evenly into the clay itself.

Keep a bowl of water next to you, and dampen the clay once you see/feel it becoming dry. You can also keep a spray bottle of water near by and spritz the clay every so often.

Take some more clay, and fill the crack in. Dip your finger in some water, and smooth over the bead to smooth down any seam lines. This is common with many air dry clays.

No. Polymer clay already comes colored. If you want to add designs onto it, wait until after you bake it. Once the beads cool down, you can paint designs on them using acrylic paint.

Yes, because modeling magic clay is air dry clay. Just make sure to read the packaging though, in case it isn't air dry. If it isn't, the packaging will have the baking time on it.