Turn a common, inexpensive toy into a glittery jewelry element when you make fried marbles. Impressive to see but simple to make, these beads are perfect for a simple cord or chain, or you can string them together for a more elaborate design.
Frying the Marbles
Despite their greasy name, the marbles are baked in the oven, not actually fried.
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Things You'll Need
Clear marbles
Baking sheet
Safety goggles
Oven mitts or heavy potholders
Metal bowl
Ice
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2
Spread the marbles on the baking sheet. You can also use a pie tin, cake pan or any other oven-safe pan -- as long as it has sides.
Step 3
Place the sheet in the oven and bake the marbles for 20 minutes.
Step 4
Fill the bowl with ice and water, leaving enough space for the marbles.
Step 5
Don your safety goggles and oven mitts.
Warning
- Do not attempt this project without safety goggles; the glass can explode.
- Also, the marbles will be very hot, so be sure that you use heavy mitts or potholders to avoid serious burns.
Step 6
Pour the marbles into the ice-water, standing back in case of exploding glass.
Step 7
Leave the marbles in the icy water until they are completely cooled, at least 10 minutes, before removing them and drying them off.
Assembling the Jewelry
If you want to include more than one marble for each piece of jewelry, repeat the steps to make them into beads and then join them with jump rings or spacer beads.
Things You'll Need
Bead cap (2 for each bead, if you are stringing them together)
Head pin
Chain-nosed pliers
Side cutters
Jeweler’s glue
Jump ring
Cord, ribbon or chain
Step 1
Insert a headpin through the hole in the bead cap, with the head inside the cap.
Step 2
Make a wrapped loop on top of the cap and cut off the excess wire of the headpin.
Step 3
Fill the bead cap with glue and press it to the marble, holding it until the glue sets enough to hold the bead in place. Allow the glue to dry completely.
Step 4
Add a jump ring to the loop at the top of the bead. This will allow it to hang straight.
Step 5
Thread the cord, ribbon or chain through the jump ring.
Tip
- Use solid round or flat marbles. Two-colored or cat's-eye marbles may split rather than crackling. Opaque marbles will crackle, but you won’t be able to see the results. Use clear marbles only.
- Glue a wire bail to the bead if you don’t want to use a bead cap. Buy commercially made bails or make your bail or wire cage.
- If you have leftover marbles, place them in a clear glass jar or vase; add water and your favorite seasonal blooms.