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Candy is fun, but bad for your teeth and blood sugar. It's also that case than any do-it-your-selfer likes to make things with stuff that is already in the house/garage etc.... Mmmm..... so I was cleaning my craft area and found some of those Makit & Bakit styrene plastic crystals - the kind that you put into metal frames and melt in the oven to make suncatchers. I also had some two part silicone mold putty and some LifeSavers candy. I played around and found a way to make nice 'no-calorie' (= inedible) LifeSaver candy for beads and focal components.
You will need:
* Makit & Bakit high flow styrene plastic crystals see http://craftsuppliesforless.com/kidscraftsupplies_makitbakit.html or type Makit & Bakit in search engine of your choice and you will find lots of sources.
* 2 part silicone mold making compound (needs to be silicone so it can be baked in the oven at 375 F) http://amazingmoldputty.com/ or many other brands available at craft and jewelry supplies
* LifeSavers candy or any other candy you want to copy - it needs to be something with a flat side so you can make an open-faced mold.
* various gauge wire for wire wrap assembly (whatever you have on hand)
* aluminum foil
* baking sheet
* small spoon or plastic straw with the end cut at an angle
* oven - gas or electric - must be radiant heat - NOT a microwave, with an exhaust fan and/or open window nearby (ventillation)
* heat-proof bowl
* heat gun
* wire cutters
* small pliers, round nose, chain nose etc.
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Signing UpStep 1Make your molds
2. Take two equal parts of silicone mold compound (usually they are different colors). Mix until well blended, until only one solid color. Work fast and know how much work time you have, usually 1-3 minutes, but check on your package.
3. Roll into a ball and pat it flat and smooth. Press over the lettered side of the candy. Smooth edges neatly and make them of even thickness. Press putty into the center hole of the LifeSaver. From the back side, make a small cone indentation with a pencil or pen tip. Be careful not to push all the way through - you are just trying to reduce the density of the center part of the mold - I think it helps the mold warm up faster. Flip over and gently press the mold onto a flat surface to form a level bottom.
4. Let sit until putty is set (15-20 depending on brand). Test back of mold by gently pushing a fingernail into the putty - if you can see a fresh indentaion, the putty is not set, so wait 5 minutes and try again. When putty is firm, carfeully rmove the candy and inspect the mold for quality - good letter formation and smooth surface. If you have pockets or wrinkles, make a new mold and discard the defective one (unless you WANT to make deformed LifeSaver shapes).
I'd suggest making at least 3 or 4 molds, or it will take a LONG time to make enough beads.
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