Make a template. Cut out a 1 1⁄4-in. (32 mm) paper circle. Fold it in half, then in half again. Open the circle, and make a mark where the folds intersect. Use a needle tool to pierce the paper at the mark. This is your template for locating the center of your metal clay disks [Photo 1].
Roll a sheet of metal clay. Lightly coat your hands, a plastic roller, a flexible Teflon sheet, a circle template, two small round forms, and a texture sheet with hand balm or olive oil. Roll about 28 g of metal clay to 4 playing cards thick.
Cut out two clay disks. Use a needle tool and a circle template to cut two 1 1⁄4-in. (32 mm) disks of clay from the sheet [Photo 2].
NOTE: Wrap the excess clay tightly in plastic wrap to prevent the clay from drying out. You’ll use this leftover clay to make textured cutouts for your bead.
Mark the center of each disk. Place your template on a clay disk. Insert a toothpick through the hole in the template to make a slight indentation in the clay. Repeat to indent the other clay disk.