Sculpey

[drowningmermaid.livejournal.com]

I'm in the process of making some summertime jewelry and I made a watermelon cane out of sculpey. When I cut it with a knife, it obviously squished beyond repair. Then I used some monofilament and it worked a bit better, but it was still a little bit squished at the part that touched the table.

What's the secret to getting perfectly round beads off a polymer clay cane?
And what do you do with your leftovers at the ends? I mushed mine up into strange designs and baked them for the fun of it. I may be able to get some good pendants out of them.

Pics soon when I decide how to put them all together.
I just want the advice now because I'm thinking of starting up some more canes in the next few days.

What are some more simple designs I can practice my cane making with?