Polymer Clay Tutorial | Anjou Pear Fruit Beads for Summer Jewelry
Vid #112: Miniature Fruit Jewelry Designs – A Popular Trend:
Here is a realistic looking fruit shaped bead, perfect for Summer jewelry projects such as pendants, beads and charms. It was created using a simple technique with translucent polymer clay, embossing powder and alcohol ink.
This Anjou Pear Bead video tutorial will be posted in the Polymer Clay Library on Friday, June 26th, 2009 [Volume 013-4].
Embossing powder is used extensively by scrapbook'rs. It adheres to ink when rubber stamped, and becomes a raised image when warmed with a heat gun. It can also be combined with polymer clay to produce some interesting effects
I came up with this Anjou Pear Bead project by combining translucent polymer clay and dark green embossing powder. This combination creates an interesting speckled finish which looks very much like the skin of a real pear. Alcohol ink is then used to stain the bead to make it appear as though it is ripening.
With fruit jewelry themes gaining in popularity these days (do a search at Etsy and you will see), I think you'll enjoy making these wonderful little focal beads.
The full version of the Volume-013-4 video will be available in the library on Friday (June 26). But further down on this page is a little sneak peak clip for you to watch right now if you like.
Here's That "Link Below" Referred To at End of the Video
>> Polymer Clay Tutorials <<
The full version of the "Pear Bead" preview video shown above, is available for purchase at my Polymer Clay Bead Making Videos Library in the Volume-013 Back Issue Package.
The following topics are covered in this "Anjou Pear Bead" video:
- How to combine Embossing powder, translucent clay and alcohol ink to make this unique pear shaped bead.
- Discussion about which brand of translucent clay to use if you want to avoid plaquing effects or crazing.
- A quick and easy technique for shaping this bead.
- How to stain your Anjou Pear so that it looks like a ripening piece of fruit that was freshly picked from a tree.
- Sanding and polishing tips so your bead ends up with a professional looking finish.
Filed Under: 05: Techniques, 06: Bead Shapes, 15: Promotions by Comment. 
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Comments on Polymer Clay Tutorial | Anjou Pear Fruit Beads for Summer Jewelry
3:29 am
Wow! It really looks like a real pear! Beautiful bead!
4:07 am
Pretty!! looking forward to the how-to!!
7:29 am
Hi Cindy,
When do we eat? Anjou pears are my favorite! Great job!!
MJ
7:36 am
Beautiful! Can't wait til Friday!
**PHOTO ADDED: Elizabeth's adorable polymer clay pears and 'pearlets', along with some ideas on how to use her beads in some jewelry projects, have been posted in a Spotlight Article at this link: Pear Fruit Beads
10:27 am
I love fruit jewelry! Can't wait til Friday!
12:23 pm
Oh, oh, this is so adorable. How fun! Once we know the technique, we could do apples to as they are similair. What else is similair coloring and texture you guys? Monday and my brain isn't working yet.
10:39 am
This looks like fun. The previews look good enough to eat. :-) Looking forward to Friday's video.
5:07 am
Oh yummy – they do look good, can't wait – thanks Cindy!
12:51 pm
Sweet! can't wait.
1:24 pm
Friday can't come quick enough!! Thanks Cindy!!
7:06 am
Great tutorial Cindy, many thanks for taking the time and sharing!
9:46 am
I love these beads!!!! Of course, this means you will follow up by showing us how to make a series of fruit on the same scale, right? LOL!
5:07 pm
LOVE IT!!! Thank you Cindy. Another winning video tutorial! Can't wait to start making pears and apples!
4:15 am
What a fun simple, but adorable tutorial. I can picture a bunch of these charms in different fruits on a bracelet. Very fun.
Kriss
6:17 pm
Glad you guys liked it! :-)
10:35 am
I have been using embossing powders in poly clay for a while, and I prefer the fine powder as opposed to the course blends. I really love the look in a translucent clay as the powder almost has a suspended look, great for duplicating a stone look such as granite, marble, etc. Thanks for the tutorial Cindy, as usual, you have sparked the creativity bug in me again, been a while since I have worked with my clay. This will certainly get me back to making some beads.
Rob
5:22 pm
It's great to have you back Rob! :-)
12:34 pm
sanding some beauties now, this is the one thing I hate to do, but the results are well worth it. will post some pics when complete. good to be back cindy!
10:13 am
Can't wait to see them Rob! So glad you are back!
4:37 pm
**PHOTOS ADDED: Some project pictures have just been added to a Spotlight Feature showcasing Loretta Carstensen, a member who is very much appreciated here at this supportive polymer clay community. Click on the "Pear Earrings" link by my name to have a look.