How to make turquoise beads look like real gemstones… Use Fimo clay:
Some polyclay techniques are just so darn fun.. like making turquoise faux jewelry beads for example. In this project, you’ll need some Fimo or Premo clay; black plus brown acrylic paint; and sand. As you can see in the photo, I’ve made a bracelet, but the following techniques also work great for making necklaces, earrings and brooches too.
One thing about real turquoise is that there are so many variations of color ranging from a soft robin’s egg blue to a rich green-blue. There is also a wide variation for the coarseness of the veining inside the rock. These natural effects can easily be mimicked with the use of some cool polymer clay techniques.
Spider vein turquoise has a fine ‘web’ of blackish veins, whereas other varieties have heavy gold and/or copper colored striations. And some have little to no veining at all.
When creating faux Turquoise, you can mix your Fimo to get exactly the shade you desire. I like to add more than one shade to give the ‘stone’ more depth and character.
To make faux turquoise, blue-green clay is chopped into random sized chunks. This can be done either with a food processor (for clay use only) or it can be done by hand.
The chunks of clay are then ‘tossed’ with some sand mixed with acrylic paint until coated. This paint and sand mixture will become the veins in the Turquoise, so match the paint to the vein color you want.
I usually use a squirt of black and a squirt of raw sienna mixed with the sand, to get the color I like. Gold or copper could work as well.
After the clumps are thoroughly coved in the ‘gritty’ paint, gather your clay together into a ball. By the way, unless you want to be scraping sand and paint from under your nails for the next few weeks, I would suggest using gloves for this stage.
The size of ‘clay ball’ you gather up will depend on what you want to create. If you would like to make a turquoise cane that you can slice and add to pendants and polymer clay mosaics, you can shape this ball into a log of any size.
If you want to make individual beads, you can gather up small balls and shape them into round beads, cube beads or whatever shape you like.
Now at this point you are probably thinking, “What the heck? This looks terrible. I can’t see any Turquoise color at all… just this icky, sandy black paint!” But don’t worry, it will all work out!
Cutting slices from a log made out of this blackened clay will reveal patches of the cool turquoise color separated by fine black veins… just like real turquoise!
For the individual beads you shaped from the black, paint covered clay… they will need to be baked and sanded before you get to see the finished turquoise color again. A course grit abrasive like drywall sandpaper is perfect for getting the outside paint layer off the beads after they have been baked.
If you have no idea about how to use drywall sandpaper with polymer clay, read this article to find out more: How To Sand Polymer Clay Beads
Whether you are making a faux turquoise jewelry bracelet or beautiful stone inlays for a polymer clay mosaic, this cool polymer clay bead making project is sure to please.
Are there any other faux stone techniques you would like to learn in polymer clay? Let me know in the comments section below and I’ll see if I can put an article or video together for you.
Cindy’s last post..Memorial Jewelry – How To Make Rose Petal Beads with Polymer Clay
Using sand with the paint and adding to polymer clay is an interesting take on making faux turquoise beads. I’ve tried other methods, so I’ll have to try that – as soon as I find some sand!
Yeah Freda the sand gives it a cool grainy texture in the veins, much like the real thing. Way more realistic that way! The ones above were made with sand that a good friend brought back from a vacation! Makes the beads even more special to me!
Cindy Lietz’s last blog post..Memorial Jewelry – How To Make Rose Petal Beads with Polymer Clay
I have used some of the metalic powders in making faux jade and twisting the clay to manipulate the powder into what looks like a vein. It turned out looking really good!
Great idea Diana! I’ll have to give that a try… bet it is effective!
Sounds like a great idea, I must give that a try sometime! Although, doesn’t anything happen to the acrylic paint while it’s in the oven?
Nope. The acrylic paint seems to be fine at the low temp the clay bakes at Nathalie, as long as it is dry before baking. Wet paint can steam and cause bubbles. Hope that answers your question.
Hi Cindy:
Wanted to let you know that that the Polymer Clay Bead Making for Beginners Course, was a good place for me to start. As I know very little about clay. Actually I had become interested in the silver clay, from a demo that I had seen some time ago. But the cost was not within my means at the time. Then I found your site and was hooked.
I have done several pendents, Lentil beads, a spiral cane and some fabric. OH, I also made some turquoise beads which I still have to sand the paint off, I am thinking that I will set up the rock tumbler and try and get a better start in them. My daughter actually said they looked like turquoise.
I did really have to refrain myself in the beginning to start with the simple beads and canes. As I am one that wants to start with the hard stuff first.
The bonus videos I thought are very informative and necessary for the beginner I have been watching the videos several time. Every time I watch the videos I pick up on something I missed. I try and control my self by looking for tools and other necessity.
I went to three different hobbies stores today looking for the Etch’n Pearl tools, but still did not find them. I know I can find them on line I just hate to pay shipping.
Thank you for the videos.
Barb Como
Barb,
Thanks so much for taking the time to write those very kind words. Sharing feedback like this really gives others great insight about what they can expect from the video tutorials. I truly appreciate your help.
Very much looking forward to hearing more about how your beads are coming along. Be sure to share your stories and/or ask questions here at the blog if you need assistance with anything.
~Cindy
Hi Dixie Ann,
Sorry for the delay in thanking you. I had already looked into all the places you mentioned, and found no one who made such a small circle. I was wondering if Cindy remembered where she bought her’s.
Thank you again
Sandy
how can I achieve color variations in turquoise bead making?
Hi Ginger, it is pretty easy, you just mix up different shades of turquoise and add it to the copped mixture before adding the paint. Try adding bits of green to some of the turquoise and bits of blue, brown, black, white, etc, to other pieces. There really is no wrong answer here. Use Google images or Pinterest for real turquoise color inspiration. Good luck!