Did you know you could create the look of rustic gemstones and crystals, in polymer clay?
There’s something irresistible about the imperfect sparkle of raw crystals and weathered gemstones. In this video, you’ll learn how to capture that faceted, organic feel using polymer clay. No stone cutting tools required.
These faceted beads start out as simple chunks of unbaked polymer clay. Working with firm, unconditioned clay actually helps keep edges crisp and prevents distortion while shaping.
I demonstrate five different bead shapes in the video, from rough crystal points to chunky, irregular gemstone forms, plus ideas for how to push the shapes even further.
Some shapes are easier to pre-bake, then the beads are carved by hand to create natural-looking facets. Raw or unbaked, the carving is where it all starts to come together, and where each bead starts to feel completely unique.
Color brings these beads to life. You’ll see several ways to tint and enhance the surface using mica powders, paints, and other colorants to mimic the depth and variation found in real stones.
I also share tips for drilling clean stringing holes without cracking or warping the beads — always a concern with irregular shapes like these.
Finally, we finish the beads with dry brushing and surface treatments to create either subtle highlights or high-contrast, dramatic effects, depending on the look you’re after.
Tools & Materials
- Polymer clay (unconditioned, straight from the package, or any firm clay)
- Clay blade
- Craft knife
- Bead pins
- Mica powder
Optional colorants:
Finishing tools:
- Sanding block
- Paint brush
- Acrylic paint (I used Golden Titanium White and Iridescent Bronze)
- 1/16″ drill bit
For inspiration:
- Crystals and crystal points for reference
Ideas to Explore This Technique Further
- Create any faux gemstone from polymer clay, facet, bake, then sand and buff
- The book Polymer Clay Gemstones: The Art of Deception has many great tutorials for faux stones
- Here’s a simple (if messy!) tutorial from Art Elements that uses crumbly old clay for a faux stone look
- Try cutting faceted beads from patterned blocks, such as mokume gane or a stack of stripes
- Check out the Flickr page of Margit Böhmer, lots of her work involves carving beads from patterned blocks
- Cut beads or crystal points from tinted translucent, sand and buff, or leave frosted
- Stephanie Kilgast has a video showing her techniques for gorgeous polymer crystals
Happy creating, enjoy the video!
Watch Polymer Clay Bead Tutorial How To Carve Crystal Beads on YouTube.
