DIY: Polymer Clay Necklace Inspired by Anthropologie

If you have never used polymer clay, this is a great project to get your feet wet.  I love the stuff, and was inspired recently to create these necklaces by the popular Anthropologie ball beaded piece.  I added my own twist of ombre color gradation and bead size gradation.  I also went for a simple chain instead of a ribbon. The pearl finish was accomplished in one easy step that glazes creates the pearl effect, using Mod Podge Pearlized Glaze.

Polymer clay is a perfect medium to create reproducible color gradient beads.  You will see in the tutorial, I just rolled out white and blue (or corral for that version) to the same thickness in my pasta machine.  Then I used a cookie cutter to cut 5 triangles of the main color for the central bead.  The two adjacent beads are a mix of 3 main color and one white triangle.  The next is lighter and smaller still, using 2 triangles of main color and 1 of white.  You can use any recipe you want, just keep track of it, especially if you are making more than one of the bead in that size and color.  This will make more sense when you see pics!

Supplies:

Pasta machine

Baby wipes (clean hands between handling different colors of clay)

Polymer clay in color and white (I used Fimo Soft)

Cookie cutter

Tile or baking tray

Dremel or other drill

Drill press or rice bags

Mod Podge Pearl Glaze or finish of choice

toothpicks and Styrofoam

Antiqued gold metal chain or cording of choice

Tutorial:

For drilling, hold beads steady vice or bags of rice.  Wear protective eye gear!

Grab some clay and create your own gumball ombre jewelry!