I have always loved beads. Even before starting beading, I had this attraction to beads. If I had to choose between a beaded dress and a simple dress, I would chose, without thinking too much, the beaded dress. And my passion for beads goes way back. I remember that when I was 3 or 4 years old, I gave my favorite doll in exchange for two strings of glass beads (red and green). My choice was a disappointment for my entire family. They did not understand how could I give my favorite doll and for what? Beads? Yet, I have never regretted it. I was so happy with my two strings of beads. 33 years later I love beads just the same.
Materials and tools used for these faux glass beads: pearlescent Fimo polymer clay, translucent Fimo polymer clay, a pasta machine, alcohol inks, Fimo golden powder, triple thick varnish.
I have softened a little bit the polymer clay and then rolled it through the pasta machine. I have colored the translucent clay with alcohol ink (and let the inks dry completely before mixing the polymer clay).
I have made a ball of translucent clay and wrapped it in pearlescent polymer clay and rolled the bead round again.
I have made very thin ropes of colored polymer clay (the one I have previously colored with alcohol inks) and rolled them around the beads, making patterns on the beads.
I have rolled little oval beads, flattened them with my fingers and shaped them into petals. I have used them to decorate the beads.
I have put a toothpick in the middle of the beads (to make to holes and also because it was easier to turn the bead around while decorating it).
I have made also little leaves (just by adding lines in the middle and on the sides of the petals).
I have baked the beads according to the polymer clay manufacturer’s specifications.
I have taken them from the oven and put them directly into cold water with ice in it (I read once that this technique enhances the translucent effect). I thought it would be good for the pearlescent as well.
Then I have colored them with alcohol inks and Fimo golden powder (mixed with water). The Triple Thick Varnish gave them the look of faux glass beads.
I have used a chain, jewelry findings and pliers to make a bracelet.
More beads made using the same technique:
Learn Polymer Clay 
That is amazing. I love it. Very creative.
Thank you very much! Thank you also for taking the time to share this with me! Have an amazing day! Best wishes! Mihaela P.S. I am very sorry for replying so late, I had to sit a little bit by myself, to find my center, my creativity because I was overwhelmed by my idea of doing a tutorial a day, but in the same time I wanted to do complicated things (which you cannot do in just one day). I am feeling again energized and I will try to be less hard on myself and even take the time to do interesting things
Your beads are gorgeous! It is fascinating to see how they are made 🙂
Thank you so much! I am so happy to read your kind comments. I have been working the entire day on that project and when I have posted the picture with the little bracelet with three beads, I was a little bit disappointed because I thought that the picture did not make justice to the entire work behind the project, so I am so happy that you found the process interesting, because it was exactly what I have tried to show.
Absolutely! It’s very interesting! And your photos are great 😀
Thank you very much, Miranda!
I look forward to seeing more 🙂
Thank you very much, Miranda!
This is really pretty ! I love the bright green !
Thank you very much! I loved these beads too. You could really think they are glass beads when you hold them in your hand (they look even more glass-like in reality).
These beads are really amazing Mihaela and a very big job to create 😀
Thank you very much, dear Irene! I got interested in polymer clay when I realized I could make my own beads and cabochons. Because, as you surely know, when you love beads, you have never enough beads:)
This is exactly how I feel with the gemstones Mihaela. Your beads are so beautiful and special that I understand your fascination of them 😉
I love gemstones as well. Not to mention that they have special properties. I wanted to tell you that I loved your blog post about Gemstones and their energies. Can you imagine that 4 years ago when I went to visit a museum, I have bought some semi-precious stones at the entrance of the museum and the person that sold them to me, told me that taking into account the stones I have chosen, their symbolic meaning was that my life was going to change and that I was going to discover things about myself that I ignored and that in a way I would find my path in life. When this happened I was in Romania, I had a little baby (I was a translator, yet on maternity leave), I had no idea that I would leave the country and that one day I would be making jewelry. But now I really understand the message that stones gave me…
Incredible cute design, I make bracelets too. Nice job!
Thank you so much, Cathy! I simply adore your colorful paintings! And I loved your Steampunk jewelry. Most of all I loved Souls in the Great Machine: I loved the colors, the design and the name as well! You are an amazing artist! Not to mention the bracelets (made with paintings or collages), they are wonderful!
Final result of unusual