How to Make Faux Mother of Pearl With Polymer Clay

You can create the illusion of just about any type of semi-precious gemstone with polymer clay. Faux mother of pearl is no exception. It helps to know the basics of working with polymer clay before you start this project, but the process itself is easy enough to do. These directions are for a leaf shape, but you can make anything you like out of your faux mother of pearl polymer clay.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• White polyclay
• Clay pattern cutter
• Needle tool
• Jump ring
• Needle nose pliers
• Cord or chain for necklace
• Pasta machine
• Pearlescent polymer clay foil sheet

1. Purchase your materials. You should be able to find what you need at any craft store. If you want to vary from the traditional white mother of pearl look, you may choose to make your faux mother of pearl a different color than white. The process is the same.

2. Work the white polymer clay until it is the right consistency. Set the pasta machine to the fourth largest setting. Run the polymer clay through the machine. Apply the pearlescent clay foil sheet as the package directs.

3. Use the clay pattern cutter to cut leaf shapes from the worked sheet of polymer. Use a needle tool to draw a long vein down the length of the leaf shape. Next draw in the smaller veins that branch out from the long vein.

4. Use your index finger and thumb to pinch the outside end of the leaf. This gives the pattern some life like dimension. Continue to shape the leaf to suit yourself.

5. Poke a hole with the needle tool in the branch end of the leaf. Bake the leaf for 35 minutes in a 275 degree F oven.

6. Attach a jump ring to the cooled leaf. Run a cord through the jump ring. Or attach the leaf to a chain.