Here is a way to make gems without using resin. They won’t have a translucent appearance, but they can get the job done if you are in a bind or can’t afford the materials to make resin gems.

MATERIALS

• Sculpey III
• Sculpey Clay Softner
• Varnish – High gloss
• Paintbrush

HOW TO

Sculpey is a moldable clay that you can bake at home. They come in a variety of colors, so you are bound to find a color to suit your needs. I used Sculpey III for the gems used in my Lady Alexstrasza cosplay.

Each block has 4 sections using pre-measured cut lines. For my round gems, I used the following amounts:

• Small gem – use half a portion
• Medium gem – use 1 portion
• Large gem – use 2 portions

I ended up sculpting on my baking sheet to make sure I didn’t have issues when I tried to move them. Using just a few drops of clay softner, make the clay plyable in order to mold it to the desired shape. I rolled up the clay into a ball and then pressed it onto the baking sheet. Using my fingers, I molded the oval shape. I used a drop or two of the softner to smooth out the top of the gem as best I could before I baked.

After they baked and were cool enough to touch, I coated each gem with 3-5 layers of high gloss varnish to give them a nice shine.

Happy crafting!