Are you interested in adding jade to your jewelry collection but can’t afford it? Try making this simple and affordable faux jade ring. Let’s get started!

Supplies

For this project, you’ll need:

Jade color polymer clay
Gold metallic paint
Gold color 20 gauge copper wire
Mod Podge gloss
Jewelry wire cutters
And pliers.

Everything I’ve mentioned so far is pictured above. I had to go out to buy these materials. You’ll also need:

A ruler
A sheet of aluminum foil
An oven to cook the polymer clay
Gloves
A paintbrush
And a ring mandrel (substitute it with a marker or any wand shape item).

Step 1: Prep the Clay

1.A. Decide on How Much Clay You’ll Need

To make the faux gems, I used this 2 oz. pack of FIMO polymer clay in the color Jade. You can use other polymer clay, but make sure to use the baking instructions on its label.

I made 20 stones with only 1/4 of the pack. You likely won’t need to make this many stones. Make as many as you want —and then a few extras for in case you mess up.

1.B. Knead the Clay

Put on a pair of gloves because things will get messy. Roll the polymer clay between the palms of your hands until you get a cylinder shape.

1.C. Tear It up and Drizzle Paint onto the Clay

Pull apart the clay into small pieces and add a few drops of gold metallic paint onto the clay.

1.D. Roll It Again

Gather all the pieces and roll them between your hands. Repeat steps 1.C and 1.D until you’re satisfied with the color and shine of your polymer clay.

1.E. Shape Your Clay

Tear off small pieces of the polymer clay and shape it however you want. I recommend making it as big as a chocolate chip or large M&M. Gently roll, flatten, and pinch the clay to get the desired shape, and then place all the pieces onto a sheet of aluminum foil.

Step 2: Bake It

Follow the baking instructions on the polymer clay you purchased.

Once time’s up, take the pieces out of the oven, and let them cool for 10-15 minutes before moving on to the next step.

Step 3: Add Gloss

After your pieces have cooled, grab a paintbrush and Mod Podge gloss. Paint a thin layer of the Mod Podge gloss onto your faux gems.

Let the gloss dry for at least 20 minutes.

Step 4: Size the Ring

4.A. Cut a Foot of Wire

Using a ruler, measure out a foot of wire and cut it with a jewelry wire cutter.

4.B. Determine the Size of the Ring

You could use a ring mandrel for this or any wand-like object, such as a marker (I used the handle of some nail polish). Whatever you use, make sure it is as wide as the finger you plan to wear your ring on.

4.C. Wrap the Wire

Grab your wire and wrap one of the ends around your ring mandrel twice. Leave a centimeter or so of the short end unwrapped.

4.D. Hide the Short End

Grab the short end of the wire and pull it through your ring to make a loop around your ring band. Keep doing this until the short end is all wrapped up. Use the pliers to wrap the wire tightly around the ring band.

4.E. Loop the Other End

Grab the long end and wrap it around the ring band once. Make this loop right next to the ones you made in part 4.D.