Create the look of a rainbow agate with translucent polymer clay.
A rainbow agate is a translucent stone that contains one to several colored translucent lines. Different colored rainbow agates are found in different locations. The colors contained within the agate are specific to where the agate was born. The elements in the ground dictate the color of the agate. Make a faux rainbow agate using translucent polymer clay. Chose a minimum of two colors and a maximum of seven. The translucent quality of the clay will allow light to pass through the outer edges, just like it does through a real rainbow agate.
Instructions
1. Process three different colors through the pasta machine. Place each color through the pasta machine separately to create flat pieces of translucent polymer clay approximately 1/8-inch thick. For example, you could use red, dark blue and tan/cream clays.
2. Cut each flat piece of translucent clay in half. Select one color for the outside of the faux agate. The remaining colors will create the lines inside the agate. For example, the outside could be red with the faux lines consisting of blue and tan/cream.
3. Cut the flat pieces of clay into 2-inch strips. Lay one strip of red aside. Make a stack of nine 2-inch strips in this order -- cream/tan, blue, cream/tan, blue, red, blue, cream/tan, blue, cream/tan.
4. Tear a 12-inch length of wax paper from a wax paper roll. Place the wax paper on a flat work surface. Place the stack of translucent polymer clay on the wax paper. Roll the clay until it is approximately 3/8-inch thick using a rolling pin. Insert the clay into the pasta machine and process.
5. Cut the processed strip of clay into pieces approximately 1 1/2-inch square. Pile the pieces on top of one another. Roll the pieces with a rolling pin until they are approximately 3/8-inch thick. Pick up the flattened piece of lined clay and roll it into a ball or a hot-dog-shaped cylinder. Note: When making flat disc beads, the best shape to roll the clay into is a cylinder shape.
6. Wrap the outside of the faux rainbow agate with the piece of red polymer clay that you set aside. Finger press the square of red clay or squeeze it between your fingers until it is large enough to cover the outside of the lined clay ball. The red clay will be uneven in areas, which is desirable for the outside on a rainbow agate. Note: Wrap the entire surface of a ball, but only the long cylindrical area if you rolled it into a hot-dog shape.
7. Slice the faux rainbow agate into pieces 1/4- to 3/8-inch thick. If you are making beads, make a hole in the center top of each disk. Place each disk on a cookie sheet. Set the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 15 to 25 minutes to harden.
