If you need to make faux gems for cosplay or props, you have several options of varying difficulty. You can cast them from resin, you can use clear decorative stones like the kind you’d fill a vase with and add paint or nail polish to them, you can use TranspArt (transparent Worbla), or you can use molds from Mod Podge. Cosplayer Tabby Cat Mittens, also known as Rachel, recently tried them for a crown she’s making for a Shiro costume from No Game No Life. The molds are affordable and reusable and come in a variety of shapes. They work with Mod Melts, which are like glue sticks — they come in different colors so you don’t have to mess around with paint. Rachel said:

So I know I’m not the only impatient and broke cosplayer out there to make resin castes gems. Don’t get me wrong I still cast resin gems! But while I work I was thinking of how much gems don’t have a mold and I don’t have the skill to make molds (and again patience LOL) and then I discovered Mod Podge molds!! The molds are cheap and the glue sticks for it as well! Plus it dries in 10 minutes!! Then you can easily cut them to alter it and paint away!

The finished gems:

via Tabby Cat Mittens