Have you ever heard of worry stones, the soothing stones you keep in your pocket or hand to relax? These small, smooth pebbles, gently rubbed with the thumb, are real natural stress relievers . Why not learn how to create your own, in your own image?
Creating a soothing stone from self-hardening clay is quick, easy and accessible to everyone. With no kiln, no complicated equipment and for just a few euros, you can create your own handmade comfort stone in less than an hour (only the drying time requires a little patience).
In this tutorial, we'll show you how to make two versions of the stones:
Both variants are shaped from the same self-hardening clay base, and you can personalize them as you wish: oval or round shape, natural or patina color, fingerprints, engraved symbols or even natural stone inlays.
For those unfamiliar with self-hardening clay, it's an air-drying, no-bake modeling clay. Unlike conventional polymer clay (such as Fimo Soft or Fimo Effect), which needs to be baked, self-hardening clay hardens naturally in a few hours, sometimes a day depending on thickness. It's the ideal compromise for simple, fast DIY creations with no technical constraints.
In this tutorial, we've used Fimo Air, and it's a real favorite. Its texture is supple, fine and very pleasant to handle. It doesn't stick to the fingers, smoothes easily with a little water, and produces a soft surface perfect for worry stone. Here are its main advantages:
Whether you're a beginner or already passionate about DIY, this project will give you a moment of calm and creativity.
Before you start, I recommend keeping a small glass of water handy to moisten your fingers. This prevents the clay from sticking and makes smoothing easier. You can work on a modeling mat.
Remove your self-hardening clay from its packaging, then cut out a small piece. Knead it for a few seconds to soften it slightly.
First, I shaped a ball of clay the size of my palm, then pressed lightly in the center to form a hollow.
I repeated this gesture with my thumb several times. Clay tends to close around the thumb, so don't hesitate to use small circular movements to shape the hollow into the desired form.
It's up to you to determine the final thickness of your worry stone. Smooth the edges with lightly moistened fingers to obtain a smooth surface.
For the second, I wanted to add a little texture to the center. So I repeated the previous steps to obtain the same base.
Next, I formed small clay balls and placed them in the center of the soothing stone. Using my ball-shaped tool, I then inlaid them lightly into the clay.
Leave your creations to dry for 24 hours. Once the clay is dry and hard to the touch, you can move on to the personalization stage.
This is the most fun and creative part: anything goes! You can add a message, a letter, a symbol or even a drawing. Let your imagination run wild.
For this tutorial, I've chosen soft colors, with heart and flower patterns to reinforce the soothing, delicate feel.
Apply a protective varnish with a brush. I applied two coats, letting them dry thoroughly in between. The result: a shiny stone, with colors that stand out perfectly.
Remember to clean your brush thoroughly after each use.
You have a question about this tutorial? Ask it to our team and the people who have already tested it. The Perles & Co community is here to help you!
Credits
Perles & Co, Internet & E-Commerce company [27/10/2025] Any reproduction, representation, adaptation, in any form whatsoever, even partial, is prohibited, except for reproduction for private use not intended for collective use, representation in the family circle (art. L 122-5 CPI) and online publishing on condition that the source is mentioned and a link is included to the corresponding page of our site www.perlesandco.com.
