Here's a link to a PORCELAIN cabochon project at Art Clay World -- uses overlay paste, not regular paste.
http://www.artclayworld.com/ProjectSheets/Silver%20Overlay%20Pendant%20Technique.pdf
I've been successful with thin coats of regular paste and Tonya Davidson's ( Wholelootawhimsy.com ) bead blanks -- http://www.wholelottawhimsy.com/wo/p/context/shopping/Catalog?c=145 --
and here's a project sheet from her:
http://www.wholelottawhimsy.com/wo/p/context/tutorials/BeadBlanksPMC