For clever people who know much more about fimo/etc. than me...

Alrighty, I've had an idea for a project in mind for a while now, but I'm struggling to work out how I want to attack it. I'm trying to make a 'vitamin C' faery costume (because I have citrus coloured versions of those 'rave tutus' that everyone seems to have over here) and as part of that I want a necklace made of pills. I don't quite know which brand of modelling stuff I'm going to use yet (tips would be much appreciated) but I do know that I don't want to buy about five different colours, only to use a tiny amount from each pack. Because that would be silly, right?
So, clever crafty people: have any of you had any experience painting on this kind of stuff? What should I use? (I'm assuming acrylics *after* baking the pill beads, finished with some kind of top coat of something...) Is there anything I'm forgetting? Any and all comments are very much appreciated!

PS. I'm thinking of making the pills like actual beads (i.e. having the string run through the middle) because I don't have the money, patience or dexterity to muck around with jump rings and all that