The Versatility of Polymer Clay

Polymer Clay has to be one of the most amazing substances for crafting!  Below are two techniques I have been working on:  backfilling and wire wrapping with metallic pigment coloring.

Backfilling is a cool but sometimes tricky technique in which you either stamp (in the case below) or carve into clay.  Next, you use a transluscent liquid polymer with coloring or mixed with metallic pigment to fill in the indenture from the stamp/carving.  Since carving takes a lot of practice, I just stamped into the clay.  I then mixed the TLS (translucent liquid Sculpy) with gold Pearl Ex powder and used a toothpick to ease it into the stamp indent.  After cooking the creations, I covered in two coats of resin.

The seahorse, one of my favorites so far, was accomplished by rolling out black Premo polymer clay in a pasta machine, cutting it into the seahorse shape with an Exacto knife, and then bending craft wire, which I placed onto the seahorse.  I used a piece of glass from a picture frame to press it evenly into the clay.  I then flicked metallic powder onto the seahorse for coloring and fired it up in the oven per the manufacturer's instructions.  When it cooled, I used Envirotex resin, a 2-part mixture, to coat it for the shiny effect.  After 24 hours I repeated the resin coating.  Turned out great, I think!

Wire with metallic pigments pendant.

Next blog posts: 1. Idea for storing unfinished jewelry projects to avoid damage.

                              2. Tutorial on making shrink plastic necklace.