Pearlescent powders are great to use with polymer clay. Their main problem, though, is that if you don't seal them, they'll rub off. Now, if you're mixing the powders right into the clay, this is a non-issue. However, if you're using them as a surface treatment, as with the carved pendants, it is an issue.
My first experiment: I found a clear acrylic at the hardware store (originally intended for sealing wood) and used it to seal my first pendants. Unfortunately, the bond isn't as good as I'd like and the acrylic will peel off. I've heard people say that baking the acrylic on will help prevent peeling, but I've not tried it yet. Also, I like things to be really durable, not just sorta. So, I tried to think of another way.
My second experiment: I'd just been reading about using liquid polymer in projects, so it was on my mind when I sat down at the table. I had a "eureka" moment, and wondered what would happen if I used TLS to help set the powder. It worked beautifully. I like to texture my pendants with a hard bristled brush, and adding TLS tends to fill-in that texture, but at the same time, it adds some of its own. I like the result, it makes it seem a little more organic. Here are two texture examples.
Light TLS:
Heavy TLS:
2 comments:
These look great.
More or less: Transluscent Liquid Sculpey :)
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