Happy MONDAY!
Faux stones are one of my favorites to create with polymer clay. The results are stunning and the technique is easy! The bezels designed by Susan Lenart Kasmer for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ make it so easy to get the look of inlaid turquoise without having to use a lot of tools. It’s a wonderful way to get the look of real stones without the cost or making the piece excessively heavy to wear. This is one of the techniques that I share in my book “Making Beads with Polymer Clay” by Cico Books.
Follow myself and two other talented designers on facebook using hashtag #2lindasandaBeck You'll love their work too!!
Answer this question in the comments and be entered to win a Spellbinders Media Mixage bag of bezels: How would you use this technique?
Project Dimensions: Varies Spellbinders
Supplies: MMM-001 Spellbinders® Artisan X-plorer™ Machine
MB1-001 Susan Lenart Kazmer™ for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Ovals One – Bronze
MB1-006 Susan Lenart Kazmer™ for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Shields One - Bronze Polymer clay in a light green color
Polyblade blade
Black acrylic paint
Clear nail varnish - optional
Cosmetic sponge 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper.
Acrylic Brayer
Non-stick work surface
Baby Powder
Optional items: vintage metal findings, accent beads, old broken jewelry such as brooches, earrings etc., jump rings, jewelry glue, chains, toggles/blanks, bracelet blanks, jewelry pliers
Note: Condition clay until it is soft and pliable by flattening with a brayer and folding it in half. Repeat several times. You can also use a pasta machine to speed up the conditioning process.
Creating the Faux Turquoise Roll a log of clay approximately ½” in diameter.
Slice the clay into random thicknesses and separate pieces
Continue mincing clay into random shapes both large and small.
If necessary dust the clay lightly with baby powder to keep the clay from sticking together as you chop. You should have random sizes and shapes.
Using a cosmetic sponge apply black acrylic paint to all the pieces of clay. Gather these up, squeeze together and create a ball shape. Set aside to dry while working on bezel.
Inlaid Pendant: Press a ball of green (non-patterned) clay into the desired size of the Susan Lenart Kazmer™ for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Ovals One or Shields One.
Make sure you fill the entire bezel with the clay and smooth. Trim edges if necessary.
With Polyblade, slice clay ball in half to reveal pattern.
Shave off thin sections of patterned clay and apply to the clay on the bezel.
Repeat this process until you have the desired patterned. Use brayer to set in pieces and smooth surface.
Use the Polyblade to neaten up the edges.
Bake the clay inside the bezel according to the manufacturer’s baking temperatures for the recommended length of time.
Generally approximately 30 minutes. Allow to cool.
Paint the gold nail polish onto the surface if desired and allow to dry.
With wet sandpaper, gently sand the surface of the clay to remove excess nail polish, leaving it only in the crevasse.
If a glossy finish is desired, paint the surface with clear nail varnish. Assembly: Glue bezels onto desired filigree findings using jewelry glue. Allow to dry. Attach pendants to chain and finish with toggle.
1 comment:
Linda - I have watched several of your videos utilizing the Media Mixage products and I love them! I stumbled upon the bezels and such when visiting family in another state last month. Unfortunately, they don't carry anything like that in the area where I live, but I stocked up in vacation and online. I found you when looking for ideas for my new purchases. Thanks for the inspiration. By the way - it looks like we are neighbors. I am also in the Ozarks, but in NW Arkansas.
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