![]() However, it may be even more impressive when used in combination with opaque clay. Used throughout a cane, it can give a dreamy, watercolor-like effect. Read more about mokume gane elsewhere on this blog: Top Ten Products to Add to Mokume Gane.Īnother very popular use for translucent polymer clay is canework. There are many versions of mokume gane- so many that it can be pretty much whatever you want it to be and include whatever you have on hand. "Here she goes with the mokume again!" o) But it's true! Mokume gane is an excellent technique to try, if you're wondering what to do with translucent clay. It will not glow without a UV lamp, as glow-in-the-dark clay does, but if you have a Halloween party coming up- or some other event where you'll be partying under black lights- you needn't make a special trip to buy G-I-T-D clay. Premo "Frost" (aka "bleached translucent") glows under a black light. Get Your Glow On (without glow-in-the-dark clay!) Softer brands of translucent clay may also be added to hard or crumbly clay to improve its workability.ĥ. The color of the clay, pre-curing, seems to be amplified when the piece is baked.) If you're particular about the color, it's best to test your proportions before committing to the whole batch. ![]() (This is why it takes only a tiny bit of color to tint translucent clay. The more translucent a clay is, the more risk there is of an extreme color shift. What is "too much" is open for debate and may vary by brand and color of clay, as some colors are already composed of large amounts of translucent clay. Translucent clay can be mixed thoroughly into opaque, colored clay, and as long as you don't add too much, it shouldn't noticeably affect the color of the clay. ![]() If you have translucent clay on hand, you may be able to stretch your supply just enough to meet your immediate needs. Let's say you need more of a particular color of clay, but can't make it to the store. Fragrant inclusions, such as certain dried herbs and spices, do double duty, adding a slight scent in addition to an interesting appearance to translucent clay. Try essential oils, perfumes, or soap-maker's scents. They will eventually fade, but some people report that rubbing or gently warming the cured piece temporarily revives the aroma. You can also mix scents into polymer clay. ![]() It's important to let the paint dry thoroughly before mixing it in, and it's safest to make a small test batch first. I like the effect of metallic or iridescent paints mixed into translucent clay. You can also use acrylic paint as an additive, though this will decrease the translucency. Translucent clay tinted with alcohol inks can appear almost to glow in good light. (g) Alcohol inks are my favorite infusions, as they lend brilliant color to translucent clay without decreasing the translucency much, as can happen when you add much colored clay to a mix. Technically speaking, they aren't liquids when they're mixed into the clay, as they are allowed to dry first- but let's not be too fussy. Since "inclusions" are usually listed as solids (glitter, sand, etc.), I like to refer to liquids mixed into clay as " infusions". It doesn't look like anything in particular- not opal, for instance- but it's still very pretty. I like the sparkle of colored glitter in translucent clay. Faux effects frequently call for one or more inclusion, but inclusions need not always imitate a natural material. Spices, metal leaf, glitter, sand, embossing powder, dried flowers- even soil can be used as an inclusion. It must be able to withstand curing temperatures, but other than that, there are few limitations. An inclusion is anything that may be blended into the clay body. Faux versions of jade, marble, amber, and more all utilize translucent clay.Ĭlosely related to item #1 is the use of inclusions with translucent polymer clay. Many layers of translucent and gently tinted clay create the illusion of agate or ivory. Lightly tinted and glittered translucent clay makes faux opals or faux rose quartz. They frequently have some degree of translucency, so translucent pc is the obvious choice when imitating them. Many natural stones (and other materials) are not completely opaque. This is probably one of translucent clay's most popular (and recognized) uses. Ten on Tuesday: Ten Ways to Use Translucent Polymer Clay So many that it's usually at the top of my shopping list when there's a clay sale. ![]() (Wouldn't that be great?! So many new possibilities!) Even though it's "just" trans lucent- not trans parent- there are still many ways to use it. What's it for? Does it turn clear when you bake it? Well, no, unfortunately there is no perfectly clear polymer clay. (g)) However, if you're new to clay, you may be perplexed by the "color" of clay called "translucent" (or "frost"). If you've been working with polymer clay for a while, this list might not be of much interest to you. ![]()
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