Many
things can be added to or used on top of the clays to create some very
beautiful effects. Pearl-Ex™ powders add a lovely shine and gleam as they
are mica based and have a wide range of metallic and reflective colors. There
are other brands of mica powders including Perfect Pearls.
The more translucent the clay, the more powders and other inclusions seem to float.
These are easiest to add to clay using a food processor and then putting the resulting grounds of covered polymer into a plastic baggie as you work it into the clay. Or, roll out a sheet of clay, spread a bit of powder onto the clay, fold it up and work in some more; do this until you get the effect you want.
You can also use a fingertip dipped into the clay to apply powders to the tops of raised areas. These powders appear differently on dark or light clay.
These powders are available in sampler sets or in larger containers, and I like to fill the small containers that go in a watch parts container (available at American Science & Surplus) with my powders, rhinestones, glass bits, and small hole-less beads to have a set that is easy to transport to classes or to store. These small containers are easier to access with a fingertip. I write the name of the color on the bottom of the container first, so when its time to refill there is no guesswork involved. Opalescent effects can be brought about, especially when translucent clays are buffed to a high sheen. Embossing powders mixed into clays can be fabulous too! Marie Segal has done all sorts of natural inclusions like ground spices and flower petals. There are many artists who enjoy seeing what all can be mixed into clay--Lindly Huanani has even used ground up crayons!
Metal
leaf or foil comes in "books" with tissue paper leaves holding
sheets of very thin metal. Usually there are 25 sheets in each, and you can
get high quality metals made for use in gold leaf signage, or get the lower
cost but still beautiful "composite" metal leaf. This comes in
gold, silver, copper and anodized colors such as black, green, red and blue.
At less than $8 per package, these give a lot of metallic accent.
No sizing or glue is needed to make the metal stick to the clay. Merely lay it on the raw clay and it will stay. Stretching the clay breaks up the foil into smaller and smaller irregular blocks. A coat of Varathane after baking helps keep it protected from rubbing off or tarnishing.
Acrylic foils such as Jones Tones and other brands are meant to be applied to fabric, paper or acrylic nails, but work wonderfully with polymer clays though on the surface only.
These
products come in a sheet or a strip and are placed PRETTY SIDE DOWN onto the
clay, then burnished into place with a bone folder, knife handle, or old
credit card. Then the sheet is ripped away like a band-aid being removed,
and the acrylic foil remains on the clay. When this clay is stretched, the
acrylic foil breaks down into very small dust-like spots of color. It is
more effective in larger areas.
The Dollar Nail Art Store online has one inch wide, five foot long strips of these foils that come in cute little bottles as well as all sorts of things meant for applying to acrylic nails, such as tiny strips of fibers, little packets of heart and diamond sequins, glitters and confetti's, thin "racing stripes" in gold and silver, and more. Each item is only a dollar!
Metallic
and acrylic foils or leaf can be used to spectacular effect, especially with
translucent clays. Glitter, metal leaf, confetti, fibers and more can be used on top, or mixed
into, polymer clays. So can some stamp embossing powders, and some dyes.
Stamp ink in both dye and pigment
forms can be used.
Ranger's line of Adirondack alcohol based inks can be used on the surface of clay sheets over metal leaf that is crackled, or mixed into translucent clays to create your own gorgeous range of colors.
Very fine glitter labeled "micro-crystalline" is particularly effective in clay, and my favorite brand is Barbara Trombley's Art Institute Glitter, which comes in a huge variety of sizes and colors. (I have not tried the new Gala Glitz line there, but the large Vintage Glass Shards lost their color when baked, so are not suitable for use with polymer clays unless used after baking.
