Do you apply mica powder before or after baking polymer clay? - The Blue Bottle Tree

Newbies always want to know. Should you apply mica powder to raw or baked polymer clay? In this video, I show you what happens when you try it each way.
If you'd like to know more about using mica powder on polymer clay, make sure to visit The Blue Bottle Tree to learn more. Here are some articles you'll like.
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[@mii2457]

Super helpful! Straight and to the point - thank you!!

[@gabbystroud7797]

You are so amazing for this tutorial! Thank you!

[@indiesindie1984]

I appreciate your straightforward and informative tutorial. Thank you 😊 💓 🙏

[@veliaantila1099]

Thanks, very precise and to the point! Excellent tutorial.

[@mariab6046]

Very cool! I just might use this! Thanks for sharing 💕

[@yaver999]

Thank you for this amazing tip!

[@MyCraftedChaos]

Great tutorial!!! Thank you so much❤️

[@lifeisgood7740]

Thank you. Just what I needed.

[@Umberlee69]

You can use a binder medium to attach it if you’d already baked

[@misscpaks6932]

Thank you. My question for months now answered ❤👍

[@johncarroll1368]

Thank you, I just today found your video as I was adding mica. Just what the doctor ordered.

[@roserose28]

So glad I found your channel. Yes it was helpful for sure. X

[@dancesontheceiling]

Thank you. You saved me money and frustration. I was looking for this answer before beginning my first project. My next question is how to coat mica coated polymer clay with UV resin.

[@emilycunningham1474]

Can you bake the clay after you put the Mica powder on it?

[@bnichols1025]

First video to explain the mica on unbaked clay! Thank you so much!

[@thebluebottletree]

You are so welcome!

[@letsmakeit4926]

Wow it's really helpful thank you

[@calestorose4983]

this was a big help,I keep messing up on that, thanks so much

[@dragansimicev415]

Thank you ever so much!

[@BunnyFlowers]

Thank you!

[@maybee5334]

Thank you!!! 💓

[@chantalmassin1756]

Thank you😊

[@R.S_Howell]

Thank you Ginger. I was thinking that it wouldn't make much of a difference applying after baking, as long as you put your sealant on right away. But I had never actually tried it. So it's good to know to apply the micah onto raw every time

[@caniipeopleperson2866]

Thank you!!

[@amyoshea2576]

Love love love you help! If you wanted to bake the clay in a silicone mould, could you coat the mould in the powder, put in the clay and then bake? Or would you not be able to get an even/shiny coat?

[@thebluebottletree]

Great question. Yes, you can do this. The mica will make a great mold release. But it can be a fairly uneven coating, depending on how much trouble you have pushing the clay into the mold.

[@lizavalos6021]

Thanks!

[@krishiggins8006]

Will it come off from earrings? Do you need to bake it before with clay or after when clay is baked ?

[@charlesrankin6768]

Thanks.

[@Amancandy]

When you touch it, the mica vanish? Or it sticks in the clay?

[@cecilsilver4138]

This was a great tip!!! Would love to see more quick tips like this one. For example how to apply gold flakes the one that looks like foil paper.

[@R.S_Howell]

Maybe I can help. I use gold leaf/flakes in a lot of my projects. All that it takes is to just apply it straight onto the raw clay, and you should definitely use a glaze after baking so it doesn't just flake right off. Be wary of mixing it through clay, especially lighter clay because it tends to give a dull cast under the surface which makes your piece look dirty. Even in dark clay it just seems to disappear when mixed through, definitely not worth it considering how expensive leaf can be. I just tend to keep it as a surface effect. It's fantastic on canes before reducing, because you end up with a crackle effect.

[@chrisbehne405]

@@R.S_Howell What kind if glaze do you recommend for a glossy finish?

[@dianadevlin3717]

Interesting! I wonder if it would stay on baked clay if you mixed the mica with a binder like gum arabic?

[@thebluebottletree]

Yes, it would, but the effect is very different. It's not as uniform. But instead of gum arabic, use a clay-safe varnish. Gum arabic is water soluble and will wash right off the baked polymer.

[@Ginn31]

O my Lord you saved me from putting it on baked clay! That would've ruined my day. Thank you so much!!!

[@thebluebottletree]

Glad I could help!

[@preethsstop]

Hi! Thanks for this video ☺️ I recently used gold eyeshadow on my black polymer clay piece for "Hitting the highlights", then baked it. Now I want to give it a polyurethane varnish coat..but when I do that, some eyeshadow highlights spreads onto the black part of the piece also, hence making it less black. Any idea to avoid the spreading of the eyeshadow while varnishing??

[@thebluebottletree]

Hi Preetha, this is because the excess mica is moving around with the varnish. So remove the excess with an old toothbrush first, then apply varnish.

[@ayellessnuffelhoek]

Perfect pearls is the only powder that can be applied after baking. Doesn't need a binder, using your finger is the best way to rub it in

[@zozonicoco]

Thanks for this. Does it needs sealing after baking?

[@thebluebottletree]

The mica will wear off if this is for jewelry. But it doesn't need to be sealed if it's something that will sit on a shelf. To seal, use a light varnish. There are several varnish articles on my website that will help you choose one.

[@GIRL-pt5jz]

I have a lil question! I recently got some mica powder to play with, I put some on a unbaked piece of clay and once baked, it had like melted/shrunk into clumps! I use fimo soft clay, might I have to use a different clay or did I do something wrong? 😝 Fab video thank you!

[@thebluebottletree]

that sounds like you weren't using mica powder. Perhaps it was embossing powder?

[@lynnval33]

That's not how mica works, sounds like embossing powders that need heat to melt (i used to do them in my card making days)

[@erinrang756]

What about polymer clay? I'm making crochet handles with polymer clay should I cook it before I add shapes made from polymer clay

[@carmi.b-wrld]

This won’t burn or anything after you attempt to bake it, right? Thank you so much!

[@thebluebottletree]

No, mica powder is a mineral and won't burn or melt in the oven.

[@lynnval33]

No. Its best using it on ray clay anyway so it has something to stick to

[@lynnval33]

How do you seal it after baking, mines came off when I was wet sanding

[@thebluebottletree]

Mica will be removed by sanding. You definitely wouldn't want to use it where you need to sand the item. As for sealing, yes, if you're using mica powder on jewelry you will need to coat it with a durable varnish. Here's more info about that: thebluebottletree.com/polymer-clay-sealers-glazes-and-varnishes/

[@Bethecryptid]

How do you remove excess mica powder from raw clay if it gets onto part of the clay you don't want it on?

[@thebluebottletree]

Preventing the spread is your best tool, of course. But it does tend to get everywhere. You can lift errant specks with a bit of tape.

[@Mamihood]

When I add the mica powder to the clay and bake it I get residue on my fingers after baking. How can that be prevented?

[@thebluebottletree]

That's just excess mica that didn't stick to the clay. You can just brush it off with a soft brush after baking. If the item will be worn, you'll likely want to seal the surface with a varnish or other clearcoat. If you're new to clearcoats on polymer clay, this article is a must-read: thebluebottletree.com/understanding-polymer-clay-glaze-sealer-varnish/

[@Mamihood]

@@thebluebottletree thanks so much. I made some nice pieces on my first run but the excess was a downer. I will definitely read the article. Thanks again!

[@madi_beee]

Thank you!

[@cacevedo07]

Thank you!