Stenciling with Mica Powders-Polymer Clay Tutorial

Learn several tips and tricks for stenciling polymer clay with mica powders such as Perfect Pearls. Then use these fun surface effects on your next project.
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[@221b-Maker-Street]

The 'Moonlit Trees' are just spectacular, Sandy. 🖤

[@SandyHuntress]

What a nice name for it. 🙂 Thanks!

[@karinasulger7829]

so gorgeous!!! love it ........ty sandy for sharing!!!

[@SandyHuntress]

You are welcome, Karina! :-)

[@jls12341000]

PLEASE READ!!!!! A note about mica powders: first and most important, everyone please please research brands and companies and only buy a product containing natural mica from those that are transparent about where their mica is sourced from, and that have proven, through an independent organization that the mica is ethically sourced and mined! If you don’t know why I’m begging you all to do this, google “mica mining” look at India first, the worst atrocities have been publicized world wide. Child labor, horrific injuries, outrageous acts of inhumanities including murder. India is only one of many countries with these awful mines. And be thorough! Don’t let the seller on Amazon say “our mica is ethically sourced!” If they aren’t transparent move on. Don’t support forced child (and adult, and elderly!) labor, abuse, death.

[@writteninstone7677]

Great ideas. I can't believe how many of the stencils you showed that I also have! What about spraying a layer of PYMII over the piece so you will then be able to handle and manipulate the clay?

[@SandyHuntress]

I haven't worked with PYM at all, Lynn, so I don't know. It certainly sounds worth experimenting with. Let us know your results if you try it.

[@puff1037]

can i use cosmetic glitter? o eyeshadows?

[@SandyHuntress]

Yes, you can! You may not get as much saturated color with eyeshadows, but they definitely have that mica sparkle. I'm not familiar with cosmetic glitters, but I imagine they are very fine and so would work well here, too. Happy creating!

[@cynthiajfaulkner8655]

Actually, perfect pearls come with a built in binder, I think if you put a mist of water, they wouldn’t move once you touched them without the baking. They are different from other mica powders that way.

[@jls12341000]

On another note - this particular brand has added ingredients specifically to make the powder stick, and to blend. Simply mist with water. Some other brands also have the binders. Just read the ingredients. And directions 😉 Even with a product that’s just mica and pigment, ie Pearl ex powders, there’s much you can do beyond dabbing or dry brushing solid colors. Honestly that’s not what they’re made for. Just a few of the many cool effects and techniques can be achieved with water, liquid polymer, acrylic medium, paste and gel mediums, transparent glass paint, clear embossing powder... that’s a few. This is a good place to start, with beginner videos. I’ve been working with pc for over 20 years and I still check out these types of tutos from time to time. There can be great little nuggets! As you get comfortable with the basics, look for more detailed tutorials and fine tune your skills. I watched countless hours of KZbin, read tons and tons of articles, books, joined websites and groups. One place I started and still go back often is thebluebottletree.com by Ginger Davis. If the link won’t work type in the blue bottle tree polymer clay. She teaches absolutely everything to do with pc. If you can’t find the info you’re looking for ask her, she responds to everyone. Best of all it’s free! There are some extremely detailed and professional complex tutorial ebooks for sale, but those are so worth the price when you’re ready for advanced work. For more, google “master polymer clay artists” the choices are endless!

[@deelicious084]

the one with trees and pewter is beautiful but it looks like more colors are used on that piece?

[@SandyHuntress]

I’m not sure, this video was done quite some time ago, but I think it’s just one color and you’re seeing the color shift properties of the mica powder.

[@1994abbygirl]

So pretty.. Love those Mica's! Very nice tutorial!! Thank You!

[@SandyHuntress]

Thanks, Abby! Happy creating :-)

[@patti7805]

can one use plastic stencils as well?

[@SandyHuntress]

Yes, definitely!

[@Sweetp45]

No sneezing,. Haha t, hanks.

[@KathleenRenninger]

Very good vdeo, & attractive end product. Thanks for sharing!

[@SandyHuntress]

Glad you liked it, Kathleen!

[@cathyrezba3132]

I did not see the link for the Martha Stewart dabbers.

[@SandyHuntress]

All the links are at my blog post. Link to that is in the description box. But here's the link to the daubers: amzn.to/2de6NmP. Happy creating, Cathy!

[@Mona-yk7pd]

Where can I find these type of aluminum stencils? Love your work!!!!

[@SandyHuntress]

Thank you, Mona! If you go to my blog post (link in the description box) I have links to many stencils of that type.

[@CPC-Wanda]

Love the look of these! Thanks for tutorial and I like your voice. Some voices make me nervous. Lol.

[@SandyHuntress]

Thank you for the nice comment, Wanda! I know what you mean about voices. There's one gal who does crafting videos.... she makes nice things, but I cannot abide her voice, too high pitched and squeaky, it makes me wince. I know it's not her fault, but I just can't! lol

[@christinewitton3260]

Great video but unfortunately I cannot see the link to the supplies.

[@SandyHuntress]

Are you on mobile? If so look under the video on the right. There should be a little downward arrow to the right of the video title. That will open up the description box with the blog link. If you are on a computer scroll down to below the video to the section that says "Published on" and a date. A little below that you'll see "Show More." Click on that and it will open the description box. You can also tap/click on the little "i" or tag in the upper right of the video on either mobile or a computer. I did notice on mobile that you have to scroll past several sponsored links (annoying) before you get to the links I added, including one to my blog post. Hope this helps!

[@pilotsmother]

SO COOL! Luv your ideas!

[@SandyHuntress]

Thank you, happy creating with micas!

[@paulapower8505]

Excellent tutorial, Sandy. Thank you for covering this topic, and so thoroughly. I do have a question, if you don't mind my asking - what is meant by the term "interference", in respect of the mica powder you used in this video? I have seen it before, when looking at mica powder, online, but I'm unclear on what it means. Thanks in advance. From 'P', of Liverpool, UK.

[@SandyHuntress]

A simple way of putting it is that interference pigments change colors when viewed from different angles. A more complex,, scientific explanation can be found here: www.danielsmith.com/content--id-108.