Creating Metallic Effects in Polymer Clay

You can create different, interesting effects with metallics in your polymer clay projects. There are many ways to create different effects using embossing and mica powders, gold and silver leaf, various rubbing compounds and glitters. Polymer clay is extremely versatile, and takes easily to the various methods for creating metallic effects.

Metallics are often used in polymer clay beads and jewelry, face cabochons, pen coverings and other projects. Metallic powders and leaf can be applied in various ways with translucent, liquid and colored clays.

Metallic Leaf

Metallic leaf is usually added to polymer clay to create a crackled metallic look. Metallic leaf comes in sheets of gold, silver, bronze, copper, and other metallic colors. The sheets can be made from real precious metals like gold and silver, and are more expensive than the sheets made from aluminum based composites.

One way to use metallic leaf is to run a sheet of metallic leaf of your choice between layers of translucent polymer clay in your pasta machine. Only run it once. The new sheet can now be used as a top layer in various bead or jewelry projects. You can also lay a sheet of metallic leaf directly on the polymer clay, and use a brayer or your fingers to gently press the leaf onto the clay.

Metallic leaf can also be added as mokume gane layer for a more interesting final effect.

Embossing Powders

Metallic embossing powders are a neat way to add metallic effects to your polymer clay projects as well. Embossing powders usually come in small containers of loose powder.There are a variety of metallic colors, including the usual golds, silver and bronze and copper, as well as blues, pinks and other interesting colors.

When using embossing powders, you need to take care not to breath the powder into your lungs, as there could be harmful side effects from the chemicals in the powder. Use a mask when working with embossing powder at all times. The mask will also help to not to accidentally blow the loose powder around when working closely with it.

Sprinkle, rub, or mix the embossing powder into your polymer clay in small amounts. The embossing powders can also be applied by dusting on gently with a dry paint brush.

Rubbing Compounds

Metallic rubbing compounds are similar to embossing powders, but they are metallic or mica powders in a wax base for easy coverage.Metallic rubbing compounds come in the same colors, and can be better used when covering an entire polymer clay piece. Dip your finger into the compound, and rub gently over only certain raised parts, or the entire project.

When using embossing powders or compounds, you should glaze finished polymer clay pieces so it won't rub off.

Other Metallic Effects

You can create other metallic effects in polymer clay using different sizes and colors of glitters. Sprinkle on or massage into the clay. You can also buy metallic or pearled clays where you buy your regular polymer clay. The mica powders are already embedded into the clay itself and come in a wide variety of colors and hues.