Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments Perfect For Making Polymer Clay Beads

I've never seen Pearl Ex here in the UK, I wonder if there's a British equivalent? I'd love to try some, particularly as I really like the mica shift technique but can't get a clear enough effect with the metallic Fimo I'm using.

Just found a couple of sellers on eBay but it's really expensive, presumably because it's imported.

Which makes me think, how about a section of the site with a list of suppliers for different countries? Also a list of alternative names for products, for example Future floor polish is sold as Johnson's Klear in the UK and you can get it from Sainsbury's. I'd be happy to contribute information to this.

A…xxx

That is a great idea Anna! Would have to think about how to execute it and where to put a list like that.

As far as the Pearl Ex, can you get Perfect Pearls there? It is a comparable product. Loose iridescent eyeshadow is quite similar and would also work in a pinch. You could do a search on powdered pigments or mica powders as well. An alternative may surface.

Let me know what you end up finding and I'll ask Doug about a way we could put together a list of supply alternatives for other countries.

Hi,

I am a scrapbooker, rubber stamper and lover of die cut machines, my craft room is bursting at the seams so of course I own pearl ex in every color. I am always looking for ways to integrate all of my hobbies so I look forward to learning this technique.

I am learning so much from you…

Thanks

That is fantastic to hear Tinuke! I think polymer clay is a true multipurpose craft supply, there are so many ways you can combine it with other craft supplies, the possibilities are endless!

Thanks Cindy, I hadn't thought about searching for other names!

It seems that mica powders are available from soapmaking suppliers (found some at soapbasics.co.uk, but I can't find Perfect Pearls.

I have some gorgeous shimmery purple eyeshadow which I mixed into translucent clay once but unfortunately the colour came out a dark dull purple. Nice, but not what I was after. I'll have to experiment.

Pearl-Ex powders are available in the UK from: polymerclaypit.co.uk/acatalog/Pearl_Ex_Powders.html

@Silverleaf: That is interesting about the eyeshadow changing color when it was heated. Must have different stuff in it than the stuff I've tried. Thanks for the link to the soap place that should help your fellow UK clayers!

@Angela: Thanks for the resource for the Pearl Ex! I'm sure everyone in the UK appreciates it!

BTW: My blogging software sometimes has problems with allowing links in comments to work properly. It's a spam protection thing to protect us against those nasty spammers that try to send us places where we don't want to go. Anyway, just thought I'd mention it here in case those links above aren't clickackable for some people. I had to copy and paste them manually.

Yay! We have the start of a resource suppliers list already!

Hi All, I too am in the UK.

Thanks for the tip on The Future Floow polish sold as Johnson's Klear here in the UK. I brought a bottle back from our Florida holiday in Oct 2008 visited a few Walmarts to get it too. I'll try Sainburys.

I also bought all three series of Pearl Ex Powders and they are indeed fantastic to use with the clay.

One tip I would suggest is that if you intend to buy more than one set – just buy one at once – I bought mine from Michaels and on the bottom of the receipt was a 50% off your next item voucher, but as I'd bought them all at once I didn't need anything else – would have saved me quite a bit of money too.

I found a site in the UK rainbowsilks.com – they have the small Pearl Ex pots that you can buy singley, but then I discovered that one of my favorite sites "The Polymer Clay Pit" also have them – even better is that they sell 1 gram packets that you can buy – perfect if you only need a small amount.

Apologies for the essay !

These are available at Michael's in the US too. So clip that coupon from the Sunday paper !! There are three different assortments.

Hi Anna – I was in Florida when I bought them – sadly here in the UK there is no Michaels or JoAnn – how I wish there was – I could spend a whole day in there!

Thanks for the info Jarreth and Anna!

I have to agree with you about the Pearl EX powders…they are gorgeous. I ordered them off the internet. The Ranger Perfect Pearls are also nice and you can get them at Michael's…as well as the alcohol inks and if you use your 40% coupons it doesn't cost you that much.

What would we do without that 40% off coupon!

Cindy,

I used some Bronze this past weekend and maybe I put too much on because it really took over the beads. they are just deep bronze. Did I use too much?

Donna

I don't know Donna. If you think you put too much on, you could try sanding some of it off, till you get the look you want. You could also try using more than one color of pearl ex if you want too. It is really all a matter of taste and not whether you did it right or wrong.

Lupe above mentioned the Perfect Pearls by Ranger. They offer a unique benefit because they contain resins. If you apply the Perfect Pearls powder before baking, the resins in the powder will help to "set" the mica powder on the finished piece. You can still rub off some of the product, but most of it is incorporated into the piece. I usually still varnish, but I do have a few pieces in my personal collection that are just the Pearls and no varnish.

That is excellent to hear Wendy! Thanks for letting us know. Will have to add Perfect Pearls to the list of products to try on my beads!

Hi all. I have been using Pearl Ex powders ever since I discovered them some years ago and I love them. One of my favorite things to do with them is add them to TLC (liquid polymer clay) and then use them like paints on baked beads. You can get all kinds of wonderful effects from faux ceramics (which are very hot right now) to a lovely painted lampwork effect. I have little paint pots you can get at the craft store in strips, filled with every color mixed and ready to go. Just remember to use a sharpie and label the tops so you dont forget how to make more. They keep very well this way. If they thicken up a bit just add a drop of Sculpey diluent to thin it back down. XOXO Jamie

Fantastic idea Jamie! That is something I have yet to try. Love the idea of keeping it in paint pots. It's a great way to keep from wasting the liquid clay mixtures and has it ready for when inspiration strikes. Thanks for sharing it!

I LOVE the Pearl Ex powder also. Don't let the price discourage you… the little jar goes a LONG way. I use a makeup brush to brush it on.

You are so right Melinda! The powders will last most people forever and there are lots of neat techniques to use them with!

Yes, Pearl ex Pigments works great with liquid polymer clay, glad to read you think so too! I did a faux enameling with these two products, for a pair of earrings.

Your faux enamel earrings are so pretty Zarah! The red Pearl Ex stands out wonderfully in the liquid polymer clay!

Hi Cindy,
I'm new to polymer clay and have found your site very useful! Thank you!

I am wondering if, after I brush on the powder and bake the clay, I need to seal it with something? Will the powder bond to the clay or just rub off over time if I don't seal it? If so what do you recommend to seal something like a hand sculpted rose. Are the sprays that would work for a surface like that?

The powder kind of melds with the clay after being baked. You would have to rub it hard for it to come off but it may happen over time. I dip my pieces in Future floor wax to ensure it will not rub off later; I have an recycled pickle jar with about 4 inches of Future floor polish. I would not try to brush Future or any finish on the powder because you may get lines. After coating with Future you can also put your piece back in the oven for 5 minutes on 275 to make the future harder. You can also use one of the other polymer clay finishes and follow their directions.

Hi All,

If you roll your uncured items in/on shimmery (more mica/glitter the better) eyeshadow or brush it on the beads (to prevent fingerprints), the color is incredible and looks like an expensive multicolored metal bead. I did not even have to seal them after curing. Amazing – Check the endcaps of stores like Target and Walmart for out-of-style shadows marked down to VERY low prices (like 79 cents!) A vist to stores like Big Lots, Ocean State Job Lot, Spags, Bldg 19 and other surplus-type stores can be rewarding also.

BTW – I found Pearl-Ex for $1.79 per little jar on a website. All I did was type in "best price Pearl-Ex" into Google search and a list came up – of course, I went with the $1.79 product. I bought 10. Far cheaper than eye shadow even!!!

Best,
Lori
.

Awesome tips guys! Love the eyeshadow on sale idea!

I do find it is a good idea to seal your pieces that have mica or glitter on them, because they will eventually wear off otherwise. Perfect Pearls is a mica Pigment that has a resin in it already so that it doesn't need to be sealed, but for all the other powders I would seal them. I use Future, Studio by Sculpey Glaze, Varathane or PYMII for a sealant and durable finish.