Preserve Your Memories II on Polymer Clay Beads and Copper Findings
"Is it possible to coat the wires with some 'non-tarnish' stuff?" ~Debi-S
The main focus for today's article is really about a fun testing project I am doing, using the PYM II (Preserve Your Memories) fixative and sealant product, as an anti-tarnish spray for copper findings.
But first, I'd like to remind you that coming up later this month in Video 016-3 at the Polymer Clay Members Library, I will be teaching you guys how to make Beaded Copper S-Hooks like the ones pictured in the photo above.
The nice thing about these copper wire findings is they can be made with custom accent beads that compliment the main beads you use in your necklace or bracelet projects. This combination really gives your jewelry pieces a one-of-kind artisan look that your customers will love.
Next week I'll post a preview video for the Volume 016-3 tutorial, as usual. But for today, I wanted to talk about a spray fixative product that I have been using with these copper metal findings. It's called Preserve Your Memories II (PYM-II), manufactured by Precision Blue, a US based company in Woodstock, GA.
It was back in April of this year (2009) that I first learned about the Preserve Your Memories Craft Fixative Spray, from Valerie Aharoni. She had already been successfully using this unique product as a protective coating over ink applied to polymer clay from metallic leafing pens. She had also tested it as a sealant for polymer clay image transfers.
Unfortunately at the time, the PYM-2 product had not yet been approved for shipping into Canada, so I could not try it out for myself. But thanks to Shades of Clay in Toronto, as well as to Donna Shepherd from Precision Blue, that Canadian shipping problem has now been solved…
Hi Cindy, I wanted to thank you for the write up about Preserve Your Memories II. My husband is the inventor and patent holder and we so appreciate the way all of the artists that find PYM II help us to get the word out. We have just signed Shades of Clay in Canada as a distributor so it should be available thru them for Canada within a week or so. If you or anyone that is on your blog has any questions we are always more than happy to answer them. Thanks again.
I am in the process of doing some testing on a variety of different applications, and will share the results when I have something more conclusive to say.
The can says it can be applied to Newspapers, Inkjet and Laser prints, inkjet digital pictures, metals, pencil art, plastics, chalk, children's marker art, over head transparencies and more.
I recently sprayed the beaded wire s-hooks in the photo above, with PYMII. They ended up with a beautiful sheen, and my hope is that the finish will also prevent the copper wire from tarnishing. So far so good!
Has anyone else tried PYM II yet? Please do share your thoughts below. Or if there is something specific you would like me to test it on, let me know that too.
Filed Under: 03: Supplies, 11: Bead Projects, 14: Feature Guests by Comment. 
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Comments on Preserve Your Memories II on Polymer Clay Beads and Copper Findings
10:45 am
FYI
Premo and Fimo are on sale at Hobby Lobby this week (Sep 7 to 12) for 99 cents.
Can this finish be used on baked clay or should it be coated with something else first? It sounds like Valerie is using it without any other coating except the metallic inks. How would it work on Sterling?
3:44 pm
Cindy, is this sealant able to tolerate skin contact? I love the look of freshly polished non-oxidized metal. I also love the greens in tarnished copper. Would this preserve a certain point in the tarnishing process as well?
2:46 am
Um wonder what the equivalent would be in the UK? Nice s hooks though, I have been experimenting quite a bit with making them. I've started hammering mine flat.
3:00 am
PYM-II UPDATE FOR UK AND EUROPE: I received this email (Sept 18) from Doug Shepherd, the inventor of the PYM-II product, and am posting it here for information purposes…
"We would like to find a distributer in the UK that is familiar with importing aerosol products and is the supplier to the local craft retailers. If your students know of one we would be glad to speak with them. Very tough to get a distributor set up unless the demand is really high. We would need a min order of 5000 cans since it would have to be shipped by surface cargo ship." ~Doug Shepherd
So if anyone has any suggestions for Doug about possible distributors in the UK or Europe, then let me know and I will get the word to him.
1:03 pm
Thanks Cindy, did you have a nice Holiday? Will be looking forward to the results of your testing. My husband Doug originally invented PYM II to coat copper and metals. Donna
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2:54 pm
On everything I have used PYM II, it is fabulous.
My son wanted to preserve some papers…PYM II.
Krylon edging for polymer pieces…PYM II.
Baking parchment ink jet transfer …PYM II.
Layered drawing!…PYM II.
The fact this product is compatible with polymer clay has meant it has become quite a useful tool. I have needs for sealer/fixatives in areas other than polymer clay. Having PYM II on hand means I have one tool for multiple uses. And I am quite pleased.
Thanks Cindy for this great forum!
3:40 pm
@ Donna: Where can we get PYMII?
3:57 pm
If you are in Canada from Shades of Clay link on our website. In US from our website or in a Local Scrapbook Store it would be called CI SuperSeal. (picture of the can on our website. Thanks for asking.
4:54 pm
Jocelyn, To answer your question about skin contact. First it must dry 24 to 48 hours. It will dry to the touch within 2 minutes but for jewelry in contact with skin 24 to 48 hours. Everyone is different and has different allergies, many people our wearing jewelry coated with PYM II. It has not been laboratory tested for skin irritation,but we have not had any negative feedback from those who are wearing it. So it is an individual choice. Myself I can only wear silver or gold earrings or I have an allergic reaction to other metals. AS for the copper question the answer is yes.
5:25 pm
Good info here everyone! Thanks Donna and Valerie for sharing your knowledge on the product with us.
@Laurel: There is a link to where you can buy it in the article I wrote before. Just click the 'Spray Fixative' link by my name to go there. For anyone in Canada, you can order it from shadesofclay.com in the supplies section.
5:52 pm
Bette,
Yes PYM II can be used on baked clay. Yes it should work well on sterling.
4:32 am
Donna, thank you so much for providing all this excellent information on this product. Very appreciated.
Folks, if you click on Donna's name in her thread, she's linked to the product site with plenty more information.
7:03 pm
Thanks Donna for the info! That really helps to get information straight from the manufacturer. Very reliable that way!
12:57 pm
In case there are any pray-ers in our community … I wanted to let you know that I received an email this morning from PYM II's Donna. Her mother is in ICU in the hospital. I have no further information, but God does.
8:53 pm
Thank you Carolyn for your note about Donna Shepherd's mom. Many of the people in this community pray. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to you Donna.
3:07 pm
Here is an update direct from Donna Shepherd: Hi Carolyn,
God answers prayer. Her heart is pumping strong, her hemoglobin levels are back to normal, her color is good. Two days ago they were not giving us much hope. So thank everyone and I will continue with our praise report when they find nothing wrong with her heart when they do the heart catch on Monday. I expect her home and back to her bowling team in a couple of weeks. My mom is about to turn 87.
Thank you to all my email prayer partners,
Donna
5:44 pm
It is so nice for Donna to take the time to let us know her mother is doing better. She sounds like a very strong out going woman with a wonderful caring family. You are all in my prayers.
God bless you all, Peggy
6:41 pm
@Cindy Lietz from Beaded S-Hook Clasp: Here's the current answer regarding availability in UK and Europe.
Is this the correct way to point someone to the answer?
7:46 pm
Hi Carolyn – Yes that is the correct way to point to an answer higher up on this page..
NOTE: The link by my name goes to a conversation between Carolyn and myself about how to use permalinks as reference information when answering questions for others, here at the blog.
11:34 am
I just love these S-hook clasps. They really are a great way to have your clasp match your the rest of your jewelry. Very pretty, indeedy!
(Did I just say "indeedy?" What does that mean…?)
11:46 am
Doh! I meant to write about the S hook clasps on the page where I saw the video preview. I'm just messing up right and left. But that's what happens when there are so many pages to see and so much information! Not that it's a bad thing — it's definitely good (it's fantastic!)