{"id":20202,"date":"2016-02-15T05:00:56","date_gmt":"2016-02-15T13:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/?p=20202"},"modified":"2016-02-11T20:35:55","modified_gmt":"2016-02-12T04:35:55","slug":"pearl-ex-pigments-polymer-clay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/pearl-ex-pigments-polymer-clay\/20202\/","title":{"rendered":"Applying Pearl Ex Pigments Onto Polymer Clay"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PearlEx<\/a>Video #720:<\/span> These beautiful powders will take on different looks depending on the background color they are brushed onto.<\/span><\/strong> <\/p>\n

In this video I am going to talk about how Jacquard Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments can be used as a surface treatment for Polymer Clay.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a previous video I had showcased an acrylic organizer by Melody Susie, where the middle drawer was filled with Pearl Ex Powders. So I figured that now would be a good time to talk more bout those beautiful powders… specifically about how the different colors look on samples of both white and black polymer clay.<\/span><\/p>\n

A viewer who saw how I stored the Pearl Ex containers in the previous video, had a great tip I’d like to pass along. She said to turn your Pearl Ex containers upside down so that the colors are more visible at a glance. Seeing all of my 24 jars of sparkly colored powders in the clear acrylic drawer looks very pretty and makes me happy.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have only two of the sets of Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments made by Jacquard –\u00a0 Series 2 and Series 3. I’ve listed all of the colors from all of the Pearl Ex series, with links to where you can find them on Amazon, just below the video lower down on this page.<\/span><\/p>\n

The square cutout clay samples that you’ll see in the video, were made by butting two sheets of polymer clay up next to each other, one white one black. Then, right where the two sheets met each other, I used a square cutter on the diagonal, to create the black and and white clay chips.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each black and white polymer square was rubbed with one color of the Pearl Ex powder and baked… to show you how the same powder will look different on a light vs a dark surface.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pearl Ex powders will bond very well to raw polymer clay and will be permanent when baked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the baked on powders are quite durable and tough to scratch off, they should be protected if your piece is going to be used in a high abrasion situation (like beads on a bracelet). You can use finishes like PYMII, Renaissance Wax, Golden Varnish or any other polymer clay safe finish you may have on hand. Perhaps the Pearl Ex Vanish will be good too, but I haven’t tested it yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

If the piece is not going to be exposed to high wear (like a sculpture) than the Pearl Ex powder doesn’t need to be sealed or protected at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pearl Ex can be mixed into liquid polymer clays, solid polymer clay, varnishes, gel mediums, paints and more. I’ll show you more about that in future videos.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n