Applying Swellegant!™ to Polymer Clay

Presented by Christi Friesen, Award-Winning Artist, Author and Educator,
Exclusively for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®
F72Z

Turn your jewelry clay projects into a metallic piece by applying Swellegant!™ metal coatings, dyes and patinas. Award-winning artist and always-entertaining instructor Christi Friesen walks you through this tutorial on how to apply Swellegant! to polymer clay.
These instructions may be used for any type of Swellegant!™ metal coating.
STEP 1
Apply a coat of Swellegant! surface prep onto the baked piece of polymer clay which will allow the Swellegant! to bond with the non-porous surface of the clay.

Tips
  • Wear a pair of rubber protective gloves to prevent staining.
  • Swellegant! goes on baked polymer clay since it will peel off of raw polymer clay.
STEP 2
Apply one coat of the Swellegant! brass metal (or other metal) over the surface prep.

Tip: A second coat of metal may be applied if gaps of the prep show from underneath the metal coating.

Let air dry for approximately five to ten minutes.

Tip: Use a blow dryer or pop the clay in and out of the oven (at the same temperature to bake polymer clay) to help expedite the process.
STEP 3
With a soft flat acrylic paint brush, apply the Swellegant! metal coating all over the baked piece of clay then clean the brush with water and dry with a towel.

Tip: Shake the Swellegant! metal before using.

Note: Patinas are best added to moist metals.
STEP 4
With the paint brush, carefully dab the patina onto the metal coating.

Tips
  • A sponge or water mister may be used instead of using a paint brush, if desired. The patina may also be dumped over the piece.
  • Dab, do not brush, the patina to prevent the metal coating from smearing
STEP 5
With a small paint brush, apply a very small amount of purple dye (or other color dye) to desired places then dab water to dilute the dye. Let dry, allowing the dye to react with the patina.

Let dry for 1 - 2 hours or overnight to let the natural-finished look begin or "bloom."
STEP 6
Mix the Swellegant! metal onto a piece of card stock to begin to dry out the metal, making the metal look more natural. Rub the metal, gliding it over the surface of the clay to enhance features.

Tips
  • You may also use a towel, sponge or your finger to dab the metal onto the clay
  • You may also apply different metals to mix or contrast
  • If the desired look is not obtained, add more metal over the previous metals
STEP 7
Using a small paint brush, apply diluted dye to desired grooves to enhance features.

Tip: You will get better results by diluting more of the dye with water.

Note: The dye will keep reacting to water.
STEP 8
Apply the Swellegant! sealant to keep the dye permanent.

Tip: If desired, mix the sealant with the dye before applying.

Have a question regarding this project? Email Customer Service.

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