Polymer Clay Central - Faux Rose Quartz Lesson

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by C.A.Therien, edited by Sunni Bergeron

Supplies:

1 2oz block Premo translucent

1tiny piece Premo red, approximately 1/8" in diameter (more or less as desired)

1 tablespoon Arnold Grummer's Iridescent Flakes (more or less as desired)

aluminum foil or card stock

container of ice water with plenty of ice

Wet/dry sandpaper in grits 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000

permanent marker

container of water with 1 drop dish liquid in it

paper towels

Denim or felt buffing wheel (optional)

Acrylic Sealer (Future, Flecto, etc.)

paintbrush

Arnold Grummer's Iridescent Flakes are the secret to creating this shimmery faux. Originally designed for paper making, these flakes are ideal for use in polymer clay because they are heat-resistant.

Step 1: Break off one 1/4 section of translucent clay from the brick.	Step 2: Condition the clay by squeezing it between your fingers and the palm of your hand just until it is soft enough to be rolled into a short, fat snake.
Step 3: Set aside and roll tiny piece of red clay between fingers into a thin snake about half the length of the first one.	Step 4: Place red clay on top of translucent clay and roll between your hands to seal them together. Then twist the clay into a spiral to begin blending.
Step 5: Repeat the twisting and rolling until the red is thoroughly mixed into the clay and the color is even. At this point, if the color is lighter than you would like, add a very tiny bit more red; if it is darker than you would like, add a bit more translucent.	Step 6: After you have the color you wish to use, flatten the clay out between your fingers. Sprinkle just a pinch of iridescent flakes onto the clay. (Click picture for a larger view)

Step 7: Fold the clay in half and seal the edges with the flakes inside or roll the edges in toward the center, encasing the flakes in the middle of the clay. Fold, squish, and roll the clay to mix the flakes thoroughly. You may add flakes a pinch at a time until the amount of iridescence you like is achieved. If you put all the flakes in at once, the clay will tear and flakes will spill out everywhere. So go a pinch at a time. When you have enough flakes, you should see some just below the surface and, if you make a center cut, there will be some flakes visible.

Step 8: Mold or shape your clay to form cabochons, beads, buttons, discs, etc.
(Click picture for a larger view)

Step 9: Place your clay on a piece of paper or card stock with a bit of aluminum foil folded like a tent over the top with the shiney side facing away from the clay. Bake at 250 degrees for minimum of 10 minutes for thin pieces and up to a total of 20 minutes for the thicker pieces. Immediately slip baked clay into container of ice water. Let clay cool completely before removing from water. Discard water.
Thin disk of unpolished baked clay shows iridescent flakes clearly and how the clay darkens with baking. Click for larger view.

Step 10: Tear a small square of #800 wet/dry sandpaper and mark grit size on the back with permanent marker. Soak sandpaper in a container of water for a few minutes. Spread a couple of paper towels over your work surface to catch drips. Remove wet sandpaper from container, dampen clay, and rub sandpaper lightly over clay in a circular motion for 5-10 minutes, rinsing clay and sandpaper often in container. Repeat with each consecutively higher grit until clay is smooth. Rinse well, dry with paper towel, and buff with denim or felt. Brush with acrylic sealer and let dry.
(Click picture for a larger view)

Here is a sample of some jewelry I made using this recipe: Faux Rose Quartz earrings and pendants.
(Click picture for a larger view)
C.A.Therien
©2002 Photographs by C.A.Therien and editing by Sunni Bergeron

We want to thank C.A.Therien and Sunni for sharing this terrific new lesson with PCC. If you have a tutorial or project that you would like to see on the PCC Website, then contact or and we will help you prepare your project for PCC.

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