A passion for Faux: old silver look

 

Hello dear polymer clay enthusiasts!

I prepared a silver shinning project for you to start 2017 in a beautiful and inspired way. This is my way of  wishing you to have a wonderful and creative year in 2017.

For this project you will need:

gray polymer clay (I mixed one unit of black with five units of white – I used Cernit polymer clay), a roller or a pasta machine (to condition the clay),  silver metallic foil (I used gilding silver foil) , silver mica powder or silver pigment,  a sponge (to texture the back), a very detailed and rather large stamp , black ink (I used Stazon), a craft knife and a rigid blade, a brush or a silicone sculpting tool, a soda can and transparent varnish to seal the project.

I used this brand of gilding silver foil: http://www.hobbyandshop.it/product.php?id_product=3557

But I found this interesting combination on Amazon and I think I’ll get some for myself – I use metallic foils a lot- (I’m not an affiliate and I’m not earning money for the links I share – I only was happy with the result and I consider them very cost effective): https://www.amazon.com/Imitation-Gold-Silver-Genuine-Copper/dp/B0128I60X2/ref=pd_sim_201_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0128I60X2&pd_rd_r=CAP9C9B24W4PNKWDXAK5&pd_rd_w=yFOjD&pd_rd_wg=fdPj4&psc=1&refRID=CAP9C9B24W4PNKWDXAK5

Here is the video tutorial:

 

I started by conditioning the clay. Then I mixed one part of black polymer clay and five parts of white polymer clay. I passed them through the pasta machine until I got an uniform gray sheet of polymer clay.  I estimate that one and half small pack of white polymer clay and two and a third of a small pack of black clay should be enough for this project.

As I wanted to have the look of  a massive old silver bracelet, I used a sheet of polymer clay passed on the thickest setting for the base of the cuff while for the sheet decorated with silver foil I used the second thinnest setting on my pasta machine.

So I passed the polymer clay through the pasta machine through the largest setting and I used a ruler to cut out a cuff shape. I was very careful to have a nice cut in the bottom because this part will be visible in the final bracelet.  You can draw a template or download a template from the Internet and use it to cut out the base of the cuff.

Then I used a sponge to texture it (and this is going to be the back of the bracelet) and metallic pigment to color it.

I put this base aside, then I used another sheet of polymer clay (passed through the second thinnest setting), I put silver foil on top and burnished it into the clay.Then I used black ink and a very detailed stamp (representing the market square from Flemish town like  Bruges or Anvers or of Flemish influence like Lille I would say).  I pressed very well the stamp into the clay because I wanted to have a rather embossed design.

Then I put this decorated sheet of polymer clay on top of the other sheet (with the textured pattern facing down) and pressed them well together by tapping gently on the clay. Then I used the blade and the craft knife to remove parts of the design (cutting around the the roof top line).  I tried to have cuts that were as smooth as possible (and then I used a silicone sculpting tool to smooth out the edges) and I also rounded up the sharper parts, including the roof tops, (you don’t want the roof tops to be sharp because they might hurt  your skin while wearing the cuff). I did this in order to avoid sanding any rough or sharp areas after baking (by sanding we would remove the silver pigment).

 

 

 

After making sure that I was happy with the look and feel of the edges, I used silver pigment to color the top and bottom edges. I used the same silicone sculpting tool to reach in difficult angles.

Then I put the cuff on the soda can and I joined the two ends together and I pressed slightly on the clay to make sure that they are well-fixed together.

I put the cuff in the preheated oven at the temperature recommended by the polymer clay manufacturer for 30 minutes ( I am using  Cernit, for other brands you might need to bake for 45 minutes because of the width of the cuff).

After baking the cuff, I used transparent varnish to seal the project.

I am sending you my best wishes for 2017 and I encourage you  to stay creative and to follow your passion in 2017!

My best to you!

Mihaela

 

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