Mica shift technique tutorial step by step for beginners. Polymer clay earrings, pendant DIY. Jewelry polymer clay ideas.
Today I want to present to you the Mica shift technique tutorial. We will make a pendant and earrings from polymer clay in the Mica shift technique.
Table of Contents
Mica shift technique.
Mica particles shift is an effect that is obtained when a texture stamp is applied to the surface of the clay. And as a result, we can create a shimmering pattern on the surface of the product.
This technique allows you to set the desired position of the mica particles in the polymer clay to create a three-dimensional effect on the surface. The works created in this technique look amazing, but it is difficult to capture on camera how they actually look.
The most important step in this technique is to roll the clay correctly. Rolling helps to evenly distribute the mica particles. When you press a rubber stamp against the surface of the clay, it disrupts the even distribution of the glitter particles. After cutting off the top uneven layer, we get the surface we want. But if the surface has not been rolled out well enough, we will not see much effect.
This technique is not difficult to perform, but requires, however, a couple of tries before you achieve the desired effect. Do not be afraid to practice a few times in the Mica shift technique. And remember that it is impossible to spoil the material, it can always be rolled out again.
Polymer clays suitable for mica shift (metallics) come in different colors. And some of them indeed imitate the colors of metal – gold, silver, copper, and colored – red, blue and green, and pearlescent white. They all have special properties (mica-shift effect) due to the fact that they contain the tiniest flat particles of mica. The size of the particles of mica in the clays of different manufacturers differs – some are smaller, some are larger, and the quality of the pattern on the final product depends on it. Although my today’s Mica shift technique tutorial is suitable for all kinds of clays.
Materials and tools for making a pendant and earrings.
Polymer clay with metallic effect in gold color.
Black Polymer Clay.
Gold colored metallic powder.
Liquid Polymer Gel
Varnish for polymer clay and a brush
Accessories: pins, earring hooks, rings, cord.
Rolling pin, pasta machine
I used a tile to roll the clay on it.
Texture sheet
Hard and flexible blades
Square cutters
Extruder
Tools for assembling jewelry
Oven for baking polymer clay
Mica shift technique tutorial.
Knead the polymer clay with the Metallic effect in your hands and roll out using the widest mode of the pasta machine.
Fold in half and roll out again. Repeat 15-20 times, folding the layer in the same direction. This will help to even out the mica particles all over the clay surface.
Make an imprint on the clay with a texture sheet. And to make it easy to separate so that it doesn’t stick to clay, you can sprinkle the texture sheet with water beforehand.
With a flexible blade, cut off the top layer of clay to the whole depth of the print. If done correctly, a hologram-like pattern will appear. This means that the mica particles have changed their direction and repeated the pattern of the texture sheet.
If the layer is not very even, gently roll it with a rolling pin.
Select the area you like and place the cutter on it without pressing it.
Turn the cutter over along with the clay layer and gently press the area inside the cutter with your fingers. Do not press hard so as not to tear through the clay.
Turn the clay and the cutter over. Then press on the cutter to cut out the desired area.
Repeat the same with the smaller cutter two times.
Preheat the oven to 130 degrees Celsius. Place items in the oven and bake them for about 20-30 minutes. Look on the package of your clay for the exact baking time and temperature. The most difficult part of our today’s Mica shift technique tutorial is already done.
Sand the edges of the pieces with sandpaper. The paper can be moistened to prevent dust from flying around.
Roll out the black polymer clay into a layer. Place baked and sanded blanks on top.
Step back about 5 mm from the edges and cut.
Next, I will be making a pendant. You can make earrings in exactly the same way. Press a pin into the black clay as shown in the photo.
Apply liquid polymer gel on the edges of the blanks on the back side.
Place the gold piece on top of the black one and gently press down.
Using an extruder, make a “cord” of clay.
Squeeze the black polymer clay through the extruder to produce “threads” about 1.5-2 mm thick.
Twist the two “threads” together.
Place the twisted threads around the blanks, trim and neatly join them together. Use a hard blade to remove excess clay around the edges.
Apply metallized powder (or powdery eye shadow) with your finger on top of the twisted threads. Don’t press down hard so as not to shift or damage them.
Make earrings in the same way.
Preheat the oven to the desired temperature and bake for about 20-30 minutes.
Cool the pieces and coat them with colorless varnish for polymer clay. Fasten the fittings to the jewelry. Jewelry is done!
Earrings from polymer clay in the technique of Mica Shift.
Pendant made of polymer clay in the technique of Mica Shift.
If you have trouble making convex earrings and a pendant, simply cut out the shape you like with a cutter or template – then bake, sand, and varnish. Don’t forget to experiment in the Mica Shift technique with “metallic” clay in other shades. And today’s Mica shift technique tutorial came to an end.
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