Blog by Lindsay Gilbert
There are so many ways to add shimmer and shine to your polymer clay projects, but one of my favorites is to use metallic foils to create stunning one-of-a-kind pieces. Today, I’m going to share 3 techniques to get you started with using metallic foil and polymer clay.
Metallic foil, much like gold leaf, is a fragile and ultra-thin sheet of metal that is usually gold, silver, and copper, but also comes in a variety of colors. To apply foil sheets to polymer clay, you don’t need any special tools or adhesive - it can be applied directly to the surface of conditioned clay!
Technique 1: Condition and roll clay out, then carefully apply a sheet of foil to the surface. Again, no need for adhesive since the foil will naturally stick to the clay! Use your fingers or place a paper over the foil and gently rub the surface to smooth the foil out.
Next, use a clay roller or run the clay through a clay conditioning machine for a crackle effect! The more you roll over the clay, the foil breaks up a bit more to create different patterns and sizes of the crackle.
Technique 2: Use foil to create unique beads with hints of metallic sparkle! Start by rolling conditioned clay into a ball, and then add small pieces of foil randomly over the clay or roll the clay around in foil flakes. Gently roll the clay on a solid surface to press the foil into the clay.
Technique 3: Roll conditioned clay out flat and apply a sheet of foil (from technique #1). Next, press a clay cutter with an embossed or “raised” pattern into the clay, then carefully pull it straight up to remove it. Peel away the excess clay, leaving the cut pieces behind.
Next, stick a piece of tape to the surface of the clay and gently smooth it out. Be careful to not smash the clay! Carefully peel the tape away to remove the foil from the surface of the clay. Repeat as necessary. The cool part is that the foil will stay behind in the creased design from using the embossed clay cutter!
No matter which technique you use, make sure to seal the clay after baking to keep your foiled polymer clay projects looking as good as new. Be sure to share your favorite Sculpey creations with us by using the hashtag #HowDoYouSculpey and don’t forget to mention which clay you are using (#Premo or #Souffle)!
