Every clayer has been there. You see something incredible online and wonder how the crafter achieved it. While you may be inspired to try to recreate their brilliance right away, it can be intimidating if the inspiration piece showcases techniques you're not familiar or comfortable with yet. We're here to help you demystify the beautiful world of mixed-media polymer crafts so you can tackle your next project with exciting new materials.
Move beyond basic claying and confidently master the art of mixed media using polymer clay and various resin and metal leafing techniques. This guide explains mixed-media clay techniques that require resin coating or gold leafing. Learn how to create five professional-quality mixed-media projects with step-by-step instructions. Plus, discover the exact Sculpey® products you need to succeed in creating beautiful, professional crafts.
Your Mixed-Media Journey Starts With Inspiration
To start your journey into the world of mixed media crafts, begin by finding inspiration for your first project. Take to popular social media platforms and browse other clayers' shops on sites like Etsy to identify what you want to make. This research is a crucial step, since it also gives you an idea of what's already out there, so you can adjust your approach to achieve a unique outcome.
The possibilities for mixed media polymer projects are endless. Some examples include resin-coated polymer clay jewelry with a signature shine, gold-flecked pins and wire-wrapped keychains. The only limit is your imagination when you introduce other materials to your polymer crafting process. Don't get too overwhelmed by how to make a mixed-media piece yet. It's important to have a clear goal, even if you adjust it throughout the process.
What Are Mixed-Media Polymer Clay Techniques?
When it comes to polymer clay, mixed media refers to the process of crafting polymer products that either incorporate other materials into the final product or use them to create a visual effect on the clay. It is the next step in a clayer's creative evolution, since it opens up more opportunities to differentiate your creations. Using non-clay materials enhances the visual appeal of the final product while making it stronger and more versatile.
The most common non-clay materials used in mixed-media polymer crafting are resin and metal leafing. But you can also use other materials, such as wire and fabric, to create interesting details on the clay's surface or reinforce it from within. These non-clay materials combine perfectly with a PVC-based polymer, making it lightweight enough for a versatile range of creations. Polymer clay also adheres well to other materials after baking, making it a popular choice for mixed-media projects.
Essential Materials for Your Mixed Media Toolkit
Before you get into our list of sample projects, it's important to set yourself up for success with the right mixed-media tools and products. If you've been crafting with clay for a while, you'll know the importance of high-quality clay tools in creating a successful final product. Mixed-media polymer clay techniques will be even easier to master when you have a trusted toolkit.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the essential materials you'll need for polymer mixed-media crafts:
Choose the Right Polymer Clay
For most mixed-media projects, you'll want a strong and durable polymer clay. Strength and durability are essential when you want to embed other materials or add coatings, since you'll rework the polymer and change its shape. A strong polymer ensures that the final product is durable enough for wear if you're making clay jewelry.
Sculpey Premo™ polymer clay is ideal for mixed-media projects, such as jewelry or handheld pieces. It's soft enough to allow smooth and easy blending, while being firm enough for finer detail and combining with other materials. Since it doesn't air-dry, you can easily store and reuse whatever's left over after a project.
Achieve a Glossy Finish With UV Resin
UV resin is a liquid plastic that hardens when exposed to UV light, leaving a glossy, transparent coating that's ideal for polymer clay projects. When you use polymer clay and resin in a single piece, it creates a shiny exterior that enhances visual appeal and makes your creation stronger and more durable. It cures very quickly under a UV lamp and, unlike epoxy, requires no mixing.
While UV resin is a great tool for adding detail and flair to your pieces, it can cause bubbles or stickiness if you don't use it correctly. The key is to ensure any surface you apply it to is clean, especially polymer, which can leave clay dust after sanding. Then apply a thin layer at a time and let it dry completely before applying the next one to avoid stickiness.
Add a Touch of Luxury With Metal Leaf and Foils
Adding gold or silver metal leafing to your creation is a great way to add the visual appeal of metallic accents without adding the weight of real metal. Many clayers prefer imitation leaf when working with polymer since it adheres easily and offers a low-cost alternative to real metals. It also produces the highly sought-after crackled effect that many crafters and customers gravitate toward.
To achieve the crackled look with your metal leaf, burnish the sheets onto your raw clay in small sections and use a soft, dry brush to remove any excess. Then apply a resin or varnish to prevent the imitation metal from tarnishing.
Create Structure and Detail With Jewelry Wire
Jewelry wire is a great tool to use in any mixed-media polymer project, such as making clay and metal jewelry. You can reinforce your polymer clay with wire by creating an armature, or skeleton, to build on with polymer clay. Most clay jewelry features an embedded wire loop to attach the piece to a pendant or earring.
Alternatively, you can leave it as a decorative element by wrapping your creation in wire at the end. Jewelry wire is also effective for linking clay pieces together when creating a string or chain. You'll find a variety of jewelry-making tools to help you work with wire during your polymer project.
Incorporate Natural Elements Like Crystals and Gemstones
You can create beautifully ornate inlays in your creations by embedding crystals in clay. Press the stone directly into your raw clay for a snug fit. Wrap the clay slightly over the stone's edges to secure it in place during baking. This tight casing with its wrapped edges creates a strong mechanical bond to keep your stone in place.
Some common oven-safe crystals include quartz, amethyst and agate. Most of them are safe to bake in a home oven at lower temperatures. You can also use stones with higher hardness levels and glass crystals in your designs to add sparkle without the price tag.
Add Texture and Dimension With Fabrics
Fabric provides an incredibly easy way to add detail and texture to your pieces. You can use it as a backing for brooches to offer a more comfortable fit, or use fabric trims to add details like bows. Natural fibers like cotton or linen work well, as you can adhere them to baked clay with a quality liquid polymer, such as Liquid Sculpey® polymer.
Alternatively, you can use fabrics to add details without including them in your final product. Create unique and detailed surface textures on your clay by using the fabric as a mold or print. Simply press it onto your clay to transfer the texture as a design before baking.
5 Simple Mixed Media Projects for Beginners
Now that you have a better understanding of mixed-media crafting with polymer clay and your toolkit is ready, it's time to put these techniques into practice. Take a look at some beginner-friendly mixed-media projects with practical steps for each:
Project 1: Create Stunning Resin-Coated Pendants
Using polymer clay for the pendant, create a beautifully shiny piece coated in UV resin.
Here's what you'll need:
- Polymer clay in as many colors as you desire
- Clay sculpting blades or a clay tool starter kit
- A clay conditioning machine for smooth surfaces
- Clay cutters and sandpaper for detailing.
Start by conditioning the clay and shaping your pendant. You can piece different colors together for a color-blocked pendant. After baking, sand any excess clay until your desired shape or design emerges. Add any required wiring for hanging before coating your piece in resin. Cure it under a UV lamp until it forms a smooth, domed finish over your pendant. Apply a thin layer of resin at a time to avoid bubbling. Cure each layer completely before you apply the next.
Project 2: Design Elegant Gold-Leafed Earrings
Add composite gold leaf to polymer clay earrings for an elegant touch. For this project, we're referencing a round teardrop pair of earrings with gold detailing.
Your essential supplies include:
- Polymer clay in one color of your choice
- Composite gold leaf sheets for final details
- A dual-end detail tool to make your clay circles
- Your regular earring tools and supplies
Separate your conditioned clay into two equal pieces to form the basis of your teardrops or circles. Use the detail tool to create a hole in the center of each piece. Shape the earrings as you please, ensuring they're as symmetrical as possible. Press your composite gold leaf sheets onto the bottom of each earring, or wherever your heart and design eye leads you. Bake and assemble your earrings as usual, but this time with a stunning precious-metal detail.
Project 3: Craft Unique Crystal-Embedded Rings
Use polymer clay to embed beautiful crystals, gems or glass onto a ring with your choice of findings.
Grab these essentials to create your crystal-clay ring:
- Your choice of oven-bake polymer clay
- Clay adhesive or liquid polymer
- A ring base of your choice
- Any oven-safe crystal, gem or glass stone of your choice
Creating this crystal-embedded ring is really simple. Once you've chosen your stone, grab enough polymer clay to generously cover the back. Use a clay adhesive or liquid polymer to attach the stone to the clay backing. Shape the clay around the stone until you cover the entire back, and fold the clay over its edges to secure it in place. Bake the clay, then attach it to your ring base using any findings or your clay adhesive.
Project 4: Make a Faux-Stone Bracelet With Wire Wrapping
If you love the look of stone jewelry but don't want to use real crystals or gems, you can create faux stones using polymer clay. Make a beautiful faux-stone bracelet with polymer clay and wire to test your mixed-media skills.
You'll need the following:
- Polymer clay in gem tones or metallic shades
- Craft wire in your choice of metallic finish
- A bracelet chain matching your craft wire
- Optionally, you can add metal leafing or metallic paint
Using skilled hands or a cutter, shape your metallic or gem-toned clay into a shape that resembles a natural stone. You can add metal leafing before baking for a more shimmery effect, or paint on metallic details after baking. Once the clay is baked, wrap your craft wire around the faux stone by following its natural shape. Attach your wrapped faux stone to the bracelet chain to complete your beautiful polymer jewelry piece.
Project 5: Construct a Textured Fabric-Backed Brooch
This fun and fabulous project uses fabric in two ways — as a detailing tool and as part of your final product.
To create your brooch, you'll need:
- Polymer clay in your choice of color
- Lace or any other finely detailed fabric
- Natural fabric, like linen, for the backing
- A standard pin backing of your choice
Mold or cut your clay into the desired shape for your brooch. If you're using lace, try round or oval for a classic look. Use your chosen detail fabric to imprint a pattern onto your shaped clay. Clean up any misshapen edges before baking. Once it's baked, attach your fabric backing and pin. Cut your backing fabric slightly bigger than your brooch in the same shape. Fray the edges, then attach it to your brooch using clay adhesive or liquid polymer. Attach your pin backing as usual to create a stunning fabric-inspired brooch.
Explore a World of Creative Possibilities With Sculpey®
With your newfound knowledge and some inspiration in your pocket, you're ready to enter the wonderful world of polymer clay mixed-media designs. With Sculpey® on your side, you can find inspiration for new projects as well as the tools and supplies you need to execute them beautifully.
Explore the endless possibilities of polymer mixed-media today. Shop our beginner-friendly polymer clay and tool kits to get started on your first creation.
