Learn How to Texture Precious Metal Clay For Jewelry

One of the coolest things about using metal clay (Metal Clay and ACS or Art Clay Silver) is that you can add texture easily to your creations. Before Metal Clay came along, the sole way you could texture metal as a jewelry maker was to etch with chemicals, stamp with metal stamps, or use a dear rolling mill. Metal Clay on the other hand is very similar to potter's clay, so that you can create distinctive details, intricate patterns, and shape and texture the metal while soft. Try doing that with metal sheet! Be sure to bear in mind before starting that metal clay has a tendency to be sticky and you want to use a release agent to whatever it touches. I love to use a very thin coating of olive oil on my hands, work-area, and tools. Don't avoid this! You will be terribly sorry and have a mess to scrub up. Be sure not to use too much oil though because this can also mean an enormous mess. These are some simple methods to add texture to precious metal clay while wet. 1. Rubberized Stamps Rubber Stamps are widely available and come in a dizzying array of varieties nowadays. Art supply retailers, scrapbooking stores, and also specialized rubber stamp suppliers abound. 2. Rubber and Silicone Texture Mats Texture mats are available in really amazing patterns, and because these kinds of mats are flexible, you can press them around curved forms. 3. Plastic Texture plates / Rubbing Plates These are fairly low-priced, and customarily come with textures embossed on either side of the sheet. Just press the clay onto the sheet or vice versa. 4. Push Molds There are some lovely polymer clay push molds available, but as the majority are rigid, you may have issues getting your metal clay out of them. Be certain to make use of some olive oil or a product like Cool Slip to help the metal clay not stick to the mold. Allowing the precious metal clay to dry out and reduce in size a bit is going to help liberate determined clay. You will find flexible push molds in candy and cake decorating supply shops that are wonderful tools also. 5. Found Objects Found objects are the final word in cheap texturing equipment! Coins, leaves, bark, driftwood, textiles, and textured wallpaper pieces can all work. Do not forget to apply some olive oil or some other release agent. Use your creative imagination and you will find plenty of other textured objects you may use. Toothpicks can also be employed to make dots, and scrape lines into the clay. If you'll be able to find typewriter keys these can be used to press letters and words into your clay. If you can't find old typewriter keys, cheap metal letter stamps are available. 6. DIY Texturing Gear I like making my own texturing tools from polymer clay. To make your own, just do what I am doing, and shape scrap polymer clay into a1 with a handle shaped bit that pokes from the back. Make a pattern on the lumpy part. This will be the portion you press into the clay. I've made ones with crosshatch patterns, flowers, polka dots, and small leaves. When you produce a tool, just cure your new texturing tool according to the polymer clay information. There are a lot of other ways to make your own texturing gear also. Be certain to take a look at my other articles for more recommendations. As it is easy to see, precious metal clay offers unlimited possibilities for making textured jewellery, charms, pendants, beads, and findings. What are you going to make today?