TIPS & TRICKS WHEN USING POLYMER CLAY
April 29th, 2009 | 
Author: How to get rid of fingerprints on your finished product…
Your fingerprint is messing up your finished piece. Nothing is more depressing than seeing those marks and knowing that you put them there. However, there are a few techniques to get rid of this little problem.
Gloves can be very helpful. They not only prevent fingerprints but they also keep the clay cleaner. Keep a box next to your workstation.
Keep a small bowl of water on hand. Dip your fingertips into it and smooth the clay gently, this will get rid of some of the fingerprints.
Take a cotton swab or Q-tip and dip it in rubbing alcohol. Then take the damp cotton swab and rub it gently over the clay. This will also grab some dirt. Be very careful when you do this however, as too much rubbing alcohol will cause the structure of the clay to break down and your piece will lose its shape. Or smearing of different colors can occur, so be very careful on the amount you put onto the clay surface.
How can I make my normal clay sparkle like pearl clays? This is one techniques I found on the Internet and I love it. It is so easy and much less expensive.
To achieve pearl looking clay is to mix a bit of sparkly eye shadow into your clay (or glaze). You have it around the house and you can create all sorts of dazzling colors of clay. You might want to wear gloves when mixing it, unless you want glittery hands for the rest of the day.
You can also mix in fine art glitters, but you have to make sure it is not a plastic based glitter or else it will bubble and melt in the oven. Glitters with a metal base should be used. Also try not to use aluminum-based glitters. They tend to curl during baking and can damage your clay pieces.
Stamp quality glitter, artist glitter, and some body glitters are fine to use.
Mica powders can also be used to give clays a shimmer or sparkle. Although you don’t want to breathe those in, you should wear a mask when using these powders and should work in a well-ventilated area. To quote AJGlass “The mica powders are considered hazardous and the dust if inhaled may cause lung damage. Care must be taken so that the particles do not become airborne.” If you do use mica powders you should apply a protective glaze on top of your piece otherwise the powder might rub off onto other items.
I haven’t braved into the Mica powders yet, but the eye shadow I have purchased at the dollar store and they work great. I love polymer clay!
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This was a really helpful article, Nancy. Thank you
I’m getting up the nerve to try making some beads with polymer clay & I just happen to have a box of latex gloves which will come in very handy now!
~Can’t wait to try the eyeshadow, too.
{i don’t wear it anymore, so it’s good to finally have a use for it}