Iced Enamels with Polymer

by Staci Louise Smith

Karen McGovern did a post on playing with the new Iced Enamels by Susan Lenhart Kazmer.  They are a cold "enamel" system, using some sort of embossing powders with resin to seal them.

Of course, I thought right away, how can I use them on polymer?

Though I really did plan to use them on metal as well.  

I could not wait for them to arrive.  Of course I tried them on polymer clay before metal, of COURSE I did.  Though I did metal as a quick second.

First I followed the instructions, Susan has a nice little video here, but I didn't like the look of the globbed on "enamel".  I wanted a crusty look, both on my metal and polymer.  Something more gritty.

Here is the "globbing" or applying a thick full layer of power on polymer (on the area's I wanted anyhow)

Here is what my first tries on metal looked, like

I mean, I don't NOT like it, but I was not thrilled

So, I kept playing......

For this black polymer donut, I used the German silver and I really bubbled nicely, and gave me a sort of raku'ish look I liked.  However, it just wiped off the polymer, so I used resin to seal it on.  I only put the resin over the "enamel" and a tiny bit over the edges, because I wanted the matte look of my black to remain.  I like it a lot, and now it doesn't come off.

So then I tried to over my already based coat painted polymer, and then put my crackle layer over top. (the donut has stripey circles painted on in the faux 'namel and the pink bead has one stripe at the top)

LOVE these.  Love them so much.  It is exactly what I was going for.  

The crackle layer was enough to seal it on (plus of course the actual sealer I use on top of that).  I didn't need to use any resin on these at all and they are soooo cool.  I love the texture it adds to the pieces.

My painting and crackle tutorial is available here for purchase.  Though it does not include how to use the iced enamels, it does tell you how to layer paints, alcohol inks and use a great crackle that works wonderful with polymer and doesn't take forever to achieve a great aged look.

Another polymer artist, Tammy at Paisley Lizard,  was playing with them as well.  Here is a link to her post. 

http://www.paisleylizard.com/2015/06/using-iced-enamels-with-polymer-clay/
 I loved that she mixed the powder in with the translucent.  Though it may not have given her the look she was going for, it sure did make some pretty beads.  Since I just bought a bunch of translucent to play with, this is on my list to try.  I have mixed other things into translucent and loved how it looked, but the iced enamels were pretty awesome too!  Instead of having to add color and something with particles, like chalks and mica, it is all in one for you!!!

I ended up making some metal pieces I liked as well with the Iced Enamels.  I liked them very much, but they needed the resin to really seal them well.  However, it was soooooo shiny, it not only didn't look like enamel, it was just distracting.

So I sprayed them with some matte sealer....and that made them funky, and matte, and turned the clear resin milky looking in spots.

So I think next time I will use a satin finish over the resin, so its not so shiny.  Anyhow, I don't hate them, and I am having a blast!

I can definitely see me using these........which is nice, because I can sometimes jump into things and then not end up finding a use for them in my work!

Anyone else use these?  What are your thoughts?  Your results?  Feel free to share your pictures of what you did with Iced Enamels on our Facebook feed in the comments.

As Playtime Winds Down

by Staci L. Smith

I usually find some time after the holidays to play around with jewelry and bead making.  I really need that time, that time with NO show coming up, no deadline, no pressure.

This year I really thought I would be burned out after a kinda crazy year.  Yet I found myself more inspired then ever.  Maybe it was the trip to New York City, and the visit to the Met.

 

  Maybe its the mixed media art and drawing I have been allowing myself to experiment with.  Whatever it was, it sparked my muse into overdrive.

pen drawing mixed media

Good things came from this playtime.  Really good things.  And as playtime winds down, I find myself needing to make decisions of what to pursue  and what I don't have time for.  The last part of that sentence is heartbreaking.  I don't want to admit that I will never get to all the crazy ideas in my head.

As my playtime winds down, I found out something about myself.  I am happiest with no plan.  If I could afford to lock myself in my studio, and play with everything, as my whims allow, I would be the happiest lady alive!  If I could be the master of nothing, but have dabbled in it all, I would be thrilled. 


Many good things came out of this playtime- some were like, actual things.


I played with a new technique on my polymer clay, and I LOVE it.  I can also see this transferring into my mixed media art as well.

these are available in my etsy shop www.slartisanaccents.etsy.com


I also decided to make some nice, big, bold, earring pairs in polymer.  I have a love / hate relationship with earrings.  Sometimes I am thrilled to make them, and other times, meh.
So I need something simple to make into an earring, that is still unique and bold.  So I played with shapes and techniques some more and made these.

I also have a stash of translucent polymer clay, that I have bought when its on sale, cause its cheap, but haven't really played with much other then to mix it with other colors.  I have been wanting to try to embed wire into it, and it wasn't really working.  So I got some translucent liquid polymer to put on top, and that did the trick.  Here they are- and I just love them.  Very tribal- and I can't wait to see what else I can capture in the translucent polymer.

So that is where I am at.  I have pages of things I want to create and try, but a deadline is on the calendar for Berks Bead Bazaar (first weekend of march), and for some other things in the works.  Time to crack down and make the beads.


Have you allowed yourself playtime? 
Are you sad when it ends? 
What kind of things have you learned about yourself, or your medium while playing?