Polymer Clay Tutorial: Mica Shift Mystery Pendants

This is my third in a series of Mica Shift technique tutorials.  I'm fascinated by the Mica Shift effect, and as this tutorial uses an extruder as a primary tool, it's got to be one of favorite methods.  The Mica Shift technique can replicate a 3D-like illusion, some people call it Ghost Image, which seems appropriate this month for Halloween. I hope you will try my new tutorial, it's lots of fun, and makes a great weekend project, just click on the link below!

Mica Shift Mystery Tutorial

Polymer Clay Samples Project for Klutz Books

I was recently contacted by one of the editors at Klutz, a children's craft book publisher. Apparently, one of the assistant editors found my Polymer Clay shop on Etsy and contacted me. They loved my new Charm Bracelets & also my Pillow Beads. I was thrilled to hear from them & very flattered that they liked my work! Our daughter used to love their books as a child, because they always included the supplies needed to complete a project.

 I received a box of supplies from Klutz that included: polymer clay, beads, findings, cording, etc. The project that I was hired to do focused on girls age 12+, with Polymer Clay jewelry designs that would interest that age group. I created 2 really cute bracelets, some earrings, a simple pendant & assorted beads. What a blast I had! Just letting my imagination go wild!

Here are some of the beads that Klutz particularly liked from my shop . As I am under contract with the book publisher I can't reveal the design samples I made for them.

The ones above are my Florida Sunset Beads, with inset seed beads.
The next ones are my signature Watercolor Rainbow Pillow Beads, these have been a really good seller in my Etsy shop!
At the bottom are my South-West Blue Denim Beads, in stonewashed & cornflower blues.

 

Polymer Clay Mica Shift Bracelet

Mica Shift cabochon bracelet features a design motif of various plaids, squares & dots. The handmade cabochons are paired with russet colored freshwater pearls & assembled with copper findings.

For these cabochons I used a Mica Shift technique  that involves using a deep cut rubber stamp. Some stamps are made specifically for use with clay & are therefore deeply cut & leave a nice impression. Lisa Pavelka makes a fabulous line of rubber stamps , for polymer clay & PMC. By pressing a stamp into the prepared sheet of metallic clay, the particles are forced out of alignment. Now the raised areas of clay are gently sliced off using a tissue blade, leaving a holographic 3-D effect. These scraps that are sliced off are also useful (I save everything) for creating a pendant or matching beads. When I am working with the Mica Shift technique I always have a prepared square of clay ready to lay these shaved off scraps onto. My favorite brand of clay for this technique is Premo, it seems to have the largest particles of mica per ounce. I also use Fimo Soft white pearl in many of my beads & pendants. It adds a lustrous pearly glow to the piece & is a different shade of white than the Premo pearl. Below is the matching Mica Shift Necklace & Earring Set

I hope you will try this technique, it is really lots of fun & surprisingly easy! You’ll be amazed when you see the ghost effect appear! The real magic happens after you’ve baked your pendant & sanded it smooth:)