Adding Glitter to Polymer Clay
Polymer clay is a popular medium for making eye-catching jewelry, ornaments and other crafts thanks to its versatility and beginner-friendly nature. Your creative juices can overflow when you work with polymer clay, as there are endless ways to customize your crafts. One way to add a unique touch to your creations is by adding glitter to your polymer clay crafts.
Incorporating glitter is a simple but effective way to enhance the aesthetics of your clay crafts and explore your creative potential. Glitter in your polymer clay creations allows for more versatility in crafting because, now more than ever, there is a wide variety of options to choose from — an assortment of colors, sizes and shapes you can work with.
Learn how to add glitter to polymer clay before or after baking it, and enjoy step-by-step instructions for adding glitter to polymer clay jewelry, ornaments and other crafts!
Types of Glitter for Crafts
There is such a wide range of glitter on the market, and each has its own unique features and uses:
- Eco-friendly glitter: Eco-friendly glitter is made using recycled or sustainable materials, biodegradable materials or both. It is sometimes water-soluble, too. Choosing biodegradable glitter for your crafts is excellent if you promote a sustainable brand.
- Craft glitter: Craft glitter is glitter made explicitly for decorative purposes. This glitter is distinct from cosmetic glitter and body glitter. Craft glitter is versatile, and you can be as creative as you want.
- Glass glitter: No surprise here, but glass glitter is made of crushed glass! Crushed glass has a unique look and feel — sparkling, reflective and textured. If you are careful and wear the proper protective gear — like goggles to prevent fine pieces of glass powder from accidentally getting into your eyes — glass glitter is safe to work with. But, you should not allow children to work with glass glitter.
When using glitter, there are also so many different colors, textures and effects:
- Metallic glitter bounces light and is the perfect choice for a sparkling effect.
- Opaque is a good choice if you want the look of "solid colors" since these glitters block light.
- Iridescent and opalescent glitters reflect and refract light for a mesmerizing, color-shifting effect as you view it from different angles.
- Fluorescent/neon fluorescent glitters glow under fluorescent black lights (UV lights), and many come in bright neon colors.
- Glow-in-the-dark glitters are different from fluorescent glitters. You don't need to expose them to UV to enjoy the fantastic effect. You only need a dark environment.
- Thermochromic materials change color when exposed to different temperatures, and you can find glitter with this property!
How to Add Glitter to Polymer Clay Earrings
There is an abundance of crafts you can make using polymer clay and glitter — everything from trinket boxes and trays to potplants, ornaments, clay planters and other home decor. One of the most popular polymer clay crafts is making jewelry, especially earrings. Polymer clay earrings are hypoallergenic and lightweight. Because of how versatile polymer clay is, the earrings are easy to get creative with and customize to suit any size, shape and style.
Making your own polymer earrings is also an enriching DIY process. You get to create your own imaginative designs or customize earrings to make meaningful gifts for friends and family. Possibly, the best part of making your own polymer jewelry is how beginner-friendly it is. You only need a few accessible items to create your stunning jewelry pieces.
Materials and Tools You Need
You can find all these items from your favorite craft suppliers or online retailers:
- Polymer clay in primary colors and any other palette you desire
- Glitter in the colors and types you'd like
- Hypoallergenic posts and hooks for the earrings
- Superglue
- A Sculpey Tools™ Oven-Safe Work Mat or oven-proof glass or ceramic tile
- A craft roller
- Wax paper, glass or a tile for your workstation
- Jump rings
- Clay cutters
- Jewelry pliers
- Rubbing alcohol
- Sculpey glaze
It helps to gather all of your items before you begin. Have them ready at your workstation, which should be somewhere well-lit so you can see the finer details as you make your earrings.
Instructions
Follow these easy step-by-step instructions for making polymer clay earrings with glitter:
- Prepare your workstation with your work mat to prevent staining.
- Condition the clay by kneading it or using a craft roller to make it soft and malleable.
- Mix your clay if you want to make different colored earrings, and mix your glitters to do the same.
- Roll out the clay on your work mat.
- Pour the glitter on the clay and push it in to combine to join them.
- Cut the clay with your molds to get the different components for your earrings.
- Use a needle tool or to add holes for the earrings to make it easy to secure the jump rings.
- Use a little rubbing alcohol to clean up any imperfections or rough edges.
- Check your clay for baking instructions and preheat your oven according to the instructions of your specific clay.
- If not using an oven-safe work mat, transfer the parts of your earrings to an oven-safe tray. Bake according to the time in the instructions.
- Assemble the components using your jewelry pliers, jump rings, posts and hooks. You may want to secure some of these parts using a suitable superglue first.
- Let your earrings dry if you use glue, then box them up for a gift or wear them. Enjoy!
Get Quality Polymer Clay for Your Crafts from Sculpey
Are you ready to make the most beautiful polymer clay and glitter creations? Sculpey is a trusted clay brand that you can use for all your DIY crafts, from earrings to holiday ornaments and unique home decor. We offer a variety of premium clay to suit different needs with quality clay that anyone can use, from children to adult beginners and even the most skilled artists.
We also offer a line of accessories and tools so that you can have all the supplies you need and get started on your crafts immediately. Browse our extensive range of polymer clay now, or visit our projects page for inspiration!
