Various projects

[icatz]

Been making some things from Polymer clay, enamel on copper, and a mystery ....

Large-ish polymer clay pendant. I like the edging, mostly.


More polymer clay pendants. The lower one is actually more blue and has 3 Swarovski crystals. It's supposed to look like a galaxy. The 2 green ones have transparent clay on top which is over a stamped layer of clay, which appear as white patterns.


Polymer clay bezels filled with Pebeo Prisme Fantasy paints. This stuff is amazing. It does that effect all by itself. You can manipulate it, but it has its own ideas.


Freeform cut copper with enamel. I like how the whitish area looks like lace. Interesting because I didn't use any light colored material. It's also 3D. The dark area is raised.


Mystery time! 10 points to anyone who knows what these are. When someone knows, I'll explain.


Thanks for watching!

[Fossilman]

Those are very nice!!

[icatz]

Thanks! No guesses on the crystals?

[Deleted]

Calcite?

Trigonal form.....?

[Pat]

I've seen similar crystals at the bottom of our pickle pot after a cold night, or was it jewelry cleaning liquid that evaporated during the night? Hmmm!

Or did you slightly melt bubble wrap?

[rockpickerforever]

I thought they look exactly like crystalized sugar. Do you remember "rock candy?" Could be crystalized on a string that was hung in bowl of supersaturated sugar water. Sometimes also seen on a stick.

[icatz]

They're homemade crystals. I used to do this a lot, adding food coloring and coming up with astonishing crystals. Even sold some. The upper right and lower ones are made from supersaturated alum solution over rocks. The top left has a pinch of Epsom Salts added to the alum, which of course forces smaller crystals but more of a variation. Borax of course makes great crystals but within a year or so they morph into a completely different, solid white material whose name I can't recall at the mo. I've also used baking soda. Mixing materials can create some incredible surprises.

The only thing I don't like is the upper right one has a base of a very cool fossil. I didn't think the alum would cover the entire thing, so you can't see any of it. It's a very satisfying hobby as every specimen turns out differently. And of course I just love crystals, as we all do here. Hunting for minerals is great but here in summer it's hell hot and imposssible to rockhound so I just make my own.

[icatz]

Here are a few more from years ago. Not sure of all the ingredients I used, but you can see the experiments were pretty cool.

[rockjunquie]

Whoa! Those crystals are sweet!

I love the effect f the Pebeo Prisme Fantasy paint. Very organic and cool looking. That top one sure sparkles! I never got the hang of clay. I tried, but I seem to have no talent for it. My sister in law is working with it, but I don't think she has gotten as far as you have.

[icatz]

The thing with clay is it's all about imagination. The same could be said for metalsmithing or wrapping, but clay has infinitely less "rules." Mess something up? Roll it into a ball and start again. No "AAAAGgghhh" of messing up expensive silver. Pinterest has a lot of ideas and tutorials. And yes, I'm in love with Pebeo Prisme. There's a sale at Michaels today, yay. I've made some clay just in white and have started painting those. Amazing results. Will post when done. I've been having a lot of migraines and working with the clay helps take my mind off it, if you will excuse the pun.

The crystals are really fun. You cook them up, set them aside in a container. The next morning I practically bolt to the kitchen to see what has grown during the night. I have to say that for every good one, there are 5 or 6 crappy ones. But I just reheat the solution, add more alum or whatever, and try again. Unfortunately they're only good for display as they are all water soluble and any direct sunlight will destroy them. They are really fragile, so I mount them in those little plastic display boxes. They won me a first place ribbon at the state fair in 2012.