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Project #54

Pearl Ex Painted Ornaments

by Marie Segal

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Make your own paints with Pearl Ex powders and the new varnish made especially for the powders. I love the new Pearl Ex varnish, not only does it cover the powders and make them stay on clay it is a way to make your own paints with any kind of pigment powders besides the ones it was intended for (Pearl Ex) but any powdered pigment. Making the paint is easy to do. I love using the Kemper cutter to form kaleidoscopic patterns on the top of the ornaments. These are fun, bright, and cheery, but by changing the colors of glass bulbs and the color of clay (ecru) and the colors of the paints you use you can derive a whole different feel from the same technique. The possibilities for creativity are virtually endless.

Materials

  • Small scoop (something like an ice cream sample spoon)
  • Paint mixing tray
  • Brush—smaller round is good
  • Pearl Ex Powders
  • Pearl Ex Varnish
  • Small squeeze bottle
  • Small knife or slicing blade
  • Glass ornaments
  • Black Cernit Clay
  • Pasta machine
  • Kemper cutters—any size or shape, I used:
    • round & heart (3/16" and 7/16")
    • teardrop (3/8" and 3/4")
    • star (5/8")

Making the Paint

  1. Scoop out about 1/4 tsp. Pearl Ex powder and place in one of the wells of the paint mixing tray.
  2. Place 8-12 drops of the varnish into the powder and stir until completely mixed.

Adding more powder versus varnish will give you a paste like consistency for some texture affects.

You can use this paint on raw or baked clay.

When you apply to the raw clay make sure that "paint" is completely dry before baking. I like to leave my pieces over night to make sure they are completely dry.

When applying to already baked clay, you will still want to make sure that it is completely dry and then you only have to bake for 15 minutes in a preheated 200° oven. Shut off the oven and let cool.

Only mix up as much as you need at one time, the varnish will dry very quickly.

Making the Ornaments

Condition and roll out your black clay on the 2nd thickest setting and cut out 4 shapes you want.
Apply the shapes to the glass ball around the top. I am using a 3/4" teardrop for this. I place the teardrops directly across from each other on the top about 1/4" away from the metal hanger.
Make 3 marks in the leaves as shown, do not cut through the clay just make the mark.
Cut out four 5/8" stars and place in between the larger teardrops. Make sure the stars overlap the teardrops.

Now cut out four 3/8" teardrops and place point down right under and a little on top of the star. If you are using larger ornaments you may want to start with 6 teardrops instead of 4.

Cut a line in the center of the teardrop. Then, with the point of the large teardrop cutter in the line you just made make the veins of the leaf.

It's best to make sure that all the clay pieces you put on are attached a little to each other.

Cut out four 7/16" rounds and place at the top of the star.

Take a 3/16" round cutter and make a round mark in the center of the 7/16" round pieces of clay.

You are just making the impression of the cutter into the clay do not press the cutter all the way through the clay.

Using the 3/16" heart cutter, do the same thing to each of the stars.

Take the 3/16" round cutter and cut out 4 round pieces and place the round clay pieces on the top of the leaf slightly over the bottom of the star. Press in place with out distorting.

With the end of the handle of the brush make an impression into each small round.

Cut out four 7/16" hearts and place on the very top of the larger rounds.

Apply paint, mixing as per instructions above. Remember to let the paint dry completely before baking.

Pre-heat your oven to 275° and bake for 30 minutes. Shut off the oven and let cool for at least an hour in the oven.

The Pearl Ex powders that I used for mixing my paints are Flamingo pink, Aztec Gold, Turquoise, Interference Violet, and Spring Green.

Tips:

Baking and working on the glass ornaments can sometimes be a challenge. I use graduated round cutters to hold the ornaments to work on them. Or if you don't have round cutters like this you can cut a toilet paper roll into 1/2" to 1" rings to make little holders. I also bake my ornaments on the holders.

Also on some of the ornaments you will see some glitter applied over the top of the Pearl Ex paint, Artistic Institute Crystal Glitter and Dries Clear glue was used after the ornaments where painted and baked. The glue dries clear so you will see the color of the paint under the glitter.