One of the best things regarding precious metal clay (Metal Clay and ACS or Art Clay Silver) is you can add texture easily to your creations. Before Pmc came along, the sole way you might texture metal as a jewelry maker was to etch with chemicals, stamp with metal stamps, or use a pricey rolling mill.

Metal Clay is pretty much like potter's clay or plasticine, so you can create exceptional details, intricate designs, and mold and add texture to the material while soft. Try doing that with metal sheet!

Be certain to keep in mind before you start that precious metal clay is sticky and you want to employ a release agent to whatever it touches. I like to employ a very thin coating of olive oil on my hands, work area, and tools. Don't skip this! You will be awfully sorry and have a mess to wash up. Be certain not to use too much oil though because this can also mean an enormous mess.

Here are some straightforward ways to add texture to metal clay while wet.

1. Rubberized Stamps

Rubber Stamps are freely available and come in a dazzling array of kinds these days. Art supply outlets, scrapbooking shops, and even specialized rubber stamp providers are all around.

2. Rubber and Silicone Texture Mats

Texture mats can be found in really superb patterns, and because these sorts of mats are bendable, you are able to press them around curved shapes.

3. Plastic Texture plates / Rubbing Plates

These are pretty low-priced, and typically come with textures embossed on both sides of the sheet. Just press the clay onto the sheet or vice versa.

4. Push Molds

There are some wonderful polymer clay push molds available, but as most are rigid, you may have issues getting your metal clay out of them. Be sure to make use of some olive oil or a product like Cool Slip to help the metal clay not stick to the mold. Allowing the metal clay to dehydrate and reduce in size a bit will certainly help liberate stubborn clay.

You'll be able to find flexible push molds in candy and cake decorating supply merchants that work a treat too.

5. Repurposed Items

Found objects are the ultimate in cheap texturing equipment! Coins, leaves, bark, driftwood, textiles, and textured wallpaper pieces will all work. Do not forget to apply some olive oil or other release agent. Use your creative imagination and you'll find plenty of other textured objects you may use.

Skewers or toothpicks may also be employed to make dots, and scrape lines into the clay. If it is possible to find typewriter keys these may be employed to press letters and words into your clay. If you can't find old typewriter keys, cheap metal letter stamps are available.

6. DIY Texturing Tools

I like to make my own texturing gear from polymer clay. To make your own, just do what I am doing, and form scrap polymer clay into a1 with a handle shaped bit that pokes from the back. Make a pattern on the lumpy part. This will be the part you press into the clay. I have made ones with crosshatch patterns, flowers, polka dots, and tiny leaves. After you produce a tool, just cure your new texturing tool according to the polymer clay guidelines.

There are lots of other methods to make your own texturing gear as well . Be certain to check out my other articles for more recommendations.

As you can see, metal clay offers unlimited options for making textured jewellery, charms, pendants, beads, and findings. What are you going to make today?