Polymer Clay Faux Labradorite Tutorial

In this polymer clay tutorial, I'll show you how to make faux Labradorite using black polymer clay and mica powders. I’ve been working on this technique for a little over two years now and I’m finally ready to release it.

The mica powders recreate the shine that real Labradorite possesses. I show a real piece in the tutorial as a reference.

This technique is super easy, fun and can be done with any mica powder you want, so have fun and play around with what you can create.

You will need the following supplies:

Black polymer clay
A craft knife
A tissue blade
A pasta machine
An oven
Mica powders ( number 1 6, 8, 9,14)
Donut cutters (any cutters will do)
A brush
Plain printing paper
Resin (Magic Gloss)
Resin mat
UV lamp
Sandpaper or polishing papers
Buffing wheel

How to Make Faux Labradorite Polymer Clay Donuts Step by Step

Faux Labradorite Sheet

To start with, you will need a sheet of black Premo polymer clay rolled out on the thickest setting of your pasta machine.
Lay your sheet on a plain piece of printing paper, cover with a second piece and burnish with your fingers.
Use a brush to dab your mica powders one by one onto your clay, starting with gold, through green and then onto the blues. (This is an important part of the process, so please see the video for the pattern and blending.)
Cover with a sheet of paper and burnish again with your fingers to stick down the mica and smooth it out.
Use a blade to mark lines on your clay. Different sizes but all the same direction.
Brush any flakes of clay away with a soft brush.
Cover in paper and burnish again.

Assembling the Donuts

Roll out a second sheet of black clay on your middle setting.
Use a sponge or other textured material to texture the clay.
Turn the clay on its back and add the Labradorite sheet on top. Cover with paper and smooth it on.
Cut out your pendants using a cutter of your choice. I am using my donut cutters from JessamaDesign.
Bake for a full hour at the recommended temperature.

Coating the Donuts with Resin

Place your donut on some sort of resin mat.
Gently pour your Magic Gloss all the way around your donut and use a skewer to stretch it to the edges.
Leave it for a minute. See how much it pulls away from the edges, and then add more.
Drag out to the edges again.
Repeat the process until the resin is no longer pulling away.
Place the donut under a UV lamp for half an hour to cure.

Sanding and Finishing

Sand the edges with wet/dry sandpaper preferably over a sink of warm soapy water. Start from a 400 grit up to 1200.
Use polishing papers to sand the backs and finish off the sides. Don't forget the middle of the donut. Start from a 400 grit all the way up to 8000.
Buff up the sides using a soft cloth or a rotary tool if you have one.

And that's how to make faux Labradorite polymer clay donuts! I hope you enjoyed that tutorial.