Patina Samples Up Close and Personal, From Perfect Pearls Video

Yesterday I made the promised video about my findings with Ranger Perfect Pearls, and creatingdarker mixed media cold enamel/colorized finishes with the product.

Last week I made these two bracelets and a video about them:

These finish on both pieces was created by using the micro torch to create a base patina, then adding Ranger Perfect Pearls in CAPPUCINO and HEIRLOOM GOLD along with a little PERFECT BRONZE to highlight. The finish seal is spray lacquer, two coats, done close up so that the Perfect Pearls would 'run' a little and fill out.

The photo at the top of the page is also an example of our Victorian Wings finding done with torch patina and then combinations of the METALLICS set of Perfect Pearls as well as CAPPUCINO Perfect Pearls, which is a deep coffee/chocolate brown.

You will find the wings stamping here on the website:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/fig05022.htm

We also carry Perfect Pearls in this section:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/category-s/1892.htm

I actually experimented with a bunch of raw brass pieces in the video as well as a satin matte gold filigree from the B'sue Boutiques video.

In this photo I was trying to see how close I could get to our old Russian Goldplated finish....

The filigree on the ends are pieces I did with a combination of the metallics including Heirloom Gold....the one in the middle is a saved piece from my own stash of the old line. That line was truly special as it was the closest thing you could find in color to the old Haskell findings, which are very precious and special to me.

Here are some of those filigree done a couple of ways. The ones on the bottom were primered white first, then distressed, then the darker Perfect Pearls added and in the end, spray lacquered. The ones on the top are torch patina first, then the dark Perfect Pearls powders added over embossing ink.

Honestly I haven't tried heat setting them yet because sealing has been enough....but the next experiment I will definitely do that.

I have been intrigued with adding color to raw brass stampings for many years now. There are so many ways to do it. My friend, Cynthia Wainscott, a member of the B'sue Boutiques Design Team, did a tutorial for our website a number of years ago, using the powders and inks on a cuff bracelet.

You can read more about Cynthia here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/Articles.asp?ID=296

When the Iced Enamels line came out, I fell in love with the idea of embossing powders over metal. Tim Holtz had done it a bit with his distress line, and so had a few others, but I jumped in when Iced Enamels showed up. Since then, I have been experimenting with all sorts of media just to see what would happen!

I did use the Perfect Pearls Medium but I found I liked the Stampendous clear embossing ink in the dauber even more. We will have some available at the site soon.

Here are a few more photos:

This is a series of Cappucino, Perfect Bronze, Interference Red, and Patina Green from the Patina set.

What I like about the Perfect Pearls is you can add color and some texture, but you don't lose detail, as you do in a heavier, thicker product like Iced Enamels. To me, I love the Iced Enamels because they have the lovely look of old graniteware....but they are too thick to use over a piece like the one above without losing all direction in the detail of the piece.

Perfect Pearls are also great for dusting over polymer clay before you bake it.....I do that A LOT.

This piece is one I have carried for well over 15 years: