Swellegant
May I present “Swellegant!” a wonderful line of metal coatings and colorants. I just LOVE these and I think you will too.
First are five different METAL COATINGS. Use these to coat most surfaces (polymer clay of course, but also metal, plaster, resin, wood, ceramic, and more!).
Once your piece is coated, you have four PATINAS to choose from, if you’d like to add age to your piece – rust, verdigris, dark antiquing... luscious!
Now how about a little color? Thirteen DYE-OXIDES are here to tantalize you. These are concentrated colors, but transparent and they act like patinas, soaking into the other layers of your piece and transforming all the layers. You can add multiple applications to build up the tint, or let it be just a whisper.
All the metal coatings, patinas and dye-oxides can be layered in any order, as many times as you want, here a dab, there a splash until you build up the look you want.
And finally, a CLEAR SEALANT will seal all your surface applications to preserve it just right, and keep you clean if you’re wearing a piece as jewelry. This sealant is made especially for use with these products and adds absolutely no shine to the piece.
I have been having a blast playing with these products – I think “Swellegant!” will be an exciting addition to your creative life!
STORAGE: Swellegant products work best when they are stored in a place where they won't get really hot or really cold (just like humans!)
PATINAs: You'll want to keep the patinas cool and moist as you work with them! You're creating a chemical reaction, and it needs the proper conditions, so a gentle spritz of water from time to time directly onto the piece, as the patina is working, will keep the rust/verdigris blooming more intensely! Dry patina stops oxidizing!
DYE OXIDES are concentrated colors, but yet.... transparent. They act rather like patinas, soaking into the other layers of your piece and transforming all the layers. You can add multiple applications to build up the tint, or let it be just a whisper. All the metal coatings, patinas and dye-oxides can be layered in any order, as many times as you want, here a dab, there a splash until you build up the look you want. Some prefer to use the dye oxides alone over metal, like brass stampings. In that case, a good tip would be: if your metal is flat and plain and lacking texture, rough it up just a little with some steel wool. If it is plated metal, then distress the finish with steel wool, or even a coarse nail relief block. Then, heat the metal with an embossing gun. Careful! It will be hot! Carefully sponge the dye oxides onto the hot metal.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES WHEN USING DYE OXIDES. You may also submerge the piece, suspending it from a piece of wire through a hanging hole, if you like. Let the dye oxide 'set' a moment, and then heat the piece again. At this time you may wish to add yet another coat of dye oxide to enrich the color. If you wish, you may continue to heat set, or just let it air dry. Let all of your metal coatings, patinas and dye oxides set, or cure, for 48-72 hours before sealing.
You can use the Swellegant finish. As always: be SURE your raw brass is clean and de-greased; if using plated brass, distress it a bit before adding a patina, metal coating or dye oxide.
HEALTH: Always work with supplies with good ventilation. Protect your clothes and hands with gloves/apron as the dyes stain! If you ever get anything in your eyes, flush with water. None of the Swellegant products will hurt your skin, but wash after using them, and if you are prone to sensitive skin, you will probably want to wear latex or vinyl gloves.
