Painting Clay with Shimmering Eyeshadow: A How To Guide
I’m not one for wearing makeup, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy using it in my craft projects. Have you seen how gorgeous some of the new eye shadow colors are? Just the other week, when @TheRaggleTaggleGypsy’s vibrant, color-shifting powders appeared in my IG feed, I couldn’t wait to hit the order button and see if I could paint clay with shimmering eyeshadow.
Just look at those luminous silky, metallic colors.
And depending on the angle of the light the colors change. It’s soooooo pretty.
A photo doesn’t do it justice no matter how hard I tried.
I hope this short video gives you a better idea.
In this easy craft tutorial, I’ll show you how to use pearlescent eyeshadow to paint clay objects and add a multi-dimensional shimmer. But, before we get there, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!
What you need
- Pearlescent summering eyeshadow
- Soft paintbrush
- Clay (air-dry or polymer)
- Artist fixative, setting spray, or clear spray on varnish
How to paint clay with shimmering eyeshadow
To demonstrate how to use sparkly eyeshadow to add a shimmer to clay, I made a few quick and easy mushrooms using oven-bake clay. You’ll find a few more clay projects using the same technique towards the end of this post.
Quick and easy clay mushrooms
First up, making some clay mushrooms. I have two in-depth clay mushroom tutorials on the blog that you can use for this part.
These eyeshadow mushrooms are a variation of the second tutorial so I won’t bore you with all the details.
I did brush a neutral eyeshadow on the clay before baking. I had this weird notion in my head that the mushrooms should be a skin tone to get the right effect. It’s not necessary at all. I played around with a few more clay projects afterwards and the color is as intense.
Anyhooos, bake the clay mushrooms according to the manufacturer’s instructions and leave them to cool down completely. Find a few twigs and a willing purr baby helper to make mushroom stalks.
If you want to keep your stalks shimmer free and natural, put them to one side while you give the tops an eyeshadow makeover.
Painting clay with shimmery eyeshadow
Now for the fun part; giving your clay creations a shimmery makeup makeover. You can use your fingers or a brush to apply the mica powder. Go slow and don’t overload your paintbrush (or finger). A little goes a loooong way. A little also goes everywhere 😀
To intensify the pearlescent effect, dip your paintbrush in a little water before brushing the eyeshadow on the clay. It makes the colors more intense. You can also use your fingers. The warmth and natural oils on your skin help the powder “melt” into the clay.
Excuse the grubby plaster. We have a new puppy and she accidently nipped my finger when I gave her a treat. Aren’t those colors just gorgeous though?
When you’re happy with the shimmer, seal the eyeshadow with a clear spray paint.
Artist fixative will also work.
Wait for the sealer to dry before gluing the twig stalks to the mushroom tops.
FAQs
Can you use shimmering eyeshadow on air-dry clay?
Yup. The technique works on both air-dry clay and polymer (oven-baked) clay. The clay hamsa below was made using air-dry clay.
How much do you need?
A little goes a loooooong way. I hardly made a dent in mine.
What eyeshadow colors can I use?
I tried three colors and they all created beautiful chameleon-like effects on the clay. Play around with different shades to create drama and contrast. Lighter shades work well to create highlights, while darker shades are great for adding shadows and depth.
Should I use a special brush?
Nope, any old brush will do, as long as the bristles are clean and soft. You can also use a makeup sponge or your finger tips.
Can you add the eyeshadow to the clay before baking?
I didn’t try that, but most pearlescent eyeshadow powders are mica mixed with other stuff like talc, silica, vitamin E, and oils to create the shimmer.
Mica can be added both before and after baking clay, so there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work if you add the eyeshadow before baking. The neutral eyeshadow I added before baking the mushroom tops did come out a little darker though. Experiment and let me know in the comments how it turns out.
If you like the idea of painting clay with shimmering eyeshadow, don’t forget to pin the tutorial for later.
Sharing is caring.
Oh, and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: Clicking on the links below, means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us make more amazing crafts to share with you 😉
![Crayola Air Dry Clay (5lbs), Natural White Modeling Clay for Kids, Sculpting Material, Bulk Craft Supplies for School Classrooms [Amazon Exclusive]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41aDJyks7kL._SL160_.jpg)
And if you prefer to buy rather than DIY, perhaps these beauties will appeal.
And as always, wishing you a wonderful, crafty week filled with laughter and love Thank you for popping in for a visit.
Wow, you have got my creative mind flowing now. I have trays of eyeshadows that I have no use for until now. Your projects never disappoint.
Yes!!!! Can’t wait to see what you come up with, Anita
This is genious and so goregous Michelle! I’m not one for makeup either but never thought about using it like this. btw, I believe that there shouldn’t be a problem with baking mica powder because I’ve used it in my fused glass work. Didn’t know you had a new puppy; hope she outgrows the nipping phase quickly :).
Oh lordy me too, Sara. Our new puppy is probably the most intelligent fur baby we’ve ever had and with that comes a whole bucket load of mischief while she’s figuring things out.
I made a clay trinket dish the other day to test baking mica powder, and it came out a teeny, tiny bit darker, but I’m okay with that. Now I’m on a mission to find old makeup to play around with 🙂