« My "That's Clever" Episode: Mailboxes & Fenceposts & Coasters, Oh My! | Main | A Giveaway... And a Favor »

I just received the April issue of PolymerCAFÉ, which contains my first magazine article, "Glowing Beads." It's a tutorial for using alcohol inks with glow-in-the-dark clay to create jewelry that looks beautiful in the daytime but still glows at night. (If you read it, I'd love to hear what you think!)

Studio by Sculpey Satin GlazeOne of the products I used in the article — and have found myself using more often lately — is Studio by Sculpey's Satin Glaze. Polyform sent me a bottle to try, and I have to say I was initially skeptical. I had bought some Sculpey glaze years ago and remembered it being thick and gunky and practically unusable. I wasn't expecting other glazes from them to be significantly different.

I was impressed, though. The new glaze has a very thin consistency — barely thicker than the Future Floor Finish I often use to glaze my polymer clay pieces. And I like that the Satin finish (they also have a Glossy version) has a very subtle, muted look, not shiny like most glazes. It's perfect if you like a matte finish but need to "set" a surface treatment (like alcohol inks or an ink-jet transfer).

One of the main advantages of this product is that it's made to be oven-safe at polymer clay temperatures. While I have put Future-glazed products in the oven, it's the kind of thing where I'm not sure whether I should (and I get really nervous telling other people to). Studio by Sculpey's glaze can even be applied before baking, which could be handy if you have portions of a piece that you want glazed and portions you don't. Instead of having to be extra-careful with your paintbrush, you can paint the pieces you want glazed before assembly.

Another problem with using Future for polymer clay is that Future is intended to be removed. So certain products (like alcohol) strip off Future glaze. The Studio glaze, on the other hand, is permanent after baking.

While you don't have to bake the glaze, I've heard a couple of people mention that baking the glaze changes its finish for the better. One of my guild's members mentioned it seemed to eliminate the brush strokes, and Cindy Lietz says it seems to soak into the clay.

While there's a lot to like about this glaze, I'm not crazy about the mess it makes. I always applied Future with my fingers. It seemed like that was the best way to apply just the right amount without getting bubbles, pools, or brush strokes. (Or maybe I just like to get my hands dirty!) I tried this once with the Studio glaze, and ended up with a real mess. It really sticks to your hands, and it's probably harder to wash off than your average dried-on acrylic paint. Even when I use a brush or Q-tip, I have to be careful to wash any drips I get on my hands quickly if I don't want tale-tale signs that I've been crafting.

I tend to like a matte look, so I'm primarily reviewing the Satin glaze here. But I did buy the Glossy glaze to give it a try. It's comparable to Future in glossiness. It seems slightly thicker than the Studio Satin glaze version, though still nothing close to Sculpey's old gloppy glaze. I had a little trouble applying it without being bothered by brush strokes. But that may be more a problem with my technique than the product. Like I said, I always applied Future glaze with my fingers for that very reason. So for folks who like a shiny finish (and are good with a paint brush!), the Glossy glaze may be worth a try.

As for me, I definitely like the Satin product better than Future. While it's more expensive than Future (a 2 oz. bottle of Studio glaze costs $4.99 on Amazon vs. $8.49 for 27 oz. of Future), the thin consistency means a small bottle will last a long time. Considering it's bakeable and more permanent than Future, I think it's worth the price. And the Satin finish makes it fairly unique as far as finishes go — great for projects that need a protective coat without a glossy look.

Summary

  • Pros:
    • Thin consistency is an improvement over the old Sclupey glaze formula.
    • Oven-safe at polymer clay temperatures.
    • More permanent than Future floor finish.
  • Cons:
    • Difficult to wash off hands.
    • Not as good a deal as Future.
  • Who It's Good For:
    • Anyone who uses faux or surface techniques that benefit from a non-glossy finish.
    • Folks who often find themselves wanting to bake again after they've already glazed.

Reviewed Materials Source / Disclaimer: This product was given to me by the manufacturer for review purposes. No further compensation was received. I always strive to be honest and unbiased in my reviews, but your results with the product may vary.

Comments

I was sceptical about anything Studio after I tried their clay but their glazes are great. I love it for just giving a polished look to items. It has lasted a long time because you only use a little for each item because it is so thin. This glaze has my vote.

Great review Angela! I really like the Studio by Sculpey Glaze. I find that heat setting in the oven will usually 'fix' those brush strokes if there are any. Or you can always put on another coat. It's way better than that gloopey stuff they used to make.

Another neat trick is to add alcohol ink to the Studio glaze to get a cool tinted finish. Great if you want to get an aged finish.

Congrats on the article btw! I love alcohol ink with Glow in the Dark clay! It doesn't take away the glow properties the same way using a colored clay to tint it does. Makes it much more interesting too, since everything you want to glow doesn't have to be green. :-)

Congrats, your beads are beautiful.

I've been making glow in the dark Goddess and moon beads. Awesome fun.

I had tried Sculpey glaze on my polymer clay years ago and am glad to hear it's been improved upon.

My issue is I'm mostly a matte person. I want true matte Sculpey Glaze. That's what I'm hoping for...

I saw your article in Polymer Cafe! Great job. It is definitely the highlight of the issue. I always thought glow in the dark clay was for kids, but now I see this isn't always the case.

So glad you posted this review! After trying Sculpey glaze years ago and hating it I never, ever would have tried this without your post.
I *love* this glaze! I've had no problems with brushstrokes and I love the shine.
Thanks!

Glad to hear that several of you have also tried & liked the Studio by Sculpey glazes! And thanks to you all for your kind words about the article. I hope to have more articles coming soon -- and after the crash course in photography writing this book gave me, the photos on future articles should be much improved!

Cindy, Thanks for the tip on adding alcohol inks to the glaze. Sounds like an interesting thing to try!

Karen, You might just give the Satin a try, if you haven't already. It's really not much of a shine, and you might find that it would work for some of your pieces.

hi,
I have a ploblema with "satin glaze studio by sculpey Vernis," has formed on the bottom 1 cm (or 39 inch) of installation, very consistent. I wanted to ask if you know a way to dissolve the pose that is at the bottom. I poured the liquid surface so that I can do about laying sticky.
Please reply privately if you can, I'd be very happy. I'm sorry for my incorrect English.
thanks

Hi Marika, I sent an email but also wanted to add my comments here in case others have the same question or want to suggest alternate answers...

Unfortunately, I haven't experienced this hardening and don't have a good answer. But I would recommend running the closed bottle under some warm water to see if that helps soften the stuff at the bottom. Good luck!

Hi! just wanted to say thank you for the review. I'm new to sculpting and had no idea what finish to use, all I knew is I didn't want a strong sheen and something protective. This works perfectly, and seems more protective than the matte spray I also picked up.. so thank you for the great review.

About this Site

CraftyGoat's Notes is all about sharing polymer clay tips & tricks that have worked for me. (And even a few that haven't!)

Read more about CraftyGoat's Notes...

Buy My Book

Archives

Enter your address to get CraftyGoat's Notes by email:

Delivered by FeedBurner