How To Make Clay Earrings Glossy

If you are trying to figure out how to make clay earrings glossy, you have come to the right place. I’ll be explaining the different varnishes and sealers and how to apply them to make your polymer clay earrings glossy.

How To Make Clay Earrings Glossy

Polymer clay has taken the world by storm over the last two years and one of the most frequently asked questions is how to make clay earrings glossy. In this tutorial I am not only sharing the various options on how to make your polymer clay earrings glossy, but I am also sharing a complete tutorial on how to make them glossy as well.

Polymer clay is such a fun and versatile medium to work with. Since early 2020 polymer clay earrings, specifically, have taken the world by storm. People seem to love the versatility of polymer clay and they make particularly beautiful earrings that are durable and light weight.

Polymer clay in it’s cured state is naturally very matte. This can be a beautiful look for certain polymer clay earrings, but not everyone loves the matte look. Enter varnishes. There are many different ways to make clay earrings glossy and I am going to share my favorites with you in this post.

Resins are the most popular way to make clay earrings glossy. The process can be a little tedious, but the end result will give your polymer clay project such a stunning and glossy look.

This post may contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This post is in partnership with Kelci from Clay by K, many of the photos are hers.

Resin To Make Clay Earrings Glossy

Resin is a liquid-like material that hardens/cures over time or with the use of UV light. Once the resin has cured, it offers a beautiful shiny finish to many different craft projects and polymer clay earrings.

There are 2 types of resins commonly used in the craft and polymer clay world, so those are the two we will be talking about in this article.

This post may contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Types of Resin for Polymer Clay

I mentioned that there are two types of resin commonly used for getting a glossy finish on polymer clay or other craft projects, those two resins are Epoxy resin and UV resin.

UV resin is a great choice because with the help of a UV light, the UV resin will cure in about 8-10 minutes. Another advantage to UV resin is that there is no mixing involved, just pour the resin on the polymer clay earring, spread it and then place it under the UV light. The result will be a beautiful glossy shine that cures quickly and easily.

Epoxy resin is very similar to UV resin in its end result, but epoxy resin needs to be mixed prior to using. Epoxy resin comes with two parts, the resin material and the hardener – following the directions, they are simple to mix together prior to applying to polymer clay.

UV Resin For Polymer Clay

Many polymer clay artists prefer UV resin for their pieces. Let’s talk about some of the pros and cons of using UV resin on polymer clay.

Pros:

comes ready mixed in a bottle with tip
easy to pour and apply
cures very quickly and easily
can be cured using a UV light or sunlight
hardens nicely and offers a beautiful glossy shine to polymer clay

Cons:

UV resin(and resin in general) is highly allergenic, so proper personal protection equipment is highly recommended while working with resins
cures best with a UV light, which is an added cost
some brands leave a tacky feel on the pieces
UV resin has a tendency to yellow over time
some bubbles may occur(I’ll share how to fix that below!)

Epoxy Resin for Polymer Clay

Epoxy resin is preferred by some artists, so I thought it would be worth mentioning in this article. Let’s talk about some pros and cons of epoxy resin for polymer clay.

Pros:

offers shiny finish
simple to work with once mixed properly

Cons:

must be mixed prior to using
yellows over time
can leave a tacky feel if not cured properly
has a long cure time of 12-36 hours
bubbles due to the mixing process

Is Resin Toxic?

While resin is not technically acutely toxic, it is highly allergenic – meaning many people have a bad allergic reaction when coming into contact with resins. It is highly recommended that you always wear proper protection while working with resins. Gloves, respirator, apron and proper ventilation are a MUST when using UV or epoxy resins.

How To Apply UV Resin to Polymer Clay

Wear proper personal protective equipment
Have the cured polymer clay earrings ready
Start by gently squeezing the UV resin tube around the perimeter of the earrings, forming a complete circle
Next start to fill in the circle by dragging the tube back and forth between the lines of resin across the earring surface
Use a silicone brush to gentle encourage the UV resin to extend to the edges of the earrings, but not over the edges
Use a lighter or heat gun to pop any surface bubbles in the resin
Place under the UV light as directed by the manufacturer until cured

Can I make Clay Earrings Glossy without resin?

Yes, you absolutely can! Although I haven’t found anything that gives the exact look and glossy shine like resin, there are some options out there if you don’t want to go the resin route.

Liquid Polymer Clay To Make Clay Earrings Glossy

Not all liquid polymer clays are created equal, but there are a few on the market that offer a really beautiful gloss when cured correctly. Kato and Sculpey’s liquid clays are two of the best.

These liquid clays are perfect for getting that glossy shine on polymer clay earrings and they are especially good at protecting if you used acrylic paint, gold flakes, mica powder etc.

I wouldn’t say you get the best glaze, or shiny look with the liquid clays, but they are a pretty great resin alternative if that is what you are looking for.

There are also some different types of matte varnish if you need to seal your diy polymer clay earrings, but don’t want that glossy look. My favorite matte glaze or sealer is Dura Clear Ultra Matte. Take your time and use a nice brush to avoid brush strokes.

How Do You Gloss Clay Jewelry?

So many people are working with polymer clay these days and a very frequent question is how do you gloss clay jewelry. You have probably seen by now, that there are many different ways to gloss clay jewelry.

Some of the most popular ways to add a glossy or shine to your clay jewelry is with a glaze or sealer of some sort. We already mentioned liquid clays as a good option. Another great option is an acrylic sealer like polycrylic . This is a water-based protective finish gloss. This product gives quite a lot of shine to polymer clay jewelry and is relatively easy to work with.

Polycrylic for adding gloss to clay jewelry is a great tool, but one of the downsides would be that it can be bubbly. To avoid this, make sure you gently stir the product before applying and do not shake the can vigorously. This will create more bubbles in the product.

How To Apply Polycrylic To Gloss Clay Jewelry

I have found that the best way to apply this gloss to polymer clay jewelry is with a soft, good quality paint brush.

Gently mix the product, as not to create bubbles – do NOT shake the can. I like to keep a smaller container of the polycrylic so I don’t have to open the big can each time I need to use it.
Use a resin mat to place your polymer clay jewelry on and gently apply the polycrylic gloss to the fronts of the polymer clay jewelry. Allow ample time to dry and reapply as needed.
You will want your paintbrush to be thoroughly dampened by the product but not dripping a lot.
Avoid having to wipe the excess product off on the sides of the bowl, it will create more bubbles.
It is best to do several thin coats as opposed to one thick coat. Slow and steady here. If you try to take a shortcut to gloss clay jewelry you will regret it.
If there are drips or rough edges, the easy way to deal with that is to use a qtip or toothpick to wipe the edges before it cures or just wait until the glaze has cured and sand the edges of the polymer clay earrings.
Some people like to dip their jewelry in the polycrylic – I have seen all sorts of set ups where people use wire through the earring holes and have a set up with a dowel in a cardboard box to catch the drips. Think creatively here and I bet you can come up with something that works well for making your clay earrings glossy while avoiding a mess.

How Do You Shine Polymer Clay Earrings?

Another really great way to get a beautiful finish on polymer clay earrings is by using polishing cloths. These are best used after you’ve gone through the wet/dry sandpaper grits and have a nice smooth and sanded surface on your polymer clay earrings.

The polishing cloths will not give a shine like UV resin, but it gives a beautiful finish to polymer clay jewelry.

How Do You Make Clay Shiny Without Glaze?

You can sand and buff your polymer clay earrings to produce a beautiful shine without glazes, resins or sealers. My favorite sandpaper is the wet/dry sandpaper that works with water or without. You can pick it up at your local hardware store, or on amazon.

I like to start around 300 grit and work my way up to 1000 grit. Sanding under water will help keep dust down. Just slowly work through the different grits until you get to the really fine ones.

After you go through the various grits of sandpaper, it’s time to buff the clay earrings or jewelry. I like to use my dremel tool with felt buffing pads.

Supplies For Polymer Clay Resin

uv resin: https://amzn.to/3NEaodd uv lamp: https://amzn.to/3wmYNsW heat gun: https://amzn.to/3wAFewb silicone mat: https://amzn.to/3wqvRAc silicone tip brushes: https://amzn.to/3sHxcAK dremel: https://amzn.to/3lmgkLF respirator: https://amzn.to/3acWSyN gloves: https://amzn.to/3Mpxioj goggles: https://amzn.to/3acWSyN

How To Apply Resin To Polymer Clay Earrings

Wear proper personal protective equipment
Use your rolling pin or acrylic roller to flatten and condition your polymer clay
Then using your clay cutters or cookie cutters, cut the shapes you want for your clay earrings and bake them as usual
Have the cured polymer clay earrings ready

Start by gently squeezing the UV resin tube around the perimeter of the earrings, forming a complete circle

Next start to fill in the circle by dragging the tube back and forth between the lines of resin across the earring surface

Use a silicone brush to gentle encourage the UV resin to extend to the edges of the earrings, but not over the edges
Use a lighter or heat gun to pop any surface bubbles in the resin
Place under the UV light as directed by the manufacturer until cured

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Make Clay Earrings Glossy

Do I apply the glaze or resin to raw clay or baked clay?

You will want to bake your pieces first and make sure they are fully cured before applying the gloss, glaze, varnish etc.

Why is my resin or glaze sticky?

The curing process is super important whether you are using a resin or a glaze or varnish. Make sure to follow the directions closely and don’t skimp on the curing time. Uncured glazes or resins = sticky. No one wants that.

When do I drill my holes for jump rings and earring hooks? Before resin or after?

To avoid the resin or glaze getting in the polymer clay pieces hole, it is best to drill your holes after the glaze or resin has dried. I have found that is the best way to do it and it gives a more professional look in the end.

Premade holes will get clogged up with resin, you don’t want that.

How To make clay earrings glossy with resin and avoid the bubbles?

The last thing you want after you have worked so hard on your polymer clay earrings is to ruin them with resin bubbles. Luckily, this is an easy fix. There are two options here; you can pour the resin on and wait a few minutes for the bubbles to rise to the top, then grab a straw and gently blow the air bubbles and they will pop. Option two is to use a lighter to heat the air bubbles and this will also pop the bubbles in your resin.

Another tip is to just make sure that you are using a quality resin. This makes ALL the difference. Again, here is our favorite. https://amzn.to/3Uhpr0U

What Can I Use To Make My Clay Earrings Glossy?

The favorites for glossy clay earrings are UV resin, epoxy resin, liquid polymer clays and clear varnishes or glazes like Polycrylic.

How Do You Make Dry Clay Glossy?

There are so many ways. Uv resin, epoxy resin, sanding and buffing, varnishes and glazes. My post goes into more detail about each of these variations.

How Do You Make Clay Shiny Without Glaze?

The best way to make clay shiny without glaze is by sanding and buffing your pieces. See above for details.