Heat resistant glitter?

[Dreambelle]

I've looked at the glitter at Michael's and Hobby Lobby but can't find any that actually say the words heat resistant. Are they all ok or am I missing something? I would really like to add glitter to some of the christmas ornaments i'll be making.

[Diane B.]

The heat-resistant types of glitter are the ones sold for rubberstamping or decorating sweatshirts, etc. ...they're made from polyester and are often called holographic, etc.  Btw, don't get the ones called embossing powders though (from the rubberstamping dept) because they'll actually melt with heat.

There's more info on different types of glitter on this page, if you're interested:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/inclusions.htm
(...click on Glitters...)


HTH,

Diane B.

[Dreambelle]

Thank you so much!!

[Dolly Mixx]

i just used normal glitter on some of the charms i've made, which didn't melt.

[something_wierd]

I've never had any problems with cheapo glitter from the dollar section from Jo-Ann.  Works fine.

[Diane B.]

"Cheap" glitters sold mostly for kids (often gold, silver, red, blue, etc., in larger particle size) can be a problem though... it does however depend on how they're used with clay, their thinness, their shape, and also the material they're made from and the coloring used on them (and how coloring was applied). 

I'd say it would always be prudent to check out a new glitter --or when using the same glitter but in a different way-- before subjecting it to heat (or if you'll be allowing it to sit in raw clay for awhile because of potential bleeding).


Here are a few things from the page I linked to below:

For use with polymer clay, the inexpensive "craft" glitters, that tend to be in larger pieces (and often made from aluminum), don't take heat well, and can curl up.
... if used as an inclusion, these glitters can then stick up from the surface of the clay looking like "coconut" after baking
....I bought a mix of glitter with small shapes (stars) in it; the really tiny glitter worked fine, but the stars curled up
.......now I make a small test when I buy a new kind of glitter to use with clay. Jody
...some of the glitters also change colors (in the heat?). Sarajane (...only the cheaper ones?)


(Of course, there'd be no problem in using any type of glitter on clay without heat or plasticizer contact.)


Diane B.

[darkdaughter]

Using glitter as an inclusion, I've never had a problem. On occasion, having it on the surface, opalescent glitters have darkened a bit. Of coarse, you can always mix it with your sealer and brush it on after you've baked. By the way, I only buy the cheapo plastic glitter from Joanne's. I also use cosmetic glitter that comes in those stacks from Claire's and Hot Topic ... those have never given me a problem.

Diane is right ... if you're unsure, test it!

[Diane B.]

Also, don't forget that "cheap" glitter can also be --and always used to be-- metal, not plastic... and that can behave differently in some situations.

Anyone who tries especially the real-metal glitters with clay in any way that also involves heat, please report back with any specifics... TIA!


Diane B.