Thrifty Thursday Featuring 'Swellegant'

Hello Thrifty Reader! I am diverting slightly today to show you a recent "THRIFTY" project. 

I have been working with Polymer Clay for about 2 years. We all know that you have to start somewhere with a new craft and that those first projects don't always turn out like you envision. I hate to throw things away if they might have a use...someday, so I have a bit of a hoarding streak. 

Recently I discovered the product Swellegant by Christi Friesen. This product line is quite amazing. Here is her website description:

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 three 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.

I have been experimenting with Swellegant copper & Tiffany/Rust patina for about 2 weeks. I LOVE this product. It is literally transforming.  

A few days ago I dug out all the ugly orphan beads I had in a ziplock and strung them on a wire.  I painted on 2 coats of my copper Swellegant, let it dry and then added a third per the directions and while damp added patina. 

The 'before' shot ~ all the mismatched orphans

The 'during' shot~ all painted with the copper coating.

Patina added and drying

Once all the beads were dry I sealed them. I strung them in 3 strands with some coordinating acrylic beads in a turquoise shade.  I wish I had added a lot more patina to these, but over all I am happy with the result. It's certainly chunky, clunky and funky but I am glad that these orphans have found new life in a cohesive look. It's light weight and since I have a lot of turquoise in my wardrobe it will be at home on my wrist.
Have a great Thrifty Thusday ~ and as always , Thanks for looking~

If you would like to learn more about this product check out the following links:  

Christi Friesen's Home  page  http://store.cforiginals.net/swmecoco.html
B'sue Boutique  http://www.bsueboutiques.com/pi_swellegant_metal_coatings.shtml
B'sue video tutorial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir7LDGellDU