Mica tea box pic for Sandra
By Lori
20 Dec, 2014
6 likes
Mica is a mineral which if found in a large enough size piece can be flaked to make a metallic glitter..or as I've used it here, as a reflective surface. You can vary the colour by what you use as your undercoat colour. For this I used black and gold.
Comments on this photo
What a lovely effect, do you stick the pieces of mica on with glue and then leave it as it is or varnish over?
Is that an old cigar box by any chance? Interesting looking old lock.
20 Dec, 2014
I bought the boxes at the local $ store, I have two others which I am doing in different finishes. One is faux Porphyry(sp.?) which involves using a spritzer, sponges and water soluble paints with interspersed coats of water based varnish.
Its a bit tedious trying to break the mica into sheets... they are only microns thick. I used polycoat, (a water soluble varnish) to stick the sheets to the box after sanding the base coat smooth. It is possible to cut the mica into shapes but this was the first time I had done it so I just took the shapes of the pieces as they came off the rock and fit them together as best I could. It needs another sanding and at least 2 more coats of varnish.
20 Dec, 2014
amazing craftwork, Lori, i'm awed
21 Dec, 2014
Fascinating, Lori ..
any chance some time you could make a blog, please, showing how you make the boxes, stage by stage, from mica block to finished article ?
25 Dec, 2014
Thanks Fran :-)
.. I could do that, Terra. It doesn't require great skill...just a bit of patience. first thing after the New Year, perhaps?
26 Dec, 2014
Found the photo ... incredible ... yes, a blog when you have the time please, Lori ... thanks. :o)
27 Dec, 2014
I have never Seen anything like it Lori. It looks amazing your talents are endless.:-)
20 Dec, 2014