Randi's Review	Andrea's Review	Rachel's Review	Lynn Anne's Review

Review by Randi

Jacquard's Pearl Ex Pigments are little plastic jars of WOW! In their words, "It can be used to create a metallic sheen, pearlescent shimmer, or a variety of faux finishes." AND HOW! These are so much fun!

Pearl Ex Pigments are actually little jars of colorants that contain mica. They add such a trememdous sparkle that the photos just do not show. You can use them on a variety of surfaces for crafts and even home décor. They do require some sort of "binder" however, so you should use ink, a gum arabic, adhesive, or some other wet or sticky method of adhering the powders to your surface.

One very easy and simple way of using the Pearl Ex Pigments is stamping with VersaMark and then rubbing in your Pearl Ex such as I did in the title of this layout.

Cardstock: Prism
Spring Green Pearl Ex, Jacquard
VersaMark
Letter Stamps: Creative Mode
candle diecut, Mind's Eye
boy sticker, MAMBI
Permanent Glue Runner, Adhesive Tech

Another way to use the Pearl Ex is to mix it with water and Gum Arabic to create a paint. I painted the title diecut and also the back of the transparency on this layout.

Paper: Sticker Studio
Lemon Chiffon Fine Weave Magic Mesh
Metal Word Plates, JoAnn ScrapEssentials
Title diecut, Sarah Heidt Photocraft
Sky Blue Pearl Ex Pigment, Jacquard
Gum Arabic, Jacquard
Transparency, HP
Permanent Glue Runner, Adhesive Tech

Another thing to do with the "paint" you create is to make a custom background paper. This was a sheet of white cardstock. I loved the shining background that resulted.

White Cardstock
Yellow Cardstock
Blue Pearl Ex Pigment
Gum Arabic, Jacquard
Stamps: Leave Memories
Ink: Pearl Ex, Jacquard
Transparency, HP
Flower brads
Ribbon
Permanent Glue Runner Adhesive Tech

You can also combine the Pearl Ex with some Krylon and make a super background! In this layout I used a spray on adhesive then rubbed my Pearl Ex powders into it. I sprayed black webbing over the top of it all and the resulting paper looked like someone had drizzled chocolate all over it -- much like the kids in the layout!

Beige Cardstock, Prism
White cardstock
Mink,Brilliant Yellow,True Blue, Interference Red Pearl Ex, Jacquard
Spray Adhesive, Krylon
Webbing Spray, Krylon
Black Soot Distress Ink, Tim Holtz, Ranger
Quote Sticker, Sticko by EK Success
Embossed Sticker words, Life's Journey, K & Co
Twill tape, FBTY
Computer Font, Space Toaster
A Fine Line, Adhesive Tech
Permanent Glue Runner, Adhesive Tech

There are over 50 colors available so you are sure to find just the ones needed for your project. Some of them are a bit unusual and deserve special mention. These are the "interference" colors. In the jar they don't appear to be anything special, and if you use them on a light color paper you will wonder if Jacquard played a trick on you!

However, when you use them on dark paper it is like magic! Beautiful, shimmering color appears! These special colors will add so much to your greeting cards and layouts!

As a general rule, I love the products from Jacquard and Pearl Ex is not an exception to that! If you would like to have some FUN and some shining, brilliant colors to add to your projects, you need to check out the Pearl Ex Pigments. They are excellent!

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Review by Andrea

I have experimented with Pearl Ex for at least a couple years now, usually using it in the same way: stamping an image in Versamark then dusting the image with Pearl Ex. I was not only excited about the opportunity of an increased color palette, but also trying projects from the idea book. I was not disappointed in the least!

The beautiful powdered pigments called Pearl Ex are available in 45 colors, are color fast, non-tarnishing, acid free, non-toxic and very finely ground. It has a smaller particle than detail embossing powder as a comparison. The pigments come packaged individually or in 12, 24, or 32 piece sets. There is a wonderful range of metallic colors and brighter tones also. Pearl Ex shows up the best on dark color backgrounds. The sparkling colored particles really shine and glisten from the contrast. I find that the colors frequently "shift" as you move the project under the light. It is a really appealing effect.

A little powdered pigment goes a long way! I wanted to tint the white modeling paste I was using for a monogram project and Pearl Ex came immediately to mind. Pearl Ex is ideal to mix with paint, clay, gel medium or paste as it blends very easily. I added the powder to the paste and mixed it until I was happy with the tint. Upon drying, the paste has not only the color of the Pearl Ex, but also the slight sparkle from the metal characteristics of the pigment.

Products used:
Paper (Stampin' Up! and Making Memories)
Pearl Ex (Jacquard, Duo Red-Blue)
Modeling Paste (Liquitex)
Ribbon (Michael's Textured Trios)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Glue Runner)

I had to create at least one project for this review using my old standby of Versamark ink sprinkled with Pearl Ex! I used a color that I don't normally use just to be a little different. I also used it on light cardstock for a more subtle effect.

Products used:
Paper (Stampin' Up! and Die Cuts With A View)
Pearl Ex (Jacquard, Aztec Gold)
Stamp (Stampin' Up!)
Ink (Tsukineko Versamark, Brilliance Graphite Black and Colorbox Fluid Chalk Charcoal)
Fabric, Ribbon and Pin (unknown)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Glue Runner)

My next project is one that I've been wanting to try for about 2 years! I saw a couple cards in a stamping magazine using this technique and had to try it. I finally made the time to complete this project for this review and was very happy with the results. The brown stamped images are actually stamped in sweetened condensed milk, heated with a heat gun then sprinkled with Pearl Ex! The condensed milk actually remains tacky after heating which is a perfect medium to capture the pigment powder. The cloud background was created using Versamark around a cloud template then sprinkled with Pearl Ex. This layout was a perfect addition to a Book of Me that I'm working on.

Products used:
Paper (National Cardstock, Provocraft and Die Cuts With A View)
Pearl Ex (Jacquard, Flamingo Pink, Misty Lavender, Brilliant Yellow, Spring Green, Sky Blue)
Stamps (Stampin' Up! and Sunday International)
Ink (Stampin' Up! and Tsukineko Versamark)
Mod Podge (Plaid)
Brads (Joann's)
Ribbon (Offray)
Sweetened Condensed Milk (Magnolia)
Workable Fixative (Krylon)
Cloud Template (Stampin' Up!)
Font (2Peas Favorite Things)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Glue Runner and The BORDERline)

On the next project, I tried a couple of different techniques. I Versamarked the large semi-circle and sprinkled it with a combination of Pearl Ex powders. I wanted to tone down the brightness of the retro paper and add a little shimmer at the same time. I thought it was a good match to the retro style of this layout. Another technique I used was to add Pearl Ex to clear embossing powder to create a unique color. Since I used the Pearl Ex already on the layout, I continued the color onto the stamped title letters. It worked beautifully and really coordinated well with the whole project. Yet another layout for the Book of Me! Yeah Baby!

Products used:
Paper (Sassafras Lass Dapper Dan and Stampin' Up!)
Pearl Ex (Jacquard, Silver and Pearl White)
Tags and Cardstock Stickers (Sassafras Lass Dapper Dan)
Stamps (Leave Memories It's Bottlecaps and Club Scrap Mosaic Twist Letters)
Ink (Tsukineko Versamark)
Embossing Powder (Stampin' Up! Crystal Clear)
Labels (Dymo)
Markers (Creative Memories Precious Element Silver and Verdigris)
Cording (Stampin' Up! Silver)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Glue Runner and A Fine Line...)

I really enjoyed working with Pearl Ex! My comfort level with this product has greatly increased and I feel that I can incorporate it into almost any project that I create. The versatility never stops with this product! Go buy some now!

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Review by Rachel

I was quite a bit nervous about doing this review to be quite honest with you. I have had a set of Pearl Ex Pigment Powders for over a year and had not figured them out. You can just imagine my response when I received a box of 44 different colors of Pearl Ex Pigment Powders. I was so relieved to find out that there was a technique and tip book included. The first thing I did was sit down and read that book through several times. You can see my review on the Perfectly Pearl Ex Tips and Technique Book here.

Pearl Ex Pigment Powders come in two different sizes. You can purchase them in a 3 gram size or a 21 gram size. We received the 3 gram size and I still have more than enough after doing several different projects. The 3 gram size sells in several different options. You can purchase in sets of twelve which are called “Series”. Each “Series” retails for about $27.00. There are three “series” at this time. You can also purchase Pearl Ex Pigment Powders in a big set of 32 colors for around $60.00 retail. This is the best deal because it ends up being $1.88 each color. Not bad at all! They also have sets of 4 colors available at a retail value of $10.50. Another option for those who love to watercolor is the Pearl Ex Pigment Powder Palette. These palettes hold ten different colors and retail for about $20.00.

After reading Perfectly Pearl Ex, I was excited and nervous to start playing and experimenting. The first couple of things I did were just very easy cards. I stamped images and heat embossed them and then used the Pearl Ex Pigment Powders mixed with Gum Arabic to watercolor in the stamped images. These images are so beautiful in real life. The pictures just don’t do them justice at all. When using the Pigment Powders as watercolors, a little bit goes a very long way. Do not throw out your excess paint. You can re-use it after it dries with just a spritz of water. In fact, I am going to invest in an empty palette so I can have a permanent place to store them once they are dry.

Live Well Card:

Products used:
Pearl-Ex Powders: Sky Blue – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Pink Gold – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Reflex Violet – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Spring Green – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Brilliant Yellow – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Cardstock: Med. Herbal Green – Prism
Dk. Majestic Purple – Prism
Lt. Candle Glow – Prism
Dk. Island Mist – Prism
Lt. Razzleberry – Prism
White – Prism
Ink: Versamark – Tsukineko
Violet – Interference color – Pearl-Ex – Jacquard
Embossing Powders: Clear – Mark Enterprises
Black – Stamp N Stuff
Stamps: Sentiment – Ribbon Stamps – Leave Memories
Flowers – Denami Design
Fixative: Gum Arabic – Jacquard
Adhesive: Permanent Glue Runner – Adhesive Tech

The next project I did was way too much fun! I decided to get brave and make a textured background on my card. I used the Perfectly Pearl Ex technique book to walk me through each step and was pleasantly surprised at how easy this background came together. It looks like it should have taken me forever but really it only took about five minutes. I sponged Versamark all over my background and then I melted clear UTEE all over it. I then painted on the Pearl-Ex Pigment Powders. The Pigment Powders stuck to the places where there wasn’t clear UTEE. This background is absolutely gorgeous. To get a closer look at any of my projects, please visit here .

Dress Card:

Products used:
Pearl-Ex Powders: Antique Bronze – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Grey Lavender – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Pearl White – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Cardstock: Black – Prism
Lt. Majestic Purple – Prism
Ink: Versamark – Tsukineko
Embossing Powder: Black – Stamp N Stuff
Clear UTEE – Suze Weinberg
Ribbon: Purple Organza – Offray & Sons, Inc
Adhesive: Permanent Glue Runner – Adhesive Tech
Pop Dots – Stamp Art

With each project and experimentation, I was getting more and more confident. I decided that I would make my own snowflake background on the following layout. This was very easy to do but yet adds such a beautiful effect to my layout.

Snow Scenes:

Products used:
Pearl-Ex Powders: Silver – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Micro Pearl – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Cardstock: Bazzill
Vellum: Hobby Lobby
Stamps: Snowflakes – Stampabilities
Alphabet Stamps – Bold Outline – Creative Mode
Ink: Versamark – Tsukineko
Embossing Powder: Silver Pearl – Hero Arts
Fixatif: Krylon
Fixative: Gum Arabic – Jacquard
Nailheads: Unknown
Adhesive: Permanent Glue Runner – Adhesive Tech

My last project was so easy! I used dry Pearl Ex pigment powders over some Versamark to make these beautiful fall leaves. Once finished, I sprayed with a Fixative so that the powders wouldn’t be rubbed off. Tip: If you use Gum Arabic and watercolor with the Pearl Ex Pigment Powders, you will not need to use a fixative. Any other time be sure to use a fixative over your project. Unfortunately, Pearl Ex Pigment Powders do not show up their beauty when scanned or photographed. Their beauty has to be enjoyed in person. Also the Pearl Ex Pigment Powders do look different depending on the background color you are using whether it is light or dark. The interference colors are too much fun. You can use those on just dark backgrounds or you can mix them with other colors to make them more transparent. Experimentation is a necessary, fun, and messy evil!

Fall Fun Card:

Products used:
Pearl-Ex Powders: Interference Green – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Super Bronze – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Antique Gold – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Red Russett – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Super Copper – Pearl Ex – Jacquard
Cardstock: Black – Prism
Dk. Majestic Purple – Prism
Magic Mesh: Gold – Magic Mesh
Ink: Versamark – Tsukineko
Gold – Pigment ink – Stampabilities
Fixatif: Krylon
Glitter Spray: Krylon
Stamps: Leaf – Stamp Craft
Sentiment – Ribbon Stamps – Leave Memories
Adhesive: Permanent Glue Runner – Adhesive Tech

In conclusion, even though I started out quite scared to death about this product; I now have a new outlook on the Pearl Ex pigment powders. I am in love with them. Here’s a secret. I am so not an artsy person but I love these pigment powders. I would suggest that when you buy these that you get the idea book. It will help you tremendously! I think beginner scrapbookers and advance scrapbookers will enjoy this product. For the beginner, it adds a glitz and glamour to a project with little work. For the Advanced, it will look like you spent a lot of time on something and well, that will just be our little secret! I highly recommend this product.

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Review by Lynn Anne

A quantity of jars of Pearl Ex Pigments by Jacquard, such as the 32-count set, or even the 12-count Series Two kit, is a beautiful, shimmery, colorful thing. I have tried using jars of paint in the past that looked similar to these powdered pigments in the pot, but were disappointingly sheer when I went to apply them to my projects. The joy of working with the unadulterated pigment powders, or of being able to make my own paints from them, was that I had a lot more control over the looks I was able to achieve. With the variety of different mediums available to use with these (two mediums made by Jacquard, powdered gum arabic and Dorland’s Wax, will have reviews published here in a couple of days), this product has many possible applications for scrapbooking or other art projects. I had both the 32-count set and the Series Two 12-count kit to play with.

A fairly standard way to use powdered pigments is to apply them directly to the page, using stamping inks to stick them to the paper. For this Thank You card, I used a Versamark ink pad and a three-layer stamp set. I stamped the base image, dusted it with Pearl Ex pigments, then brushed off the excess. I then stamped a second image over the first one, dusted that with a second color, and again dusted the excess. The last layer was applied with plain black ink. The resulting butterfly shimmers beautifully in person, and this application method is quick and easy. Over a light paper, the effect is gentle. Over a dark paper, it can be quite dramatic. The final project was coated with a finishing spray to keep the pigment from rubbing off with handling.

Products used:
Pearl Ex Pigment Powders by Jacquard
Ink by Versamark
Distress Ink by Ranger (Tim Holtz)
Black Ink by Stampin' Up!
Stamps by Stampin' Up!
Paper by PSX
Cardstock by Bazzill
The Border Line and A Fine Line Adhesives by Adhesive Tech

The layout below uses an overlay, where the title has been cut from cardstock, and whatever is placed beneath becomes the color and texture of the lettering. For this, I coated a piece of white cardstock with Pearl Ex pigments applied in a few different ways. First, I placed yellow paint over part of the area, then dusted it with a bright yellow pigment to add sparkle before the paint dried. I then made a paint of Pumpkin Orange by mixing four parts of the pigment with one part of Jacquard’s powdered Gum Arabic (a binder which turns wet pigment into watercolor paint) and mixed it with a little water. Finally, I filled in the blank areas with an ink pen with a brush tip, dusted them with additional pigment, and brushed off the excess.

Products used:
Pigment Powders by Jacquard
Perfect Pen by Ranger (brush tip)
Paint (Disney Funny Shoes Yellow) by Plaid
Ribbon by Really Reasonable Ribbon
Letter stickers by American Crafts
Cardstock by Stampin' Up!
Overlay by Legacy Keepsakes (Birthday)
Short Cuts Spray Paint by Krylon (tanzanite)
Gold Webbing Spray by Krylon
Pen by Stampin' Up! (black)
White Cardstock by Making Memories

Here was a place I didn’t expect to use these pigments, but couldn’t resist once I saw the project in the store. This was an ‘8 and up’ paint kit I found in a craft store while searching for a gift I could personalize for Father’s Day. The lighthouse design was printed on a plaque that looks like a piece of slate. I immediately pictured the design colored using the shimmering Pearl Ex pigments, and had to try it out. I tossed the paints that came with it, and used Pearl Ex on every inch of the project.

For the flowers in the bottom left of the slate, I experimented with some of the ‘interference’ colors. I haven’t yet seen a really good explanation of what an ‘interference color’ is, but it’s sort of a tinted sheer pigment that, when applied along with another color, changes that color just slightly. For some flowers, I applied Making Memories paint. I then added Interference Gold to the same paint and added more flowers using the altered color. I added some more using Interference Blue instead. I tried similar variations using the green paint for the leaves. The colors changed just enough to give a little variety to the colors of the leaves and flowers, as they would have in life.

Most of the rest of the design was painted with pigments that had been mixed with Gum Arabic into a watercolor paint. I wasn’t sure how well the watercolor would work on this surface, but I was able to create a nice opaque solution by varying the amount of water I added. The lighthouse, sky, and clouds were colored with pigments that had been mixed into Dorland’s Wax medium, also by Jacquard. The result was a creamy mixture that glided onto the project, and rubbed in beautifully. I finished the entire piece by rubbing it with a generous coat of Dorland’s Wax (without added pigment this time).

Products used:
Pearl Ex Pigments by Jacquard
Gum Arabic by Jacquard
Dorland's Wax by Jacquard
Paint by Making Memories (In Bloom collection)

My final two projects were created using Krylon’s Webbing Spray. I had seen this used with pigments for the first time in Jacquard’s "Perfectly Pearl Ex" publication, and I just had to try it. After spraying a few layers of gold webbing onto the black cardstock for the monogram card, I highlighted a few spots with pink and bronze pigments before the webbing dried, then brushed off the excess powder. I used the same technique on the S monogram, except that I used black webbing spray and included more colors of pigment powders for a floral effect.

Products used:
Cardstock by AC Moore
Pearl Ex Pigments by Jacquard
Gold Webbing Spray by Krylon
18 kt gold leafing pen by Krylon

Products used:
Monogram by PM Design
Black Webbing Spray by Krylon
Pearl Ex Pigments by Jacquard

There are dozens of other applications for these versatile pigments. The color and shimmer and artistic quality can make a mundane project memorable. And though using them in a paint or wax form does take a step or two more than applying the pigment directly, I found that I loved having the control that I got mixing the pigments with my own mediums for individual projects. Pearl Ex pigments are a ‘stash staple’ for the paper artist who appreciates the shimmery colors, and wants to add a splash of something special to stamping or scrapbooking projects.

For more information visit Jacquard Products.