On the way to fun creations there are always a few bloopers (or maybe more than a few ;-D) that occur. Many items hit that circular file, otherwise known as the garbage, and others end up being quite spectacular. I hope you enjoy seeing some of the "experiments" that occured along the way to the final 12 Tags of Christmas series.
Colored Pencil and Picket Fence Distress Stain
You know you have a fun idea, you can hardly wait to share it... oops you stamped it all too low on the tag to make the balance work. So you start all over - hmm... what to do with the old tag? Well, I like to experiment because I'm simply curious. What would the colored image look like with Picket Fence Distress Stain over top as well as underneath? The answer is - quite soft and beautiful!
Lesson relearned from tag #2 - position your key elements before beginning. Yes, I already knew this lesson, but in my excitement... oh well - we now get to see what colored pencil looks like stained with Picket Fence ;-D
Testing 101
Use those little tidbits that are left over after diecutting to test with! When trying something new and different, rather than using the key elements, I like to use the tidbits to test my ideas.
When I know what is going to work the best, THEN I'm ready to roll on my key elements :-D What an amazing time saver AND good use of these tidbits!
Remember how Tim suggested a nice thick layer of Rock Candy Distress Crackle paint. Well... sitting in my studio all alone on a Sunday, waiting and waiting for it to dry... finally giving up and taking my Heat It tool and ever so gently trying to coax it along... What could have been a beautiful piece... not so much! ha, ha! Lesson learned - leave it alone - do NOT heat Rock Candy Distress Crackle paint!
Thank goodness for innovation. Yes, on Tag 4 I waited for a very long time before realizing I might be at the studio all night, and all the next day, waiting for my project to dry. So I started all over with a nice thinned out layer which ended up being spectacular!
Cracked Glass Technique
In the mean time I had PLENTY of time to experiment and started trying to think of other ways I could achieve a similar look. So I decided to try an old standby I learned years ago - Cracked Glass. Inking my ornament with Distress Embossing Ink and applying a layer of UTEE. Heat, reink and apply a second layer...
and finally a third layer. As you heat the last layer you can alter the texture of the finished project. As you can see at the bottom of this ornament the texture is glossy and smooth - this is the UTEE completely melted. Up in the right hand corner you can see the bumpy texture - if you start melting the UTEE and then move on to a new section you can achieve a completely different look. The choice is yours!
As you can see I went with the completely smooth look.
Allow the UTEE to cool completely and then gently bend your project, cracking the UTEE. You can apply another layer of ink over the surface. It will seep into the cracks and create an even more dramatic look. So many choices, so little time :-D
Colorizing Metal Foil
As you can tell I had a LOT of time on my hands, so I decided to experiment a little further with a look that I then altered for my Mexican Tin Ornament on Day 6. Using Snow Cap Alcohol Ink Mixative I covered the surface of my foiled and embossed ornament. (See Tag 4 to learn how to create this ornament)
Apply a layer of alcohol ink using an alcohol ink applicator. Allow to dry for a few seconds and then use a sanding tool to brush away the top surface of alcohol ink products, exposing the now brushed foil beneath.
Such a striking look and SO very easy to do!
More UTEE Shrink Plastic Embellishments
Shrink plastic also comes in white. Create your embellishment as shared in our Tag 11 post.
Pigment ink also works beautifully as a release when stamping into hot UTEE or hot glue. I inked my stamp using the gorgeous Delicata gold ink.
Remove embellishment from the melting pot and drag across your non-stick craft sheet, immediately stamping as shown above. Allow stamp to sit until UTEE cools slightly, about 3-5 seconds, and remove.
Once again use the hot edge of the melting pot to refine your embellishment.
If you ended up trying this technique and created some pieces that didn't quite cut the mustard, you can still salvage them with this technique.
Clean up the edges of your embellishment by cutting away or melting away the excess UTEE. Place into a clean melting pot project pan, or something similar.
Heat with your Heat It tool, softening the surface, and sprinkle on glass glitter. Allow to cool and then pick up and release excess glitter.
You will end up with a gorgeous, embellishment with glass glitter embedded into the UTEE.
I hope you enjoyed seeing my experiments and "recovery tactics" from this last set of tags. Yes, when trying new things there are going to be quite a few that are questionable :-D Wishing you a stress-free, productive and creative week ahead!
