(click on the pics to enbiggan)
I am an oxymoron in the creative realm: I have an acute aversion to getting my hands messy. And, I'm not ashamed to admit it. But there are a few things (a select few things, mind you) that I'm willing to put up with, in order to get the result I want.
And that butterfly, with his coat of shimmery navy micro-fine glitter goodness, is one of 'em. *grin*
To get all, and only, the image details coated in this luscious stuff, I used Sticky Stuff embossing powder (Ranger also offers a similar product, Sticky Embossing Powder)That stuff is, in a word, BOMB!!! As I said in the video, it comes in two different size jars, but if you love the stuff as much as I do, only the big jar will do. LOL!
"Special effect" embossing powders like this are a fantastic way to adhere things like glitter/micro fine glitter, flock, foils, sand and yes, even coffee grounds (!) to a stamp image's details!
Tips for working with "Sticky" embossing powders:
- Use a well-inked pigment ink (or an embossing ink such as Versamark or Distress Embossing Ink) to stamp your images; if the pigment ink is on the drier side, there may not be enough glycerine to make the powder stick to the paper surface long enough to get it to emboss
- I generally like to use the same color pigment ink as the color of glitter I will be applying over the top; if there are any gaps the glitter does not stick to, they will be camoflauged by the pigment ink underneath
- When heating, keep your heat tool a little further distance than you normally would with regular embossing powder. Watch it closely! You want to heat this powder just enough to make it turn "wet" looking, moving to the next area immediately as it turns wet and then back off; overheating will cause it to cure/harden and then it will no longer be tacky/sticky
- If there are any grainy areas remaining, hit them quickly with the heat tool to melt the powder
- If you have a ceiling fan on, turn it off. If there's a breeze coming through your window, shut it. Otherwise, as you start to pour the micro-fine glitter over the top, you'll end up with more on you than your project. Ask me how I know... ;)
- With micro-fine glitter, I find I prefer the finished effect if I "burnish" it into the sticky embossing powder until all the image is completely glittered and there is no sticky/tacky feeling left to the touch; ditto if I'm using flock. You can then go over it with a soft brush to remove any remaining excess sticking to the paper without disturbing the glittery image itself
- With chunkier type glitters or things like sand and coffee grounds, I generally pour it on, place a piece of paper over top to "press" it into the sticky powder and then after I tap off the excess, I will reheat the image to harden/cure the embossing powder. This "locks" (or embeds) the chunky stuff into the powder
Enjoy this week's video right here or on our YouTube Channel! Thank you for watching and subscribing!
Happy, happy Mundane! ;)
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