Stencilling on a budget - Part 3

Making your own glitter paste.

Ok folks, as promised the results of my experiment.

 

 

I think that's a brilliant result. Don't you?

 

Some cheapo kiddies glitter glue (from leading supermarkets) mixed with Tylose powder (available from good cake making shops or I got mine from C & C) to make a firm gel. (I sieved it in an blended well each time).

 

Place the card onto a magnetic sheet and pop the stencil on top. Mask off the edges with low tack tape, Scrape over the gel with a dedicated scraper or the edge of a palette knife. Carefully remove the masking tape and lift the stencil and VOILA !

Allow to dry and design your cards.

 

 Simples !

 

On this example I really like the tonal variations between the sections of high glitter and those with a lower concentration of glitter. I'm just blown away that this is so inexpensive but gives amazing results.

 

Although I love my job, I feel sometimes my talents are going to waste.

Any serious job offers considered. LOL

 

 OH WELL! school holidays are here. YIPPEE !!!!!!!

 

Yve Jaye



Stencilling on a budget part 2

Encouraged by my efforts at creating a budget embossing paste I've just finished trying it with glitter glue. As expected adding the talc made the mixture opaque, reduced colour to a pastel shade and had minimal glitter showing. It looks good though!
What could I use to thicken the mix enough so that it wouldn't just run under the stencil or collapse into a puddle when the stencil is lifted without compromising the transparency? Gelatine was my first thought, but that packet that I remember being in my kitchen cupboards must have gone out of date and been thrown because I just couldn't find it anywhere. OK..... think harder ........... I have gum Arabic or Tylose powder. I'm not really sure whether they are the same but I use Tylose powder to thicken roll out icing so it is easier to mould flowers without them losing their shape. However.... when mixed into glitter glue does it turn transparent? Only one way to find out. My first attempt was a disaster. I used about a quarter of a teaspoon in about two teaspoons of glitter glue and it just went into a lumpy mess. Second attempt and I added it very gradually, making sure to add in minute quantities (almost dusted in) and blend well each time. On my first, second and third attempts at stencilling with it, the results got gradually better. Fourth attempt ( and a fresh batch in gold) was just right. It needs to be quite gloopy. (If you've every made meringues you'll know what I mean when I say it needs to stand in peaks.) It retained transparency and didn't run.
The proof will really be in the drying but I am hopeful and will let you know soon how it turned out (with pictures). If it works, I will used the Tylose powder in with the /pearlescent paint to see if it works any better.

Fingers crossed !

Yve Jaye

Stencilling with embossing paste - on a budget

This week I have been thinking about Christmas cards and in particular this beautiful stag stencil. I saw it and just had to have it...... you know how it goes......right?!
Anyway...... I already had some embossing pastes from way back when Dreamweaver stencils first appeared on the market so I thought they'd be perfect to use.  Now ......... take a look at the images below. Do you notice any differences (aside from they are obviously facing in opposite directions)?

Another difference is ............the ones on the left are shinier because they are done with the Dreamweaver paste. The ones on the right are more of a matt finish but (and maybe this doesn't show too well) they do have a subtle shimmer.
Soooo........ is that all? you ask.... am I missing something?

Well ! not really except, the ones on the right are done with a paste I created myself at a fraction of the cost.
I used some cheap metallic paint available from most major supermarkets (bronze above and a glittery silver below) and I mixed it with PVA glue (binder) and .................................wait for it................................ talcum powder. Mix them all together to form the paste and "Bobs yer uncle" embossing paste on a budget. I am also going to try some other variations like glitter glues.
Since all the ingredients are for use with or on children I presume it to be non-toxic but I make no claims about that or about it being fire retardant. Having said that paper is flammable anyway so it seems a bit of a moot point.

SOOO.......If you like the idea of stencilling but can't afford the posh stuff have a try with this. I can't give you exact quantities but at a guess I would say 50/50 paint and PVA and just keep adding talc till it forms a paste. It doesn't want to be too runny or too firm. you'll just have to experiment with consistencies. The copper one has nice crisp edges because I did that firmer but the silver one was a bit runnier but it settled slightly which gave the edges a rounder finish.

OH ! and don't forget to store them in an airtight container.


Happy crafting!

Yve Jaye