<MysticMerm> www.cyberstampers.com/class/babette/polypin

<MysticMerm> EVERYBODY REV UP YOUR TOASTER OVENS....

<cindyc> oh these are way fun MM

<Janet> I'm ready! I got my clay under my legs

<Janet> (wearing no bra)

<debbie_in_> WHAT are we doing

<MysticMerm> POLYCLAY PEOPLE WITH THE MYSTIC MERMAID

<April> LOL its going to melt Janet...lol

<MysticMerm> www.cyberstampers.com/class/babette/polypin/

<kat> hi carole

<Janet> yeah, it might, it's nice here tonight.

<Carole> Hi, everyone.

<debbie_in_> oh ok...I am painting a shirt as I read this

<C_Lion> you feeling better janet?

<brenda> awesome polyclay people

<MysticMerm> DID SOMEBODY SAY ... GO?

<Janet> GO!

<brenda> GOOOOOOOOOO

<cak> you go girl

<cak> (kinda old-fashioned, but I'm old)

<MysticMerm> OK, WE NEED YOU TO HAVE CHECKED OUT THE WEBSITE FOR THE MATERIALS

<brenda> http://cyberstampers.com/class/babette/polypin/

<MysticMerm> I USUALLY FIRE UP THE TOASTER OVEN TO 275 DEGREES SINCE I'M USING PREMO

<MysticMerm> CONDITION YOUR CLAY

<brenda> k

<MysticMerm> THIS MEANS TO REALLY WORK IT IN YOUR HANDS OR PASTA MACHINE ON THE WIDEST SETTING

<MysticMerm> FOR ABOUT 10-15 TIMES

<MysticMerm> OR USE A ROLLING PIN ... AND ALSO DO THE HOT DOG TWIST

<cak> hot dog twist?

<MysticMerm> THIS LINES UP THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE SO THE CLAY WILL COOK RIGHT AND BE STRONG

<MysticMerm> HOT DOG TWIST IS SIMPLY MAKING A HOT DOG OF YOUR CLAY AND

<MysticMerm> THEN DOUBLE IT OVER ON ITSELF ... SORT OF LIKE A U SHAPED HOT DOG

<brenda> ok

<brenda> neat tip

<cak> ah! thanks

<MysticMerm> THEN TWIST THE PIECES TOGETHER AND ROLL INTO ANOTHER HOT DOG AGAIN

<MysticMerm> SO ... YOU WANT TO PINCH OFF A BALL .. ABOUT 1" ROUND MORE OR LESS

<MysticMerm> THIS IS NOW TIME FOR YOUR CREATIVE JUICES TO PLAY

<MysticMerm> I MAKE MINE IN THE SHAPE OF A PEAR

<MysticMerm> GUESS IT'S BECAUSE I'M THE SHAPE OF A PEAR ... <GRIN>

<Janet> (from the back, that is MY shape, too)

<MysticMerm> YOU CAN DO OBLONG ... YOU CAN DO SQUARE ... YOU GET THE IDEA

<MysticMerm> SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN MY LAST CLASS MADE VARIOUS BODIES THAT ARE KINDA FUN TO SEE

<MysticMerm> OK, YOU HAVE A PEAR ... SMASH IT DOWN TO ABOUT 5/8" THICK

<Janet> Well, I think I'm making a Nixon pin tonight, so I think that calls for SQUARE.

<brenda> lol

<MysticMerm> NOW WHERE WAS i

<cak> lol

<brenda> http://cyberstampers.com/class/babette/polypin/

<MysticMerm> OK WE WILL CUT WIRE TO ATTACH THE ARMS AND HEAD AND LEGS

<MysticMerm> I USED 20 GAUGE WIRE

<MysticMerm> QUESTIONS SO FAR?

<MysticMerm> I'LL WAIT A MOMENT .

<brenda> nope

<MysticMerm> OK THEN

<C_Lion> where the heck is a good place to get a pasta machine?

<MysticMerm> THIS PART TAKES ME THE LONGEST BECAUSE I JUST LOVE THE ADDITION OF THE ARMS AND LEGS AND STUFF

<MysticMerm> I KEEP CHANGING MY MIND AND TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS

<MysticMerm> IF YOU ARE USING BEADS YOU MIGHT WANT TO PICK OUT COLORS THAT WILL COORDINATE WITH THE BEADS COLOR

<MysticMerm> I CHOSE A GREEN AND BLUE THEME WITH WATCH PARTS ... MOSTLY

<MysticMerm> CUT YOUR WIRE TO ABOUT THE SIZE YOU NEED THAT WILL GO INTO THE BODY ABOUT 1/2"

<MysticMerm> 2" OR SO WILL USUALLY DO IT. BY THE TIME YOU FOLD IT OVER AND STICK IT IN, YOU HAVE

<MysticMerm> 'NUF ROOM FOR BEADS

<Janet> (Cost Plus international market was the good place here in the Dallas area, got 'em for about $20)

<MysticMerm> I LIKE TO ADD THE BEADS THEN MAKE A BIT OF A TWIST ON THE ENDS OF THE WIRE SO IT WON'T COME OUT

<C_Lion> should you have a hook in hte end to hold the wire better?

<MysticMerm> BUT YOU CAN SKIP THIS BITTY TWIST IF YOU WANT.

<brenda> http://cyberstampers.com/class/babette/polypin/

<Janet> or you can make coil hands, I bet

<MysticMerm> YES, C_LION THAT WAS WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING AS A BITTY TWIST

<MysticMerm> COIL HANDS WOULD BE SWELL!

<brenda> http://cyberstampers.com/class/babette/polypin/

<Janet> I love coiling!

<MysticMerm> IT'S REALLY HARD 'CAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY CHOICES!

<MysticMerm> FUN FUN

<cak> (I'm in trouble--decisions bad)

<MysticMerm> I CHOSE SHOES ONLY SO THEY WOULD DANGLE AND MOVE

<MysticMerm> YOU CAN JUST BEAD IT STRAIGHT DOWN

<MysticMerm> OR GO W/OUT LEGS

<MysticMerm> ANYWAY, STICK IN THE ARMS AND LEGS

<MysticMerm> FOR THE HEAD SAME THING, ONLY I WANTED THE WATCH FACE WITH THE NUMBERS SHOWING TO BE

<MysticMerm> PART OF THE DESIGN

<MysticMerm> SO I STUCK WIRE THROUGH THE MIDDLE HOLE AND DOWN THE BACK AND SECURED IT IN THE BODY WITH A BITTY TWIST

<MysticMerm> THE FACE WAS CUT FROM A POSTAGE STAMP AND GLUED ON.

<MysticMerm> TO BE 'REAL' TRUTHFUL ... I COLOR COPIED IT ON TO CARDSTOCK SO I'D HAVE A BIT OF SUBSTANCE TO THE FACE

<MysticMerm> BUT YOU CAN JUST CUT IT OUT AND SLAP IT ON THERE

<MysticMerm> SO ... YOU CAN SEE THAT I POPPED ON SOME BOOBIES (WATCH PARTS) AND ADDED SOME WINGS

<MysticMerm> AND THREW IT IN THE OVEN

<MysticMerm> THE WINGS WERE CUT APART WITH WIRE SNIPS AND STUCK IN THE SIDES

<cak> you cook it with the parts pushed in?

<MysticMerm> YES, YOU CAN BAKE THIS - BEADS AND ALL

<MysticMerm> NO FACE YET

<MysticMerm> AFTER IT BAKES 20 MINUTES TAKE IT OUT

<MysticMerm> LET ME GIVE A HUGE C A U T I O N HERE

<MysticMerm> MOST OF OUR TOASTER OVENS WILL COME FROM A THRIFT SHOP OR SECOND HAND STORE

<MysticMerm> THAT'S GREAT ... BUT YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY BUY AN OVEN THERMOMETER AND STICK IT IN THERE.

<MysticMerm> BECAUSE THERE IS PROBABLY A VERY GOOD REASON THOSE TOASTER OVENS WERE IN THE THRIFT SHOP

<MysticMerm> AND THAT TEMPERATURE SPIKING IS PROBABLY IT

<cak> lol (good call)

<Janet> (some of us don't believe they can actually be cleaned, so we just thrift store donate the dirty one and buy a new clean one)

<MysticMerm> JUST BE SURE YOU DON'T LEAVE A THERMOMETER OUT AND CHECK YOUR CLAY AT 15 MINUTES AND THEN AGAIN AT 20

<vicki> janet, how did you know i did that??

<MysticMerm> I BAKE MY PIECES ON A CARDBOARD THAT HAS BEEN COVERED WITH ALUMINUM FOIL

<Janet> LOL

<MysticMerm> I TAKE THEM CARDBOARD AL FOIL OUT OF THE OVEN WITH A PAIR OF NEEDLE NOSE PLIARS

<Janet> (did you know you can empty the ashtrays in cars, too? dang, and learning that was the end of trading those in every year)

<MysticMerm> WHILE THAT IS COOLING YOU CAN DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO PUT IN HER HANDS - IF ANYTHING

<MysticMerm> AND ALSO CUT THE FACE

<cak> have you tried baking on batting?

<MysticMerm> OUT OF THE MAGAZINE OR WHATEVER

<brenda> http://cyberstampers.com/class/babette/polypin/

<MysticMerm> BAKING ON BATTING IS GREAT FOR BEADS THAT ROLL!

<MysticMerm> OK, NOW YOUR PIECE IS COOL

<MysticMerm> AM I TALKING TOO MUCH?

<cak> so you really do avoid the shiny flat spots?? Good!

<PattiClay> but if you bake on aluminum foil, doesn't that cause shiny spots where the foil touches the clay?

<cak> (no, you're just explaining too well so we have no questions)

<neetzl> You bake on batting? Like you put in a quilt? Doesn't it catch on fire?

<PattiClay> no...I always bake on batting too.

<MysticMerm> PattiClay ... I AM USUALLY NOT CARING ABOUT SHINY SPOTS ON THE BACK OF A PIN I'M WEARING

<brenda> batting is usually fireproof

<MysticMerm> BUT BATTING IS GOOD ... SO IS THE FOIL THING

<PattiClay> the oven isn't hot enough for it to burn....assuming normal clay temps (under 325)

<MysticMerm> OK TURN OFF THE OVEN AND LET'S PAINT

<cak> does it have to be all cotton or will the polyester stuff do OK too?

<MysticMerm> BOTH BATTINGS ARE FINE ... I NEVER LOOKED AT WHAT MINE IS MADE OF ... BLUSH

<FasN8> thanks

<brenda> yw

<brenda> http://cyberstampers.com/class/babette/polypin/

<cak> thank you! I've been afraid to try it til I found out 'cause I only have non-cotton stuff here

<MysticMerm> I LIKE USING THE NEOPAK COLORS OR LUMIERES TO PAINT WITH ALTHOUGH ACRYLICS ARE FINE AS WELL

<MysticMerm> ..... BIG OOPS .....

<MysticMerm> FORGOT TO STAMP THE BODY WITH RUBBER STAMP BEFORE PUTTING IN OVEN ... HATE WHEN MY ALHEIMERS KICKS IN

<MysticMerm> SO - BEFORE YOU PUT IN THE OVEN -

<MysticMerm> TAKE A RUBBER STAMP AND SPRITZ WITH WATER AND PUSH INTO CLAY.

<MysticMerm> DO THIS '''AFTER''' YOU HAVE ADDED THE ARMS AND LEGS

<C_Lion> just before the oven, right?

<MysticMerm> BECAUSE IF YOU DO IT BEFORE, THE STAMP MAY GET CATTY-WUMPUS

<MysticMerm> YOU ALL KNOW THAT TERM, RIGHT?

<vicki> no

<cak> I do, I do!

<MysticMerm> I'VE ALSO PUSHED IN LACE

<MysticMerm> OR WINDOW SCREEN

<MysticMerm> YOU KNOW TEXTURE THINGS

<FasN8> lol

<Scout> thought it was Kitty-wumpus

<MysticMerm> I NEVER SAID I COULD SPELL, SCOUT!

<MysticMerm> LOL

<vicki> what's a wumpus??

<MysticMerm> NOW THE PIECE IS COOLED

<MysticMerm> NOW YOU THIN YOUR PAINTS ON A PLASTIC PLATE

<MysticMerm> JUST 'NUF TO USE FOR YOUR PIN

<April> been awihle since i heard that term..lol

<cak> MM, could you also draw an impression (before baking of course)?

<Scout> Don't know vicki, but am sure you could order one from the net.

<MysticMerm> SURE, CAK, ANYTHING FOR TEXTURE ... DRAWING IS GREAT ... IF YOU KNOW HOW <SNICKER>

<MysticMerm> I SLOSH ON THE THINNED PAINT

<MysticMerm> MAKING SURE I GET INTO THE CREVICES OF THE TEXTURE

<cak> (I don't, but I do mark-making OK)

<MysticMerm> BURNT UMBER ACRYLICS ARE SO COOL FOR THIS

<MysticMerm> THEN IMMEDIATELY WIPE WITH BABY WIPE ALL THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE ON THE TOP

<MysticMerm> OR LEAVE IT ALONE AS I DID

<MysticMerm> ACTUALLY, I DID WIPE OFF PARTS SO YOU COULD SEE DARKER IN THE CREVICES

<MysticMerm> OH HOW I WISH I HAD SPELL CHECK ON THIS THING

<MysticMerm> HOW DO YOU SPELL CREVICES?

<MysticMerm> CRACKS

<brenda> babette dont worry about spelling

<Janet> this is a speel free zone

<vicki> this is a spell free zone, mm

<FasN8> or spiel

<MysticMerm> AFTER PAINT DRIES I APPLIED METALLIC RUB-ONS IN A FEW PLACES

<Janet> yeah. spiel free zone. I like that

<C_Lion> you are doing great MM

<MysticMerm> NOT TOO MUCH ... OR IF YOU WANT TO DARKEN IT UP A BIT THERE ARE DARK METALLIC RUB-ONS TOO WHICH I USE A LOT

<FasN8> :)

<MysticMerm> THANKS YOU GUYS

<MysticMerm> OK I THINK WE ARE READY TO HAND PAINT SOME SPECIFIC AREAS IF WE SHOULD SO DESIRE

<cak> MM, do you have to seal the rub-ons?

<MysticMerm> I SO DESIRED ON THE CORNER STAMP I USED. INCIDENTALLY, THAT CORNER STAMP IS FROM ENCHANTED INK ...

<vicki> or the paint?

<MysticMerm> THANKS TO CANDACE CETODAL WHO IS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND DOES LOTS OF CLASSES HERE.

<Janet> I love her stuff, too

<MysticMerm> AS FAR AS SEALING THE RUB-ONS I DO NOT.

<MysticMerm> YOU COULD IF IT WORRIED YOU.

<MysticMerm> I JUST GAVE MY PIN A BIG RUB AFTER YOU ASKED THE QUESTION AND MY THUMB IS STILL CLEAN!

<cak> I bet a lot of her mystical stuff would be fabulous on these

<FasN8> ? what mystical stuff?

<cak> I try not to do anything more than i have to

<MysticMerm> GLUE THE FACE ON ... ADD CHARMS TO HANDS IF YOU'D LIKE ... HOT GLUE A PIN BACK ON ... AND MOST IMPORTANTLY

<vicki> are you using tube rub-ons, or pallette type??

<MysticMerm> SIGN YOUR WORK ...

<cak> (she specializes in landscape, fairies and goblins)

<FasN8> and where is her site?

<Janet> http://www.enchantedink.com

<FasN8> oh ok

<MysticMerm> I'M USING THE LONG PALETTES OF METALLIC RUB-ONS ... BEATS RUB 'N BUFF LOTS OF WAYS

<April> Janet...

<Janet> I love my rub ons too!

<cak> what do you use to write on pc??

<Janet> (got those at Evolving Images) (these are all at the mall here)

<FasN8> <---will too once i get them

<MysticMerm> AFTER IT IS COOKED, I USE A FINE POINT BLACK SHARPIE OR A LIGHT COLORED GEL PEN

<C_Lion> krylon pens work great

<April> JANET!

<MysticMerm> KRYLONS ARE FABULOUS AS WELL ... DO THEY COME IN A FINE POINT?

<Janet> Angel!

<April> look up!

<C_Lion> I found one recently

<cak> MM do you take out the appendages and glue them in after baking or are they pretty secure without glue?

<MysticMerm> cak ... THE ARMS AND LEGS ARE GOOD - NO GLUE NEEDED

<cak> (yay==one less thing to worry about)

<MysticMerm> SOMETIMES IF WHEN I GIVE THEM A TUG THEY SEEM LOOSE ... THEN I JAM SOME E6000 UP IN THE HOLE

<MysticMerm> WHEN YOU ARE STICKING THEM IN YOU KINDA CLOSE THE CLAY OVER THEM SO THEY ARE IN TIGHT.

<cak> cool. thanks

<MysticMerm> I OFTEN HAVE TO MAKE MY PEAR SHAPE AGAIN AFTER I PUT IN THE APPENDAGES ... THATS WHY YOU'D WANT TO STAMP OR TEXTURE LAST.

<MysticMerm> GUESS THAT'S ABOUT IT EVERYONE... I'VE LOVED PLAYING WITH YOU ALL. IT'S BEEN FUN.

<MysticMerm> THERE *** IS *** HOMEWORK, BTW.

<brenda> ty babette

<cak> lol Oh No!

<brenda> there is?

<FasN8> ty

<Janet> homework??

<Scout> homework? Have I turned 17 again?

<MysticMerm> YOU NEED START NOW COLLECTING ALL KINDS OF CHARMS AND BEADS AND CLAY AND GOOD STUFF FOR FACES.

<FasN8> better than housework!

<brenda> k

<Janet> no kidding!

<Janet> I know where there's watch parts. :)

<FasN8> where?

<Scout> I don't do housework, either

<FasN8> lol

<MysticMerm> THEN MAKE A COOL PIN AND PUT A PICTURE OF IT ON A WEBSITE SO WE CAN SEE!

<brenda> i know where there are bunches of watch faces

<MysticMerm> BETTER YET ... SEND ME ONE ... HEH HEH

<brenda> lol

<FasN8> where are cool faces?

<MysticMerm> COOL FACES ARE THE HARDEST PART TO FIND

<Janet> Hey Babette. You know those pins you made out of CDs? how did you do the edges?

<vicki> mm, what do you attach pinback with??

<Janet> Photo Art Stamps has watch parts for sale.

<Janet> Someone else does, too, is that Jhone?

<MysticMerm> I GLUE THE PIN BACKS ON WITH HOT GLUE.

<FasN8> of course...

<FasN8> figures

<Janet> Time to Stamp? Someone else in the mall has watch parts and stuff.

<vicki> k,ty

<brenda> check out red castle for the gibson girls for faces

<MysticMerm> Z DESGIGNS? HAS FACES

<Janet> oh yes! love those Gibson girls!

<brenda> he hasone that has a whole biunch of faces on one stamp

<MysticMerm> I MEANT TO SAY THEY HAVE WATCH FACES

<brenda> i cut it apaprt

<FasN8> jhone has charms i think...and i have those face beads that stamp asylum had

<MysticMerm> THE FACE BEADS ARE GREAT FROM STAMP ASYLUM

<FasN8> i know

<MysticMerm> I MAKE A MOLD OFF OF ONE SO I DON'T USE ALL MY FACES UP AND MAKE MORE FACES

<Janet> I need some of that watch part soup that PHoto Art Stamps has

<vicki> jhone, and enchanted ink have great charms

<MysticMerm> YOU GUYS KNOW HOW TO DO THAT ... MAKE A MOLD?

<FasN8> i originally found them in durango colorado which has a wonderful bead shop

<cak> of course faces don't have to be faces. How about a crescent moon for mouth, suns for eyes?

<brenda> yep

<FasN8> true

<C_Lion> tell please

<MysticMerm> JANET ... YOU MELT THE EDGES OF THE CD WITH YOUR HEAT GUN AND LOTS AND LOTS OF PRESSURE HOLDING THE CD WITH STRONG NEEDLE NOSE PLIARS AND MASH DOWN ON A PHONEBOOK WHILE YOU ARE HEATING.

<MysticMerm> WHEN IT IS HEATED, YOU DIP THE EDGES INTO GOLD EMBOSSING POWDER ... AS IT COOLS IT MELTS THE EP.

<Janet> ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. those are very cool. I wondered if you'd dipped it into a UTEE pot

<MysticMerm> JANET IS ASKING A QUESTION ABOUT SOMETHING SOME OF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN.

<cak> I was just gonna ask

<MysticMerm> LET ME TELL YOU HOW TO MAKE A MOLD ... YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

<vicki> i thought i was missing something!

<Janet> Sorry, this was a very cool CD pin. I think I'll demand another class on it. :)

<MysticMerm> JANET ... MAYBE THE CD FACE PIN COULD BE ANOTHER CLASS?

<Janet> Tell how to make a mold!!!

<MysticMerm> IT IS VERY VERY COOL

<MysticMerm> OK ... LET'S TALK ABOUT MOLD MAKING

<Janet> LOL we are PSYCHIC!! (let's do it)

<MysticMerm> I'M CRAZY ABOUT FACES

<FasN8> me too.....

<MysticMerm> SO EVERYTIME I SEE A COOL ONE I AM READY WITH MY CLAY

<MysticMerm> NOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE FACES ON LITTLE DOLLS OR LITTLE SCULPTURES

<FasN8> yeah...they don't appreciate that at some shops lol

<April> cool.

<April> i would like to try the cd thing..

<MysticMerm> DOLLAR TREE HAS GREAT BUSTS OF FAMOUS PEOPLE THAT ARE ... $1.00.

<C_Lion> and the thrift stores have tons of things you want to make molds of

<MysticMerm> BUY ONE OR TWO (AND/OR HAVE A PARTY AND HAVE FRIENDS BRING THEIR FACES TO MAKE MOLDS OFF OF)

<MysticMerm> ANYWAY... TAKE A BIG SOFT BRUSH

<MysticMerm> AND DUST CORNSTARCH OR BABY POWDER ON THE FACE

<MysticMerm> USING A PIECE OF *** CONDITIONED *** CLAY

<FasN8> a face mold party would be great fun

<MysticMerm> MAKE A BALL AND PUSH IT DOWN CAREFULLY ON THE FACE (OR BUG OR WHATEVER)

<April> really..

<FasN8> ok...as soon as i get my house....ill have one

<MysticMerm> BE VERY VERY CAREFUL NOT TO ROCK YOUR HAND

<MysticMerm> OR YOU WILL GET A DOUBLE IMAGE ... BLEECH ... WHO NEEDSS 3 EYES ON A FACE?

<C_Lion> how much detail can you get this way, MM?

<MysticMerm> CAREFULLY PULL IT AWAY FROM YOUR FACE.

<MysticMerm> YOU CAN GET LOTS AND LOTS OF GREAT DETAIL ... EVEN TO HAIR

<MysticMerm> BUT DON'T ROCK EVEN A LITTLE BIT

<brenda> check out magnets to use as molds also

<MysticMerm> YOU WILL SCREW UP SOME ... JUST BE READY AND DO IT AND GET IT OVER WITH.

<MysticMerm> SO, NOW THAT YOU HAVE DONE THAT ... MEANING YOU HAVE THIS CUP THING OF RAW CLAY IN YOUR HAND.

<MysticMerm> YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF MANIPULATING IT.

<MysticMerm> YOU CAN STRETCH IT LONGER

<MysticMerm> YOU CAN SQUEEZE IT A LITTLE BIT SKINNER

<MysticMerm> YOU GET THE IDEA

<MysticMerm> MOSTLY I DON'T DO THIS, AS I ALREADY LIKE WHAT I AM MAKING A COPY OF

<April> cool..

<MysticMerm> NOW IF YOU CAN ... CUT A FLAT PLACE ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR CUP

<Janet> I could do wicked things, though.

<April> lol

<MysticMerm> YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS FLAT PLACE, BUT IF YOU EVER DECIDE TO POUR HOT POT EPOWDER IN THERE

<MysticMerm> YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID

<vicki> yep. janet's feelin better

<Janet> heh heh heh

<MysticMerm> ALSO IT HELPS TO BAKE IT BETTER

<April> for sure...lol

<C_Lion> MM, can you bake it then add a platform and bake it again?

<MysticMerm> YES, C_LION ... GOOD IDEA

<MysticMerm> OR YOU CAN EVEN CUT IT WHILE WARM WITH A SHARP X-ACTO KNIFE

<MysticMerm> YOU ALL DO KNOW THAT YOU CAN TRIM UP BAKED PIECES, DON'T YOU?

<MysticMerm> YOU SURE CAN

<Janet> i could ground down a flat space with my NEW dremel drill :)

<MysticMerm> WORKS EASIER WHEN CLAY IS KINDA WARM

<MysticMerm> OK, SO NOW YOU WANT TO USE THE LITTLE THING

<MysticMerm> WHAT YOU WILL WANT TO DO IS THIS....

<MysticMerm> MAKE A BALL OF *** CONDITIONED *** CLAY AND PULL A POINT SO IT HAS THE LOOK OF A REALLY LONG NOSE

<MysticMerm> IN OTHER WORDS IT LOOKS LIKE A BALL WITH A POINTED PARTY HAT ON

<MysticMerm> AM I MAKING SENSE?

<C_Lion> yes

<Janet> yep

<cak> lol yes

<vicki> yes

<MysticMerm> LET ME HEAR FROM YOU ... I AM SO BOSSY AND TALKATIVE TONIGHT IT SEEMS

<Janet> i am loving it

<Janet> i feel gooood!

<MysticMerm> NOW DUST THE INSIDE OF THE MOLD WITH BABY POWDER OR CORNSTARCH

<TheQueen> bossy and talkative? you'll fit right in here

Janet sits back like the sea sponge beneath the mermaid

<cak> (I was thinkin' like a dunce cap--I'm not as nice as you MM)

<MysticMerm> LOL, JANET

<Janet> LOL

<April> LOL

<MysticMerm> OK, THE B POWDER OR C STARCH ONLY WORKS WITH CLAY ... IF YOU ARE DOING E POWDER THAT IS A WHALE OF A DIFFERENT STORY

<MysticMerm> LETS THINK CLAY FOR NOW

<MysticMerm> DUST THE INSIDE OF THE MOLD

<MysticMerm> PUSH THE CONE PART RIGHT INTO THE NOSE

<MysticMerm> THEN SMASH THE BALL OVER THE REST

<cak> MM, have you used any of the powdered mica pigments as a release?

<MysticMerm> I LEARNED THIS TRICK IN CHICAGO WHEN I WAS AT A WHOLESALE CONVENTION FROM THE AMERICAN ART CLAY PEOPLE

<MysticMerm> NO, CAK, I HAVEN'T ... SOUNDS LIKE AN IDEA I'D LOVE TO TRY!

<MysticMerm> NOW, YOU SIMPLY (DON'T ROCK THE FACE ... REMEMBER IN AND OUT NO ROCKING) PULL IT OUT

<cak> we talk about it a lot, but I've not ever tried it

<MysticMerm> WON'T COME OUT YOU SAY? YOUR CLAY DOESN'T HAVE A HANDLE OF LEFTOVER CLAY SO JERK IT OUT WITH?

<MysticMerm> OK, THEN MAKE ONE.

<MysticMerm> ADD MORE CLAY TO THE BACK, AND LET IT ATTACH, YES, YOU GOTTA FIDDLE WITH IT, AND IT MAY ROCK A BIT, BUT ADD THE CLAY

<MysticMerm> PINCH IT, AND PULL IT OUT

<MysticMerm> SOME CLAY ARTISTS I KNOW USE ARMOR ALL

<MysticMerm> I BOUGHT SOME ... HAVEN'T DONE IT YET

<MysticMerm> NOW, BAKE THE FACE

<cak> armor all as a release?

<Janet> hmmm

<brenda> i never had it stick with the powdered mica powders

<MysticMerm> YES, ARMOR ALL (WHO CAN SPELL THAT ?) IS WHAT YOU FIND IN THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTION TO CLEAN INTERIORS OF CARS

<MysticMerm> OK, AS LONG AS YOU LIKE SHINY USE THE MICA

<MysticMerm> CAN YOU DULL IT DOWN, BRENDA?

<MysticMerm> IF YOUR FACE AS BITS OF NOT SO PRETTY EDGES, REMEMBER YOU CAN TRIM

<MysticMerm> THE EDGES

<MysticMerm> IF YOU MAKE THE RIGHT SIZE YOU CAN ADD THIS TO YOUR POLY CLAY PEOPLE PIN.

<MysticMerm> GUESS YOU'D HAVE TO DREMEL A HOLE OR GLUE IT ON A BACK.

<MysticMerm> GLUE IT INTO A BOTTLE CAP AND ATTACH THAT !!!

<Janet> stick a wire up it like a skinny neck

<cak> ooo, bottle cap with features added would be interesting too

<MysticMerm> ANYBODY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT USING THE HOT POT TO DO THE FACE WITH THE MOLD? ALREADY KNOW THIS?

<Janet> tell about that, too.

<cak> yeah, tell!

<MysticMerm> IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE THE HOT POT ... STIPPLE INSIDE THE MOLD WITH CLEAR EMBOSSING INK. NOT TOO MUCH

<MysticMerm> SORTA LIKE SPRAYING PAM....

<MysticMerm> YOU WILL ONLY HAVE TO DO THIS ONCE.

<C_Lion> we need spray embossing ink!

<cak> once per session or once period?

<vicki> ya mean i didn't have to pop 20 bucks for that gedeo????

<MysticMerm> ONCE THE MELTED E POWDER COOLS, YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND AN EDGE AND FLICK IT OUT WITH YOUR FINGERNAIL OR SMALL SCREWDRIVER OR SOMETHING

<MysticMerm> ONCE PERIOD, CAK

<MysticMerm> NOPE, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY $20 ...

<MysticMerm> HOWEVER ...

<MysticMerm> THE MOLD MADE FROM THAT GEDEO IS SO MUCH BETTER IN THAT IT KINDA BENDS WHEN YOU WANT TO POP OUT THE E POWDER

<cak> (there's always a however...)

<MysticMerm> IT'S REALLY SUPER

<MysticMerm> ALSO ... WITH THE CLAY MOLD ...

<cak> (oh! that's a good however)

<C_Lion> but then the e powder is so much more brittle it breaks easily

<MysticMerm> YOU FIND THAT SOMETIMES YOU DIDN'T REALLY COVER THE INSIDE TOO WELL .. OR THE E POWDER WAS WAY, WAY TOO HOT

<MysticMerm> AND IT WILL NOT WANT TO COME OUT OF THE MOLD AND DEEP INSIDE THE MOLD IT WILL POP OUT SOME OF THE CLAY WHICH WILL BE

<MysticMerm> STUCK ON YOUR DARLING FACE ... SO YOU START OVER.

<cak> (pc zits)

<Janet> I would be bummed

<MysticMerm> YES, E POWDER IS BRITTLE, BUT THE EDGES ARE REALLY THE ONLY PART THAT WILL BE BRITTLE. i HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT BEING BRITTLE

<vicki> eeewwww cak!

<Janet> LOL

<cak> (sorry, couldn't help it--the visual was too strong)

<MysticMerm> I SAW TODAY ON CAROL DUVALL ... GRACE TAROMAENIA (SPELLING AGAIN) DID AN ENTIRE TABLE

<vicki> lol

<MysticMerm> USING UTEE STAMPED SQUARES... IT WAS AWESOME.

<cak> I saw that too---lovely!

<MysticMerm> IF YOU GUYS WANT TO CHECK THAT OUT GO TO HGTV.COM

<MysticMerm> I JUST CHECKED ... IT WAS NOT CAROL DUVALL

<MysticMerm> IT WAS 'OUR PLACE'

<Scout> I was wondering, cause that's not what was on her show today.

<cak> I think it was the one with the blond hostess (after the one with 2 hostesses)?

<FasN8> and where is our place?

<brenda> HGTV

<MysticMerm> I'M ADDICTED ... GROAN.

<MysticMerm> HEY ... IT

<FasN8> hm

<FasN8> ok

<MysticMerm> IT IS 10:00 MY TIME ... AND I RECON THE CLASS IS OFFICIALLY OVER.

<TheQueen> hey lory

<brenda> ty for great class babette

<Scout> and Buffy is on

<brenda> hey lory

<MysticMerm> I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU LEARNED A BIT OF SOMETHING.

<Carole> Thank you for class. It was great, as always!

<FasN8> thanks babette

<brenda> i learned a lot

<vicki> interesting class, mm, thanks

<FasN8> did!!!!!

<MysticMerm> I LOVED TYPING MY FINGERS TO THE BONE FOR YA!

<Scout> good class, Babette.

<cak> I did! as always--thanks MM

<FasN8> lol

<MysticMerm> THANKS EVERYONE

<C_Lion> ty MM

<Lory> hey sissy, everybody

<cak> and you will do one for the CD face pins??? please??

<vicki> i love using cd's!

<MysticMerm> SURE THE CD PINS ARE REALLY GREAT.

<FasN8> yes....and they are sooo...uh sooo....FREE!!!!!!!

<MysticMerm> I THINK JANET WILL KILL ME THOUGH AS I WAS SO BUSY (AND SHE WAS SO SICK) THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO GET MY STUFF TO HER AND GIVE HER MUCH TIME.

vicki loves free!!!

<Janet> LOL

<MysticMerm> I'M NOT SURE SHE WOULD WANT TO DO THIS AGAIN FOR ME.

<brenda> she will

<Janet> I will.!!

<brenda> janet is so sweet

<MysticMerm> OK ... yeahhhhh!

<vicki> yes she will

<FasN8> me too!!!!!

<Janet> Besides, I love these classes. :)

<MysticMerm> GOTTA RUN ... C-YA

<cak> she loves you (and your work), I suspect she can be at least bribed

<cak> thanks again

<Janet> LOL she skated before I could start listing my demands :)

<FasN8> thanks....later y'all!

<cak> notice she left right after bribes were mentioned?

<Janet> She knew I was starting to make a list.

<cak> Night FasN8, come on back every Tues and Sat!

<Janet> Starting with that CD pin she had the other night at Stamp Asylum

<Janet> This was so cool. We MUST have a class on those.

<April> i cant find that on hgtv

<April> does anybody know what that is called that they did with the utee squares.. i dont see it..

<brenda> nite everyone

<vicki> i didn't see the show, april

<April> bye Brenda..

<vicki> nite bren

<cak> I only saw it from the bathroom but let me look and see if I can find it

<C_Lion> nite bren

<C_Lion> lol cak

<April> thank you..

<brenda> byeeeeeeeee

<cak> April try here http://www.hgtv.com/HGTV/project/0,1158,DEID_project_11760,00.html for the faux tiles

<April> ty

<cak> sunni, you might be interested in tonight's class too. Babette taught making pc people

<Janet> adios, y'all. see ya tomorrow.

<sunni> i see that. will that page be staying up indefinitely? i'd like to link to it.

<vicki> nite janet

<Janet> it will be there forever :)

<cak> write down the url, 'cause you usually can't chat and look at a web page without something crashing

<beanjean1> bye janet

<sunni> good!!

<C_Lion> so far the only thing I have made with pc was a splint for my finger

<vicki> lol, c

<beanjean1> really c lion????

<sunni> ah!! the splint!! excellent use.

<C_Lion> it molded exactly for my finger it was great

<sunni> and i haven't stamped much, but i love texturing.

<beanjean1> great idea!!

<C_Lion> it was oretty too

<C_Lion> ok ty, it is very pretty

<cak> this is a good project for texturizing. Probably not very challenging for you though--seems pretty straightforward.

<C_Lion> colorbox has some nice stamps for texturing

<sunni> nothing is to simple cak. everything is worth exploring!! and while it may be simple for me, for many of my fellow clayers, it would be a revelation.

<C_Lion> so does redcastle

<sunni> i'm mostly interested in making my own stamps.

<C_Lion> we have several carvers here

<sunni> i made some of the celtic alphabet out of polyclay and those work ok.

<sunni> they're a bit too rigid and not deep enuf.

<cak> you never know where your next technique/obssession will come from either

<sunni> *grin* truer words were never spoken.

<SCstamper> hi, is a class going on right now?

<cak> so you were talkin about carving in the other room. Are you carving yet sunni

<vicki> sunni, there are several carvers that hang around here

<cak> just chatting SCs==but craft talk?

<cak> ? = !

<sunni> anyhow, i'd like to redo the celtic knot font into something with more give.

<SCstamper> yeah of course

<sunni> a little. but not successfully.

<C_Lion> Michales has speedball eraser sheets for big things

<sunni> i did the characters in quarter and one inch by tracing the design on raw polyclay then dragging a needle tool through the design and baked.

<sunni> seems to me, i prolly shoulda baked first and then carved?

<sunni> lion - i'm on an extremely limited income, so i need to get inventive with carving mediums!!

<cak> what if you chilled it thoroughly? did it distort when you dragged?

<C_Lion> you can use almost any eraser

<sunni> a little, but i'm accustomed to working with designs in raw clay and know how to compensate for that. the biggest problem i had was getting the components to line up for the perfect knot.

<sunni> the chilling would probably aid.

<C_Lion> could you make a mold of the one you made and then use the eraser clay in it?

<SCstamper> i guess ya'll are talking stamp carving?

<sunni> however, if i can find another medium that's more pliable and easier to carve than baked clay - and erasers sound real good - i would be willing to try it out.

<sunni> ditto SC!!

<C_Lion> the tricky part would be getting it flat enough to stamp correctly

<sunni> yup

<sunni> have y'all seen the celtic knot font i'm speaking of?

<sunni> oh - i'll be back....

<cak> no--do you have a url?

<sunni> sure. hang on and i'll dig it up.

<C_Lion> sunni, you can print out a copy of the item you want to carve

<C_Lion> then put it on an eraser

<C_Lion> then use alcohol on the back of the paper and the image will transfer to teh eraser

<sunni> here's one of the celtic knot applications for the MAC - i'll go rummage some more for the font....

<sunni> http://www.gigagraphica.com/ca/cainfo.html

<cak> thanks sunni. I

<cak> }}}}} (sorry cat head is doing some typing)

<C_Lion> to bad you cannot use it on the pc, sunni

<cak> thanks sunni! (I've got a Mac, so it's perfect for me)

<sunni> ah HA!! i found it!!!!!

<sunni> http://www.clanbadge.com/

<sunni> that will get you to the celtic knot font so you can design your own knots with your keyboard. i use it on my pc.

sunni> say - tell me stampers, how do you stamp on a curved surface - like an egg?

<vicki> with a um

<SCstamper> I just carefully roll the stamp

<C_Lion> unmounted stamps

<vicki> :)

<beanjean1> have fun

<cak> probably easiest is to place the stamp face up and roll the egg on the stamp?

<sunni> ah. ok!

<SCstamper> wait, an egg////!?!?!?!?!

<vicki> yeah, that too!

<SCstamper> bye

<vicki> nite bj

<beanjean1> bye!!!!!!

<cak> (just for an example)

<cak> night bj

<beanjean1> nite

<sunni> *grin* yup. an egg. i make hand rattles using eggs covered in polymer clay. stamping would be a delightful way to texture the surface.

<vicki> die hard stampers will stamp on anything!

<sunni> but i would need more control than rolling the egg on the stamp.

<SCstamper> I've stamped on terra cotta pots

<sunni> the unmount sounds good.

<cak> sounds like the um is the way to go

<Kriztina> hold the egg, and roll the stamp on it, itd work

<Kriztina> mounted or unmounted

<cak> and they're cheaper too

<sunni> hmmm. i sell my eggs. is copyright an issue>

<cak> for some companies, yes.

<sunni> ?

<Kriztina> use an angel company stamp

<vicki> have to be careful to buy angel company stamps

<Kriztina> most companies say if they are angel or not

<C_Lion> you can ceck on their websites

<sunni> ok - i have links to those

<vicki> but 90% of companies are angel

<SCstamper> does cyber stampers have an angel list?

<Kriztina> i think all of cyberstampers vendors are angel

<cak> but beware of PSX who say they're angel, but they've clipped their wings (have so many limits it's not really angel)

<vicki> there's a very complete one at dragonhome

<sunni> cool!

<Kriztina> always best to double check tho sunni

<vicki> see, c??

<sunni> ok - can do!

<SCstamper> yep that's what I was about to mention

<C_Lion> if you see a stamp that says licensed it is not angel

<vicki> cak, i was just telling clion that the other night

<vicki> about psx

<cak> it's good that it's become a badge of honor, but sad that some companies' definition is so limited

<SCstamper> wow, I need to stop hanging out with guys, to me psx is playstation

<cak> uh, companies'

<C_Lion> things like mickey mouse, house mouse, paula best are not

<vicki> i won't buy non-angel

<cak> lol

<SCstamper> and I call myself a stamper, hahaha

<cak> naw, you just have stayed away from the non-angels!

<vicki> lol, SCs

<sunni> that's why i like to make my own graphics. then there's no question

<vicki> true

<cak> I think most everyone in the mall is angel, aren't they?

<SCstamper> i've only made 1 stamp, it wasa leaf, i use it more than any other

<Kriztina> yup, some of the vendors carrying the big names tho, cant think of one off the top of my head tho

<cak> you'll have to upload some of the leaf work for us all to enjoy SCs

<SCstamper> does anyone here use halos/

<vicki> i use tack it

<sunni> i sell halo support if that helps.... *evil grin*

<cak> I use it for some stamps, others I use poster tape

<SCstamper> no scanner

<Kriztina> i have a few thousand stamps on halos, i recently started using tack it tho

<C_Lion> I use tack it

<SCstamper> I heard tack it can be messy

<sunni> what are halos anyway, plz?

<Kriztina> halos are hook and loop aka velcro

<vicki> velcro strips

<cak> Hook And Loop On Stamps is the strict translation

<sunni> ah thx

<Kriztina> you got your acrylic block with velcro strips, and the fuzz goes on your stamps, soyou only need a few blocks taking up space

<sunni> cool!

<vicki> halos catch too much cat hair

<cak> industrial strength velcro though. and she has some wonderful blocks with recessed hook/loop in them so you have a flat surface for your stamp

<C_Lion> yes!

<Kriztina> as much as i loved halos, i got tired of fuzzy bits in my ink pads, and on my art work

<C_Lion> my house is made of cat hair so I do not use halos

<vicki> me too!!

<vicki> like lil balls of tumble weed!!

<cak> I just am terribly impatient, so that's why I usually use poster tape

<sunni> ditto - cat hair inclusions in all my claywork

<SCstamper> what I wondered was; i heard halos is clear? so how is one side covered with velcro?

<vicki> good! you found creative use for cat hair!!

<sunni> poster tape = strong double sided?

<Kriztina> strips of velcro

<Kriztina> inset into the clear block

<cak> poster tape is kinda low tack I think

<Kriztina> so just the hooks sets above it, and then you put the fuzzy stuff on your unmounted stamp

<cak> but holds pretty well

<vicki> i've had no luck using tape

<cak> does sheryl have a website anymore?

<Kriztina> she might, lemme look

<C_Lion> I put tack it on my stamps with a pallet knife so I get a real thin layer

<vicki> um's fall off

<vicki> i use a credit card

<cak> I've not had too much of a problem with that vicki, unless the tape is ocming to the end of its usefulness

<vicki> to spread glue

<Kriztina> http://www.halosrubberstamps.com/

<SCstamper> well it would give me a chance to use the tack it over I got on clearnace for a quarter

<C_Lion> I use my credit card to buy stamps

<Kriztina> http://www.halosrubberstamps.com/prod03.htm theres pics of halos

<cak> thanks Kriz

<vicki> i've heard lots of people that love using tape so it must work for some

<sunni> thx

<Kriztina> using the tape and tack it, arent much different really

<C_Lion> I like the tack cause I can see exactly where my stamp is going

<cak> it's funny how each person develops their own system (probably has to since no one system is perfect)

<sunni> you can't with halo?

<vicki> exactly

<SCstamper> anyone know where I can get sheets of acylic and cut my own?

<Kriztina> yah you can with halos too sunni

<C_Lion> depends on hte size of the stamp

<vicki> it's not easy to cut

<cak> you should be able to, if you've trimmed the dies close enough

<vicki> i tried it

<C_Lion> but red castle always has a sale on them for convention

<Kriztina> easier i think to buy acrylic blocks scstamper

<cak> getting those grooves right would be a bi, uh, not very pleasant

<vicki> yes, they're not that expensive

<Kriztina> cuz they really arent sheets, they are thick

<Kriztina> and halos blocks are different that the ones you'd use with tack it or tape

<cak> and they've got hourglass shaping, which I like a lot

<SCstamper> but much more expensive probably, I heard of one lady who got everysize imaginable cut from a sheet, and was only 16 bucks

<vicki> red castles have the hourglass shape??

<cak> I don't think so--straight sides??? I just know HALOS do

<vicki> oh

<Kriztina> i dont think ive seen acrylic sheets thick enough to hold on to like we need

<C_Lion> they are straight sides

<cak> You could pay someone to cut a thicker sheet, but then there goes any savings

<SCstamper> I've looked at haloes, their just so expensive

<Kriztina> they last forever sc

<vicki> i found the thick acryllic at a plastics place, but dh ruined a couple of power tools trying to cut it

<Kriztina> i've had my original halos set for 6 yrs now

<vicki> so it was definitely cheaper to just buy em

<sunni> wouldn't heated tools be better for acrylic cutting/design?

<vicki> idunno, no handy people in this house

<cak> I really don't know--makes sense though

<C_Lion> the ones red castle has are almost 3/4 if an inch thick

<vicki> i want those

<vicki> i have 1/2" ones

<sunni> have y'all tried Ready Stamp? your design, they make the stamp - you get the matrix and the stamp

<cak> if you can wait, he might have some on special for the convention

<vicki> yes, i hope he does

<Kriztina> scstamper, if you havent gone unmounted yet with halos or tack it or whatever and acrylic blocks, you need to, you do save tons of money in the long run

<cak> I've heard of them, but not used them. I've always wondered how well they did

<C_Lion> I have seen them but not bought any

<C_Lion> I have been drawing a set of stamps for AAS

<sunni> they are used extensively by the polyclayers. they make an excellent product.

<Kriztina> mounted stamps are insanely priced now

<cak> cool

<sunni> lemme getcha the URL.

<cak> (readystamp not insanely priced stamps)

<sunni> http://www.polyclay.com/ready.htm

<SCstamper> I want to, right now most of my stamps are from wal-mart or big-lots

<C_Lion> I bought some very cool stamps made for clay, reverse image on one side

<Kriztina> bill amost had a heart attack the other day, we were in a basic craft store, and a medium sized wood mounted stamp 15 dollars

<SCstamper> I've only paid more than 3 dollars once

<sunni> they're fun to play with. great for UTEE

<cak> lol--bet he was glad you go for the ums

<sunni> oh eek kriz!

<cak> thanks sunni--I'd like to try them

<SCstamper> The Stamps Happen stamp I bought for my wedding invites was 14

<Kriztina> even when i bought wood mounted, i wouldnt spend that much

<sunni> you won't be disappointed cak.

<Kriztina> scstamper, you do need to get onto unmounteds then

<cak> SCs, you gotta get some of those cheap erasers (the fine-grained ones) and do some carvng

<vicki> i still buy some mounted stamps

<SCstamper> many of by stamps where under 1 dollar

<Kriztina> you can get grab bags of unmounted for 20 bucks and get like 30 stamps or more

<vicki> depends on company

<SCstamper> I want to get a Iof grab bag, 15 dollars for 50 dollars worth

<C_Lion> I did that once, got lots of naked people, lol

<vicki> lol

<cak> ooooo, from whom???

<sunni> hmmmm. gets a little creative when that happens.

<vicki> lol

<sunni> dress them with organza? *grin*

<sunni> or snippets of fancy papers?

<SCstamper> but I have to see what happens with my disability, I'd have to buy the mounts to,

<Kriztina> enchanted ink has grab bags

<SCstamper> it's expensive to get started

<sunni> i'm learning that....

<sunni> just the pearlex powders.... *sigh*

<vicki> you don't have to buy tons of stamps though

<SCstamper> started with unmount i mean

<vicki> even so

<vicki> get a couple mounts

<C_Lion> what is your disability sc?

<cak> I wonder if you could use double-stick tape and a straight-sided glass bottle for your first mount?

<vicki> you don't have to get them in sets

<sunni> why not just carve a wood block of your own?

<Kriztina> you can use cd and casette cases to start

<vicki> sure you could

<sunni> or make a mount out of polymer clay?

<sunni> or eraser clay....

<C_Lion> MOM

<vicki> hey momcat!!

<MomCat> hi

<Kriztina> thats what i used when i had a few unmounteds and no acrlic blocks

Log file closed at 5/14/02 11:51:15 PM