<Jambalaya> OK, ARE WE ALL BACK?

<Paivi> y

<Judy> y

<Jambalaya> OK, HERE WE GO

<Jambalaya> THIS ONE IS A DISCUSSION, SO Y'ALL JUMP RIGHT IN

<Jambalaya> EMBOSSING IS WHAT HOOKED MOST OF US IN THE FIRST PLACE, WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?

<Judy> yes!

<Birgit> yes

<Paivi> y, it's really like magic!

<Judy> way back before there were heat guns

<Jambalaya> AFTER NEARLY 20 YEARS, I STILL SMILE WHEN THAT POWDER MELTS

<Jambalaya> YES JUDY!

<Jambalaya> I THINK OF IT NOW WITH A SILLY GRIN

<Jambalaya> I USED TO HOLD AN IRON UPSIDE DOWN AND LAY THE PAPER ON IT!

<Jambalaya> IS EVERYONE HERE FAMILIAR WITH EMBOSSING?

<MomCat> y

<ejje> yes

<Paivi> I know basics

<cak> I love it (and I started out embossing over a hot light bulb!)

<Jambalaya> THANK HEAVENS TO WHOEVER DISCOVERED THE HEAT GUN

<cak> that's for sure

<Jambalaya> I LOVE TO COLLECT EMBOSSING POWDERS

<janelill> hello everyone!

<Jambalaya> THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL COLORS AND TEXTURES

<MomCat> ONe of the first embossing powders I got was clear

<Jambalaya> HI janelill, AND Sprout

<janelill> what are you talking about?

<MomCat> I loved to use it to protect and shine the pigment inks

<MomCat> Embossing!

<Jambalaya> HEAT EMBOSSING

<janelill> i emboss alot!!!

<Jambalaya> I THINK MY FAVORITE WOULD STILL BE GOLD

<Jambalaya> BUT I LOVE THEM ALL

<janelill> don't care so much for colouring....

<janelill> my favourite now, this time of year, is white!

<Jambalaya> DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN MIX EP'S?

<MomCat> Do you ever mix your one colors?

<Birgit> Never done it!

<janelill> I mix mine alot with pearl-ex...

<Jambalaya> AND WHEN YOU DO, WRITE DOWN THE AMOUNTS YOU MIXED

<Jambalaya> SO YOU CAN REPEAT IT IF IT CAME OUT GREAT

<janelill> I just take a dash...*lol*

<janelill> i have to go!! sudden emergency!

<cak> what proportions of ep to mica powder do you usually use?

<Jambalaya> OH TELL US ABOUT THE PEARL-EX janelill

<Jambalaya> OOPS

<cak> oops--just when we about to pick her brain

<cak> what kind of the newer inks have you found work well for embossing, and how do they differ from pigment ink?

<cak> well, the old pigment inks

<Jambalaya> MY FAVORITE INK IS VERSAMARK

<Jambalaya> IT'S A BIT STICKIER THAN REGULAR PIGMENT INKS

<cak> this is the resist pad or does it come in colors now?

<keri-afk> Mixing EP's is a great way to get rid of an EP you don't like- I mixed 3 uglies and made a psychedelic that everyone loved!

<Jambalaya> AND BECAUSE IT'S A MULTI PURPOSE INK, IT STAYS ON MY TABLE

<Jambalaya> VERSAMARK IS THE CLEAR WATERMARK INK

<cak> gotcha--thanks

<Paivi> I bought couple of pads Brilliance pigment inks. I can't emboss using it. What's wrong?

<Jambalaya> THE COLORS ARE VERSA-FINE, AND VERSA-MAGIC

<Judy> you have to be quick to emboss Brilliance ink - it drys fast

<MomCat> Brilliance is made to dry fast

<Jambalaya> BRILLIANCE DRIES TOO FAST TO BE A GOOD INK FOR EMBOSSING

<cak> keri, when you mixed did you know you would like it (before embossing it, that is)?

<Paivi> In instructions they say you can emboss.. :(

<MomCat> you can but you have to hurry

<Jambalaya> Paivi, YOU CAN IF YOU WORK REALLY FAST

<Jambalaya> AND IT DEPENDS ON THE CARDSTOCK TOO

<Jambalaya> IF THE CS IS MATTE, AND VERY ABSORBENT, YOU WON'T HAVE TIME WITH BRILLIANCE

<Sprout> Brilliance is also water based

<Paivi> oh yes. I should find out better pigment inks. Can you recommend?

<Jambalaya> IT WOULD WORK ON GLOSSY BETTER

<Jambalaya> Paivi, THE MOST VERSATILE PAD EVERYONE SHOULD OWN IS VERSAMARK

<keri-afk> cak- no idea- I just didn't like the colors and figured what the heck

<Jambalaya> GOOD THINKING KERI

<Jambalaya> IF YOU'RE NOT USING THEM AS IS, YOU MIGHT AS WELL EXPERIMENT

<Paivi> I know, but I bought another clear pad years ago, only available.. I must ask from Santa.

<cak> lol keri--and it you didn't like it, you could dump it really efficienctly, right?

<keri-afk> Another idea for mixing that if fun is to mix a metallic with a non-metallic

<Jambalaya> AH SPARKLE KNOWS ALL ABOUT UTEE, HOW ABOUT IT SPARKLE?

<keri-afk> yes CAK- because I didn't like the colors anyway

<cak> (sparkle must be at work)

<Jambalaya> SPARKLE, CAN YOU TELL US THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UTEE AND REGULAR EP'S?

<keri-afk> I prefer embossng on matte cardstock- hw about the rest of you?

<cak> the metallic with the non-metallic sounds like a wonderful contrast

<Judy> I do too, keri

<cak> I prefer matte for practically everything

<keri-afk> Oh- did you know you can mix regular EP with UTEE?

<Sprout> I don't know about Sparkle but I can

<Jambalaya> YES MATTE IS MY FAVORITE TOO

<Judy> doesn't get lost in the shine of glossy

<Jambalaya> GO Sprout

<cak> alright sprout!

<Sprout> Utee is coarser and needs several coats to get a smooth finish

<Sprout> actucally the bumpy finish is fun too.

<cak> it reminds me of raindrops

<Jambalaya> YES, I LOVE TEXTURE

<Sprout> The only time you need embossing ink is the first layer and then quickly dip the warm Uteed peiece back in Utee and it will stick. Then heat it.

<Jambalaya> AND IF YOU HEAT FROM BENEATH, YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH NOT USING INK AT ALL

<Sprout> My hand isn't that stead ;-)

<Birgit> Have a good time! I have to think about bed!;)

<cak> has anyone used the melting pot?

<cak> Night Birgit!

<Sprout> Me

<Judy> yes, I have

<Judy> they are fun

<keri-afk> Another cool thing is to dump the excess unmelted EP after you sprinkl the powder on the ink and save the excess EP and use it later- you get a really cool mix of colors

<Sprout> I'm Ranger Certified forMelt Art

<keri-afk> Wonderful for making your own beads

<Jambalaya> I USE TART PANS ON A BUNSEN BURNER, THE SAME WAY

<Paivi> tell more

<Jambalaya> YES SPROUT, GO ON

<Paivi> you melt EP for 3D-effect?

<cak> OK, Sprout, you gotta teach us a ep series! And Keri, doing beads with the melting pot!

<Jambalaya> BEADS?

<keri-afk> Sprout- tell us more

<Sprout> Tell me when and I'll do my best

<Jambalaya> I WANNA MAKE BEADS, TELL US

<keri-afk> Sprout first- then my turn

<Jambalaya> OK SPROUT, GO

<Sprout> Chicken

* Jambalaya tosses the caps to Sprout

<Judy> lol

<Jambalaya> lock your caps so we can see you

<cak> yeah Paivi. with the UTEE you get a really thick coat fast. The melting pot allows you to dip and pour very easily

<Sprout> Three days of training is a lot. It would be easier if you asked questions. BTW did you know that you can use the melting pot as an oven for polymer clay.

<MomCat> how?

<cak> No! tell us please~

<Jambalaya> yes tell

<Sprout> I use a clean project pan and set the control for a hair above the temperature for the clay. put the cover on and pretend it is an oven

<cak> cool! (hot?!?) portable too!

<Sprout> If the fact that it is deeper in the back is a problem just use something under the back that is the depth of the cover. I have 2 pots so I use the extra cover.

<Judy> will try that next time I have something little to bake

<cak> How many project pans do you recommend to get to start?

<Jambalaya> so the pot maintains an even temp?

<Sprout> Yes

<cak> (this is going to be my next equipment purchase)

<sparkle> (as many as you can afford...the project pans SUCK)

<cak> lol sparkle--the voice of experience sounds like

<keri-afk> lol Sparkle

<Sprout> Have you done transfers with the clear UTEE? I wish they would rename it to transparent because it is really amber.

<cak> no--tell more!

<sparkle> Sprout, it's only amber when it's overcooked. :-)

<Paivi> Sorry, my back is so bad I must leave the room and go to bed. It's almost midnight, anyway. This UTEE-stuff sounds great! bye all

<Judy> nite, paivi

<Sprout> Porject pans are recommended for soap, candles, and chocolate. The allow the temperature to drop a couple of degrees and that starts the Utee setting.

<Sprout> If you are using Utee you must use the permanent pan in the pot.

<cak> good tip

<Sprout> Don't forget if you use it for chocolate to designate one project pan for food.

<Jambalaya> so if i want to work with 5 colors, i need 5 pots, right?

<Judy> and you need two pots if you want to do the agate thing

<cak> (and sparkle? I think I'd better get used to amber UTEE--I can never get things done just right)

<sparkle> LOL..at least the amber is pretty <G>

<cak> OK, now I'm gonna have to make a list--so many techniques I've not heard of

<sparkle> Sprout, have you gotten to play with the flex additive for UTEE? I haven't yet.

<Judy> cak - it can be addicting - you can mold the UTEE also

<Sprout> Or just empty the pot onto you telfon sheet and let it set. Clean out the pan by scraping it with a silicone spatula like the kool tool and the wipe out the excess with a wad of paper towels. Very little waste. You can remelt what you cooled.

<cak> Judy that's going on the list too (we may have to do another of these very soon)

<Sprout> I demoed all day Saturday and gave away transfer and we used less than a pound in 8 hours with full pots cooled at the end.

<cak> so how do you do the transfer?

<Sprout> Actually 2 pots lets you do hjust about anything so get together with a friend and play.

<cak> that's good to know

<Sprout> Flex makes the Utee more durable, not flexible.

<cak> not as brittle?

<Sprout> The package says use a scoop or 2. Make that a scant half scoop.

<Sprout> Right. Not as brittle.

<cak> that hint appeals to the Scotch in me (I must have some really cheap genes)

<Judy> lol, cak

<cak> keri--how do you do beads (I'm not forgetting about the transfers or the agate or the molding either0

<Sprout> Also always start with clear and add the opaque colors like gold and black. They are colorants and are much to thick the other wasy. Clear is less expensive than the colors too.

<cak> so you can use some of the more opaque eps as a colorant for the clear? cool

<cak> how do you know how much to add?

<keri-afk> beads

<sparkle> I don't think we ever tried that...when we demoed we used the colors on their own. Wouldn't adding them to clear give you a less opaque finished product?

<Sprout> Yes. and you can sprinkle in other EPs for a maorbled effect. Just be careful of the ones with the glitter because you may have glitter in everything if any is left in the pan.

<Sprout> Sorry I can' t type. Senior fingerts

<cak> (let's face it--glitter is glitter)

<keri-afk> I wrap brown paper (like a grocery bag) cut into thin strips around a wooden skewer and glue the end with a dap of glue and let it dry

* Jambalaya tosses the caps to keri-afk

<Jambalaya> this sounds like fun keri

<keri-afk> Then roll the bead on pigment ink- usually a dark clor then roll it in my mixed EP and melt (still on the skwere) with heat gun ad while still warm roll in EP agan and do it 2-3 more times

<keri-afk> you get an enamaled speckled bead

<MomCat> wow!

<cak> ooooo shiny!

<Sprout> Cool.

<Jambalaya> oooohhhh i wanna go try that!

<Jambalaya> starting with a grocery bag is right up my alley<g>

<keri-afk> oh- and somewtimes I color the ends- the cut edges with a metallic marker

<Sprout> In answer to how much to add the cryptic answer is start sprinkling and see what it looks like til you are happy.

<cak> lol--the way of life, just try it and see

<Sprout> Got to make beads.

<cak> How about the molding Judy? (I still have transfers and agate on the list)

<Judy> need Rangers molding stuff for that, cak

<Judy> it comes in 2 parts - one blue, one white

<cak> oh yeah! I have some of that--it's fun

<Judy> you mix them together well

<Judy> and place it on what you want to make a mold of

<Judy> then let it set for a few minutes

<Jambalaya> thats in my "i'll get to it someday" drawer<g>

<Judy> then pour in melted UTEE

<Judy> let it cool

<Judy> then remove from mold

<Judy> you can make some beautiful things with it

<Judy> that's it in a nutshell

<cak> I've been making molds from charms, so the fillable part is kind of small, I should just spoon some in?

<Judy> that should work

<Judy> my molds have been larger than charms so far

<cak> yay! (I don't have a very good pouring arm). I've been too chicken to try anything much larger than that.

<cak> like what?

<Sprout> Or if you are lazy hold the pot higher. It will give you a thinner stream and more control. Also it it runs onver wait untill it sets and then trim in with a scissors while it is still warm.

<Judy> the pan is pretty easy to control - it has handles on both sides

<sparkle> And, cak, make sure you work on that craft sheet, then anything you spill over you can just re-melt!

<Sprout> Tip is SLIGHTLY. It is designed to give control.

<cak> sounds good

<Judy> Jam - did you get one of my angel pins last year?

<cak> is it easy to pour one-handed?

<Judy> no

<Jambalaya> i did judy, it was wonderful!

<Sprout> Hint. The craft sheet makes a great palette even for acrylic paints.

<Judy> made that this way

<cak> it sure seems like nothin'll stick to that craft sheet

<Sprout> My son used it with spray paint last summer. I tried to stay calm and let it dry. It washed off with soap and water. I'm sold!

<cak> lol--leave it to kids to "boldly go"

<Sprout> Some kid. He is 29!<LOL>

<Jambalaya> THIS WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION, THANKS TO ALL FOR SHARING

<Judy> gotta go work on my class for Wednesday!

<Sprout> See you at 6.

<Jambalaya> NEXT EVENT IS IN #cyberstampers

<Judy> thanks for a great discussion

<Jambalaya> come shop with us!

<cak> Thank you all--wonderful discussion!

Log file closed at: 10/25/04 4:09:09 PM