2012 Technique Calendar - November - Molten Pigments

I am so tickled about this technique...it is so simple but the results are stunning each and every time!!

2012 Technique Calendar

November

Molten Pigments

You can use expensive glues for this technique but I have found that the cheaper the better.  You want a thin white, clear drying glue and I like good old Elmers! 

Also, as far as pigments go you can use just about anything you have on hand...Perfect Pearls, Pearl Ex, Artist Pigments, heck you can even use powder eye shadows if you want to! 

Supplies:

Thin White Glue
Pigment Powders (Perfect Pearls, Pearl Ex, etc.)
Cardstock
Heat Tool
Paint Brush
Embellishments to finish off your calendar page.

Instructions:

1. Start off by squirting lots of glue onto your cardstock.  There is no exact amount but I can tell you the more glue the more texture you will achieve.  Of course keep in mind that the more glue you use the longer it will take to dry them.

2. Now sprinkle the pigment powders over the wet glue.  I am using a mix of Pearl Ex, Perfect Pearls and LuminArt's Pigment Powder. 

3. Now take your paint brush and swirl, mix, tamp the powders and glue around the entire page.  You don't have to completely cover the cardstock...I like to leave small sections of the cardstock peeking through.

If desired after you're done spreading the glue around you can sprinkle on additional powders for a more concentrated area of color.

4. Let the glue dry for approx. 3-4 minutes.  This will give it a nice skin over the surface of the glue.

5. It's time to bring on the heat!  Start heating the glue with your heat tool.  You will notice almost immediately that the glue starts to bubble up.  This is exactly what you want to happen.  The skin formed on the surface of the glue will stretch and expand when hot and once it cools will create the awesome texture of molten pigments!

Keep heating until you've dried all of the glue completely.  Once you're finished heating the glue the bubbles will deflate giving you your finished texture.

Here is an "in the process" photo....

And here is how my glue/pigments turned out....

Can you see on the left hand side the bright blue pigment powders...those were sprinkled on after I spread the glue about the page.  There is also some brown pp that I sprinkled afterwards but they are harder to see in this photo.

You need not seal the powders after you are finished heating. 

If you added some powder later there may be a bit of those that are loose but the rest will be mixed and dried into the glue.

And here is how my calendar page turned out. 

I am stumped at what to add to the upper portion of my house right now.  I want it to be something that compliments and highlights the background yet relates to Thanksgiving...  I'll keep searching, I'm sure I'll find something to stick on there.

I really hope you give this technique a try.

You will simply be amazed at the depth and texture created from two very simple products and a little bit of heat!