My little Sizzix embossing machine arrived today! All it does is emboss, it does not die cut. I have a cutting machine I am terrified of using (and somehow ruining.)
I jumped right in and put the thing together, and grabbed some of my embossing folders (bought to use as texture plates in polymer clay.) I used dampened ivory card stock.
The first one was magic!
The second was tougher. The 3D folders are thicker and don’t require all the shims (plates) that come with the machine.
I thought I had ruined the machine with just the second one. Then, I figured it out and tried a couple more. Success!
I am looking forward to rubbing these with mica powders, or dry brushing with some paint!
10:00am, today, The phone rings. “Nana, I still need wings and a halo.”
“But you’re not going to the Squish Meet, you’re going to soccer.”
But after soccer, there’s a block party.”
Vivi and her bestie had planned to go to the local Squishmellow Swap Meet as a devil and an angel. Then their soccer coach invited them to play with the older girls’ team.
‘What time is the block party?”
“Three.”
I went right to work. We’d bought a white headband and iridescent pipe cleaners earlier in the week, so I started on the halo.
My little model was playing soccer, so I did the best I could with what I had.
Not great, but passable. On to the wings…
For the frame, I gathered 2 white wire clothes hangers, heavy duty wire cutters, and masking tape. I reshaped the hangers and cut the hooks off. I sacrificed another pipe cleaner to wire the two together. Then, I covered the connection with lots and lots of masking tape.
Vivi has a room set up in my “grandma house” where I also store fabric and yarn. I went in to look for some white chenille yarn. I found it AND a ruffled white satin pillow case that was once my mom’s. It was being used as a baby doll blanket in my old bassinet, filled with baby yarn.
I stuck the frame into the pillow sham and used another pipe cleaner and the white chenille yarn to gather and secure the middle.
I added more iridescent pipe cleaners to the middle of the wings, to match the halo and add sparkle.
Now, how to attach them? Vivi had finger crocheted several 3’ lengths of the chenille yarn to use as Squishmellow clip holders. I took two of them and added to the inside of the gather, attaching them in the middle, with good old pipe cleaners, so they could be used as underarm ties.
Then, I tried it on my poor old model.
I tied it on me with bow knots, wrapping the extra lengths of yarn around my back and waist for extra support.
I took the wings and halo off and grabbed the white fuzzy vest in the background, then headed for the block party!
2:40pm, I arrived at the block party, and there was just enough room in front of the barricades to pull over. I cut on my blinkers, and Vivi met me at the end of the street.
The best part was when I pulled the costume out of the car! “Are those my wings, Nana? They’re beautiful!”
I got her in her wings and halo out of harm’s way, just off the intersection. People went by and smiled. One guy rolled down his window and said, “Great costume!” 😄
I’ve been meaning to try this for months. I’ve been saving used dryer sheets and planned to join them with gel medium. Yesterday, I gave it a shot. I overlapped 3 pieces on a plastic sheet. I brushed them heavily with Liquitex Satin Medium. I used a new brush from Hobby Lobby and spent a lot of time picking hairs out of the medium. I won’t be buying that brand of brush, again. Fine Artist, my eye!
Look how translucent!
I let them dry overnight and they pulled up in one piece, like I’d hoped.
The “hand” is wonderfully rough, wrinkled, and dry. The backside is shiny and rubbery.
Held in front of the tv to show texture and translucence.It’s hard to capture, but the satin medium gives a tiny bit of sparkle! Maybe I’ll add glitter next time.
I’m not sure how I’ll use these “papers,” but this technique is worth repeating.
