Tag Archives: gel medium

Finished and Glowing!

Finished and Glowing!
Finished and Glowing!

I just put the last coat of gel medium on the bottom of my lantern/candle!

I used Liquitex Satin Gel Medium both as an adhesive and as a sealant.

Since the cylinder is round, I made it a cradle of big bubble wrap. I painted on a thin layer of gel medium, just on the exposed surface. I used a soft, wide bristle brush.


I draped Patricia Carmichael Cline’s print, stained side down, over the glued area. Using a tip I learned from Sharon Duran Wilson, I used my misting bottle to wet the print. Sharon said when applying paper to a wet surface, wet the paper lightly, to prevent wrinkles.

I pulled and smoothed, like making a bed.

Then I placed the cylinder with glued paper down into the cradle, while I continued to glue and wrap from the right.

glue, roll, stretch, smooth and repeat.

I used a tip, also from Patricia, for smoothing. Use a dry paper towel to help smooth wrinkles. It also removes excess water.

I tore the white edges from the sides of the paper and finished gluing the right side.

Next time, I will pay more attention to getting the paper straight in relation to the bottom of the glass.

I trimmed the white edges, and stained what was left with the pink gel.

The next day, I glued and pulled and tugged and sprayed and smoothed the left side. I folded the extra paper on the bottom underneath and glued it with the gel medium.

I turned the upper edges over the rim and glued them down, too.

I finished everything up with a coat of gel medium.

I let it all dry, lit the electric candle and dropped it inside the cylinder.

And There She Glows!!!

Push Play

Flipping My Lids

Flipping My Lids
Flipping My Lids

I use deli lids for palettes.

Yesterday, I poured too much gel medium in one.

I used what I needed, but had lots left. The stuff is $17/bottle. I didn’t want to waste it, but didn’t want to try to put it back in the bottle, either. I took out another lid. (I bought a whole case one time.)

I flipped it.

I put it upside down on the other one.

Air could still get in, so I found something to weigh it down.

Today, it was like it was fresh from the bottle!

That stack of lids got me thinking.🤔 As many as I have, there ought to be a craft that uses them. 💡I have an idea! When I try it, I’ll report! 😉

Ah, Spit!

Ah, Spit!
Ah, Spit!

It started with a a paper like this:

It’s a gel print by Patricia Carmichael Cline of PMartist Studios. I won it in a drawing, along with a whole pack of papers and stencil pieces. I remember when Patricia printed it. She used acrylic paint and a comb-like tool to make the swirls. She pulled it with wet strength tissue. I liked the transparency of the tissue and got an idea.

I bought a glass cylinder vase and an electric candle from Dollar Tree. The Unicorn Spit was a previous clearance purchase from Michael’s. I used a foam brush and spread the Unicorn Spit on the back of the tissue. Unicorn Spit is a water-based gel stain. The color is Party Punk Pink and it is intense! The tissue dried like this:

The front:

I wrapped the tissue, pink side against the glass and folded edges in and under. I turned on and dropped in the candle:

I turned down the lights:

And let her dance!

Next, I’ll finish up by attaching the tissue to the glass with clear gel medium. I am pretty pumped about this!

Old, Used, Dryer Sheets

Old, Used, Dryer Sheets

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.