Sorry for the long title…not sure how I can shorten that, lol.
Hopefully no one is too mad at me for having posted my dislikes about the new (to me) cutters. I edited in my last post and added on the bottom of the post.
Part 2. I like the Viva Decor Inka Gold very much. I hydrated some of the drier paints, but also find that when I moisten my finger a little bit, it immediately puts paint on my finger when gliding it over the paint. They remind me a lot of creamy water colours or eyeshadows. This sheet below, I had mixed up a shade of green clay, ran it through the pasta machine, then ran it through again with a texture (one of Helen Breil’s beautiful patterns) and coloured it with my finger. Although you can layer the paints (and they layer beautifully), after each colour I dip my finger into some water and wipe it clean with a rag. Paint comes off really easily, although I now have some paint under my fingernails. I need to apply new nail polish anyway, ha. Anyway, the coverage of these paints is just fabulous.
![DSC07277 DSC07277](//lh5.ggpht.com/-erg1xb7UVE8/T4sMoSHcX9I/AAAAAAAAFOE/Suk2jDb6j1A/DSC07277_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
I find that you can do as many layers as you want and with each layer, the application gets thicker and bolder. You can see this from left to right. I had just a hint of texture on this clay and on the left you can see it as sort of a painted wash in the crevices. This paint can actually be watered down as well and applied as a wash instead of a wax.
![DSC07280 DSC07280](//lh6.ggpht.com/-N3wSGKhWoZU/T4sMppo41HI/AAAAAAAAFOU/r6Bn24vFdjg/DSC07280_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
When dry, you can achieve a nice crackle with this also. Hey, you know how much I like to crackle, right? lol. I think this will crackle even better if I put on another coat after it is dry and then crackle…I’ll try this next…but this is with one coat and pretty good.
![DSC07282 DSC07282](//lh4.ggpht.com/-BGO6c5vI3Uw/T4sMq01JI_I/AAAAAAAAFOk/Dx4_G6igzNQ/DSC07282_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
After I applied paint on this piece I stamped it (Tonja Lenderman Clear stamp)
![DSC07281 DSC07281](//lh5.ggpht.com/-8-9_mwX1iXQ/T4sMsO2VKNI/AAAAAAAAFO0/QJ78hncdHAg/DSC07281_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Ok…enough play for now…I think I’ll create something with these sheets. So I decide to try the sanded seamless cutters. I use the teardrop shapes. I’ve already begun assembling some of them. I’ll be making a drop necklace and some earring with those.
![DSC07287 DSC07287](//lh5.ggpht.com/-edMD6uT1zAo/T4sMte48qEI/AAAAAAAAFPE/m2RK9iol5Eo/DSC07287_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
And a close up of the edge for the teardrop. Much better, but I still had to smooth the clay a little bit with my finger. I rather like the shape now. I used a lime and teal Viva Decor Inka Gold on these. I normally work in much darker colours, but thought I should try a little ‘lighter’ for Spring. Plus green goes so nicely with the popular Orange for this season.
![DSC07289 DSC07289](//lh6.ggpht.com/-gfdb0nk_K9E/T4sMukocvFI/AAAAAAAAFPU/IxcXZD-othk/DSC07289_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
I’ve embellished this cabochon and the flowers on the teardrop with a little Swarovski Crystal. I’ve enjoyed using crystals ever since I started claying way back in the late 80’s. You see those little balls of clay on my piece above? I roll a ball, insert a blunt knitting needle to make a hole. This becomes the bezel for my rhinestone. I insert the stone and use a cartridge-less pen to set the crystal into the bezel. The clay pushes a little bit over the edges of the stone, so I may not need glue. I must be certain that the clay is around all of the edge of the crystal though because otherwise I’ll need to use some glue. Don’t use cyanoacrylate (Zap-a-gap, Krazy Glue etc.) on crystal or glass as it will frost them. It is better to use an epoxy.
![DSC07288 DSC07288](//lh5.ggpht.com/-0GhhbMqXlls/T4sMwJH57iI/AAAAAAAAFPk/nWJk0JEFQmc/DSC07288_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
After I’ve assembled these…what shall I do next? I have quite a few more toys…Do you want to see?? lol