Your melt pot and stamps

Now, to continue with our melt pot experiments, we can of course, use our stamps.  So many ways to use stamp!  You can pour your UTEE onto your non-stick craft sheet and stamp into it.  I love this technique, as when you pour you can also sprinkle more embossing powder into your utee.  Because of the heat, your powder will melt with no need to apply your heat gun.  You can use any stamp - as long as it will take the heat of course.  If you want colour, ink your stamp first.  Allow the stamp to sink into the UTEE - if you are using wood mounted just be careful not to get the UTEE stuck to the foam part as it can be trickier to release.  Allow the UTEE to cool slightly before lifting off the stamp.

You can also use your UTEE directly onto your stamp.  Pick a good background stamp for this, and make sure it is one that can stand the heat.  I ink mine first, with Versamark if you dont want any colour.  If I want a large sheet of patterned UTEE, then a pour a dollop onto the stamp and using your silicone tool, spread the UTEE down over the stamp.  It will cool really quickly and you will be able to peel it off the stamp.  It is a lot easier to peel off if you have an unmounted stamp, as you can bend the stamp away from the UTEE.

You can create a thicker piece of UTEE, just pour and leave.  Or you can create a perfect shape using a cookie cutter.  Pour a thick layer of UTEE onto your stamp, making sure it will be big enough for your cutter.  Whilst the UTEE is molten, pop your cutter into it and press down.  The cutter isn't sharp, so won't damage your stamp.  Keep testing the UTEE with your silicone tool to make sure it is cool enough to handle, and take away the cutter and peel off the stamp.  You may be able to actually snap the excess UTEE away from your cut shape - however you may need to cut it off, but it should come away easily.  If you wait for it to cool it will be a lot more brittle, and therefore may snap when you try and take the excess off.

Using your stamps with UTEE means you can create brilliant patterns, backgrounds and main embellishments.  If you need something that isn't brittle you may want to add Flexi to your pot.

Once the image has cooled, to emphasise the texture add a little of the gilding wax - it looks ace!!

Here's the links to the stuff I have been using on my web site:

UTEE HERE

Stamps HERE

Melt Pot HERE

Heat Resistant Craft Mat HERE

Gilding Wax HERE

The top image is the one peeled from the stamp, the lower one was cut with the cutter from the stamped image.

Moulds and the Melt Pot

Okay, so from the You Tube videos you will have hopefully now seen all the moulds - the last one is actually a sugar craft mould - this you will find on Create and Craft or from Blossom Sugar Art.

I found the mould wouldn't work unless you cut the pieces apart (don't trim the ends off though, as these will help you line up the mould easily).  I added mica powder to the top of the flower, then poured UTEE into the bottom half - don't be scared to over-fil, and then when you close the mould don't worry when the UTEE over spills.  Allow to cool a little, then cut off the excess UTEE.  You can shape the flower using the melt pot - gently touch any parts you need to melt on the side of the pot and the heat will melt the UTEE.

The leaf is something you may need to practice.  It's just a little wire, wrapped and then left in a loop.  You will dip this into the UTEE, and lift out, making sure you angle the wire.  This will give you a skin of UTEE - it's very delicate, but really effective.  The flower is also really fragile.  Try with lots of different silicone moulds so see what effects you get.

Moulds and the melt pot

Yesterday I used normal craft moulds for pouring - but raid the kitchen for any moulds that look good - as long as they are silicone they should be fine with your UTEE.  I have used lovely silicone heart cake moulds. You don't need to add a release agent, and you can really layer your UTEE, adding elements to create layers and depth.  I love this technique, definitely one of my favourites.  Click HERE for the links to the web site, this is some of the items I used that are on my web:

Mica flakes HERE
Graphic 45 papers HERE

The other bits and bobs were from my crafty stash - and obviously the kitchen (obviously once used for UTEE, the cake mould will never be used for cakes...not that it was!).

Use the clear UTEE, I popped a little paper in the bottom, then started to pour in the UTEE.  I added words, hearts, stars, and mica flakes.  You can allow one layer to cool then add another layer - this gives you depth - and a fantastic embellishment. You will get air bubbles, again pop a few, but some of them will look cool. Try it!!!

Moulds and the melt pot

Moulds are brilliant to use with your Melt Pot - this is what differentiates a melt pot from anything else, and makes it a must have tool.  This first section I have used silicone craft moulds - there are various shapes and styles to choose from - so experiment.

Click the HERE next to the product for the link to the web site:

Face mould HERE
Round face mould (as above)
UTEE HERE
Mica Flakes HERE
Metal Flakes HERE
Gilding Wax HERE

Using moulds is so easy, all you need do is pour!  Dust the mould with mica powder, sprinkle in a little Mica Flakes, sprinkle in a little metal flake - experiment.  When the UTEE is still warm, but set, turn it out of the mould.  If you want to use the shape for jewellery you can put a hole in the shape whilst it's still warm.  If you want it to be less brittle, add flex to the melt pot.  When the UTEE has cooled down, add the gilding wax - this really emphasis the detail and texture from the mould that the UTEE picks up.  Allow to set then buff with a soft cloth to make it really shine.

You Tube video's and voucher reminder!!

Hey crafters, how are you on this fine morning (well, I think it's fine, I'm sitting in the studio at work at the mo, so haven't seen the weather in a while!).  I hope you are all well.

Just in case you haven't found the You Tube video's yet, I thought I would share the link with you on here.  There are more being edited, so will be ready for you to have a look at soon - and please have a look at the older ones as well.  The most recent have all been using the Melt Pot.  I love this little machine, it has of course been around years, but has been having a resurgence - which I'm really happy about.  It's lovely to see so many people digging their melt pots out and discovering all the things you can do with it.  I think because there are so many silicone products on the market now as well (not just craft stuff, but baking things), it means we can do even more wonderful things with our UTEE.

I have been posting photo's and simple instructions, but if you would like to see the video's the links are here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlMMg7th_go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WclC7YqREE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2foyOZ4yYNA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WixoN3BtnfA


Now, I also wanted to remind all the ladies and gentlemen who joined myself and Debbi on our workshop that you have a voucher to spend.  I haven't put a deadline on this, but I normally forget all about vouchers, and never use them, which is such a waste.  You should have received an email from Debbi with the code which you need to enter when you are checking out on my web site.  If you haven't received the email, please let me know and I can send the code to you (please note, this is only for those who came to the workshop - sorry everyone else!!).

Dipping technique using the Melt Pot

This is a technique I love - but I can get wrong rather easily!!  Do check the video on You Tube to see the demo (which I actually did correct!!).  

I used (click the here for the link to the web site):

Tag HERE

Gilding wax HERE

Gilding Flakes HERE

UTEE HERE

Melt Pot HERE

Heat resistant craft sheet HERE

Pop a little of the gilding wax on the twiddlybitz tag, this acts as a background.  Using a pair of tweezers, dip the tag into the clear melted UTEE, take it out allowing any excess drips to melt back into the pot.  Now dip into the flakes, allow to cool then using a texture sponge take off the excess flakes, then dip into the pot again. You will get air bubbles, which you can pop - some of them however, look brilliant left as they really add texture. This time I added a heart.  Keep dipping until you are happy with the layers created, and the depth - adding embellishments with each dip.  Use the edge of the melt pot to take off excess UTEE.  

Melt Pot

Well, as we speak my wonderful boyfriend is loading my demo's with the melt pot on to YouTube for me - I'll give you the link asap.  However, I will post photo's of the things I have made, together with the links for any products used from my web site in the meantime (keep checking my posts, more are to follow):

These hearts will show the embossing powder (UTEE), to it's full potential.  When we use stamps and moulds we dull the powder, and loose the fantastic marbled effect which we see in the pan.  For these hearts all you need to do is pour from your pan, quite random, and then use a cookie cutter to cut your shape.  Make sure all the elements are attached, otherwise part of your heart will drop off.

I have used Melt Pot HERE
UTEE     HERE
Heat Resistant craft sheet  HERE