Ask the Crafter

Color Pencil Conversion Charts

2011-05-16T14:45:00.002-08:00

Pat asks:
Can you tell me the color conversions for Faber-Castell to Prismacolor Premier colored pencils.

Any help is appreciated.

Thank you!

This one took a while to find and I had to turn to my friend Cody Goodin for help. He suggests you go to the Making a Mark website and review the article on this page; they have links to various color pencil charts. He also sent me two charts he found on the WetCanvas website. I've attached them here for you (click on them for a larger pic).

Hope this helps.
Judi

Is it best to stamp or stencil onto muslin

2011-05-09T10:59:00.001-08:00

Jennifer asks:
whether it's better to stamp or stencil (or other) an image onto small muslin gift bags, like these. Is there a particular method or ink that will work best? I'd love to use soy-based or other environmentally friendly ink.

Thank you!

I think it really depends on how much detail you want your image to have. A stamp will give more detail than a stencil. You can use ink on fabric and heat set it, no guarantee it will be permanent unless the ink is specifically made for fabric. You can add textile medium to paint to make that permanent. I like to paint onto a stamp and use that on fabric. Just be sure to put a piece of cardboard inside the bag so you don't bleed ink/paint through to the back.
Good luck!

Judi

How to glue paper to wood

2011-04-07T12:11:00.004-08:00

Payankey asks:
What is the best glue to adhere a printed picture to wood? I used several kinds and they all made the paper bubble up. Can you please help me with this situation?

My expert, Judy Leasure, has the following advice for you:There is a colored pencil artist named Janelle Johnson who adheres handmade and collage papers to wood surfaces all the time. She recommends Lineco Neutral PH Adhesive. She sells it on her website and you may be ablet to find it at a fine art supply store. Janelle has an instruction page on her website for how to use the product. Her website is www.janellejohnson.com

Also, part of the bubbling problem may have to do with the thickness of the paper. If you are using really thin papers, then it may be nearly impossible to eliminate bubbling. Heavier papers will not do that as much.

Good luck!

Judi

2010-05-26T13:03:00.001-08:00

Justin asks:
Can you tell me what the best paint marker to use on plastic crafts such as painting a water bottle that won't wash or smudge off?

thank you.

The problem with plastics such as a water bottle is that they are too smooth and there is nothing for the paint to grab onto. Even Sharpie markers wash off after a while. I don’t know of a medium that wouldn’t smudge after a while … sorry! You would have to change the surface of the bottle to make it accept paint. If you are willing to do that here are instructions. Good luck!

Judi

How to make acrylic paint permanent for outdoors

2010-04-22T12:49:00.002-08:00

Marty asks:
I'd like to how do I get acrylic paints to be permanent on slate? What finish should I put over it? It will be used outdoors. I am putting on a coat of Marine Varnish now.

Your Marine Varnish should work just fine. You could use any outdoor varnish. Some people do nothing at all over the acrylic paints and have had rocks or garden stones outside for years with no damage to the paint

Best of luck.

Judy

Difference between fusible web and iron-on Pellon

2009-06-08T11:36:00.001-08:00

Kerrie asks:
I'd like to know the difference between fusible webbing and iron-on pellon. Fusible webbing I think has a paper backing to it but I have been given I think iron-on pellon which I have attached to an appliqué which should have been fusible webbing??? The iron-on pellon does not seem to have a pull off backing to it. For me to be able to appliqué stitching to it, I think I will have to try and remove the pellon without destroying the water-erasable pen markings that I have already put on it. Can I put fusible webbing straight over the top and still be able to stitch through or will it be too difficult?

Fusible webs are glue or plastic based see through materials that are either encased in paper like the double sticks, or have paper on one side only. They are used to bond the applique pattern pieces to the background fabric.

The iron on pellon is an interfacing – which has glue on one side and is meant to strengthen certain areas of clothing, such as cuffs and facings.

You can put the fusible webbing on top of the interfacing but it will make it stiffer and possibly harder to sew through. I would test it out on a scrap of fabric and see how it works for you.

Best of luck.

Judi

Rebaking polymer clay

2009-03-31T12:50:00.005-08:00

Tara asks:
I'm using Genesis heat set paints on a baked polymer clay sculpt. Is there a limit to how many times you can re-bake this clay so that there's no cracking? Would it even crack at all? I've never tried it and don't want to destroy the reborn sculpt I just created by painting it!

The answer is from polymer goddess Christi Friesen at http://www.cforiginals.net :

I've never used the Genesis paints - although I've heard good things. I use acrylic paints and regularly rebake the antiqued pieces with no cracking, bubbling or problems. If I am guessing correctly, your polymer piece is fully baked, and now about to be painted and all you'll need is to bake it long enough to set the Genesis paints. If that's so, then you shouldn't have any trouble with your polymer cracking - polymer definitely can go through multiple bakings without cracking. If in doubt, paint some scrap thing you don't care about and bake it to see what happens, but I'm pretty sure you'll have no trouble with it!

Printing on muslin

2008-10-09T12:27:00.002-08:00

Jody asks:
I fused wonder under to muslin and ran it through my inkjet, copying the images I had placed on the copy machine. It worked great! Is there any reason not to do this? Do you know if the fabric would then be washable...would the image remain?

You have to use treated fabric if you want the image to be stable, otherwise it will wash out. You can buy a few different types of products and/or prepared fabric to do this. Bubble Jet Set is one pre-treatment you can find at quilt stores, you use it on your own fabric. There’s lots of pretreated fabric around – you can buy it the package at most craft shops. Have fun!

Judi

Can you cover charcoal with gesso?

2008-02-25T10:55:00.001-09:00

Brenda asks:
I want to sketch with charcoal on canvas board, then gesso the board before painting with acrylics. Will that work? Why or why not?

As far as I know, all gesso is opaque—either white or black. Therefore, it will cover up your charcoal work and you will not be able to see it. Further, gesso is generally applied with a brush and would smear your charcoal drawing. To do what you are describing, you need to spray your charcoal sketch with a clear fixative (either charcoal fixative or a crystal clear water-based varnish. This will seal your charcoal sketch and allow you to paint over it with your acrylics without smearing your charcoal.

Hope this helps.

Judy Leasure, TDA
My art blog: http://www.jalstudios.blogspot.com
My art pictures: http://www.picturetrail..com/jleasure
My art store: http://www.jalstudios.etsy.com

How to make fabric banners

2008-02-20T06:43:00.002-09:00

Dasha asks:
I'd like to know how to make large fabric icons on a flexible material, such as muslin or drop-cloth type canvas (flexible) to hang in the newly painted hallway. They will hang like banners. I hope to have them there for some years to come. The actual painting will be done by the kids, ranging in age from PreK to High School. Adults will do the prep work. What do you suggest for a primer and finisher. What do you suggest? Thank you. Dasha
I would do this project as simply as possible. Whenever working with children, the KISS method (Keep It Simple Sweetheart) is definitely the best way to go.

First, select your fabric—a heavy muslin or sailcloth would work well. You want something with enough weight that it will hang straight without having to weight the bottom. Try to get something with a fairly smooth texture. Wash the fabric to remove any sizing and put in the dryer without any softener. At this point, I would make my banners: cut to size, hem all edges, reinforce the top edge with a rod pocket so that you can run a dowel or wooden slat through it so it will hang straight and flat, attach hanging rings or tabs, or whatever mechanism you are going to use to hang them on the wall. Finally, press your banners so that they are flat and without wrinkles.

Now you are ready to paint. If I were doing this project, I would use DecoArt SoSoft fabric paint. This brand stays flexible, does not require heat setting to become permanent, and you can apply it using regular paint brushes. The downside is that it comes in rather small bottles. It does not require a lot of paint to cover an area, however. Once finished, leave them to dry for at least 24 hours. You can then press them lightly to remove any wrinkles and hang them up. No special finish is necessary and they should last for many years. They will also be washable if that is a concern. I have painted clothing with these paints and they wash and dry very well without fading, chipping, or cracking. For a piece that will simply hang on a wall, wear should not be a problem at all.

If you choose to use regular craft acrylic paints, you can do that instead. The preparation would be the same. The finished product may be a little less washable, but again you are not wearing these pieces and they should not get terribly dirty. Acrylic paints also would not need any sort of primer or finish coat to make them quite permanent. If you choose to use regular acrylics, I would use DecoArt Americana or Delta Ceramcoat. These are both high quality paints and will hold up well over time. You do need to be careful not to apply the paint too heavily (thick). If you wish you can add textile medium to the paint prior to applying it.

For brushes, you can use regular craft paint brushes for either of these approaches. You may find that flat or filbert brushes with somewhat shorter hairs will work better because they will be able to scrub the paint into any texture on the fabric. If you are highlighting and shading any of the elements in the design, working with the fabric paints will allow you to blend while the paint is wet. For any line work, you will want to use long-haired liner brushes. Make sure your table is covered with craft paper and do not move the piece while it is being painted. The paint will go though the fabric and you don’t want to mess up your painting by moving it around an picking up paint off the table cover.

I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can be of further help. Let us know how your icons turn out.

Judy Leasure, TDA

What glue to use with stretch fabric

2008-01-24T13:01:00.000-09:00

Rachel asks: Can you please tell me which fabric glue is the best for applying lace (and other fabrics) to Tank tops and T-shirts that are made out of stretch fabric? I need a glue that will not show thru the lace or on the actual tank top (an invisible glue, if possible). And please remember that the shirts I will be working with are made out of stretch fabric therefore the glue must work with the fabric as well.

We don’t suggest gluing anything that will be washed. You should probably sew it. That said – Aleene’s does make a stretch fabric glue but they state it will hold up to hand washing only.
Hope this helps,
Judi

Making a removable painted decal for clothing

2008-01-17T14:41:00.000-09:00

Dolphin45 asks: What type of paints and pens should I use on my daughter's tutu? I have to make a silver or gold design on it and it needs to look professional. Do you know of anywhere to get these items and names of products so I can get them asap.

I wrote and asked Dolphin45 what the tutu was made of - the answer was lycra.

I don't like to paint on lycra because I think when it is stretched the edges are never sharp looking. What I suggest is making your design separately and then attaching it to the tutu. There is a new product called Styli'Stick (from Pebeo) that will allow you to make a decal that can be ironed on to the lycra. I think this is ingenious because you could make a nice design and then because the decal is removable you can use the tutu for other shows. The Styli Sticks come in many colors as well as metallics.
Hope this helps!
Judi

When good thread (floss) goes bad

2008-01-05T14:11:00.000-09:00

Joyce asks:
How do I keep DMC six strand cotton embroidery floss from shredding.
The last that I purchased seems to twist and shred badly. I have used wax and Thread
Heaven and that does not help.Has something happened to the quality of their product?

I've used DMC for YEARS (because it really IS better than Coats & Clark) & MOST of the time it's excellent. But like all mass-produced things, sometimes a batch slips through that just - well - SUCKS! I've gotten ahold of a couple of bad DMC batches & had the same trouble you are having. Truth? Your best bet is to either salvage what you CAN of it, or TOSS it & get some more. But DO write to the company before you toss any & let them see some of the 'bad' threads! They need to know when their product isn't the quality it should be!

Good luck! Kai

What glue to use to hang slate

2008-01-04T11:28:00.000-09:00

Chrissy asks: How do I stick hangers onto the back of slate so I can hang it on the wall without drilling holes in the slate?

I would try the two-part epoxies. They have been used for tack welding metal so it should be able to hold the hanger to the slate. I would use some sandpaper to scuff up the slate, if possible, before gluing.
Hope this works!
Judi

How to set glitter on wood

2007-12-14T22:30:00.001-09:00

I'd like to know how to get the glitter on wood to set. I have spread glue and then sprinkled glitter on wood and want it to stay and not come off or shed. Is there a spray that I can spray on the glitter to make it stay without the glitter shedding off? Thanks.

I asked the Queen of Glitter - Jean Bernard to answer this for me ... here's what she says:

I would apply a few thin coats of clear glossy varnish over the glitter. Next time mix the glitter 50/50 with the varnish :) You could find some Krylon super gloss sealer and try a test spot before you cover the entire area if this is a big project. Sometimes even the super glossy spray will cloud the glitter and it will loose its sparkle :)
hope this helps ya :)
Jean

Can I use acrylics instead of gesso for base coat?

2007-12-07T00:05:00.000-09:00

JK asks:
Can I use white acrylic paint instead of gesso for the base of my oil painting?

I can tell you what I do. I don't gesso anything. I don't even think I own any gesso. Most of the stretched canvases you purchase today are already prepared with gesso and so are ready for painting. I like to use board rather than canvas. I personally don't care for the texture of canvas in my finished work. I purchase gesso board. This is masonite that has had gesso applied to one side. It comes in a variety of sizes from 4x4 inches to quite large. I generally work with smaller sizes: 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, 5x7, 8x10. You could purchase a piece of double faced masonite and cut it yourself then apply gesso if you wish. I'd rather buy it prepared. There are several different brands. The one I prefer is Ampersand and can be purchased from a number of on-line sources.

That said, you can paint oils over an acrylic base. I frequently do a value scale underpainting in Burnt Sienna and then appply my oils over that. Robert Warren actually base coats his canvases with orange acrylic and then does a value scale underpainting using black acrylic before applying oils. I have also used unprepared masonite. With this product I sand the surface to remove the shine and then apply two coats of bottled acrylic paint with a roller letting it dry between coats.

Many of the gessos you buy today are acrylic based. So, the short answer is yes, you can paint your canvas in whatever color acrylic paint you would like before applying your oils. There is no rule that says you have to start with a white surface, In fact, because most oils are translucent, the base color of the canvas can influence your finished piece in some wonderful ways. Gesso is a thicker product and if you are stretching your own canvases using unprepared canvas, then a couple of coats of gesso will give your canvas more body and seal the fabric so that it will accept paint properly. At the end of the day, for me it is too much trouble. I'd rather purchase my supports ready to paint. I'd rather paint than prepare surfaces.

Hope this helps.

Judy Leasure

How to make cloth doll joints

2007-12-01T11:43:00.000-09:00

Gloria asks:
How do you make joints for cloth dolls?

There are many ways to joint a cloth doll. There are button joints, hinge joints, tab joints, the list goes on. The best thing to do is get the late Susanna Oroyan’s book Anatomy of a Doll. She has a whole section on the different ways to joint a doll. If you can’t buy it right now, try your local library – if they don’t have it on the shelf they should be able to inter-library loan it for you.

Hope this helps!
Judi

What is the best masking fluid for watercolor work?

2007-11-02T23:44:00.000-08:00

Ruth asks:
I'd like to know of all the masking fluids out there to use in watercolor, which one is the very best? Many thanks.

All of the masking fluids are pretty much the same. They are a liquid latex material. The biggest difference is that some of them have a colorant and others are white. Some of the colored ones are blue and others are yellow.

There is one product called Masque-Pen that comes in a smaller plastic bottle with a writing tip. I tend to use that one a lot becasue I can create lines without using a brush or I can put some out in a puddle and apply it to a larger area with a brush. At the end of the day, which one you choose is a matter of personal preference. I like the ones that have color because I can see where I put it. The white ones look just like the paper and it is hard to see where you have been. Unless you are going to be using masking fluid really often or on very large areas, I would buy the smallest container you can find. The fluid will congeal into a solid mass over time and then it is no good.

Hope this helps.

Judy Leasure,TDA

How to transfer your drawing to Wonder Under

2007-10-29T13:54:00.000-08:00

Kristen asks:
I'd like to know how to transfer my drawing onto the back of the Wonder Under.

You should transfer your drawing to the paper side of the wonder under. You can do this by either using a light box or taping the drawing to a window and placing your WU on top of it and tracing.

If you have an inkjet printer you could cut a piece of WU slightly smaller than a piece of bond paper, then tape it to the paper and run it through your printer. As long as there is no heat it should work (laser printers use heat so that's a no-no).

Judi

How to make a blackout lining for bamboo window blinds

2007-10-20T12:27:00.000-08:00

Susan says:

I have bamboo roll up blinds on 2 windows. They are see through at night. How do I make a privacy cloth backing for them? Thank You.

Our decorative painting expert, Judy Leasure, has made some Roman Shades recently and this is her suggested solution:

I have made Roman shades and with those you sew your fabric and the lining together and then sew rings on the lining side. When the shade is finished, you thread cording through the rings and across the top to one side. To raise, you pull on the cords (which are all joined together so they pull uniformly). To lower, you release the cords. If the bamboo shades work the same way, you would have to find a way to create a channel around the cords so they will move once the backing is applied.

You might try making a liner of black-out fabric by cutting a piece of fabric 2 inches larger all around than the shades. Hem all 4 sides with a 1/2-inch double hem. (machine stitch). Then align the liner with the shade and hand stitch with a heavy thread vertically along the sides and vertically in one or two rows in the center. Your stitching would wrap around every other bamboo rod on the way up the shade. Whip stitch the bottom around one of the bamboo rods and you may need to do the top as well. In this way, the mechanism should still work and the fabric will stay in place with the shade.

This appears to be a lot of work, but I can't think of another way to keep the functionality of the shades. Again, I'm not 100% sure how the roll-up mechanism works.

How to transfer images to card stock : Ink Jet Transparency Method

2007-10-18T06:41:00.000-08:00

Lorraine asks:
I'd like to know how to transfer pictures from my computer to hang tags. Someone told me to use wonder under. cut it and insert it in your inkjet printer and then iron it on the tag?
Have you tried this before? Does it work?

I haven't tried fusing wonder under to paper. The problem there is that since wonder under is a two sided fusible you would have one glue side that would remain. The glue would be tacky although it would eventually dry. I know of fabric artists that paint their wonder under and fuse it to fabric, then let it sit for a couple of weeks so the stickiness goes away.

I have recently had the opportunity to (finally) do some ink jet transparency transfers. I have to say this is the easiest and most successful transfer I've ever made. I just printed my image onto the rough side of the transparency and then I brushed some Modge Podge onto my substrate (which was a photo mat), laid the transparency ink side down (remember to reverse your image if need be) and then burnished it with a bone folder.

So this method is what I would suggest you try. Only drawback is that it could get expensive to make lots of tags because the transparency film isn't the cheapest. Make sure to buy InkJet Transparency film.

Good luck!
Judi

What glue to use to apply paper to masonite

2007-10-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

Gloria asks:
I'm making a collage by gluing bits of paper I've cut from magazines to a piece of masonite. What type of glue should I be using for this? I've been using regular Elmer's white glue, but I'm afraid it won't last long term. Also, what should I use to seal the final project?

I would suggest using Modge Podge to attach the paper to the masonite. Actually any white glue would work but Modge Podge is thinner, easier to spread, and has been developed for that purpose. To seal it you could give it a topcoat of Modge Podge. I believe you can get either a gloss or matte version.

Good luck!
Judi

How to make your own glitter glue

2007-10-04T14:42:00.000-08:00

Is it possible to make your own glitter glue? I tried it with gel glue and glitter and it didn't work very well.

I think the gel glue probably was too thick to mix the glitter well. I have heard people having good luck mixing the glitter with Mod Podge or Elmers. Just be sure to stir well.

Best of luck,
Judi

How to make a tomato cage witch

2007-10-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

Peg asks:
I'd like to know how to make a large witch using a tomato cage and paper twist.

I couldn't find how to make one using paper twist but I did find a couple of other tomato cage witches that you could possibly use as a starting point. There was a Carol Duvall episode that teaches how to make one and McCalls has a pattern for a tomato cage witch also. Good luck and have fun!
Judi

How to get Wonder Under fusible off your iron

2007-09-19T09:46:00.000-08:00

Anonymous asks:
When you make a mistake and get Wonder Under fusible on the iron, how do you get it off?? My iron won't iron. Help!!!

Easy to make this mistake, I've done it myself. I double-checked with the Pellon folks, makers of Wonder Under brand fusible, and their solution is the same as my own. You need to buy some hot iron cleaner - you can usually find this in the craft stores or fabric stores. It comes in a tube of some kind and you put it on the iron when it's hot. Then you wipe the iron down with a clean piece of cloth - like a washcloth. It should get it off. Hope this helps.
Judi

What glue to use to attach rhinestones to glass

2007-09-11T19:03:00.000-08:00

Rita asks:
I'd like to put some glass rhinestones on my eyeglasses, what glue should I use?

E6000. This is a glue used a lot in jewelry applications. I would put a tiny bit of the glue on a pin or toothpick and put the rhinestone on the pick. Then place it where you want it and pull the pick away. Push into place and use another pin/pick to clean up any excess. You can pick it off easily when wet.

Hope this helps,
Judi

Vintage iron on transfers

2007-08-30T14:58:00.000-08:00

I'd like to know how to look for cowgirl, or western hot fix iron on heat transfers. Does anyone know who specifically carries this type of transfer. Thanks.

This was tough - I wasn't sure if you meant hot fix as in templates for hot fix crystals or just pre-made iron on transfers. I actually found that you can find both at eBay. The key to searching for the pre-made transfers is that they are now considered vintage as most of them are from the 90's. With the advent of ink jet transfer sheets and ink jet t-shirt transfers crafters are making their own art. Just go to eBay and search on 'western iron on" and/or 'cowgirl iron on' and you'll get lots of choices.

Best of luck!
Judi

How to make clothing labels

2007-07-26T11:54:00.000-08:00

Barbara asks:
My daughter is starting in daycare and I wanted to find the best way to put her name on her clothes . . any creative ideas?

Depends how artsy you want to get! There are always the 'laundry markers' you can buy to write her name on the labels - not artsy at all! This might be fun though - you can use a sheet of pretreated printer fabric and print her name with a little graphic - then use an iron-on adhesive (like WonderUnder) to iron the labels to the hem or waistband of her clothes. If you use one of the mailing label templates in Microsoft Word you could design it once and print an entire sheet of labels.

Have fun!
Judi

How to reconstitute glitter glue

2007-07-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

Catherine asks:
I'd like to know how to salvage some glitter glue I have.. It is made by Elmers called 3D Shimmering Shapes and comes in a bunch of colors with all kinds of different glitter. Thanks so much!

Brian Rumschlag, Consumer Response Analyst for Elmer's, says that by simply mixing in a small amount of water you can reconstitute the 3D Shimmering Shapes glitter glue.

So, there you go! Another question answered!
Judi

Can you paint a suede jacket?

2007-07-08T07:25:00.000-08:00

Connie asks:
I'd like to know if it is possible to stamp or paint a suede jacket. It's a nice enough jacket but I'd just like to tizzy it up a bit, or perhaps I'm better off just to add a braid trim?

I talked to the folks at Dharma Trading Company which is a firm that specializes in dyes and fabric paints. They said that without knowing exactly what your design or application is if you want good control use a thicker product like: Lumiere, Neopaque, Setacolor or Jacquard Textile Color. Keep in mind that you will need to heatset the paints. Depending on what the lining of the jacket is you could probably put it in your oven to heat set. So, yes, you can use fabric paints on your jacket!
Best of luck!
Judi

How to make wallies or wall decals

2007-07-01T23:29:00.000-08:00

Caren asks:
I'd like to know how to make your own wallies or stick up wall art... Do you have any suggestions?

I have a couple of suggestions. First - to make a wall decal that will be removable with no damage to the wall make it out of fabric and then soak it with liquid starch. It will stick to the wall. I've actually heard of people doing this with large pieces of fabric - so little shapes should work well. The second suggestion would be to use wallpaper paste and thick paper or even canvas as the substrate. This would be harder to remove though.

Have fun!
Judi

How to make glitter paper

2007-06-30T22:34:00.001-08:00

Pat asks:
I'd like to know the best glue to use for making glitter paper. White glues tends to wrinkle to much and mounting adhesives seem to yellow iridescent glitters. Thank you so much. any information you can give me would be so very much appreciated.

From the research I've done on this subject the answer seems to be to use either a Xyron permanent adhesive and run your paper through the machine before glittering or, and this might be easier, just use a sticky label. I don't know what size glitter paper you want to make but you can probably test this by using an address label. Peel it off the backing paper and put it into a container. Pour your glitter over the sticky side of the label. Knock the excess off into the container and then pour it back into your glitter jar. You can buy label paper up to 8.5"x11".
Hope this helps.
Judi

What is a good fabric pen to use?

2007-06-25T11:03:00.000-08:00

Clare asks:
I want to paint designs on my dance costume which is made from lycra and powernet. Which fabric pens should I use?

I would recommend FabricMate pens. You can buy these at some of the local hobby shops. But you can also find both the superfine and the chisel tips at Dharma Trading.
* These fabric pens contain fabric dyes that are permanent without heat setting.
* The colors mix together just like dyes.
* They also have a unique tip that tapers to a superfine point so you can vary the thickness of your line by altering the angle of pen.
* They come in a fabulous array of 29 colors.

Best of luck - and remember to consider the stretch of your fabric when you paint.
Judi

Can you make two toned glitter -holographic or opalescent

2007-06-18T09:01:00.000-08:00

Perry asks:
I'd like to know how to use glitter where it would get a two tone effect where you would see one color on the paper and only one color but when you move the paper at a slight angle you would get a totally different color and only that color until you move the paper back to the first color. I seen this on a car showing a two tone effect. I would like to try this with glitter, because i use glitter in my art&craft projects and thought this would be fun to in my projects. I think a high shiny silver glitter could be used. What are your thoughts on what kind of glitter to use.

What you are describing is an effect that is caused optically and is inherent in the manufacturing process. With glitter it is in the way it is cut. I am not aware of how you can do this with regular glitter. Buy some holographic glitter or opalescent glitter and you should get the effect you are looking for. You can see what I mean here.

Anyone else have any ideas?
Judi

Can I remove excess glue after affixing a hot fix crystal?

2007-06-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Pam asks:
I'd like to know how to remove a small amount of glue left from a crystal (hot-fix) put on with a my pro-jeweler on a tulle wedding veil. I hesitate to put more on until I can remove the bit of glue. Thank You!

Usually we recommend trying to re-heat glue but tulle can be so delicate that heating it will either melt the tulle or distort it. So the regular methods just won't work. I did a bit of research and it doesn't look good. This is from the FAQ at the website of Creative Crystal, inventor and manufacturer of the BeJeweler hot-fix crystal applicator:

Why is glue running onto the fabric?
When placing the crystal on your item, place quickly and immediately lift the tip off the item. If you push down on the tip or hold the tip on the item too long the glue can be forced out and around the tip onto the fabric. Unfortunately the glue cannot be removed if this happens.

Here's a tip if you decide to add more ...
How do I apply crystals to net, silk and very sheer fabrics?
Place the fabric on a PTFE sheet or hard, non porous surface. Using the correct size tip, pick up the crystal as usual and as soon as the glue looks "wet" quickly place the crystal onto the fabric and lift up the tip.

If preferred, you can also simply hold the heated crystal slightly off the surface of the fabric and push the crystal onto the fabric by sliding a pin into the groove on the side of the tip and pushing the crystal out.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help,
Judi

How to remove a t-shirt transfer put on wrong

2007-06-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

Juanita says:
We had a Printwork T-shirt transfer, with a picture on it, then we ironed pellon to the back of the paper of the Printwork then we ironed it on the fabric. We should not have used the Pellon, how can we get the picture and pellon off the material????? We goofed.

Wow - this is interesting. First thing I'm wondering is what happened to the picture when you ironed the Pellon Wonder-Under on. Here's what I'm seeing - the transfer is supposed to be face down and you iron the paper and the picture transfers. But you ironed Wonder-Under to the paper. At that point I would imagine the picture would have started to transfer. So if I'm getting this picture right - you have the transfer and the paper and the wonder-under on the material. Eeeks. Here's what I would try - I don't know if you will be able to get everything off or not - go buy some cheap muslin (79 cents a yard)- then place your mistake face down on the muslin and iron it. See if the picture transfers when cool. You might then only have the paper and the wonder-under to deal with. Move it over to a clean piece of muslin and iron again. Don't let it cool and try to get the paper to lift off. If that works move it to a clean piece again and heat. Repeat as necessary - you are trying to get the muslin to soak up the glue on the wonder-under. I honestly don't know if this will work at all. Please let me know what happens.

Best of luck,
Judi

What glue to use to apply an applique to satin

2007-06-09T07:37:00.000-08:00

Candy asks:
What type of glue is best for applying appliqué onto a satin clutch purse?

You run the risk of staining satin with any type of glue so if you use a glue you are going to have to be very careful not to let any seep out from under the edges of the appliqué. That said you can try Gripp glue.

You didn't say if this was a beaded appliqué or a lace appliqué but if you can your absolute best way to attach this is to hand sew it to the purse. Use a thin strong matching thread and take tiny stitches. It shouldn't take that long and then there is no chance of staining the satin.

Best of luck,
Judi

How to remove hot glue from clothing

2007-06-08T06:15:00.000-08:00

Patty asks:
How do I remove hot glue from a piece of vintage clothing?

The first thing I would do is put the piece of clothing in the freezer. I have found, from living in Alaska, that hot glue pops off of items when it freezes. So if there is a lump of glue that might remove it. If there seems to be glue in the fibers try to heat it to remove it. Take a piece of clean cotton and place the glue spot face down on it. Press a hot iron on the area (make sure the clothing is safe to iron at a high heat), pressing for 10-20 seconds. Peel it away from the cotton. Move the cotton over to a clean spot. Repeat until the glue has been absorbed into the cotton.

Best of luck,
Judi

CHANGE IN FORMAT

2007-06-01T09:31:00.001-08:00

I've decided not to keep this up on a daily basis as the questions have dropped off. So I will just answer questions as they come in. If you link to me in a newsreader such as Bloglines you will be notified when a new posting has been made. Thanks for visiting!

Not enough information ...

2007-05-31T09:13:00.000-08:00

Matt asks:
I bought some fusible shade backing to make blinds with and I can't get it to adhere to my fabric - what am I doing wrong?

Sometimes questions come in that we just can't answer because we don't have enough information. If you ask a question about fabric please state what type of fabric you are using. In the question above - is it cotton or a polyester or ??? What kind of fusible was it? I wrote back and asked but never got an answer. So please ... give us the details, it can only help you get a better answer!
Judi

What is the most permanent fusing method?

2007-05-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ladybug says:
I found you doing a web search for how to permanently fuse fabric to fabric. What is the most permanent method? I'd like to attach a small (half inch square) piece of fabric to a cotton tee.

I would have to say the most permanent method would be to combine fusing with sewing. I would fuse the piece to the tee and then outline stitch it down.

Judi

My WonderUnder won't release from the paper backing

2007-05-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

Kathy says:
I can't get the paper backing to release off my wonder under project. I've ironed it onto the initial piece of fabric, waited for it to cool and then tried to peel the backing off. It comes off in little bitty pieces, unlike the large sheet that normally just pulls off the applique. As I just purchased an entire bolt of this stuff I've got to figure out how to get this to work better. Any suggestions?

I called Pellon and asked them your question. The customer service agent said it sounds like you have a bolt of the bad Wonder-Under. There was a manufacturing problem and not enough of the release agent was on the paper. These bolts were produced late last summer and although Pellon tried to recall all of the bolts it's probable that they weren't able to. If you call their customer service or email them they will make arrangements to replace the bolt for you.

Call Pellon customer service Hotline via phone at
800-223-5275
or via e-mail at customerservice@pellonideas.com.

It's nice to know that they will replace the bolt for you!
Judi

Teapot Challenge - cloth doll contest

2007-05-28T11:00:00.000-08:00

JMS asks:
I would like to find the "teapot" challenge" entries. I thank you for your help.

I had to write back and ask for more information as there are various teapot challenges out there ... this is the additional information I received:

This was a dollmaker challenge; a cloth teapot designed by Sherry Goshen. There were many entries of the teapot that featured all sorts of head designs; ie chicken, cats, etc.
They were very creative and colorful. I hope this helps

That made it easy ... Sherry is one of our experts ... the challenge was held over at Lisa Risler's website .. Lisa's Heaven ... here's the photos of the teapots.

Judi

Is black thread weaker than other colors?

2007-05-24T07:38:00.000-08:00

Bob says:
Is black thread weaker than other colors?

Only if it has been over-dyed because the first color was mis-dyed. Some companies put all the mis-dyed colors in a reject bin and over-dye them black. The excess amount of dye in these over-dyed threads can cause the fibers to weaken. (Note: Superior Threads are never over-dyed.)

Reprinted with permission from Bob Purcell, Superior Threads

Can you use plastic tools with Genesis paints?

2007-05-23T08:17:00.001-08:00

Judi asks:
Why can't I use plastic with Genesis paints?

Plastic will leach the polymer oils out of the paint as will paper. If you work the paint with a plastic palette knife, it may not get smooth and creamy, it just might get stiffer and stiffer as the oils leach out. That's also why you use glass as a palette instead of paper or other material.

Judy Leasure, TDA

Mola - what are the felt pictures from Panama?

2007-05-22T09:52:00.000-08:00

Jackie says:
I can't remember the name of those felt pictures - the ones with lots of layers and stitching. Help!!

I think you are talking about a mola. These are made by the Kuna Indians of Panama. Traditionally they are part of their clothing but you can buy them as small blocks that have been made specifically for the tourist trade now.

According to Panama Arts:

The Kuna Mola is made by the Kuna (Tule or Dule) women, who live at the San Blas Islands in Panama (also known as Kuna Yala). Mola means blouse or clothing in Tule Gaya, the language of the Kuna and is an intrincately designed and sewn art work that the Kuna women use to embellish their dresses.

The Mola is a reverse applique technique in which several layers of cotton are hand sewn together, forming colorful designs which can be traditional geometric shapes or representations of everyday life. The Kuna mythology is also a frecuent theme. They are decoratively stiched for further embellishment.

Often, the best molas seem to be worn down. This is due to the fact that they are used for everyday wearing. After Kuna women no longer want their blouses, and decide to sew a new one, they disassemble the old one and sell the mola panels. This is regarded as a sign that the molas are genuine.

Hope this helps,
Judi

How to make your own wet palette

2007-05-21T08:35:00.001-08:00

No questions came in today so I am going to direct you to a very informative post by our expert decorative painter, Judy Leasure. She explains how you can make your own wet palette to keep your acrylic paints from drying out so quickly as you work with them.

Great information!

Can you find me a 3 in 1 Little Red Riding Hood doll?

2007-05-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

Trisha asks:
When my girls were small they had a doll that was three dolls in one, red riding hood, grandmother and the wolf. Ridinghood's skirt covered the grandmother and the wolf was under grandmother's cap (I think that is how it was arranged) Do you know anyone that makes these?

I don't know anyone who makes the Little Red Riding Hood doll but there are four of them up for bid right now over at eBay. They all seem to be made by the same company, Dippity Flip. The doll is vintage from the 70s, so if your girls are adults now there's a good possibility this is the same doll your daughters had. Just type in 3 in 1 Riding Hood in the search box and see what pops up. If you drop down past the auction items to the eBay stores you will see an assortment of other 3 in 1 Little Red Riding Hood dolls. I bet you can find something you like between the auctions and the stores.

Hope this helps,
Judi

How to make Pearl Ex powder permanent on polymer clay.

2007-05-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

Velia asks:
After baking, my polymer clay faces were painted with Pearl Ex Series one powders. The eyes with acrylic paints. When dry, I sprayed with a fixative - however, I find that the Pearl Ex comes off. Am I doing something wrong? Is there a way this problem can be corrected by using other metallic paints?

You should paint the faces with the Pearl Ex BEFORE baking. It bonds to the polymer and has a lovely sheen after baking.

Hope that helps,
Judi and Sherry

What are yarn needles?

2007-05-17T08:34:00.000-08:00

Donna asks:
What are yarn needles? I am going to do a project posted on someone's blog and they said I need them. I left a comment asking what they are but never got an answer. Thanks.

These are short, rather fat needles with very big eyes. You can get them with sharp points or blunt ones. Like most needles you can get them in various lengths. They are good for seaming knit or crocheted projects together or embellishing things with ribbons or embroidery threads or ... lots of things! You can see some here.

Hope this helps,
Judi

Can you use masking fluid on canvas?

2007-05-16T09:24:00.000-08:00

Don asks:
Can you use masking fluid on canvas?

If the canvas is well gessoed, it might work, but it would not be my first choice as a surface. Do not use it on raw canvas or any other fabric for that matter. It gets down into the fibers and simply won't come out. Remember that masking fluid is designed for use with watercolor. If you are careful, you can try it with other water-based media. I don't think I would try it with oils because I think the oil paints would simply cover it up and it would be difficult to remove without damaging the painted area surrounding it. Aside from the fact that it is a temporary coating on your surface, the latex also repels water, so the paint does't stick to it, either.

Hope this helps.

Judy Leasure, TDA

How to unclog a Micron Pigma pen

2007-05-15T09:14:00.000-08:00

Judi writes:
My .005 Micron Pigma pen clogs easily. Right now I can't get it to write at all. Can you help me?

Yes and no. I have the same problem with mine and haven't found a satisfactory answer. I wrote to the folks at Sakura about it and here's what they say:

The Micron nib will absorb loose material such as pencil dust which could clog the nib. The 005 is also very delicate and if the nib is bent, it will appear dry.

Pigma Micron Care and Quality

Sakura invented Microns as an inexpensive and disposable alternative to high-priced technical pens while maintaining technical-pen quality. Microns were originally designed for fine-line technical and art drawing but their use has spread to every-day applications.

Most complaints we receive about Microns concern bent tips. Like technical pens, Microns are meant to be written with at a 90 degree angle. Also like technical pens, people don’t need to apply as much pressure to Microns for receiving a “healthy’ ink flow. Shaking or dropping the Micron will cause the ink to flood around the ink wick and flood the cap. If you apply these practices, you will receive far more satisfaction using the Micron pen.

How can I make my Pigma® Microns last longer?

Pigma Microns are considered disposable pens. The product specifications and design use are for paper and not for rough surfaces such as wood or nubby fabrics.

a. Hold your Pigma Micron pen in a 90° degree position while writing. This will prevent uneven wear to the tip of the nib. They should be stored horizontally with their caps securely fastened.

b. Use a 05 or 08 point size when marking against hard, rough surfaces such as wood or nubby fabrics.

c. Use more than one pen, and rotate your pen use. This allows pens to rejuvenate the ink flow overnight and this extends the life of the pen.

d. Do not press down hard on the nib while you write. The excessive pressure wears down the plastic nib faster, especially on rough surfaces.

e. Do not make long uninterrupted lines against rough paper surfaces or wood with the pen. Make shorter line strokes and the pen nib will last longer.

f. When writing on paint, make sure that the paint is fully dried, not just surfaced cured. Acrylic paints may feel dry to the touch but just below the surface, may not be. The nib picks up bits of the wet paint and will clog easily. One needs to experiment to be sure the paint is completely dry due to differences in weather conditions. Remember, the paint drying time will differ depending upon the brand of paint you use.

g. If you have one Micron pen which is out of ink (and the nib is not clogged), you can exchange its nib with another Micron pen which is not out of ink, but has a clogged nib. Here's how -- With a needle nose pliers, firmly grasp the metal sleeve and gently pull the nib straight out. A long ink wick will be attached to the back of the nib holder. This ink wick is what brings the ink to the nib. Do the same for the bad nib / ink-full pen. Now gently insert the good nib into the pen with ink. Make sure the nib assembly is seated snugly into the pen barrel. Put the cap back on the pen. Then you must wait for about 3 hours for the ink to gradually pull itself through the ink wick into the nib. Do not try to rush the process by shaking the pen - you'll only create a mess by making the ink go around the ink wick and flood the pen cap. (Note: This process does not always work, but it is worth a try. Also, do not mix ink colors. Do not take a red pen nib and insert it into a green ink pen!)

h. Do not try to put any other brand ink refill into the Pigma Microns pens. They will not work.

Hope this helps!

What glue to use for glitter and crystals or rhinestones on leather

2007-05-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

British asks:
I'd like to know how to secure glitter on fabric. AND what’s the best type of glue to use in order to glue crystals/rhinestones onto leather?

Uh - I use Ultimate Glue for EVERYTHING! But Aleene's jewelry glue (a dot on the end of a toothpick applied to the leather) will do the trick, too. I've actually used both glues for applying crystals or small beads to various fabrics. Ultimate is a bit thicker (not ALWAYS a good thing for small crystals) but is great as long as you don't dump out a huge bit of it.

Hope this helps,
Kai

How to begin to make wings with a 4 foot span

2007-05-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

Jennifer says:
I'd like to know how to begin to make a large, 4 to 5 foot wing span, dove. It will be hung from a ceiling, like it is hovering. Any ideas what to make this out of, how to construct it? I want it to be realistic looking. Thanks for any ideas you might have!

First, I would search the web for a dove's wing anatomy. That will give you the basic shape your wing should be. It will also give you a good idea of what size and shape each layer of feathers should be. You are going to have to make an armature for your base. I imagine the type of wire you use will depend on what you end up using for feathers. But once you build the basic armature you could cover it with Amaco Wireform Mesh -- it's meant for sculpting armatures. That should give it some strength and it will be the base you need to attach the feathers. After that it's just a matter of adding the feathers and figuring out the balance so you can find the appropriate points to hang it from.

Best of luck,
Judi and Dawn

How to sew on Raggedy doll hair

2007-05-09T09:26:00.000-08:00

CJ asks:
I'd like to know how to make hair of a raggedy ann doll. I don't have any felting needle and can't do it like the simplicity pattern says to.

I'm going to give you three different answers and you can choose which method you like best .

First is from Jacque - who makes the most gorgeous Raggedy's I've ever seen ...
I do the illusion of hair unless this doll is for a child. I wrap ten times around a cardboard (depending on the size of doll the length of hair), tie off in the center and clip each end loose. Start in the middle glue the first piece then two on each side. I rake it all forward then cut around from one side to the other leaving bangs..I hope this helps.

Sherry says:
You can sew them or glue them with fabri-tac if not for a child...if for a child i would sew them with uphostery thread.

This is how I would do it ....
I would cut the yarn to the length needed (doubled .. so if you want 4" long, cut 8") and use 3 or 4 pieces for each 'bundle'. Thread a needle with a long piece of strong thread and enter at the back of the head. Put the needle back in about 1/8” from the first stitch to create a loop. Put the bundle in the loop, center it, and pull the thread tight. Repeat. Sew your bundles on in a spiral pattern. Trim as needed when complete.

Hope this helps ...
Judi

How to sew slippery fabric

2007-05-08T07:43:00.000-08:00

Naomi asks:
I hate sewing taffeta and fabrics that slip and slide. Any hints to make this easier?

I know how you feel - I'm not a fan of that either. One of the best hints I've ever come across is from Patti Culea. She says to dissolve some water soluble stabilizer in in a spray bottle of water. Spray it on the wrong side of your fabric and let dry. Then it should act like a cotton. If you've ever used the water soluble stabilizers you'll know they get sticky and gooey as they dissolve so I can see how this would work. I would test it on a scrap first though.

Hope this helps,
Judi

How to remove an iron-on applique

2007-05-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Corinne asks:
I'd like to know how how to remove an applique. I read the post about removing a wonder-under applique and the success of that procedure but I think this applique might have been an iron-on. Would the procedure work for an iron-on applique? I am so glad 'A Treasure Nest' gave me your site and thank you so much.

I would go ahead and try it. The iron-on appliques are an adhesive too just like Wonder Under. Try lifting it at one corner and if that is successful then continue. I seem to remember when I used to have iron-ons on my jeans that they would heat up and lift when I ironed them. Although I have no idea why I would iron my jeans, LOL.

Let us know if it works!
Judi

What are silk hankies?

2007-05-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

Martha asks:
My friend bought me some silk hankies - I thought they were actual hankerchiefs but they seem to be some wispy stuff. They didn't have any information with them, what is this stuff?

A hankie is made of one silk cocoon. A cocoon is carefully opened at one end and then stretched gently into a square. They are put on stretcher bars to dry and they can be dyed. You can use it for various surface embellishing techniques, spinning, needle felting, and making silk paper. Here's an article from Wormspit with photos on how they are made.

Have fun with them!
Judi

Quilting Arts TV

2007-05-03T07:23:00.000-08:00

Not a question today, just sharing some information. Pokey Bolton, editor of Quilting Arts and Cloth Paper Scissors, announced yesterday that she will be hosting a new quilting show this winter on PBS. It will be about art quilting rather than traditional quilting. Something new to look forward to and we don't even need cable!

Judi

Pellon Wonder Under Instructions plus Tips and Tricks

2007-05-02T08:44:00.000-08:00

Emma asks:
Can you find me the instructions for Wonder Under. When I search all I get are companies that sell it, I'm getting really frustrated. Thanks.

I can understand that! If you are looking for something like this it is best to search on the company name rather than the product name. But to answer your question here are the instructions for Wonder Under from the Pellon website:

805, 807, 725 Wonder-Under®
The paperbacked adhesive web that turns any fabric into a fusible fabric.

Fuses fabric to fabric or to a porous surface such as wood or cardboard. For denim, canvas or other heavy fabrics, use

Heavy Duty Wonder Under, when extra holding power is needed. ALWAYS PRE-TEST.

Has no grain - can be cut and applied in any direction.

Finished item can be washed or dry-cleaned; according to the fabric's care requirements.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS

1. PRESS & CUT
* Place rough side of Wonder-Under against wrong side of fabric. Press for 5-8 seconds with hot, dry iron. Let cool, draw desired shape onto paper backing, then cut
* Alternative method: Trace shape onto paper backing, cut to size, then press, rough side down, onto fabric. (Note: To avoid backward letters and numbers, draw on rough side of Wonder-Under with ballpoint pen. For dark fabrics, redraw shape on paper side.)
2. Step 2: PEEL & FUSE
* Gently peel off paper backing. Position fusible fabric, web side down, on the project. Cover with DAMP press cloth.
* With iron at wool setting, press FIRMLY for 10-15 seconds. (Heavier fabrics = more time.) Repeat, lifting and overlapping iron until all fabric is fused.
* Remove press cloth and iron fabric to eliminate excess moisture.
* Tip: Use your damp press cloth as a temperature and timing guide. After 10 seconds, press cloth should be dry. If not, raise iron temperature or hold iron in place a few seconds longer.
* Tips: With “fat/thin" or "heavy/light" fabric combinations, fuse from thinner or lighter side. If necessary, "baste" first by ironing on the right side.

Care Instructions:

* Washable, dry cleanable
* Machine wash Warm, Delicate cycle.
* Do not use fabric softner.
* Tumble dry Low.

Special Techniques:

* For hems: Cut and press strips ofWonder-Under to hem allowance. Peel off paper, turn up hem and fuse.
* For layered appliques: Press Wonder-Under onto fabric and cut out base shape. Use Wonder-Under to fuse details to applique, then peel paper backing off base and fuse completed applique to project. If desired, machine stitch around edges of applique.
o Create reversible fabrics or sturdier projects by fusing two layers of fabric together with Wonder-Under.
o Cover wood or cardboard items, such as room dividers, valances and boxes, with fabric using Wonder-Under.

* For best results, store unused Wonder-Under by rolling it onto a tube (Instead of folding).
* Overtime, if Wonder-Under separates from the paper, it can still be used. Simply place the web on the surface to be fused, cover with the Wonder-Under release paper, and press with a hot, dry iron. Fabric, web and paper will stick together. Proceed with directions for cutting, peeling and fusing.

Can you use different solders with one soldering iron?

2007-05-01T12:24:00.000-08:00

Katrina asks:
I would like to know if I can use copper solder with my soldering iron that I use for tin soldering without damaging my soldering iron as it seems to have a special finish on the tip. Thank you

The answer is yes, you can use it without damage.

We asked Annaliese's dad, the Soldering King.

Best of luck,
Dawn M Schiller - Odd Fae and Autumn Things

Online Workshops
Faery Wings
Sculpting a Realistic Face

Life size doll pattern

2007-04-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

A Raven Rose asked:
I'd like to know where to find lifesize Farmer and Wife, I have a wagon life size and would love to sit Farmer and wife on seat of wagon, can you help me please!! Thank you so very much.

The girls in my doll club made a few life size dolls using the Mildred and the Professor pattern from Julie McCullough. We found the doll wore about a size 6. Although the photo of the dolls show older folk you can make them any age you like.

Have fun and buy LOTS of stuffing!
Judi

What size Pigma pens to use for doll faces

2007-04-27T09:35:00.000-08:00

Sandra asks
I've just started making dolls and I'm not sure what size of those Pigma pens to get. They are called for in a pattern I have but the size isn't given. I don't know what to buy.

For very fine lines you should buy the .005 size. This size is good for drawing outlines of eyes, lips, and other details. For eyeliner a thicker nib could be used, like an .01.

Always store these pens horizontally. The nibs can become plugged with other media (pencil, pen) and if that happens gently draw the nib across a paper towel to clean it.

Best of luck with your doll making.
Judi

How to mount photos to a wall

2007-04-26T08:54:00.000-08:00

Divina asks:
What can I use to adhere paper photos to a wall?

Depends if you want it to be permanent or temporary. It also depends on whether your wall is smooth or textured. If you have textured walls a paper photo will look bumpy and if your texturing material has 'points' it could tear the paper. To avoid that you would have to mount them to a backing of some sort and then they would stand out from the wall a little bit, sort of like a painting. If your walls are smooth you can adhere them directly to the wall.

If you want to replace the photos after a while you can use doublesided tape on a smooth wall fairly successfully. If you want them to be permanent you can use any of the decoupage glues on the market. You might also want to seal the photos before you mount them. There are a number of ways to do this.

Hope this helps,
Judi

Can you use fabric glue to layer a quilt?

2007-04-25T07:34:00.000-08:00

Melanie asks:
Can I use a fabric glue to layer my quilt?

Sure, why not. You can glue just about anything. But I don't recommend it. I don't know what size quilt you are talking about glueing but I would imagine you'd go through quite a few bottles of glue . You would have to glue both sides of the quilt to the batting. This would be very time consuming on a large quilt. I have no idea how this would hold up over time, with washing and with general use. I also don't know how soft and flexible it would be. I don't think I've ever heard of this being done.

If you don't want to quilt the piece by hand or machine why not tie it? This will take way less time and work better than glue. Rule of thumb for quilting is to have some stitching every hand span (in other words if you put your hand on the quilt - fingers spread - you should touch some stitching. Tieing a quilt isn't hard - get a curved upholstery needle and thread it with yarn or embroidery floss. Take a small stitch and tie the threads into a square knot. Do this at the center and corners of each block.

Hope this helps,
Anne

Can I remove an applique from tulle?

2007-04-24T09:22:00.000-08:00

Rita says:
I'd like to know how to remove a heat transferred applique from a wedding gown. I'm not sure of the fabric but it is very similar to tulle in that it is a fine mesh material. The applique appears to have been applied by using heat and the beading is stitched on to it.

I don't think you're going to be able to get this off easily. It sounds rather fragile. You can't use much heat on the mesh since it will more than likely melt. So you can't reheat it to get the glue off. If you try to use a chemical product you will probably discolor the fabric. You could try taking it to a dry cleaner and seeing what they suggest. Sometimes you just can't get these off without ruining the material.

Next best thing would be to replace the entire section with new mesh/tulle.

Best of luck,
Judi

How to clean your windows

2007-04-23T09:47:00.000-08:00

Marsha says:
I know this has nothing to do with crafting but what's the best way to clean the windows in your house.

Okay, this is odd but what the heck, I'll answer it .. at least I'll tell you what I do. I use a windshield washer concentrate that you buy at the auto parts store. Ever notice that you don't have to buff your windows when you wash them at the gas station? You mix the concentrate with water and sponge it on, use a hard rubber squeegee to get it off. Works great.

Judi

Using plexiglass to make a hard purse bottom

2007-04-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

Roberta asks:
I'm making a purse and the pattern calls for a cardboard bottom that just sits inside the purse. This doesn't seem too sturdy to me, any other ideas?

Yes, I think you can use a piece of plexiglass. You can buy it in different thicknesses and if you have those big box stores (like Home Depot or Lowes) nearby you can find it there. To cut it you will need a special cutter but they sell those too. If you can only find thin stuff you can always make a cardboard bottom and then put a piece of plexi on both sides for reinforcement.

If your pattern doesn't have a cover for the bottom you can make one. Just trace around the 'cardboard' bottom, and add a seam allowance. Sew three of the sides up, slip the bottom inside it, then slip-stitch closed.

Hope this helps,
Judi

Can you thin Petal Porcelain?

2007-04-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

Judi D says:
I'd like to know how to thin the petal porcelain - i remember it being more liquid than solid but it's been sitting in the bottle for a while.

Actually it is supposed to be thick like glue according to the folks at Plaid so yours is probably fine.

Hope this helps,
Judi

What is a yo-yo?

2007-04-18T10:25:00.000-08:00

JMS asks:
I am making those gathered circular pieces to embellish a crazy quilt...what are they called?

It is called a yo-yo. For those who don't know how to make them, here's a quick lesson.

Cut out a cardboard circle about 4" in diameter (or whatever size is specified for your project). Trace the circle onto your fabric and cut out. Sew a running stitch 1/4" from the edge, leaving long thread tails at the beginning and end. Pull the thread tight to gather the fabric. Secure the threads with a knot. Make sure the gathered center is centered. For those of you who like visuals, here's a tutorial from Whip-up.

Did you know with an extra stitch or two you can make heart yo-yo's or clover yo-yo's? Did you know you can buy 'yo-yo makers' from Clover? They are coming out with some brand new ones in June of 2007 - a heart shaped one and a flower shaped one.

So .. there you go!
Judi

How to get needles out of a pincushion

2007-04-17T07:49:00.000-08:00

Joy asks:
I can feel that needles have disappeared inside my pincushion. How can I get them back out?

I've had this happen to me too. The bad news is that the eye of the needle isn't sharp enough to make a hole in the fabric of the pincushion so you're not going to get it back out easily. If you used an incredibly strong magnet you might be able to pull it through. Worth a try.

When this happened to me I was not able to get them out so I cut the pincushion open and retrieved them. Then I bought a new pincushion that doesn't allow me to push the needle in too far if I keep the needle at an angle. (It has cardboard sides- it's a teapot.)

To keep from getting in this bind again what I suggest is always leaving some thread in the eye of the needle. Then if it does start to go inside you should be able to pull it back. Makes for a messy pincushion at times but you don't lose needles. Or you could keep your needles in a needle case instead of a pincushion. Even an old medicine bottle.

Hope this helps,
Judi

How to use fabric as a stencil

2007-04-16T08:14:00.000-08:00

Randy asks:
Do you know any shortcuts for stenciling? I like the look of stenciling on furniture but I just can't be bothered.

The only thing that comes to mind is spraypainting through lace. This will give you a negative so you have to think about what the base color will be. Let me explain - say you have lace with flowers on it - the flowers will be woven fairly solid so the paint won't penetrate. If you want red roses you need to paint, say, your table top, red. Then use a different color to spray through the lace with. The paint will go through all the 'holes' and leave a negative impression of the design. It won't be as crisp and sharp as a stencil but it's quick.

Hope this helps,
Judi

Where to find clear glass paperweights for decoupage

2007-04-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

Darlene says:
I'd like to know where to find clear glass paperweights. I saw some in the Oriental Trading catalog but I wonder if there are other higher quality (but reasonably priced) paperweights for sale. I want to use them for decoupage.

I only found one company that had cheaper prices than Oriental Trading, and it was only about 30 cents cheaper per item. So you would have to check on shipping costs to see the bottom line cost. There really isn't a way to compare quality online. I haven't dealt with this company so I can't endorse them. I have bought from Oriental Trading Company before and haven't had any problems with them.

A lot of times the search terms you use really define what you find. Pay attention to what the companies you research are calling the paperweights. I found a lot of sites calling these blanks. So you can search online for glass blanks and see what you can find.

Best of luck,
Judi

How to draw realistic eyes

2007-04-14T08:15:00.000-08:00

Beth says:
My doll's eyes don't look very lifelike - they're kind of dull. Can you give me some hints on how to draw better eyes?

Besides the old mantra, practice makes perfect I would study photographs of eyes in magazines. That will help with shape and color. You could also take a look at this tutorial (even though it is for computer art) and it will give you some great ideas. One of the things to remember is that our eyes are a multitude of colors and shades. Even the white of the eyes isn't really white.

Best of luck,
Judi

Alternatives to latex masking fluids

2007-04-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Wendy says:
I love the effects from masking fluid, but have a serious allergic reaction to rubber latex (which can be fatal to me). Is there any alternative I can use? I would appreciate any help you have.

This is a very good question and one that might help a lot of people. Thank you for asking.

To the best of my knowledge, all liquid masking fluids or liquid friskets are made from liquid latex. So the liquids are definitely a problem for you. There are other methods you can use to mask areas of your painting, however.

1. You can use watercolor tape. This is a low tack tape that you apply to the areas you want to protect and remove after you have painted over them just as you would masking fluid. This works best for geometric figures, although you could cut shapes out of the tape before you apply it to the paper.
2. Grafix makes a product they call Frisket that is in sheet form. According to their website, it is a vinyl sheet that has a low-tack glue on one side. It is widely used in printing and air brushing where you cut out the area you WANT to paint and use the sheet to cover the rest of your paper (opposite what we normally do in watercolor), but you could also cut out a shape from the sheet and attach that to your paper to use it like liquid frisket/masking fluid. If your allergy does not include vinyl, this may be a really good option for you.
3. You can use a wax or white crayon. However, this is a permanent mask. Once applied to your paper, it will not come off. Only use this if you want to permanently keep an area of the paper white.

I hope this helps.

Judy Leasure, TDA

How to recreate a silk flowered purse

2007-04-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ruth says:
I'd like to know how to make a purse like the one I saw on a web site called Blooming Baskets by Lisa, this girl sells these in St. Martin. They sell for $145. 00 for a small one. WOW!!!! I don't want to hot glue the flowers on cause I know they wont last too long. Any ideas that are not too challenging?? I would appreciate it

I feel like I'm on one of those home decorating shows where they recreate the designer room on a budget, LOL. Those are really pretty basket purses, aren't they. I read that she makes the baskets out of raffia - probably one reason that the bags are so expensive. Here's what I would do to recreate the look ... find a purchased bag or tote that is similar in shape and style. Then I would sew the silk flowers to a band of strong fabric/trim, you can probably find something useful in the home dec dept of the fabric store. I'm thinking of buckram. Try to buy silk flowers that aren't glued together - that might make it impossible to get a needle through. I would glue the piece on, then blanket stitch the top and botton edges for added strength (and to help against raveling). The Ultimate Glue is mega strong.

Hope this works!
Judi

How to control static when using glitter

2007-04-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

Kathy asked:
Is there any way to control the static when using glitter? Every time I use glitter, or even those little teeny tiny beads, the stuff sticks to my overflow tray, the table, my clothes! It's impossible to get the excess glitter back into the container. Of course, I can clean it up with a damp cloth - and now the glitter is stuck to the cloth! Can you help??

I haven't tried this but ...
spray your glitter with anti-static spray and you can have a better handle on your craft projects. The glitter won’t stick to everything and will be easier to place. The same goes for artificial snow during the holidays.

(I don't know how you would spray it without it flying everywhere though).

Another idea:
The best solution is to reduce static electricity before you add the glitter. Just place a dryer sheet on top of the page before you work. Next, place the glue in the areas that you want glittered. Then, using an eyedropper, apply the glitter. The eyedropper allows better control of the glitter and reduces mess. To clean up, simply brush away the remaining glitter once the object is completely dried.

Found these on the web.

Hope this helps,
Judi

How to dye synthetic fabric

2007-04-10T07:33:00.000-08:00

Naomi asks:
Can you dye synthetic material like nylon?

Yes, you can. There are special dyes you can buy called disperse dyes. Although you won't get vivid colors from what I gather. You can get these dyes from Pro Chemical. Here's the instructions for the different types of synthetics. You'll need a good candy thermometer to do this as the differing water temperature seem to be critical in this process. Best of luck.

Judi

What is gesso?

2007-04-09T12:36:00.000-08:00

Marge asks:
What is Gesso?

Gesso is a product that is used by artists in preparing a canvas, board, or other surface for painting. It is primarily used in oil painting applications, but can also be used to prepare a surface for acrylic painting. I have even seen some interesting multi-media or collage projects that incorporated watercolor with a gesso base. I checked Wikipedia for more information, and this is what I found:

"Gesso" is the Italian word for chalk and is a powdered form of the mineral calcium carbonate used in art. Gesso was traditionally mixed with animal glue, usually rabbit-skin glue, to use as an absorbent primer coat for panel painting with tempera paints. It is a permanent and brilliant white substrate, as long as it is used on wood or masonite. This mixture is rather brittle and susceptible to cracking, thus making it unsuitable for priming canvas.

Acrylic gesso

Modern acrylic "gesso" is actually a combination of calcium carbonate with an acrylic polymer medium and a pigment. It is sold premixed for both sizing and priming a canvas for painting. While it does contain calcium carbonate to increase the absorbency of the primer coat, Titanium dioxide or titanium white is often added as the whitening agent. This allows the "gesso" to remain flexible enough to use on canvas. High concentrations of calcium carbonate will cause the resulting film to dry to a brittle surface susceptible to cracking

Acrylic gesso can be colored, either commercially by replacing the titanium white with another pigment, such as carbon black, or by the artist directly, with the addition of an acrylic paint. Acrylic gesso can be odorous, due to the presence of ammonia and/or formaldehyde which are added in small amounts as preservatives against spoilage. Pre-gessoed canvases can be obtained commercially.

Acrylic gesso is a modern art material, and has a proven record as a contemporary primer for oil painting and acrylics. Many of the solvents used in oil painting, such as turpentine or odorless thinners, will leach some oil through a thin acrylic primer coat and damage the canvas underneath just like traditional hide glue sizing. However, sufficient coverage and penetration of an absorbent support is archivally acceptable. The non-absorbancy of the acrylic base is the big advantage contemporary gesso has over traditional hide-glue/flake white grounds. Hide glue will absorb moisture and shrink and expand with climate change, making an unstable support for paint films to sit on. Acrylic gesso is not a suitable substitute for classic chalk gesso in classic applications.

Hope this helps.
Judy Leasure, TDA

How to make paper beads

2007-04-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

Rochelle asks:
How do you make paper beads?

Here's a quick tutorial:
Supplies:
Colorful Paper(wrapping paper, magazine, catalog)
Glue
Toothpicks or 1/8" dowel
Various Fibers/beads
UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel)
Melting pot

1. Cut your paper into triangular strips - width will depend on how wide you want your bead. Length will depend on how fat you want your bead. Just play with it. You can start with 1/2" wide by 2 1/2" long.

2. Roll the paper up on the toothpick or dowel. Secure the end with a bit of glue.

3. Tie/glue fibers on it if you want. Stamp on it or add more color.

4. Dip it into the UTEE which has been liquified in the melting pot.

5. When cool, remove toothpick/dowel.

This method makes your beads stiff. If you don't have UTEE you will need to roll your beads on a drinking straw and leave the straw inside the bead. You could also try spraying them with varnish to harden.

Hope this helps,
Judi

How to make cloth doll fingernails

2007-04-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

Beth asks:
What's the best way to paint cloth doll fingernails?

I think this is pretty much a personal preference. There are quite a number of ways to do it. After you have drawn your fingernail shape (making sure to leave some fabric showing on the sides)you can either...
1. Color it in with gel pen or colored pencil
2. Use real nail polish (although I don't know what it would do to the fabric in the long run).
3. Color it with pen/pencil and give it a layer of Royal Coat Dimensional Magic (for shine and dimension).
4. Put on a coat of colored Crystal Lacquer (gives shine and dimension). Can be 'pulled' out for long fingernails.
5. Glue on false fingernails that have been cut down to doll size.

Hope this helps,
Judi

How to sew a 2 part foundation pieced block

2007-04-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Amy says:
I found some neat foundation block patterns over at Piece by Number and I understand the basic concept of how to do this but I don't understand what the A and B stuff means on the patterns.

I had to look at a few of their blocks before I found one with A's and B's. That just means to make the pattern in different sections and then join them. So you piece all the A's and set it aside. Then piece all the B's. When done sew A to B. Thanks for sharing their link - they have great patterns that can be used as fabric postcards as well as quilt blocks.

Hope this helps,
Anne

How to get glitter glue off cashmere

2007-04-01T16:29:00.000-08:00

Kelly says:
Hi! I have a cashmere sweater I purchased (supposedly a vintage) on ebay and when I received it, the design has been done with a kind of glue/paint with glitter in it that was popular to use back in the 80's. Can this be removed with heat, a chemical, a product of some kind? It won't just pick off. I have tried!

Oh my gosh. This one is nearly too scary to answer - I don't want to mess up your vintage cashmere sweater! I don't think a chemical would be kind to cashmere. I thought maybe you could heat the glue with an iron or a heat gun and blot the glue off but I'd be afraid I'd burn holes in the sweater.

Judy thinks you could try this and it would be fairly gentle ... here's what she advises Kelly ..

I have no idea if this will work on factory applied set-in paint and I especially don't know what it will do to cashmere, but here is something non-destructive on other materials that you might try:

You can try using Purell or another clear waterless hand cleaner. Lay the sweater out flat. Apply Purell liberally to the area you are trying to remove. Let it sit for a minute and carefully blot/wipe with a clean, dry cloth. If it appears to be working, repeat until glitter/paint disappears. Then wash the sweater following the manufacturer's instructions.

I know that this method works to remove acrylic paint from fabric (shirts, jeans, etc) and on carpets as I have personally used it. On those materials, the last step is sometimes to use a toothbrush with the Purell to get the last of the paint out. That said, I have no idea what it would do on a sweater (I wouldn't use a toothbrush, for instance), let alone on cashmere. I also do not know what process is used to set the paint and glitter in a factory manufacturing setting. It may be something that makes the paint/glitter much more permanent. My application is usually paint that has gotten on my clothes while I am working or, most recently, a bottle of paint that my dog discovered and crushed before I realized she had it--I defy you to find the stain(s) on the carpet.

Anyone else have any ideas?

Hope this helps. Let us know what you end up doing.
Judy Leasure, TDA

How to glue fabric to glass

2007-03-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

PJ asks:
I'd like to know what kind of glue to use for gluing fabric to the underside of a clear glass plate?

We have a bit of a difference of opinion on this one. Kai thinks you should use a gel medium and I think you should use a spray adhesive. I think that you could easily pull the fabric out of shape if it gets too wet with the gel medium and it could also distort when you smooth it to remove wrinkles. A spray adhesive is more of a dry glue so you won't have those problems. To use the spray adhesive you would spray onto the fabric not the plate. The glue should dry clear.

Hope this helps,
Judi

What pattern to use to make a realistic soft sculpture doll

2007-03-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

Chloe asks:
I am an art student trying to make a realistic soft sculpture dummy, much like crash test dummy featured on the website. However, my sewing skills aren't spectacular. I am just curious what kind of pattern I should try to make or how to go about creating a realistically proportioned dummy.

Chloe is referring to my Crash Test Daughter doll, a photo of which is here. This is my own pattern which has never been finished. I think you could probably tackle the Basic Woman by Barbara Graff in the 32 inch size. The bigger the doll is, the easier it will be to sew the fiddly bits like fingers. You can buy this pattern at Cloth Doll Patterns or Dollmaker's Journey.

Just remember these basic tips:
Set your sewing machine stitch at 1.5 mm or 16 stitches per inch
Stop and lift your presser foot and pivot the fabric every few stitches on curves, don't pull your fabric.
Clip all your curves after you cut the pattern out and before you turn it inside out.
Practice makes perfect! (or at least you get a lot better!)

How to attach canvas to masonite

2007-03-29T08:00:00.001-08:00

Leah asks:
How do you attach canvas to masonite?

My first question would be why? Masonite is a wonderful surface for painting on with either oils, Genesis, or acrylic paints. You can purchase pre-gessoed masonite (known as gesso board) or you can prepare it with gesso yourself. You can also paint directly on the board without gesso if you basecoat it with a couple of coats of acrylic paint first.

That said, if you really need to apply canvas to masonite, then you need to use an acid-free glue. Cut your canvas slightly larger than the piece of masonite. Spread a thin layer over the entire surface of the masonite and then lay on your canvas. Use a brayer or your hands to smooth the surface so that you get all the air bubbles out. Let it dry and then trim the edges of the canvas flush with the edges of the masonite or wrap the edges around the masonite and glue them down on the back. If you are going to do this, it is very important to get all the air bubbles out. Otherwise you will have a lumpy, ugly surface which will be visible in your finished work.

I have not done this myself as I prefer to paint on as smooth a surface as possible. If you are just looking for a rigid backing for canvas as an alternative to stretchers, then you can purchase canvas boards which are canvas wrapped around a cardboard support or canvas already attached to hardboard.

Hope this helps.
Judy Leasure, TDA

How to rescale images for use on dominos or pendants

2007-03-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

Pam asks:
When printing images on my printer to use on dominos/pendants how do i size them without them looking distorted and pixelated?

The surest method for reformatting images without distortion is to make sure that your aspect ratio is locked. The software you're using may call it something else and often the word "constrain" is involved. Whatever it's called, it means, for example, that if you reduce the height of an image by 50% then the width will be reduced by the same amount. Not every image can be reformatted into a size that would fit on a domino without it being distorted. If your original image isn't a domino-friendly shape, but you reformat it to make all of it fit on a domino, then you will get distortion. You'll be changing the height and the width unequally. If this is the case, you may just have to crop an image to get a domino-sized image. One thing to also keep in mind is that if your image is of poor quality to begin with, the distortion and pixelation may be unavoidable.

Hope this helps,
Zhenia

How to stiffen silk or fabric flowers

2007-03-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ranie asks:
What's that stuff you put on flowers to make them stiff?

You didn't say what kind of flowers so I'll address both silk and dried.

You folks are going to think I have stock in Plaid ... the Mod Podge people ... but, really, I don't. The stuff to use on silk flowers is called Petal Porcelain. It's made by Plaid and you can find it in your local hobby store. It is a water based stiffening agent that you can use on silk flowers. It goes on milky but dries clear. Then you can paint the flowers with acrylic paint if you want and spray it with varnish or coat it with a glaze. The Petal Porcelain also acts like a glue so if you don't stick the flowers right to your project you'll need to put them on wax paper to dry.

You can try a liquid polymer, such as Crystal Sheen, for dried flowers. This is a two part compound that you mix up and then pour over items. I have no idea how this would look though. It says that one coat of this equals 50 coats of Urethane varnish. So it would be shiny!!! You'd probably have to order this online.

Hope this helps,
Judi

How to make beads from Tyvek

2007-03-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

Roberta asks:
How do you make beads with Tyvek?

Here is how I make mine:
First paint your Tyvek with acrylic paints or color it some other way (pencils, crayons, etc). Then cut your Tyvek into triangular strips. The length of your strips will determine the size of your bead. Starting with the wide side of the strip, wrap the strip around a toothpick or a skewer - or dowel rod - it just depends how much of an opening you want. Use a drop of glue to hold the end in place. Then either go outside or use a respirator and fire up your heat gun. Heat the Tyvek until you are happy with the appearance of the bead. Let it cool down and remove from the base. Be careful you don't melt it away completely!!

Hope this helps,
Judi

The heat tool that looks like a hairdryer

2007-03-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Connie asks:
What is the heat tool that looks like a hairdryer?

Ah, that's the Heat It Craft Tool from Ranger Industries. It reaches about 400 degrees Farenheit. It has a lower heat and a less powerful fan than the others.

You can get paint strippers that look like hair dryers too but they are too powerful for general craft use.

Hope this helps,
Judi

How to drill holes into domino or mah jongg tiles

2007-03-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

Sybil says:
I'm having trouble drilling into dominoes - the edges keep cracking off. What am I doing wrong?

I'm going to assume these aren't the old black wooden dominoes but rather the plastic ones. You are probably getting too close to the edge. I would recommend using a glass/tile drill bit and using a drill press if you have one available. This will give you more control and a more precise placement of the drill bit. To find the closest you can get to the edge without cracking the edges, take one of the already cracked dominoes and drill some holes on the sides. When you find the proper spot take measurements. After you do a few with the 'safe' measurement you'll be able to eyeball where to drill.

Hope this helps,
Judi

How to stop ink jet images from smearing, smudging, or running

2007-03-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

Alison says:
Hello, I just stumbled upon your site and I love it! I was hoping you could answer a question for me. Recently, I've been using my computer printer to print images from the internet and also text for cards, mini books, etc. It makes me so nervous using my printer for my projects...all the hard work and love that I put into my projects, I worry that the ink will smear, smudge or run if the project is handled too much or if it gets a drip of water on it. Is there any product on the market that can help keep ink from running? Also, I am interested in using a decoupage medium over some of the images, and I just know that the colors will run and smear.

Please tell me there is *something* out there that will solve this problem....other than having to get a new printer or something!

I'm happy to tell you that there's a spray made specifically for fixing inkjet images called Marshall's Image Guard Spray. If you can't find it locally you can buy it mail order from Dick Blick. To be honest, I don't know how it differs from traditional acrylic fixative sprays. Whatever you use, it will need to be a spray because as soon as moisture and a rubbing motion touch those images, they'll smear.

As for decoupage, there is no medium made specifically to keep images from smearing. You could try using the spray on an image and seeing how stiff the paper gets. If it's still workable, you could then try using it in decoupage.

As with all new media, I strongly recommend testing it out on something you don't love quite as much first to make sure that it does what it should do and that you can make it do what it should do.

Hope this helps,
Zhenia

What type of temporary adhesive can you use on wood?

2007-03-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

Jen S. says:
I will be doing a presentation where I will encourage my participants to experiment decorating a maple basket with maple trim strips and lightweight metal findings. I am looking for a temporary adhesive that I can apply to the back of the trims so that participants can stick them to the basket and see what it looks like, but then remove them so another participant may have a turn. It must not stain or otherwise mar the wooden basket. Any suggestions?

Sounds interesting! I think that J.T. Trading's 404 Spray and Fix is the way to go. I use their 505 and I really like it, but that's for fabric, the 404 would be used for wood. I would get a can and test it out on scrap wood to see if it works as advertised. It should. Here's what their website says about their product.

Q: On what other surfaces can I use 404?
404 can make a repositionable bond between most smooth surfaces....404 will hold on ceramic, wood, painted walls, metal, leather, stone and glass.

Q: How much time do I have to reposition?
Unlimited, 404 remains repositionable. Take as much time as you need.

Q: How long will the bond last?
The bond should last indefinitely or until surfaces become dusty.

Q: Does adhesive transfer from the sprayed surface onto the other surface
A: No, as with our other adhesives, 404 stays on the surface that you sprayed.

Q: Is 404 acid free?
A: Yes, 404 is archival quality. 404 will not harm or discolor fabrics, photos, paper or any other surface.

The only problem I see here is that the adhesive won't come off the pieces of trim. You can try to remove it with rubbing alcohol but that's really meant for non-porous surfaces.

Best of luck!
Judi

What glue is best to adhere paper to wood?

2007-03-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Jennifer asks:
I'd like to know what "glue" would work best to adhere paper to wood? Is there a difference between using artist's gel mediums or decoupage? What is the difference between Mod Podge and Royal Coat Decoupage? Also, what would be the best way to seal and protect this when I'm done...varnish, poly urethane...? Thank you very much.

A gel medium would work but it's overkill in my opinion. There are differences between all the glues and it's mainly proprietary formulations. The gel mediums are used as collage glues but they aren't specifically formulated for it. The decoupage glues are formulated for just this type of work. I would venture to say that's the main difference between the Mod Podge and the Royal Coat - formulas. They would probably both work fine. I would use one of the decoupage products. You can use a clear acrylic sealer as a finish. If you use Mod Podge I'd use either the matte, gloss, or satin.

Best of luck with your project!
Judi and Kai

How to add glitter to a ice skate boot cover

2007-03-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

Rebecca says:
My daughter is going to be in an upcoming iceshow where she is going to be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I have bought her red skate covers, which are made of spandex/lycra. I need to make them look like "ruby slippers". Any ideas on how I can make this happen? Should I use glitter glue or an adhesive glue with glitter and sequins? Thanks.

Wow! I'm not really sure I'd TRUST the glitter glue to stick thoroughly. For one thing, it's possible the skates will have residual ice thrown upon them as she's skating, and the resulting dampness may cause the glitter glue to react. I think I'd go with the adhesive glue & glitter plus sequins. Sounds more durable for what you need. (And I surely do wish I could see your daughter's performance! I LOVE ice skating & no one could go wrong choosing Dorothy as a character to be! Please, tell her I wish her a lovely performance!)

Hope this helps,
Kai

Judi here adding her two cents worth ...
I am concerned about the flexibility of the spandex if you use a glue on it. Looking at photos of the boot cover it doesn't seem to have to stretch too much but it's hard to tell from a photo. Please keep this in mind when you glitter. Plus you want to make sure the glue doesn't seep through the spandex and end up with the cover stuck to the boot of the skate. So you might want to put wax paper between the boot cover and the boot. Personally I would use the Tulip Fabric Glitter Spray which is a fabric paint. It is non-aerosol, colorfast, non-toxic and almost no odor. I would stretch the boot cover over the boot and spray. I would still protect the boot with paper toweling or something between the boot and the cover. Plus cover the blade too. Then you can probably sew some sequins on. Let us know what you end up doing!

How to remove Mod Podge from glass

2007-03-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

Mary B. asks:
How do I remove Modge Podge applied tracing paper from a glass window. Don't ask -- a project that went very bad.

The folks over at Plaid say to wet it down really well. Spray it lightly a few times and allow it to set. It will re-absorb the water and allow you to remove it.

Hope this helps,
Judi

How to sew straight strips for a quilt block

2007-03-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

Kylie asks:
I am trying to make a quilt block using strips but after I sew half a dozen it's not straight anymore; the whole thing bends to the side. Is there some kind of quilting secret I don't know to keep these straight? It's really frustrating.

Oh my - been there, done that! My quilting teacher told me the secret is to flip the block each time you add a strip. In other words, sew two strips together, then when you add the next strip start at the bottom instead of the top. Turn the entire block around so the bottom is now the top. Flip it each time you add another strip.

It's also important to make sure your material is on grain before you cut your strips. One way to do this is to pull one thread out of the crosswise grain. Snip the selvedge and pull one of the threads, it's not the easiest thing in the world if you have a tightly woven fabric, but it can be done. Then you can cut the fabric where the pulled thread was. Now you have a straight line to even up your fabric from.

Hope this helps,
Anne

How to remove a Wonder-Under adhered applique

2007-03-17T10:04:00.000-08:00

Aruna asks:
I'd like to know if fusing fabric with wonder under is permanent. This is my first time working with it and I've applied an applique onto the pocket of a garment that I'm not crazy about so I wanted to remove it if I could. Thanks for your help.

Wonder Under is an heat-sensitive adhesive and if you followed the directions it will make a permanent bond. It is possible to remove the applique but there's no guarantee you will remove all the glue. If you want to try it here's what to do:

Heat the applique back up with an iron (to re-melt the glue) and be sure to remove it while hot. This might leave a white adhesive residue when cool. If this happens try the following: Take a piece of clean cotton and place the pocket face down on it. Press a hot iron on the pocket, pressing for a bit longer than you did to adhere the applique. Peel it away from the cotton. Move the cotton over to a clean spot. Repeat until the glue has been absorbed into the cotton. (You can do this with wax too).
Hope this helps,
Judi

Comparison chart for PrismaColor and Faber-Castell pencils

2007-03-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

Lee says:
I'd like to know how to figure out which pencil colour matches in different brands. I have PrismaColour and Faber-Castell pencil but have been given a list of Derwent pencils and I was wondering how to match the colours correctly. I have seen a conversion list in the past and I was hoping someone would be able to help me with this query.

I imagine your list must have been posted on a forum. I was able to find the chart that you probably have - the Rembrandt to PrismaColor to Derwent. But you know what? It might be a little bit of work - but you should make your own chart. Color in little squares with each color - making sure to write the brand and color name/number under the square. Cut all the squares out and match the colors up as close as you can. As each company uses their own formulation for colors you probably won't get exact matches. Then you can either make a text chart of your own or just glue the squares to a chart. That way you aren't relying on someone else's 'eye' but your own. It would be great to have on hand - especially if you set it up like a color wheel.

If you choose not to do that I suggest popping over to Wet Canvas, an absolutely huge forum for artists. They have a section just for artists working with color pencils and you can ask your question there.

Hope this helps,
Judi

Is there a pattern for a Captain Jack Sparrow doll?

2007-03-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

Susie D asks:
I'd like to know where I can find a cloth doll or felt doll pattern of Captain Jack Sparrow?

Disney is fiercely protective of their copyrighted characters and if you haven't bought a license to reproduce their characters they will ask you to remove your 'item' from the market. That might be why I haven't found a pattern. Most doll makers don't the money (or the desire) to buy a license. They would probably have to sell thousands of patterns to get their money back.

There a lot of original Jack Sparrow dolls around although most of them are in polymer. I recently saw a wonderful cloth version of this character but I can't find the photo again to save my life.

Here's what I would do if I wanted to make a Captain Jack Sparrow doll. Buy a basic male doll pattern and then use photos to create the look (makeup)and the costuming. The Matador by Claire Ellen might be a good pattern to adapt. Good luck!

Hope this helps,
Judi