VIDEO: How To Make Opals Embossing Enamel "Paper"

At last I have this video uploaded...it shows how I make my thin sheets of Opals Embossing Enamel subtrate sheets that I use alot in my art/craft work.Many people e-mailed asking me to make a video of the process even though I have done few step by step posts with photos about it in the past.I have to confess I prefer to watch something being done to reading about it myself LOL.As usual I have not listened to myself on the video so if there is something I say that does not make sense just e-mail me for a clarification..For those that use UTEE I'm sure this would work just the same with that but I just don't own any myself.
NOTE-the fabric bit that I switch too part way thru in the Video was already pre-attached to thin Vilene that was bondable on one side...that is why it is so easy to see thru.Sprinkling Opals on the fabric alone doesn't seem to make the pages sturdy enough and hence I use heavy weight Vilene on its' own or heavy weight Vilene with tissue attached or light weight Vilene that I attach fabric too.
Give it a go and let your imagination run wild...iron in glitter,Fantasy Film,adhesive foils,foil flakes,frozen Opals,Jo Sonja's Opal Dust or Gold Dust,mesh,micro beads etc etc.The pages will be sturdy yet pliable to a degree so you can cut them,run them thru a sewing machine,emboss them in a Cuttlebug,punch shapes with them and anything else you can think of .Don't forget you can leave the end result matt like after ironing on the Opals or hit it with your heat gun to make it shiny...take care though if you have used sheer material here as it may burn off and shrink/distort.Back to my 31 never ending pages for my collab book swap

Heat Transfer Images Using Opals Embossing Enamel VIDEO

Google have finally freed my little how to on making the Opals Embossing Enamel transfers after 8 days.I had to upload part one five times before it finally got there all in one piece.When you are using images take care you are not breaching anyone's copyright.Also take care with melted Opals as you can burn yourself with them or if you use metal objects to pour the melted Opals thru or into etc(the metal retains the heat longer then you think).Use tweezers if you need and be patient in letting them cool again.I always leave a cm or two of paper around the images as sometimes the Opals spill over the edge and can trap the paper so you can't remove it.IN the video I used the Franklin clear Opals Embossing Enamels but any of the lighter colours make transfers too though you wont be able to see thru them.I get my Opals here in Australia from Pipe Dreamink or overseas from After Midnight Art Stamps
I still can't watch them without hitting the mute LOL but if they help someone some place then that is good.You will note that the Franklin Opals is slightly orange in the videos when it is usually clear.That is because I ran out of the Franklin and used some that I had melted four or more times before and had over cooked it at some stage.As you can see by the others on my desk they are usually crisp and clear though.If you make a transfer that is not to your liking you can remove it off the Opals once it is all set and cooled by using a scourer on the transferred side and scrub away.If you want to make a large transfer or you are worried it may crack add some thinly chopped clear slow melt glue stick to the melting Opals.Just put it on top of the Opals as it melts and once the Opals melts rock the melt pot or skillet gently to mix it thru before pouring.Have fun and ask questions if you need or look at the other post below for still step by photos and more info.

How to make Inkjet Water Transfers

I've started to make some fabric ATC's for my radiant rain pocket book.I'm using cheap calico as my base and thought some people may not know how to make inkjet water transfers.I read about these years ago and just couldn't get it in my head that they could be that easy.I'm a very visual person and it wasn't till I did a class with Nina Bagley last year and she showed us how to do them that it sunk in that they were really easy to do.
Anyway I just did a quick video to show you how to do them and that they are indeed easy.I forgot to tell people that in Oz the best glossy photo paper I have found that works for this is the one above.I buy it in Woolworths and it is quite cheap.I've tried several others and the good ones ?absorb the ink too well and the water wont transfer the image like it does in the video.In the USA they can get one called Jet Print Photo that works for this.OH and the Durabrit inks that some inkjets now have do not work either.The calico I use is unwashed.
If you give this a go you learn quickly on how much water is too much or too litte so don't expect perfect results straight up.If you use too much water the image will bleed colours and you wont have a crisp image transfer.If you use not enough water this causes the transfer to be very patchy.If I peel it up a little and notice areas are patchy I lay it straight back down and rub some more.If it's still patchy I lay the image back down and turn it over.Wet your finger in water and dab it on the back where you know its patchy and rub it in gently.Turn it back over and then peel it up and it should be fine.I'll try to embed the video within the post for you below