TYVEK!!!

Years ago when I was a part of the Cloth Dollmaking World and when I dabbled in Free Machine Embroidery, Tyvek was a product that we played with and I was amazed at the results of this unassuming spun woven fabric-like product.  You can now by Tyvek through places like The Thread Studio here in Perth or you can simply google it to find other suppliers.  Alternatively, the strong white envelopes that you sometimes get goods delivered from the US in, well that's Tyvek too!  Tyvek reacts to heat, both an iron and a heat gun but very differently!  The heat gun is used to make the beads and the iron creates the bubbly surfaces you will see below on my samples.  If you're ironing it, there's no need to iron both sides, one will do but if you're doing beads, better to paint both sides of it.  Using a metallic paint gives this finished product a wonderful sheen and looks much better than just using a normal flat acrylic paint.  I've used a variety of metallic paints  -  Jo Sonja metallics, Folk Art Metallic Paints, Deco Art Metallic Paints and Lumiere metallics.... simply gorgeous!!!!  There are a few you-tube video's out there so take a look to see how this stuff works 

"Disney"...

"Chocolate"...

"Regret"...

"Two inch sample square #1"...

"Two inch sample square #2"...

"Wrapped Tyvek Bead with Wire"... 

As this is the beginning of Book #14, this is my cover that's not yet complete...the Tyvek as you can see makes up the long wavy seaweed bits as well as the gold sections down the bottom.  The size of this page is 8" x 6".

These are unadorned beads, though the edges have been fluted (cut into diagonally) before I rolled and heated them on the skewer which gives them a raggedy look.

More to come!

DOUBLE EMBOSSING

For this fortnight's technique I've used my Big Shot (a Cuttlebug will work too!) and my embossing folders to create a double-embossed background.  The first two samples below are purely using the double-embossed method.  For this you need to have a background type of embossing folder, for example:  the first one below it is the stars folder and the next sample I used the tree bark folder.  Once your background embossing is done, use your ink pad to apply ink to the raised portions of the embossed areas.... it's important to note which side of your embossing folder will "push" the bits up so you can do this successfully.  Then you run the embossed card through the Big Shot again but this time placing the card on top of the embossing folder with a piece of paper towel over it.  When you run it through with your clear plate on top of all of this, it pushes the embossed areas back flat.  So your next step is to choose another embossing folder and run your piece of card through and once again use a different colour ink pad to hit the high points of this embossing folder to show up the design.  

The remaining three samples I've still done the double embossing as before but have used images over the top and used the double embossing as the background.  I used white card to create these first two and have sponged some colour onto the background so the card isn't just plain white.  Though the very last sample that is below I have left it white as I liked the strong contrast of the browns and the lighter stripes.  

"Outside his door"...

"Officially unfair"...

"Colour life"...

"Speak the truth"...

The eye sees"...