MICA TECHNIQUES

Mica is a product that has been around forever.  I remember buying some nearly 20 years ago and I still have some of it left.  Since then I have used several different types of Mica, from donut shapes to different colours of Mica through to Mica flakes.  The Mica I have used for this class is absolutely clear in colour, transparent and also flexible so it doesn't shatter the same way that my other Mica does.  Consequently, I used alcohol inks to add colour to it so it would look different from say, a piece of acetate (because that's exactly what it feels like!).  However, because this is Mica, it is heat resistant and you can emboss on it.  I even tried using the Distress Glaze Embossing Powder on it and it works beautifully as it just changes the colour of the Mica but also gives a nice bumpy sort of texture.  There's no sample of that here amongst these ones, I was just trying out all sorts of things to see what would work and what wouldn't.  Love that I can staple or brad these pieces on too.  I even die-cut a piece (the heart on the 2nd ATC) though that took a bit of hand-cutting too.  It made me want to do another class using the other ordinary Mica, though there is nothing ordinary about any Mica!  Love it all.  

"Plastic melts"

"No refunds"

"Aquaholic"

"Evil"

(Yes, you can even stamp on it with Black

Archival Ink and heat set with a heat gun)

"dos"

(I've been waiting for ages to use

this quote 😉)

"Take the leap"

(The leaf shape in brown is the Mica coloured

and with some clear embossing on it)

Finally, these last two are samples from last week's class, Embossed Waxed Backgrounds.

"Zombies"

"Steampunk"

EMBOSSED WAXED BACKGROUNDS

 This technique embraces the depth of the 3-D embossing folders that are available through the various companies now.  I've used plain black cardstock and only 3-D embossing folders for this technique, though you could try it with your normal embossing folders as well.  A trick I learnt was to lightly spritz with water one side of the card stock before running it through.  This relaxes the card stock and allows for the deep impressions without causing excessive cracking and tearing which can happen if you skip this step.  It's not a bad habit to get into when you're using your normal embossing folders too!  I followed up with some distress oxide ink as these will show up on dark card stock (stick with lighter colours though and don't expect a true colour representation!), then I applied the Art Alchemy Waxes from Finnabair as well as my old collection of Treasure Gold waxes.  These waxes show up really well on black and are a staple of many a mixed media/card maker/paper artist.

"The heart"

(This little folded 3-D heart from Sizzix is a test 

of your patience, but oh so worth it)

"Don't look back"

"Bitter"

"Aspire"

(The computer does enjoy fiddling with the 

tones and shades of metallics, rest-assured

all these silvers match)

"Selfie"

(The squiggly lines in her hair are made by using

the fine Distress Embossing Marker Pen, then

just clear embossing.  A neat effect!)