Embossing Enamel (Faux) Stones

Faux Stone "Mosaic" Frame

Materials

2 Melting Pots with lids
nonstick embossing craft sheets
pearl, clear, white UTEE*
small bits of various other UTEE colors
scissors
various To Dye For heat-safe inks
wood, paper mache, cardboard, etc. frame
Wonder Tape sheet or roll
nonstick, heat-resistant Kool Toolz Zpatula or a craft stick

* Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE)

Steps:

1. Working over a nonstick craft sheet, pour clear UTEE into one pot and pearl UTEE into separate pots and turn each to 340 F degrees. Cover with lids and allow to melt. DO NOT STIR while melting. Stirring creates air bubbles. Patience works better!

2. After clear UTEE melts, add one to three droplets of your favorite color(s) of To Dye For ink additive and stir extremely well using Zpatula.or craft stick (figure A). Colors can be mixed to create secondary colors. For example, blue and magenta will make purple.

3. In the pearl pot, you have many options to make the agate piece individual to you. Experiment at your own level; here are some ideas:

Add a second color of ink and then a third, just one droplet of each, and repeat as above, keeping all the colors nearby but separate from each other (figure B).

Using your fingers, sprinkle in a few grains of other colored thick embossing powders (except white) and do not stir any of the mixtures. Sprinkle in as many colors as you like, just a pinch of each, and allow everything to melt fully and lay as it is (figure C).

4. Carefully lift the first pot with tinted clear UTEE and pour into the center of the pearl/color pot (figure D). Do not mix or stir.

5. Sprinkle just a few grains of white UTEE into the tinted clear.

6. Lift the pot with this total mixture and pour in a circular motion directly onto the nonstick craft sheet (figure E). This motion and the combination of UTEE colors will automatically form geode and agate stone patterns. Every time you do this, it will come out different.

7. When the UTEE has hardened completely (never touch it with your fingers to find out; tap with a tool), lift from the craft sheet and begin cutting with good scissors into the shapes and sizes you like for your project (figure F). The UTEE will retain a huge amount of heat but is safe to cut. Note: You will be unable to cut the UTEE when it gets cold. It will be brittle and will break.

8. Secure your cut pieces to your project using Wonder Tape (figure G).

9. Create "grout" using any number of artistic processes, but I like to refill my clear pot with more clear UTEE, allow it to melt fully, tint it and then pour it between the agate pieces (figure H). Use beads or glitter glue as decorative "grout" (figure I).

10. Further embellish as you like with beads or glitters.

Use metal cookie cutters, donut pans, etc. as molds to create the "stones" in interesting shapes.

Steps:

1. Follow directions above through step 6. Pour the final mixture onto a nonstick craft sheet and immediately place cookie cutter(s) into your favorite part of the random pattern (figure J). Leave there until UTEE hardens.

2. Lift the UTEE from the craft sheet with the cookie cutter(s) still in the UTEE.

3. Use scissors to make random cuts around the cookie cutter to help release the excess UTEE.

4. Press the shape(s) out of the cutters (figure K).

5. If you want to wear the design, now is the time to press a hole into it using a sharp tool like an awl (figure L). Once cooled, you cannot do this.

6. If you would prefer to mount it to something like a card, do so using Wonder Tape.

7. Do not remelt excess pieces of agate UTEE (although you could). Break up into interesting pieces and use to decorate a project such as the frame (above), or wrap wire around a piece, add a pin back and wear.

To make a round necklace pendant: Pour mixture into a nonstick mini doughnut pan (figure M). When cool, remove from the pan and tie a cord around the loop (figure N). Beads may be added, if desired.