Pearl Ex Techniques

[Deb Lovett]

Because Pearl Ex don't have any kind of binder in them, you need more than just water to keep them on the surface of your cardstock.

Pearl Ex with Floor Polish
Fill a waterbrush with floor polish and simply paint Pearl Ex on your card. The floor polish will act as the "adhesive". I used Future Floor Finish, but experiment with what you already have. I've had mine for quite a while, but I think I found it at the HyVee grocery store.

Go here to see what a bottle of Future Floor Finish looks like:
http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAA#ps-sellers

BTW, this thread is also listed as "Pigment Pearls Tutorial", but I can never think of that title....

[Deb Lovett]

Pearl Ex powders look amazing on black cardstock! So for this technique, all you need is your favorite stamp, black cardstock and pigment ink, and of course, your Pearl Ex.

- Ink your stamp with pigment ink (white, black, gold, color -- try it each way... and show us your results!)
- Stamp on regular black cardstock
- Brush your first Pearl Ex color in various places (it will stick to the pigment ink); tap off and repeat with a different color of Pearl Ex in other places until the image is completely covered with Pearl Ex
- Use a soft brush, kleenex, swiffer cloth or soft cloth to carefully and selectively remove excess Pearl Ex (don't just wipe across your image!)
- Seal with Krylon Fixatif or hairspray

In the sample below I used white pigment ink and a combination of Pearl Ex powders (Super Bronze, Aztec Gold, Spring Green and Glitter Copper)

Please feel free to show us your Pearl Ex Art!

[Deb Lovett]

Spray Starch Technique

This is the easiest background technique you can do! All you need is black cardstock, spray starch (I used Niagra), Pearl Ex, foam paint brush and a tray to work on. The spray starch acts as the adhesive and sets the Pearl Ex, so there is no need to seal.

Put a piece of black cardstock on the tray and spray liberally with spray starch. Tap on Pearl Ex. Swirl the Pearl Ex around with the foam paint brush. Let dry.

Experiment with how you tap on the Pearl Ex: sample below
Use as a background: horse sample
or stamp directly on background and emboss with a contrasting color: flower pot example

[Deb Lovett]

Acrylic Varnish is another medium you can use to add the "adhesive" to your Pearl Ex. I used Delta Ceramcoat Gloss Interior Varnish, which you can find in the craft department along with acrylic paints.

Pour a little bit of varnish on a plate, tap on Pearl Ex powder, stir up and paint onto your surface. I used several different colors of Pearl Ex on a crumbled piece of black cardstock for this example.

[Deb Lovett]

Ew, ew, I have an idea, but I've run out of time to actually try it.

Take a mini spray bottle of hairspray* and add Pearl Ex and reinker. What do you think? It should work....

*Or a mini spray bottle, add water and gum arabic

(I need to get ready to go on vacation... Ü)

[Deb Lovett]

I'm on a roll, so just one more before I go...

Pearl Ex and Glue

Squirt some glue on a plate, tap on some Pearl Ex and stir to make a "paint."

Option: If desired heat the painted surface with your heat tool to cause the glue to bubble up. Remove heat and let the glue-paint settle in wrinkles. Sample shown.

Beautiful examples Deb-yes you are on a roll...lol

[Elayne]

Oh wow Deb, those are all great.thanks.

[TheAfricanQueen]

I really had some fun with Pearl Ex and 3D Crystal Lacquer when I made my fall altered bottlecaps. The colors really do pop.

So as not to spoil the surprise for everyone in that swap, I'll post a pic as soon as I receive my portion back.

[Deb Lovett]

Looking forward to seeing it and hearing the details of how you did it....

Originally Posted by TheAfricanQueen

I really had some fun with Pearl Ex and 3D Crystal Lacquer when I made my fall altered bottlecaps. The colors really do pop.

So as not to spoil the surprise for everyone in that swap, I'll post a pic as soon as I receive my portion back.