Cracked Glass Technique

Deb Lovett · #1 03-12-2010, 05:32 PM

Layering Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE) is the trick to this technique.

Stamp your image on light cardstock. Set the ink by heating the stamped image with your heat tool or with an iron. You may color your image with pencils or chalks if desired. (If you do not set your ink or if you use dye markers for coloring, when you do the next step, your ink will smear.)

Smear your stamped (and colored image) image with a VersaMark pad or an embossing pad, then sprinkle on a layer of UTEE. Heat to melt the powder. Quickly while still hot, repeat the embossing step a couple more times. (Hint: if the embossing has cooled, just smear again with the embossing pad and sprinkle on the UTEE.) By your 3rd embossing, the surface will be very smooth.

Now for the surprising part of this technique: Put this prepared piece in the FREEZER for 10-20 minutes. Remove from the freezer and gently bend to cause the surface to crack.

Use as is, or apply ink over the surface to enhance the cracks. Wipe off excess.

Note: By accident, I overheated the waterlily and burned through the UTEE and actually burned the paper in the upper left corner. So to make it look like I meant to do that, I had to "attack" the right side too.

Have fun. Please share your creations with us.

#2 03-12-2010, 06:47 PM

I have done this one before. It is very fun. I didn't put it in the freezer. I just waited till it was cold and cracked it with my hand.

Deb Lovett · #3 03-12-2010, 08:48 PM

I guess that works too. Thanks for the tip.

inkkyjo · #4 03-13-2010, 07:49 PM

finally..a technique that i have done. well almost, i didnt accent my cracks with ink,I love that idea.. now i have to do it again, so i can say i did it..bravo..it looks great deb.....whoooom..yep, i am...thanks for posting it..we love you deb.

Deb Lovett · #5 03-13-2010, 08:34 PM

Aw, thanks, Inkkyjo.

It is a fun technique, and the cracks don't have to be accented by any means. I hope you'll show us your take on this technique.

Theresagram · #6 03-16-2010, 01:56 PM

Sounds like a fun technique Deb. Thanks for sharing. Will have to try it.

Deb Lovett · #7 03-16-2010, 01:59 PM

I never tried it with Flex. Would that prevent cracking?
Feel free to experiment and let us know what you discover.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theresagram

Sounds like a fun technique Deb. Thanks for sharing. Will have to try it.

Question....flex? Use it or no? If so, how much?

Theresagram · #8 03-16-2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deb Lovett

I never tried it with Flex. Would that prevent cracking?
Feel free to experiment and let us know what you discover.

LOL I edited my comment because I was thinking about heating UTEE in the melting pot...for which I always add flex....but then I stopped and paid attention to what I'd just read....(D'uh) and you said to sprinkle. ROFL. I just got off work and am expecting my grandchildren any minute, so I'm scattered. Teehee

Inky Whiskers · #9 03-16-2010, 02:30 PM

As far as I've heard, flex is more likely to stretch than crack even after cooling it in the fridge. The flex formula was created to solve the probelm of regular ep cracking & breaking when used for molded 3D shapes & tiling techniques.

I've done this technique using detail & regular grind ep as well as UTEE. You need to add more layers of the regular (& even more for detail) but it does work. Also, if your UTEE is flying away before you can melt it enough to make it stick, try heating the paper from the bottom or starting with a layer of melted regular ep to give the UTEE something to stick to, then continue adding UTEE for the other layers.

Deb Lovett · #10 03-16-2010, 02:38 PM

Great tips, Inky Whiskers! Thanks. We'd love to see some of your examples.