Saturday 13 April 2013

more plastic

I have had a crappy, crappy week.  OK, so Thursday was good as I had a day of work and went to a beading class, but Monday was horrific.  I got a migraine, at work, at 5pm.  There was nothing for it but to drive home.  I've never felt that nauseous with a migraine.  I stopped several times on the way home and really didn't think I'd make it.  I went straight to bed (when I got home, clearly not in the middle of the road) and slept.  I got up the next day and went to work.  Bad move, it came back.  When will I learn?  I suppose when they stop frowning on me for taking time off for migraines...  so many people think a migraine is just a headache.  

But you didn't come here to hear me moan, you came here to hear me waffle on about plastic.  Again.  UTEE was #62 on the great big list.  What's UTEE?  It stands for Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel and is a supply for card makers, you can use it like embossing powder to make raised elements on cards.  I saw at the Hobbycrafts show last year a lady demonstrating using it for cabochons to use for jewellery making.  I bought a couple of tubs.  They sat.


These are the supplies you need - the UTEE itself (it's a couple of quid for a pot), ice cube trays or something similar as moulds, foil pie cases and a heat gun.  You also need something to hold the foil case with as it gets hot.  Simply pour some of the UTEE into the foil case and heat with the heatgun for what feels like about 95 years until it melts, pour into the mould.  It sets AS you are pouring it!


I was aiming for a pebble with a picture in it. I cut a circle of scrapbook paper, melted some UTEE and poured.  I hadn't melted enough.  I melted some more and added it to the set nugget.  That's the left hand image - as you can see, this approach doesn't work as the first bit sets and stands out.  Attempt 2 (centre) involved me not melting enough (you really do need loads!), so reheating the nugget I'd made with some more UTEE.  It goes yellow.  Attempt 3 (right) was the best of the lot, BUT, I'd obviously put it into the mould with some powder (I'd tried to measure the powder in the mould so I melted enough!) and it left that pattern on the surface.  


I was frustrated by this point, and it had taken centuries to get to that point, so I had a go with a butterfly mould and Mother-of-Pearl UTEE, then a heart mould and Silver UTEE.  Much better!  I will be experimenting with this stuff again.  If there's any interest, I could do a tutorial.  Or not, up to you.

Celtic Thistle Stitches



I'm linking up to Fiona's New to Me challenge.



12 comments:

Márcia said...

Hello wendy !

Wonderful works you have here.
Thanks for your visit and kind comments.
Hugs...From Brazil

mumasu said...

When I was a kid I had a kit called "Plasticraft". This would have been about early to mid seventies. It sounds like it could have been the same sort of stuff. I used to make paperweights with shells and stuff in and gave them to all my massively lucky family as presents.

In fact I'm gonna check this out at Hobbycraft as I've remembered I loved that staff and if it's similar it'll be a cool walk down memory lane and the kids can roll their eyes at me some more!!

Shirley said...

I like the heart and the butterfly the heart looks like something you want to hold if that makes any sense.

Sandra :) said...

I already have enough stress in my life - I don't think I'd be in any great hurry to try a new product that seems so fiddly, lol!

Elisabeth said...

Uhh your migraine sounds horrible. I get them from time to time and often feel so sick I can't move. Yuk!
Thanks for stopping by my blog, I'm glad you did because it led me here to your lovely crafty blog :) The utee looks very interesting, I'd be interested in the tutorial if you have the time :) Elisabeth x

Kristy @ Quiet Play said...

Oh I feel for you - migraines are just awful! I hope that you are feeling better!

I'm always impressed at the different crafts and techniques you do - I haven't even heard of this one! Very cool! (or not "cool" as such, considering you need a bazillion degree heat for it)

JoJo said...

That's pretty cool! I have been wanting to get some resin and make stuff with that.

Jane said...

Hope you are feeling better now. Migraines leave you feeling drained too, when they're like that. I do like the heart

Starry-eyed stitcher said...

I amazed at just how many crafts you are attempting. I didn't know there were that many. How many will survive as an ongoing hobby do you think? Irene xxx

Anonymous said...

I wish people wouldn't use the word 'migraine' for what they consider a bad headache. That 'bad headache' doesn't even register to most people who suffer Migraine, it is a debilitating neurological condition that affects the brain in similar ways to a TIA and MS, and has far more symptoms than headache. I'm sorry you suffer :(

I remember hearing about UTEE years ago when I bought rubber stamps for fimo, it was one of those things I wanted to try but wasn't popular enough here to be affordable yet. I spent a forune on Resin instead and it dried up. The silver heart looks great.

Ali said...

Hi thanks for visiting my blog and your kind comment :-) Ooh I think I need to get a glass of wine and come back to have a good nosy at your blog Ali x

Samantha said...

Maybe you should chop your head off :) Don't post any pics though, I'm a bit squeemish around headless necks.