Liquid Glass - many uses!

How to use Liquid Glass (or glossy accents...crystal effects)

"Liquid glass? What's that?" you may be asking. Liquid Glass (L.G.) is an easy product to make images shine, look 3-D, and pop off the page! You can add liquid glass to any stamped image or even My Stickease. Basically, all you have to do is squeeze it out to cover the desired area and that's it!   Here are a few tips on how to use this product effortlessly:

1. Don't shake the bottle! When you shake the bottle it add bubbles and makes the surface less smooth when you squeeze it out. If you have bubbles, gently squeeze a little out onto a scrap paper so that you can get the air bubbles out before your start your project.
2. Be sure to clean off the tip each time you use it so you don't get globs of it stuck to the outside.
3. It's best to keep the liquid flowing from the bottle instead of stopping and starting. Move your hand holding the bottle over the area you want to cover; this helps keep you from building air bubbles in the work. If bubbles form, use the tip of a toothpick to pop the bubbles.
4. Allow time to dry. 10-15 minutes depending on the thickness. If it's really thick let it sit longer.
5. Add sparkle to the liquid glass. Use the liquid glass like normal then sprinkle with glitter while wet.
6. To get a fun textured look, stamp tone on tone and then go back and put L.G. on the the stamped areas. It makes a fun look.
7. It's also the perfect adhesive for our sculpting foam. Regular adhesives do not hold well when using sculpting foam or Makin's Clay, but a little glob of the L.G. makes a great adhesive.
8. You can squeeze out circles onto waxed paper and make your own clear pebbles. You can use them to put over stamped images, or make bubbles for a fish etc. Very fun.
9. If you are using liquid glass on an image that will but cut out, first stamp the image, apply liquid glass, and then cut out after drying. If you cut out the image before applying the liquid glass, the paper may curl.

When you are done - replace lid and store upside down, this way it is always ready to go, No bubbles and No clogging!

Known as a 3D lacquer that adds depth and texture to your hand stamped projects. Will appear "cloudy" as it is applied but it will dry to a crystal clear sheen. The favorite way stampers like to use this product is to apply it to areas where they would like a 3-D look or "raised effect" . . . whatever you apply it to will seem to j-u-m-p right off the paper.  However, there are other fun and fabulous ways to use Liquid Glass and I've listed a few below but first let's get the basics down.

TIPS

• Use and store at room temperature.
• Allow it to dry completely before handling. Thin coats will take only a few minutes but thicker coats may take a half hour or longer to dry completely. If you handle before it is dry you risk adding your fingerprint to your art work.- this too would be cool on certain pages...
• To prevent bubbles, should not be shaken - if bubbles occur you can pop with toothpick or spread.
• Once I start slowly applying, I try to NOT pick the tip up off of my project until it is completely covered. The key is to move slooooooowly and do not lift tip from surface during application until you are finished. This way there are no air bubble being “blown in” to your work. It may take you a little longer to get all of you work covered, but the outcome, is well worth it!
• To achieve a thicker coating I have found it is better to apply several thin coats. If you try to apply it all at once you may cause the dye ink underneath to blur or "feather." Also, it is water based, so if too much is applied at once the paper may buckle.
• Unless you are looking for a new technique or need the bubble effect on a page - Do not use heat gun to speed dry time. It becomes extremely “bubbly”. Does not speed up drying process for clear coating.
• The tip of the bottle may become clogged. To prevent this from happening place bottle upright on table and allow it to drain back down into the bottle. Then you can use a piece of plastic coated wire (such as a straightened, plastic coated paper clip) to clear the tip of the bottle before you seal it. If the tip does become clogged, before I begin my project, I use the same paper clip to open a pathway for it to flow smoothly. Keep the paper clip attached to the bottle by wrapping a rubber band around the bottle and sticking paper clip in it. If you find your tip really clogged just unscrew the cap and rinse with warm water. Then dry and replace cap.

Traditional Uses:

1. Layer it on your projects to give a smooth glass-like finish.
2. Spot Gloss: Apply a thick layer of it directly to the stamped image with the applicator tip. Let dry completely (about 30 - 60 minutes) before handling.
3. All-Over Gloss: Use a paintbrush to apply a thin, even coat of gloss to the entire image. Let dry (about 3-5 minutes).
4. Use the applicator tip to apply a thicker layer of gloss to "select elements" of your design to add emphasis.
   Apply a second or third coat if your first layer was not standing up off your paper enough to please you. Some ideas are to apply it to leaves, flower petals, insects, teacup, umbrella, window, eyes, li;ps, eyeglasses, Christmas ornaments.
5. Simulate dew on a petal by adding little droplets to flowers. You can also add it to the petals of actual dried flowers or fake plastic ones. This really does look like dew and you won't spend a fortune buying designers ones from stores.
6. Highlight only special lines on an image.
7. Use L.G. to outline your image. This provides the look of embossing without needing the heat gun. This looks especially inviting when used as "frosting" of a cake, outlining water pictures.
8. Try applying the L.G. in layers. By that I mean apply a thick line of L.G. to the outline of your stamped image. Allow that to dry and then come back with a brush and apply a thinner coat of L.G. to the inside area that you outlined. Allowing time to dry between applications will keep the areas from merging and will add depth and make the image look 3-D. You can also add a 3rd and 4th layer by applying a second coating to an area that has already dried. It will really make your images POP!
9. It truly gives the look of glass and as such looks wonderful when used on glass items such as a light bulb, or Christmas lights, makes the lights shine. Use L.G. on a fish bowl, or use it to create a faux glass "Bug Jar" and use a stamped bug to go in the jar.
10. Experiment with different applicators to add textured patterns to your stamp art. Use a paintbrush to apply a thin coat and swirl the bristles to create small circles, half moons, or squiggles to achieve different results. (Think of those large portraits by Olan Mills. that have circles swirled over them to make them look like paintings). Use a stencil brush to dab on gloss for a rougher texture. Use a sponge to create a spackled look.

Other Fun uses

1. Use L.G. to seal your shrink art pins. This creates dimension and provides a more exclusive look to your shrink art. This is the perfect way to seal your poly shrink wine charms while providing a great glassy finish.
2. After applying gloss to an image, sprinkle a little glitter on top. This adds more dimensional sparkle than using other types of glue and looks great as candle flames, camp fires, etc.
3. Create a dimensional paint. Add L.G to a spot on wax paper and then add a drop or two of re-inker and stir using a toothpick. Then apply color as desired to your stamped image allowing a few minutes drying time between colors so they won't blend. This provides truly beautiful results. Fabulous for a stained glass effect image
4. L.G. makes the perfect glue for any project!! Use it to attach your poly shrink plastic embellishments, beads, feathers, and bows. It is very strong, great for adding hard to hold magnets, pin backs, and wire to your stamped projects. Be sure to let it dry completely before handling. I keep a special bottle just for everyday household use in my kitchen as well as bottles in my scrap room.
5. Use it to make flat marble magnets or bulletin board tacks. Purchase the glass marbles/pebbles that have a flat side to them in the floral section of craft stores. Then use the circle punch to create the perfect shape to place behind these see-through marbles. Stamp desired image on the card stock circle and color it in using Markers. Use Krylon Matte Acrylic or use the Krylon Workable Fixative to seal markers. Next, apply L.G. to the flat marble and not to the stamped image. Then press the marble onto the stamped circle. If you don't have the Krylon to seal the markers, applying the gloss in this manner (to the marble instead of the stamped image) will keep the image colors from smearing. Apply a bit more L.G. and then attach a magnet or push pin to it.
6. Here's a twist on using it to make the flat, clear marble magnets . . .Trim small school photo to fit the back of the stone. Poor L.G. directly onto the picture (use wax paper underneath to catch waste and then add reinkers to color and continue using). Then adhere to the back of the stone. Let dry and then add magnet to the back for a refrigerator magnet of your little darlings.
7. Use it to glue vellum to card stock. It won’t show through. I’ve found the best way to keep vellum from wrinkling or “popping up” after application of gloss is to apply it with a fingertip or Q-tip applicator in a very thin coat . . . DO NOT apply it straight from the bottle.
8. Make Glitter Gloss using fine Glitter, and an old paint brush. This is really simple. Squirt out some L.G. onto a scrap of acetate or other non-porous surface. Using a toothpick, stir in some glitter until you have the consistency you want. Then using a paintbrush, brush the glitter gloss onto your stamped art, stamped tiles, polymer beads, etc. When dry, it gives a glossy and sparkly look to your art. Try using this to add glitter to snowcaps made with liquid applique, add highlights to ornaments, Valentine hearts, etc. Anywhere that you want to add a bit of sparkles. You can also use this same homemade glitter gloss on hand painted ceramics and clothing.
9. Make a Stained Glass Glitter Window. Stamp image on window sheets using Staz On. Allow a second or two to let it dry. Next, use the tip of the L.G. bottle to move it gloss around to cover each individual area with a thin layer of the L.G. While it is still wet, dump on glitter. Only do one color of glitter at a time. let each area dry at least an hour before going to the next color.
10. Use it for "fray check" on the ends of your ribbon after you have cut them to the desired length.
11. Place on top of Radiant Pearls or Pearl Ex and get even more pearlescent shimmer and shine.
12. Use L.G., stamped tissue paper and glitter to create beautiful, sparkling ornaments for Christmas or any special occasion.
13. Create "Shimmering Pearls" by adding a small amount of Pearl Ex powder to some gloss. Then apply over your stamp art with a brush.
14. Add L.G. to areas of images that you've dry embossed and achieve even more "pop"!
15. If you have Wood stamps: use it to re-glue any stamps that have either come unmounted from the foam or that you took off the wood block because you wanted to trim and re-mount.
16. Use L.G. to seal beaded pens. After you make your pen, set it into a block of Styrofoam. Let your pen cure (inserted into the Styrofoam) for 24 hours. Then dip the pen upside down into the bottle of gloss. Tip it right side up, and insert back into the Styrofoam to dry for another 24 hours. It works like a charm sealing the pen so that he beads won't fall off.
17. Use L.G. to seal Domino art when you've used chalks or Pearl Ex to color in your image. The L.G. creates a wonderful thick sheen when applied in more than one coat. Or you can use it as a sort of Modge Podge to attach a stamped tissue paper design to the Domino (similar to the candle/tissue paper technique or the glittery glass bulbs technique.)

Would love to see your creations, link to my blog!!

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