I get asked all the time, what is my favorite scrapbooking "thing", next to my photos and I know when asked that's not what people are looking for, my super most favorite, best invented item of all time...which I use on every single everything project would be
LIQUID GLASS!
Original designed as a glass glaze type finish, this is the best ever adhesive. I use this for everything from glueing down buttons and gems, ribbons and fantastically adheres chipboard and other weighted items. I have rescued Raggedy Ann's bangs from an over zealous brother with this glue. I must own about 6 bottles of this at all times, because I never want to not have one in my travel crop case, on my desk, in the household glue area, etc. Its a steal for the low price of $6.95, and lasts a super long time.
Below is a tip sheet I received years ago from my Upline Bren Yule, who got it from a Sister Consultant,
Lorrinda
Holman that has so many great, great ideas for uses that I wanted to share.
Ideas for Liquid Glass:
- Use to attach page elements (especially good with clear items):
metals, vellum (note: it can show through a little bit), transparencies,
fibers, flowers, plastic embellishments, stickers that have lost their
stick…etc…
- Use to add any kind of water effect to a page: bubbles, water
droplets, or just to make something look wet
- If you have a dull metal object you can make it look shiny again by
adding a thin layer of glaze
- Use to highlight designs on pattered paper (ex: flowers, vines, or
even geometric figures – any area you may want to draw attention to, or add
interest!)
- Use on photo to make an object stand out
- Use on stickers to give them dimension
- Add some ink to change the color and it gives it a stained glass look
- Use it with micro beads
- Make clear epoxy type stickers with it
- Fill conchos with it
- Add it to acrylic paint to give it added sticking power (and a glossy
shine) when painting metals
- Drop it on a transparency the size of the picture you’re using and
then hold it up and let it drip down. when it dries, put in front of your
picture and it looks like the picture has like water down it - great for water
park or slip-and-slide pics
- Don’t want a knot/bow in a piece of ribbon or fiber to keep slipping
out? Add a dot of liquid glass on the back – it dries clear, rarely (if ever)
discolors, and holds like crazy!
- Use on shrink plastic to give a beautiful glossy look!
- Here's my recent fave: pound down a bottlecap, cut a photo down to
size and put it inside the bottlecap, then cover with the glaze and let it
harden. Love the look! Need to watch it though - sometimes the pic wants to
'float', you may want to temporarily adhere it with something else before you
glaze over it. Hey, I bet this could be pretty neat with our new bottle cap
set!
- Use it to add glitter to a project.
- Use it to make a crystal for your clocks/watches
- Use them on My Stickease ... I covered one of the blue star circles
from Independence;
took a bit to dry, but they are beautiful! Now I can't use just the plain
stickease! I will go through a ton of this stuff!
- What about using it in a dimensional frame that way too ... This
stuff is too cool! I heard you can bend and crack it too ...
More Tips and Tricks for Liquid Glass
1) It can and does change the ink color a little bit when you put the
liquid glass on top. Sometimes it's a really good thing. It made a fish that
Gail used look more vibrant and colorful.... Sometimes it can be a bad thing
especially on words. Reds tend to be more temperamental.
2) When you want to put liquid glass on a shape... like an oval or
square saying from the word puzzles. Stamp your image on your cardstock, but do
not cut around it yet... Cover with a thin coat of liquid glass. Then add
additional coats until it reaches the desired thickness. After your image is
completely dry... then cut it out. If you cut it our first, the moisture from
the product will curl the edges of your paper as it dries.
3) Always start with a thin coat and then add additional coats until
desired thickness
4) You can tint your liquid glass by mixing in a little re-inker. Then
use a toothpick to apply to desired area.
5) It's fun to trace words with!
6) Works great on Stickease!!!
7) And our super duper trick!!!! Place small amounts on a sheet
protector. When it's dry it peels right up and you can then add it to your
project by placing a small amount of liquid glass around the edges to adhere it
to your project. If you want to draw certain shapes, stick a piece of cardstock
with the shapes on it in your sheet protector and then you can draw on top of
them... Too fun!!!
8) And... using tip from step 7... you can cut out the image with scissors
to make the edges all nice and neat
9) Building on number 7 again... You can take a piece that is almost
dry.. and crack it like cracked glass!!!
But here's my most important tip of all!!! Order a bottle and play with
it yourself. It goes a long way... experiment... try the tips I've shared and
see what your results are before you show it to your customers. My version of a
thin coat and your version might be different. See what works for you....
And yes...I'm now liquid glass obsessed and can hardly wait to share it
with my customers now that it's not TOP SECRET. LOL
#1: Layer it on your projects to give a smooth glass-like finish.
Spot Gloss: Apply a thick layer of liquid glass directly to the stamped
image with the applicator tip. Let dry completely (about 30 - 60 minutes)
before handling.
All-Over Gloss: Use a paintbrush to apply a thin, even coat of liquid
glass to the entire image. Let dry (about 3-5 minutes).
#2: Use the applicator tip to apply a thicker layer of LG 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, eyeglasses, Christmas ornaments.
#3: 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.
#4: Highlight only special lines on an image.
#5: Use LG 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.
#6: Try applying the LG in layers. By that I mean apply a thick line of
LG to the outline of your stamped image. Allow that to dry and then come back
with a brush and apply a thinner coat of LG 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!
#7: It truly gives the look of glass and as such looks wonderful when
used on glass items such as the light bulb in the Little Inspirations set or
the Christmas lights in the Border Builders set . . . Makes the lights shine.
Use LG on the fish bowl in the Little Hellos stamp set or use it to create a
faux glass "Bug Jar" and use one of the bug sets to stamp some bugs
to go in the jar.
# 8: 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.
Use a stencil brush to dab on LG for a rougher texture. Use a sponge to create
a spackled look.
#9: Use LG 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.
#10: After applying LG to an image, sprinkle a little Prisma glitter on
top. This adds more dimensional sparkle than using other types of glue and looks
great as candle flames, camp fires, etc.
#11: Create a dimensional paint. Add LG to small containers you can
find in the paint section of hobby stores and then add a drop or two of CTMH
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.
#12: LG 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.
#13: 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 the Markers. Use Krylon Matte Acrylic or use
the Krylon Workable Fixative to seal markers. Next, apply Crystal Effects 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
LG in this manner (to the marble instead of the stamped image) will keep the
image colors from smearing. Apply a bit more LG and then attach a magnet or
push pin to it.
#14: 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 LG directly
onto the picture. 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.
#15: 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 CE is to apply it with a fingertip or Q-tip applicator in a very
thin coat . . . DO NOT apply it straight from the bottle.
#16: Make Glitter Gloss using LG, prisma or other ultra fine Glitter,
and an old paint brush. This is really simple. Squirt out some LG 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.
#17: 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 LG
bottle to move it (LG) around to cover each individual area with a thin layer
of the LG. 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.
#18: Use it for "fray check" on the ends of your ribbon after
you have cut them to the desired length.
#19: Place on top of Radiant Pearls or Pearl Ex and get even more
pearlescent shimmer and shine.
#20: Use LG, stamped tissue paper and prisma glitter to create
beautiful, sparkling ornaments for Christmas or any special occasion.
# 21: Create "Shimmering Pearls" by adding a small amount of
Pearl Ex powder to some LG. Then apply over your stamp art with a brush.
#22: Add LG to areas of images that you've dry embossed and achieve
even more "pop"!
#23: Use LG 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 LG. 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.
#24: Use LG to seal Domino art when you've used chalks or Pearl Ex to
color in your image. The LG 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.)
#25
put some liquid glass on a sheet of acetate--or other non porous tray, take a
baggie smooched up in your hand, dip the baggie in the liquid glass and smooche
it randomly on a piece of card stock. Like the sponging technique with paint
that was really popular in the 90's!
Let it dry. Then sponge on ink--you can use more than one color. I did
this technique on bamboo cardstock and sponged on olive and chocolate ink.
Wherever the liquid glass was resisted the ink and the bamboo color showed
through--I did this to make my own camo cardstock. I've also done it on
chocolate cardstock and lightly sponged cocoa ink, with the tone on tone it
gave it a faux leather look!
