What I really wanted to do was show you how easy it is to make your own shapes and trinkets for your projects and such. AND, you can color your melt art. Did you know that? It's super easy!
What you'll need is a 1 quart baggie and your UTEE. Pour however much of the UTEE you want into your baggie. Next, grab whatever color alcohol ink you want. Squirt a preferred amount in there; if you want a lighter shade then not so much; if darker then squeeze the heck out of the bottle. If using black, squirt more than what you need; it will look greenish but that's black for ya':
Try to avoid inking the baggy. When you're finished inking your UTEE, close up the baggy and squish around. Now, pull out whatever candy mold you want to use. I decided on chess pieces for this project (how "Tim"). Yes, you read correctly, candy mold. As in Wilton's. Sold at Ms and HL. No, it will not warp or melt. Remember, it's a candy mold. And if you're making candy you have to melt down the chocolate pieces before pouring into the mold. Same concept, except with with UTEE which melts at about 350 degrees.
Anyway, open up the baggy and wait for your ink tinted UTEE to dry a little. We are heating something that has alcohol so let it dry a bit. Don't know if you can pour the UTEE into the melting pot and then squirt the alcohol ink in it; the instructions I read said not to do that.
When the UTEE is dry, pour into the melting pot and heat.
Pour your melted UTEE into the candy mold. If you are lucky enough to have a melting pot utensil/tools, be sure to use it. You can otherwise use a dedicated silicone mini-spatula. You do not need to fill to the top; just a little below that so you can avoid excess and threads.
What for your UTEE to completely cool off. Pop out of the mold. TA-DA!
You can trim the excess off with your Tonic scissors. Be careful though; you don't want to clip too hard and break anything like I did. My Bishop is broken:
But if you do break a piece, or it doesn't come out how you want, that's ok. Put it back in the melting pot and try again:
Freda
Wow! What an awesome way to get flat backed shapes! Your things are all great!!
ReplyDeleteIt is, isn't it? Glad you enjoyed it :-).
ReplyDeletecool - I have some Utee, and never know what to use it for!
ReplyDeleteShelly, I'm putting together another really cool technique using UTEE and embossing powder. Stay tuned...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idea! I too have some UTEE sitting around not getting used. I will have to pull it out. I already have several candy molds. Thanks Freda!
ReplyDelete