ENVIROTEX PROJECTS

Stamp a Pin

You can create beautiful pins that look like porcelain. They are great to wear, trade with friends, or give as gifts. The thick, clear, glossy Envirotex Lite finish adds a professional, finished look to the piece. Great as fridge magnets and earrings too!

Click on image for larger picture.

Materials List:
Envirotex Lite
rubber stamps
black ink pad
water-based felt markers or pens
card stock
pin backs
jewelry cement (such as E-600 or Arts & Crafts Goop®)
craft or foam paint brushes
waxed paper (to protect work surface) scissors
optional: glitter, cord, ribbon, buttons, charms, etc.

1. Stamp the image on card stock. colour the image with markers or pens and let dry.
   
2. Cut out the coloured image. Lay on waxed paper with the coloured side up. Thoroughly mix 2 oz. of Envirotex Lite® and apply with a brush. (Optional: Glitter can be added to the Envirotex Lite® mixture prior to applying if you want to add a little sparkle to your pin.)
   
3. Allow to dry thoroughly. Trim off any excess finish with scissors. Touch up the cut edges with markers or pens.
   
4. Position the pin backs and glue on. (Optional: Embellish the finished pin with cords, ribbons, buttons or charms.)

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Create keep sake dough art pieces with the look and feel of fine porcelain. Create 5 adorable christmas tree ornaments with a simple dough art recipe and Envirotex Lite. In these examples, inexpensive dough art is transformed into beautiful keepsakes and decorative pieces.

BASIC DOUGH ART RECIPE:
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
¼-½ cup Table Salt
¼-½ cup Warm Water

NOTE: Keep a container with a flour and salt mixture of the same proportion as the dough near you. This can be sprinkled onto working surfaces to avoid sticky dough. Extra dough can be stored in the refrigerator for several days if properly wrapped in plastic or plastic bags. (If dough becomes sticky from storage, simply knead in some of the flour and salt mixture before shaping.) Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Add ¼ cup warm water slowly, stirring as it is added. Add more water as needed, to make the dough resemble pie crust dough in looks and consistency. Mix all the dough you will need at one time.

MATERIALS NEEDED TO MAKE DOUGH ART ORNAMENTS:
1 Basic Dough Art Recipe (makes 6-7 ornaments)
8 oz. kit Envirotex Lit
Aluminum Foil, measuring / mixing cup, stir stick.
¼" Ribbon
Wax Paper
Cookie Cutters and Rolling Pin (Optional)
1 Cardboard Box
18 gauge Wire
Liquid Tempera Paint or Acrylic Paint
Recommended Brushes: #10 Flat Red Sable for large areas.and #5-0 or #000 Thin Pointed Brush for detailed areas.
Paper Clips

FINISHED SIZE: Ornaments measure approximately 3-4” long.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix dough. Set pieces of foil on your working surface. You will be forming the ornaments directly onto the foil. Form each piece by either rolling or cutting dough, or by molding by hand. If you mold the dough by hand, each piece will be smoother if you roll it into a very smooth ball between your palms first, and then form the shape. Be sure to wash your hands very thoroughly between different colours of dough. If using cookie cutters, roll the dough about 1/3 thick; thin ornaments may warp when cooling.

2. Glue on any adornments you desire, or press them into the surface of the dough. There are many inexpensive ways to decorate ornaments. Metal. wood, sunflower seeds, nut shells, pods, rope or twine. and straw flowers work well and can be placed before baking. Textures can be made on the surface with a fork or by pressing dough through a garlic press. Toothpicks can also be used for texturing.

3. After completing the ornament, insert a hanger made from a paper clip. Push the hanger in until only ¼" is left exposed.

4. Place ornament and foil on a cookie sheet and bake at 300° F for approximately 45 minutes. Test for doneness by tapping: a hollow sound will indicate it is done. Check for any soft spots. If necessary, bake for 15 minutes more. Cool while still on the foil.

5. Paint the ornaments as desired. Fine features can also be drawn on with a draftsman’s pen. Glue on any additional ornaments before glazing.

6. Prepare dust-free environment for your ornaments in the following manner. With scissors, drill a hole on either side of a clean, deep cardboard box, halfway between top and bottom. Attach wire to the outside and thread through the hole to the inside. After glazing with Envirotex Lite, your ornaments will be strung on the wire and the other end will be attached to the box. See Fig. 2.

7. Mix Envirotex Lite per package instructions. Mix approximately 2 oz’s. for each ornament. Mix one batch at a time.

8. Suspend the ornament from a length of wire. Pour approximately 2 oz’s. of Envirotex Lite over the object, pouring one object at a time. As you pour, direct the Envirotex Lite over detail areas with a disposable acid brush. (See Fig. 1.) After the surface as been entirely coated, hang the ornament inside the box. Repeat this process until all ornaments have been glazed. Be sure to cover your work surface with several layers of newspaper.

9. As soon as all ornaments have been glazed, arranged them on the wire, spacing at least 3” between ornaments. Pick up the box with both hands and slowly turn it upside down. This will protect the objects as they dry. (See Fig. 2.) Envirotex Lite will cure most effectively if left for 72 hours in a temperature between 70° F and 80° F. (Opt. 2nd coat may be desired.)

10. String ribbon through your ornament and your charming keepsake is completed.

By adding a little paint into your Envirotex Lite mixture you can create a marble like finish! An ideal project for bar tops & table tops! Perfect for decorative items as well. Envirotex Lite can be used over existing finishes, on wood, glass, metal, paper, plastics.Once cured, Envirotex Lite is water, chemical, and heat resistant.

Create a marble like finish with Envirotex Lite,a little paint and a wide brush.An Ideal finish for bar tops & table tops! Perfect for decorative items as well .Envirotex Lite can be used over existing finishes, on wood, glass, metal, paper, plastics.Once cured, Envirotex Lite is water, chemical, and heat resistant.

Envirotex Lite Pour on Plastic Finish

Three contrasting colours of Acrylic or Oil based paint, plus a base colour. Some colour combinations to consider are: Measuring/Mixing container and stir paddle. 3” wide disposable brush.
Green Marble, use Green as base, White, Black and Gray as vein colours.
White Marble, use off White as base, Gray, Black and Brown as vein colours.
Brown Marble, use med. Brown as base, dark Brown, Black and White for vein colours.
Rose Marble, use Dusty Rose as base, Off White, Pink and Gray as vein colours.

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Paint surface area with base colour and allow to dry.
Step 2: Mix Envirotex Lite according to package instructions, then blend in your base paint colour. Add just enough paint to turn the mixture opaque. Note: To much paint can result in a soft finish. Pour over entire surface area.
Step 3: Mix another small mixture of Envirotex Lite, approximately 1/4 of what was used prior as a base coat. Once mixed, split contents equally between three containers. Add vein colours and mix well.
Step 4: Pour coloured mixtures in diagonal lines randomly placed across your work area
Step 5: Using a 3” brush, very lightly comb the surface directly over these lines.
Step 6: Move your brush around in wavy patterns. This procedure will mix the three colours together. Note: To much combing may result in Muddy colours.

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Creating your own Personal Collector Plates is simple, easy and fun using photos, postcards or calendar pictures. Use Envirotex Lite® pour-on polymer coating to protect your plates with a glass like finish for years to come! Display these personalized collector plates in any room or give as gifts to friends and family!

Click here for larger image of picture.

Materials Needed:
4 or 8 oz. Kit of Envirotex Lite ®
Photos. postcards or calendar pictures
Avery® Permanent Glue Stick or White craft glue
7" or 9" White Porcelain Plate with wide rim for decorating
Scissors
Fiskars® Circle Cutter or circle template

Optional Materials:
Buttons, charms, jewelry trims, trinkets, seashells, lace, beads, faux pearls, silk flowers or ribbon roses.
Permanent coloured markers.
Paint pens, rub-ons, stencils.
Rubber Stamps, embossing supplies.

Directions:
1. Select a photo, postcard or calendar picture. Consider using a colour copier or colour printer to print copies in place of originals. colour copiers and printers allow you to adjust picture size to fit recessed area of plate. Note: formula below for adjusting picture size to fit recessed area.

2. Cut your photo to fit the recessed area of the plate. Glue photo to plate; make sure there are no air bubbles under the photo and that all edges are secure so the Envirotex Lite®, when applied, will not seep underneath. Prints, colour copies, newspaper clippings and calendar pictures require a seal coat of white glue prior to coating with Envirotex Lite®, original photos or pictures on photo paper do not. Allow glue to dry overnight.

3. Apply Envirotex Lite® per the package instructions. Coverage tip: Use 2 to 3 oz. of mixed Envirotex Lite® per plate.

4. Embellish the plate rim with buttons, charms, pearls, ribbon roses, jewelry or trinkets to reinforce the theme of the photo or compliment the décor of your home. Glue the pieces in place.

5. Personalize the plate rim with permanent markers, acrylic paints or paint pens. Use rubber stamps, your favorite stencil design or free hand doodles or swirls. Write special phrases like "Needles and Pins" or "50th Anniversary."

Note: To calculate the percent your photo must be enlarged or reduced by to fit the plate, divide the size of photo you desire by the size the photo actually is. (Desired size ÷ actual size)
\Example: Your photo is 10" high, you want it to be a 4.25" (4.25 ÷ 10=.425), so reduce it by 4.25%.