Thanks to YouTuber Dawn5377 for this terrific new technique. (It’s probably not new to everyone out there but it certainly was to me!) I tried it out yesterday and created some terrific background papers with lovely crystalisation effects. I used black, white, burgundy, pale blue, deep blue, deep green and brown cardstock. I found if you let the card dry naturally the crystalisation stays clear and glossy giving the look of frost crystals on a window. A lovely effect for Christmas Cards. On the black card I dried the paper with a heat gun and the crystals turned white giving a totally different look. Sound interesting? Here’s what you need: 1 cup Epsom Salts 1 cup hot-boiling water Bowl large enough to hold the mixture Foam applicator brush Coloured cardstock cut to size How to: Add the Epsom Salts to the boiling water in the bowl and stir until all the crystals have dissolved. Using the foam applicator brush simply paint the cardstock evenly with 1 coat of the mixture. Set the sheets aside to dry naturally. Things I learned: Make sure you get the paper thoroughly wet and use even strokes to cover the paper with no blank spots. Put the wet paper on paper towels to dry (it sticks to normal scrap paper). Glass chopping boards make terrific workmats for this process.If you make the glass mat a little bit wet, your cardstock will "stick" to it so you don't have to try holding it down with 1 hand while you paint with the other. (Also means no missed spots where your fingers were ;-) Leave the paper to dry naturally for a wet, glossy look or use a heat gun to dry it for a white crystal effect. Don't try pouring leftover solution from a wide mouthed bowl into a narrow mouthed jar unless you do it over the sink, otherwise you'll end up with a VERY wet desk, floor, self etc etc. (This one was learned from painful experience ;-). | Close up of the sheets, notice how the black one (dried with a heat gun) gives a terrific white frosty effect. |
If you’d like to see Dawn in action with this technique, check out her YouTube video.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpxqmtJCy5c&feature=g-all-u
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpxqmtJCy5c&feature=g-all-u