Making Embellishments With UTEE

Lately I have started to experiment with some of mixed-media products found in the craft stores. I try to set aside some time every two weeks to search for new products. Ranger Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel or UTEE was one of my finds. I purchased the Ranger Melting Pot at Hobby Lobby but couldn't find the UTEE. Michaels carries both the melting pot and UTEE but it was out of stock. Since I really wanted to do a melt art project I decided to make a trip to Photo Scraps. Photo Scraps is located in Eldersburg, Maryland and the owner Tracy stocks a variety of scrap booking and mixed-media supplies. I walked in and turned the corner and found the UTEE, not just the clear embossing powder but other colors (platinum, black and white) as well.

Photo Scraps is an independent store that stocks rubber stamps, Ranger and Tim Holtz products, scrap book supplies including Graphic 45 papers, Memory Box and various mixed-media supplies. One of the things that I really like about Photo Scraps is that Tracy and her staff are happy to special order products- try getting one of the large craft stores to do that. Don't live within driving distance or have time to take a class? No problem, Tracy will ship the supplies to you. Many of the classes offered are available as kits. Check out Photo Scraps at 1213 Liberty Road, Eldersburg, MD 21784 (Phone: 410-549-5187) but go on a day when you have time to browse.

This project uses a variety of techniques: rubber stamping, distress inks, Cricut die cuts and UTEE.

I started by stamping Lapin Jardinier (available from Stamp Francisco) on white card stock with Archival Coffee Bean ink. Next I colored the image with Derwent Color Soft pencils. Using the Cricut Ornamental Iron cartridge cut the gate of your choice at 3 inches. Cut out the Lapin Jardinier image and run it through the Xyron Create a Sticker machine and remove the paper backing. Attach the Lapin to the gate. Heat UTEE in the Ranger Melting Pot on the UTEE setting until the powder is melted. Do not stir the powder while melting or it will cause air bubbles to form. Using teflon coated craft tweezers pick up the gate and dip in the melted UTEE. Continue to move the image around until the entire piece is coated. Be careful not to touch the image while it is hot to avoid being burned. Place the coated image on a non stick craft mat and let it cool completely. The UTEE will harden as it cools. Any imperfections in the piece can be corrected by remelting the UTEE at the site of the imperfection. To do this use a heat tool on the lowest setting until the UTEE melts.

Once the piece has cooled and hardened, cut a backing of light blue card stock and glue it behind the fence.

To make the background paper use Ranger Concord Grape, Evergreen Bough, Peacock and Vintage Photo distress inks. Apply each color randomly around the paper using the foam blending pad (one for each color) and the Ranger blending tool. Use the Tim Holtz distress tool to distress the edges of the card stock and apply Vintage Photo distress ink to the edges with the blending tool. Use foam dots to adhere the gate to to card stock.