Monday 19 July 2010

USAQ DT project #3 playing with Mica Tiles

 The Design Team at USArtQuest post fortnightly with a new kit that Mrs USArtQuest sends us (aka Susan Pickering-Rothamel).  I'm not sure where the last two weeks went, but it's time to post a new project, and this time we had Mica tiles to play with.

I have wanted to play with these forever, but never seemed to get round to it so I was very excited when I received them through the post :)   I peeled them apart, had a bit of a play with my cuttlebug, embossing and cutting the tiles; I added gold leafing and Stazon ink, but it wasn't really 'happening' for me.  All I could think was "I could do this with acetate or a piece of card, what's so special about mica tiles?"


Sometimes it helps to talk to a friend when you get stuck, and Wendy kindly reminded me that they are heat resistant, so it's great to trap embossing powder between the tiles.

 

Well!  I happen to LoVe the translucency of old paper when layered using clear embossing powder.


Can you see how you can see the text from both sides of this page from an old hymn book?

And you can 'distress' the tile with the edge of your fingernail, or by ripping bits off round the edge (but be sure to keep these tiny bits, they add sparkle to any project!)


I've had to drag myself away from the craft table to come and post this, I'll certainly be back playing with my mica tiles, and finishing some projects.  

If you're in the UK, your local stamping shop can get mica tiles for you as Woodware is a UK stockist for USArtQuest.  Glenda at Graphicus has them in stock here.


Now for the 'how to':

Trim your mica tile to size and shape.

Using your fingernail, split the mica apart (it's made up of compressed layers of rock!).  Use two pieces for this project.

Lay your tile over a piece of text and tear to fit.
Attach the paper to the tile with PPA Gloss, or clear embossing powder.

Add more torn paper, and gold leafing flakes to your collage.
Note how opaque the pieces are here as I've used PPA Gloss to attach the papers.

Cover the whole piece with clear embossing powder and lay a matching (shape, not collaged)
piece of mica tile on top.  Just look at that shine!  And can you see how the text paper
is now translucent?

I'm going to mount up this little house and give it away to someone.  I think I'll steal Suzi Blu's idea and include a piece of  Mica tile for you to play with too!  Leave an 'arty pondering'  by midnight GMT Sunday 25th July to be in with a chance. I'll use a random generator to pick a name on Monday 26th July.

Don't forget to head on over to the rest of the DT members' blogs, and the USAQ blog to see what other yumminess has been produced with these mica tiles :)  Suzi's got a giveaway too!


EDIT:  I've just discovered that The StampMan's new challenge blog has the theme 'Anything Goes' this fortnight, as Vix wants to see what we can all do!  So I'm heading over to enter this, and I KNoW Jill can get these mica tiles for you if you want any :)

23 comments:

  1. Sarah,
    LOVE your art!! Wasn't the mica fun to work with??

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  2. This is just gorgeous. I bought some of this product years ago when I first got into stamping and don't think I have ever used it. I will try and find it to have a go. That could be easier said than done, lol! I love the trick with the page from the hymn book too - when I left school I "borrowed" my hymn book but don't think I could bear to rip it up.....

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  3. Your Tile bits are SO nicely done! I really like the 'words' one and the pretty blue flowers on the house.I know once you really begin playing you'll be finding LOTs more things to do. Please post them, because I love your work!

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  4. This is a lovely creation, and sets off your mica tile piece so well... less is so often more. Thanks for playing with the Stampman theme this time...
    Frankie
    xx


    On a personal level, I have just started experimenting with these and LOVE the effects when the layers are thinner or thicker... some will appear on my TIO blog on this week's new challenge!!
    xx

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  5. I love Mica Sarah but especially love what you have done with it. Love the translucency of the paper. The collage piece works beautifully and I would love a chance to win LOL. Tracy Evans x

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  6. Absolutely stunning, Sarah - love it. I love playing with Mica but haven't done it for a while - I can feel a playtime coming on, lol! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  7. Never tried using mica but it looks like fun. Love your little house.

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  8. stunning Sarah, hmmm where are my mica tiles, have a great week. Sandi

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  9. These are really great projects, I have some of those, and was looking for some ideas, just yesterday, as a matter of fact! Perfect timing!

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  10. Love the Mica Tiles, great pieces of art!

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  11. Oh, this is absolutely gorgeous!!! Love it!!! Please, pretty please, enter me in ;-))))

    Ps. thank you for the lovely comment :) xxxx

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  12. OMGoodness...I LOVE what you did for this project! I love the colors, I love the elements...you REALLY nailed this one down, my friend ; ) xxxxxxx

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  13. Wow.. love this! It's a technique I've never tried.. but I may just have to give it a go.

    Thank you so much for playing along at the Stamp Man challenge. Hope to see you again soon

    Jo xx

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  14. Love this technique - tried it years ago but had forgotton all about it! Have still got some mica though! Love your work

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  15. THIS TOOK MY BREATH AWAY! I loooooooooooooove it! I love that you used an old hymnal!! Super idea;) LOOOOVE everything about this! You are CRAFTY CRAFTY Talented:)

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  16. THIS TOOK MY BREATH AWAY! I loooooooooooooove it! I love that you used an old hymnal!! Super idea;) LOOOOVE everything about this! You are CRAFTY CRAFTY Talented:)

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  17. What a fascinating product....must get some and have a play. I like your creations here, Sarah!

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  18. Know I haven't been in a while as things have been mad, but so glad I stopped by to see this - I have some mica in my cupboard and wondered what else to do with it - now I am itching to go and get started!

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  19. Love this! Great pictures of the process and love the effect.

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  20. I actually have a package of these mica tiles and I have never opened it. What a great tutorial and an inspiration to try them. Awesome.

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  21. Hi,I have gone through your blog..and found some awesome work done by you...thanks for sharing the information..keep up the good work.!

    cheer up!
    designer tiles

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  22. I'd been googling around looking for ideas on what on earth to do with the mica tiles I've been given and yours was the first project which made me think 'Yes! That's something I would actually want to make!'.

    Thanks!

    Julie :-)

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  23. Hi ya, love your blog and this project looks awesome I have sent you an email as I am not sure of the process before adding the top piece of mica... Hope that's ok! hugs Samantha

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