Donita Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 This is for people who are following my learning experience. I spent some money yesterday on new photocopy paper and other stuff....I really want to get this right. Last night, just for technique, I did this...Now I will work on design. This is to show that I put an orchid into the wax next to a picture that I painted and then photocopied. It came out perfectly....looks like glass....it took me about 2 minutes to make it...I didn't level the top as I am going to melt this down....it is just to show any of you that are having problems with embedding that is does work and it works perfectly. As some of you know, I was going to give up last week. I already have a friend who is going to be my sales rep for personal embedded candles. She see the potential here. Now I need to get photoshop....we only have photo impact on our pc......any thoughts? I want to be able to work with photos, pictures or scanned things that people will give me. Also....I don't like having a white edge on the bottom of my picture. I have been giving it about a third inch border so it rests on the bottom of the mold to be level.....I can't figure out how to make them straight without doing that. Well last night when I was supposed to be sleeping ....I thought that putting a clear piece of photocopy decal paper on the bottom, (tape it on) that that might solve my problem.....any thoughts? Cut a half inch piece and attach it on the back side so that the paper will be right up against the mold wall..... Also....to anyone embedding flowers...this is what I did. I dipped the orchid a little at a time into wax and then waved it in the air until almost dry and then layed it flat.....it was then easy to embed. Donita Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mtngrl Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 Mmmmmmmmm.Maybe your copy paper is too white. lol. I can see why this is a problem, but I would also like to say that I like the whiteness of the paper ... if only the whole thing were that white.I don't know if this is a good idea or not ... what if you were to use a piece of paper that was the same circumference as your mold (or maybe just a tad longer to have some overlap for insurance) & as tall as the 'cane you intend on making? Then paste your flower designs on it, THEN embed?On another thread someone was saying that the interior of their 'cane shell was all bumpy. Yours seem very smooth & I was wondering what your technique is for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheila sullivan Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 That looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rsvlbrat Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 Great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glowlite Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 That is beautiful. You have really got that tecnique down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulette Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 that is beautiful. Now I have had the same problem with the white strip at the bottom also. clear might work. Try it and let us all see. I enjoy your candles so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinInOR Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 If the clear works that opens up a lot of different possibilities - using transparancy paper maybe to print on, if you don't want the white background. I wonder how that would hold up, or if it would be too thick.If you like fussing with computers, you might try to download the Gimp and play around with that. You have to install 2 things on Windows http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/ , and it sometimes works a bit wonky, but it has most of the features of Photoshop except the price I like the contrast of the white paper with the orchid and the black character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueg Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 If the clear works that opens up a lot of different possibilities - using transparancy paper maybe to print on, if you don't want the white background. I wonder how that would hold up, or if it would be too thick.Oooh Robin -- that's an interesting idea to print on transparencies. I'll have to try that. I too wonder if it would be too thick.As far as putting a clear piece on the bottom and taping it -- it doesn't work -- I tried taping something onto the main piece and you could see the tape.- Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alohagirl Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 I love that idea of putting a black character in a hurricane--so fung shui.Was your orchid fresh or dried? My attempts to embed fresh flowers didn't work. After a couple of weeks they rot and discolor the wax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geekrunner Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 I remain in awe of your abilities! You learn fast grasshopper Mtngrl I may try your idea of the full circumference paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macyboutique Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 That is beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenniejr Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 I really like the contrast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharyl55 Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 There was a post on the old board about using legal paper for a full circumference photo embed. But that wouldn't allow Donita to embed her gorgeous flowers. Lin had several pictures in the old gallery where her pictures were about an inch above the bottom of the cane. Maybe she'll chime in and tell us how she did it. I'm not coordinated emough to get the picture level unless the paper goes all the way to the bottom. I really love your orchid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celicagtca Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 Never attempted these before and have no idea on the paper, but just by chance what about the clear label sheets or even an onion skin type paper. They both seem pretty transparent and might be worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donita Posted August 11, 2005 Author Share Posted August 11, 2005 I finally realized that I have to put the photo on the bottom of the mold for it to work for me....I tried to attach a little piece of clear stuff at the bottom, but it messed up the whole thing and you could see it....then poured a half inch of wax and let it set up and then placed the photo on top of that....nope...didn't work either...still came out lopsided......so now I am just going to go for a larger border and let it rest on the bottom of the mold...they always come out fine that way......this will be an ongoing experiment and I am sure that I will learn new things along the way.....I have some great ideas.....just need to get my computer to work....having lots of problems.....when it is fixed, I will post the pictures...hopefully LOL...Donita Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SatinDucky Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 I love watching you experiment and we learn so much from it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donita Posted August 11, 2005 Author Share Posted August 11, 2005 Thanks Ducky....wish we lived closer. I have a private craft store here. My friends and my daughter's love to come over and have a "craft" day. We of course do candles, but we do jewelry, painting, soapmaking, and papermaking. I took a class from a master paper maker that studied at Berkely.....she was a fantastic artist. I went to her house and she showed me how to pound the fibers and make paper. I played with the recycled stuff too.....I had a table saw in my living room for awhile when I was making my own frames for pulling paper.....This is on my mind because I just was upstairs sorting thorugh stuff for the backgrounds on me new line of "Good Fortune" candles that I am trying to do......we bought two programs for the computer yesterday......and took one back....now the new photo impact 10 might just do the trick....I keep melting my wax and getting ready to pour the Chinese symbol candles....I am doing 7 colors ....they should look really cool....I want to get them made and show everyone and put them on my website and put them in my store......times is a wasting and I need those pictures so Ed is trying but keeps running into problems......wish me luck! Oh Ed just came into the studio and asked me what color I want "Peace" on....it will go on a piece of my handmade paper, of course....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnitaG Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 I love it. I might one day have to try this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozzie Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 Donita, you are a legend - love being carried along with your whole learning experience - you're a wonderful teacher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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