Dewdrops and Playtime.

We were about to go out on Monday morning when I noticed the tiny droplets of dew all round each of these Alchemilla Mollis leaves. I just had to nip back inside for the camera as I knew they'd have evaporated by the time we got home again. Aren't they beautiful?

It looks as if someone has sewn minute crystal beads round each leaf.
.

Today I have been playing with Friendly Plastic and to begin with I recycled some offcuts and failures, and produced these first two pieces. Some of the colour shows from the original pieces and when I have decided what to make with them, I shall colour them with paint or foil.

I softened the pieces in hot water and rolled them together between two sheets of kitchen foil to flatten them out. I then resoftened the rolled out piece with a heat gun and pressed a rubber stamp into it and left it to cool before removing the stamp. I quite like the irregular and slightly ancient look.

This piece was similarly made using a different stamp. I haven't explained the process in any length but if you like the sound of this technique and product, Liz Welch's blog 'Rarelizzie' has amazing samples of all manner of things that can be made with Friendly Plastic as well as hints and tips on using it. She has written books about it and sells the product itself and other related items on her online shop. On her blog you will see that the most beautiful beads, items of jewellery, carnival masks and book covers are just some of the things you can make with it.

I joined two strips together to make this piece. It is actually black and I may paint it or just highlight the design with a gold rub-on cream.

This join is less noticeable and it is so easy to do. You simply dip one long side of each strip into hot water for a few seconds and then hold them together for a few more seconds. That's all it takes. I reheated the piece with the heatgun before pressing a rubber stamp into it, to get the design.

This was made using a piece of gold Friendly Plastic about 3" long, heating it and pressing an incense stick holder onto it. It has a medieval design running halfway along it's length which is mirrored for the other half.

These show up a little clearer.

Again I had to join two strips together and have used a dark green colour for this. I think that perhaps the design for this stamp is not really deeply cut enough for a sharp result but it has that antique look which I like and might end up on a book cover or box eventually.

I think I overheated the plastic for this attempt but actually like the distressed appearance it has. It saves me having to do anything else to it, to make it look centuries old! This is a very elementary technique but some of the more advanced ones give stunning results.

.

I must go and tidy up the mess I have made, and left, in the kitchen!