Shoshiplatypus

Today I completed the two cards based on inked glossy photo paper. To see Part 1, please click here.

It took me a lot longer than anticipated, because it was very difficult to get anything to stick to the slick surface of the glossy photo paper – even the back is plasticised and resists adhesives. I left a comment under the YouTube video and got a very prompt reply, that she used Nuvo Deluxe adhesive. I do not have any of this, but I do have gel mediums (which she also suggested). However, in the meantime, I wondered if perhaps Pinflair gel glue might work – this is super-sticky, dimensional, dries crystal clear, and retains its size and shape when dried to a flexible rubbery-substance. I always use this between the wings of butterflies to keep them from getting flattened. I gave it a try with the large butterfly sets, and clamped the butterflies in place while it was drying. Owing to the hot weather, it was dry within a few hours and everything seems stuck fast. I then moved onto the small butterfly sets, and tucked and glued the sentiment strips underneath the butterflies in each case. To finish them off, I added some gold stickles to the bodies of the butterflies.

Before aseembling the cards, I added a length of wired gold metallic organza ribbon from my stash with a couple of twists in the centre. Again, I found it difficult to find anything that would stick the ribbon to the card, and again the Pinflair glue came to the rescue.

They will be dry in the morning and hopefully stuck for good! Time for everything to dry overnight in readiness for the posting of the birthday card in the morning. I’m going to have to dig around in the studio and try and find a suitable box to put it in becauseI do not want it to be damaged in the post. The other card will be hand-delivered.

The thank-you card.

(The colour is a bit dark in this photo – the lighting in the second photo is more accurate.)

The birhday card.

This is definitely a technique I shall be using again. This first time around, I have learnt the various pitfalls, especially fnding the right glue for the job.