Rubber Stamps
Fun with Crystal Lacquer
By Lori Brofsky
Jul 11, 2005, 18:35

Crystal Lacquer is a versatile product that can be used in your scrapbooks as well as in your rubber stamp artwork. It is manufactured by Sakura and comes in a clear version as well as a variety of transparent colors and pearl and metallic variations. Crystal Lacquer is acid /lignin free and non-toxic. You can create customized colors by adding food coloring and reinkers to it, which will allow the Crystal Lacquer to retain it's transparent quality. Sakura suggests that you store Crystal Lacquer at room temperature and never shake the bottle. If tiny bubbles form when using the product, use a pin and be sure to clean the tip each time you place it in the Crystal Lacquer. Here are a few ways to use Crystal Lacquer on your next scrapbook layout or rubber stamped card:

Bottle Cap Embellishment

Monogram Embellishment - Punch a 1" circle from a piece of pattern paper or cardstock. Add a rub-on letter, sticker or stamped letter to the center. Flatten a bottle cap with your hammer and apply a thin layer of Crystal Lacquer to the inside of you cap. Place your paper circle on top and apply more Crystal lacquer until your paper is completely sealed.

Faux Epoxy Sticker

Faux Epoxy Sticker - Stamp an image on a piece of cardstock. Apply a generous layer of Crystal Lacquer to the image and be sure to extend beyond the actual image. Let dry thoroughly and cut out image. An image with a border or a defined edge works best for this.

Button Back Embellishment

Button Back Embellishment - hit your local fabric shop and look for covered button kits. You get one piece that is domed shaped piece and one piece that is rather flat. You will be using the flat piece similarly to a bottle cap embellishment. Punch a 3/8" cirlce (or larger depending on the button back you use) and apply a thin layer of Crystal Lacquer to the inside of the button back. Place your punched circle on top and apply a second generous layer of Crysal Lacquer. Place a bead on to the circle and apply pressure to the bead to ensure that the Crystal Lacquer seeps into the holes of the bead.

Gold Frame Embellishment

Gold Frame Embellishment - Stamp your image or word(s) on a piece of pattern paper or cardstock. Apply a generous layer of Crystal Lacquer on top of stamped image and be sure to extend beyond the actual image. Place your square frame on top of the image and apply more Crystal Lacquer if necessary. The Crystal Lacquer is acting as a glue for the frame so be sure to be generous. Let dry thoroughtly and trim away excess paper with an xacto knife. Try this with a photograph instead of a stamped image.

Knit Marker Embellishment

Knit Marker Embellishment: Same process as above. The marker used here is colored transparent plastic, but they are also available in white - which can be colored with a paint pen.

Do you have bath tub pages and need the right accent? Punch a variety of circles from vellum and add blue chalk to the side that will be glued down. Apply some Crystal Lacquer to the top of the circles to mimic bubbles. Add a few drops to silk or paper flowers to mimic dew drops. Rub-on are fun to use, but what if you apply them to an altered item - can they rub off? Squeeze a small drop of Crystal Lacquer to the item where the rub-on is and spread the lacquer gently with your finger. This will seal in the rub-on and add a shine as well. Want the look of embossing but you don't have the right stamp. Print your word(s) from your printer and use the ultra fine point that comes with the starter kit to draw on top of the printed words. Once dry, they will look like you embossed them with clear embossing powder.

If Crystal Lacquer is not available in your neck of the woods, here are some other products that are great substitutions:

*Aleene's Paper Glaze
*Plaid Funlites Suncatcher paint in Crystal Clear
*Delta Paint Jewels in Clear Crystal
*Plaid Dimensional Magic in Clear (this product was just discontinued, but might be available on clearance)

Crystal Lacquer starter kits retail for approximately US$6.50 so grab a bottle and have some fun with it. Think outside the box and please be sure to share your creations here at Pages of The Heart...