Suze Weinberg's Ultra Thick Embossing Enamels

UTEE' is fun, it's easy and fail proof.  If you don't like the results, just reheat to rework the finish. Here's all you have to do:

1. Apply UTEE to Suze's Stamping Squares or Shapes using an embossing or pigment ink pad. Emboss with our heat tool. Because of the larger particle size, UTEE will take longer to melt than embossing powder.

2. Apply additional powder in the color(s) of your choice while embossing surface is hot. For best results, sprinkle Suze's Ultra Effects and Mini Mosaics into the last layer while powder is still warm.

3. Lightly reheat surface; press any rubber stamp into the warm powder. Remove stamp when surface cools.

Be careful!  UTEE gets extremely hot as you build layers. Do not touch until cool.  Ultra Thick comes in 6 colors - Clear, Gold, Bronze, Platinum, Black and Interference Blue.  For a fabulous effect, mix and match all 6 colors.  One of our favorites is a sprinkling of Interference Blue over Black or Platinum.  Clear mixed with Gold gives gilded effect over any color ink.  A little Gold and Bronze over Black produces a jungle look.  Depending on the ratio of powders to one another you can create unlimited effects.  If you only have Clear, get Suze's Boxed Bunch which is a sampling of her other colors.  Once you try them we know you'll want every color in large jars.

Here are some of Suze's techniques for using UTEE:

Linoleum Tile with a Metal Finish -
One coat of UTEE produces a bumpy Linoleum Tile, Raindrops on Roses effect. Using a pigment, embossing or heat set ink pad, swipe pad over card or Stamp Shape laying down a thin, solid layer of ink. Pour on UTEE, heat with our heat tool. Don't overheat! If you do, the finish will be too smooth; you want a bumpy look. Brush Pearl Ex™ or Rub and Buff™ over the bumpy finish and buff with a rag. Spray seal if desired. Vary by stamping an image, masking it and producing this bumpy effect as a background around the image.

Cracked Glass -Two coats of UTEE will create a smoother finish. Add a second coat of UTEE while the first layer is still warm, repeat. If you are using a card and not a Stamping Square or Stamping Shape you will need to attach it to another card for stability using glue or Wonder tape. Now bend the card in different directions to crack the surface of the UTEE. Over cracking will cause some of the embossing to pop off. If this happens, just reheat. Swipe dye ink from pad to reinker across the surface. Wipe surface clean. Excess ink will seep into the cracks giving an aged look. Pearl Ex™ can be added to the surface for additional luster.

Totally Impressed -
Using a Stamping Square or Shape, apply 3 - 4 layers of UTEE. On the last layer, while it is still warm, press a stamp onto the warm surface. You don't have to ink the stamp, the rubber will not be harmed. Let the surface cool and remove the stamp.

Tip: medium to bold line design images work best. Reheat and try another image if you are not "totally impressed" with your results - it's probably the stamp you've chosen. Add hanging charms by punching a small 1/8" hole through the Square or Shape before or after embossing. Add Rub and Buff™ or Pearl Ex™ and buff to a high shine. Finish edges by wrapping with 1/8" Wonder Tape and adding Glass Wonder Beads, Mini Mosaics or Ultra Effects. Add a pin back or a magnet, string together to make a bracelet or necklace, create a Mini-Book or a Totally Impressed Box as seen on Suze's Ultimate Enamels Video.

Mosaic Tile -
Swipe a piece of resistant (laser or photocopy) transparency with embossing, pigment or heat set ink. Add UTEE and heat, repeat 3 - 4 times. For added interest, sprinkle in glass beads, Ultra Effects, Mini Mosaics and a variety of UTEE colors in the last layers. When totally cooled, bend the transparency to crack off pieces of UTEE. These pieces can be added to another surface and collaged together into a mosaic using Wonder Tape™ , Liquid Pearls™ or Stickles™. For best results, lay down pieces of Wonder Tape and fill in between the pieces (mortor) with our Liquid Pearls dimensional paint or Stickles dimensional glittery glue.

Shrink Plastic -
Cut a piece of shrink plastic into an abstract shape approximately 5" x 7". Swipe with a heat set ink. Apply UTEE in any color(s). Shrink in a toaster oven or with your Heatit craft tool. While the powder is still hot, stamp an image into it or sprinkle in some Ultra Effects or Mini Mosaics.

Hot Foiling -
After applying and heating several layers of UTEE press laser transfer foil (used by stampers and founs in rolls or sheets) shiny side up into a portion of the warm UTEE. Lift off when cool. Vary by applying a thin layer of clear embossing ink over the entire surface and adding another layer of Clear UTEE. The foil will look like it is encased in the UTEE.

Additionally,
we've had a great time stamping, stenciling and painting on wood , then applying Clear UTEE over our works of art. Wood shapes can be embellished with any color UTEE. Try embossing and stenciling with UTEE on paper maché, photo album covers, wood and art metal. The edges of paper embossed with UTEE may curl if the paper is too thin for the number of layers of UTEE you have applied. Use this to your advantage and create 3-D effects. Add other regular embossing powders to UTEE; we love adding our line of Antiquities Powders. Add Stickles™ or glitter glue as a final embellishment. There is no right or wrong. Create and have fun!

So I went home and tried my hand at melting UTEE in Suze's hot pot and came out with some cool art pieces that could be used as jewelry, journal cover or art card embellishments.

UTEE colors that I experimented with were gold and clear.  Suze showed me how I could create my own unique accent colors by adding powdered pearls to clear UTEE.

To create this piece, I dipped a cardboard square into gold UTEE and stamped a dragonfly image into it, smooshing my stamp lightly, this caused the UTEE to extend off of the cardboard square giving me a more unique shape.  I drizzled more UTEE, that I had previously colored with powdered pearls, around the edge of the pin.  I really liked the colored swirled looking effect this gave me.

Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel - UTEE
Contributed By: Linda Reed


I took a ½ sheet of cream cardstock & folded it in half. I stamped and masked the blocks and sponged in color for the background. Then I stamped the pine cones on top of the block stamp and colored them with dye ink pads (olive and bottle green and ginger). Then I coated the pine cone blocks with embossing ink and sprinkled with UTEE .

I then removed the masks from around the blocks and melted the UTEE with my heat gun, punched 2 holes in the top and threaded a gold ribbon through. I printed the word "peace" at the bottom using the Celtic alphabet from PSX

Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel - UTEE
Contributed By: Sandy Wisnewski

Materials:
Clear embossing ink
Metallic Pigment Ink
UTEE
Shelf Liner

Cut out desired shape from shelf liner. The results will
depend on the thickness of liner you use. Dab ink on
shelf liner and dip in UTEE colors. Heat the shelf liner
and when the UTEE begins to melt, press an inked stamp into the shape. Remove the stamp when it is cool. Attach shaped to card using double stick tape.

Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel - UTEE
Contributed By: Sandy Wisnewski


This technique can be used with various materials.

This pin was created using a mosaic approach. First apply double sided tape or or carpet tape to the cardboard. Onto this layer strips of paper (scraps) Coat this with clear embossing powder and heat to melt. Continue layering and heating with the UTEE for 2 more layers. In the last layer, sprinkle other colors of UTEE on top. While this is molten, add any other effects such as Beedz, and heat.  Use a tweezers to make a hole and add a charm on a jump ring.

Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel - UTEE
Raven Pin - Contributed By: Kathy LaRocco

Materials:
Stamps: Art Accents (Large Raven), Stampourri (small crow)
Papers: matte board
INKS: Pigment inks (Halloween type colors).

Colorbox blending tool, Embossing ink, and UTEE: clear, black, interference green.