StainedGlassTransparency

SUPPLIES NEEDED:
*2 small brushes (maybe 3/0 and 000 rounds)
*1 sheet ink jet transparency film (or heat resistant film)
*black pigment ink pad ot BLACK Memories pad
*clear embossing powder
*heat gun
*1 piece of cheap white tissue paper (not art tissue, we're talking wrapping paper, (2" wider and onger than your stamp of choice)
*Water color markers (like LePlumes or Marvys or store brand) or watercolor pencils
*Stained glass style stamp
*1 sheet double stick adhesive, like Peel n Stick, or Miracle Tape
*2 small water cups
*small size stump, or cotton swap

INSTRUCTIONS
     Cut a piece a clear ink jet transparency that is about 2 inches wider and longer than the stamp you are going to use, and a piece of double sticky sheet and a piece of tissue paper the same size.
     Take the paper backing off one side of the double sticky sheet and apply it to one side of the transparency. Smooth it out, making sure there are no air bubbles.
     Put the tissue paper on a soft surface (mouse pad) and smooth it flat.
     Peel off the other paper backing on the Miracle Tape, and apply the piece of tissue paper, trying to make sure there are no lumps, bumps or wrinkles in the tissue.
     This is probably the hardest part of this whole project. I have never succeeded in getting no wrinkles in the tissue paper, but I think a little wrinkling makes it look more like stained glass. Or so I tell myself!
     Smooth the tissue down good to make sure it is adhered to the back of the transparency.
     Now, you should have a piece of ink jet transparency and then a layer of Miracle tape that is holding the tissue paper on the back of the transparency, and it should be smoothed flat.
     Turn it over so the transparency side is facing up. You are going to stamp your image on the front of the transparency.
     Alot of people have trouble stamping on transparencies or acetate, because the stamp can slide easily on it. Here are some things that might help.
     I stand up when I stamp on transparencies and I kind of aim where I want the image to be and then gently set it down on the transparency. While standing up I set both hands down on the stamp and put even pressure on it, straight from above it, so you aren't nudging it from the side. If it's a big image, I will pick my hands straight up from the stamp, and set them back down going in the other direction, and apply even pressure.
     By doing it this way, I don't usually have any problems, and I can even manage it with pigment ink so I can emboss the image.
     I know that alot of people get really frustrated with transparencies and trying to get an image that is clear and not smeared or blurry.
     I achieve my best results with a black Memories pad that is well inked (I mean not dry but not just freshly inked either). I can even emboss my images using a Memories pad.
     Some people stamp their images on a sheet of white printer paper and take the transparencies to the copy store to have the transparencies printed. That will work too.
     PIGMENT INK - Using black PIGMENT ink, stamp your impression on the transparency and emboss with clear EP.
     Black MEMORIES INK - Have your clear EP nearby and ready to pour, stamp your impression on the transparency and emboss with clear EP.
    COLORING ON THE TISSUE - WATER COLOR PENCILS FIRST - Use the side of the watercolor pencil, DON'T try to color with the pencil point, or it will tear the paper.
     Select one part of the image, like a flower. Lightly stroke the pencil in the section. You don't have to color the entire section in solid. Remember that stained glass is uneven in color, so don't try to make the entire section the same color.
     Now dip your brush in water. Take it out and squeeze the bristles between your thumb and index finger. Then dip just the tip of the brush in the water, and stroke the brush across the pencil and stroke the brush over the area you have colored with the pencil. Now use the brush to gently push the colors into the corners and edges of the section.
     IF YOU WANT TO ADD A LITTLE SHADING - Stroke the damp brush across the tip of another color watercolor pencil.
     If you get too much water on the brush and it puddles on the tissue paper image, you can pick up the excess water with a dry brush, a stump, or a cotton swab or twisted up kleenex.