Have you ever gotten your hands on Helmar "Acrylic Sealer"? I hadn't either, 'till now.
Pictured here is "Antique Acrylic sealer", but the plain Acrylic sealer works just the same, and if you like the antique-ey feel Tracy tells me you can just add a few drops of walnut ink to create that slight aged look the antique sealer gives.
This varnish type product is slightly yellowy in colour (but it really doesnt show 'yellow' when painted on), it is quite runny, and really sticky, so be prepared to be peeling it off you fingers for a while after if you are the messy crafter (like me) It says, solvent free, non toxic and safe to use on the front of the tub, which is all good to hear!!!!
I really didnt know how this stuff would behave on my project. I knew how I wanted it to behave, in my head, but thats never assured, so I just jumped right in.
I knew it was sticky and dried well just from undoing the lid and then trying to get it off again, so I was hopeful it would act like a varnish and dry without the tackiness some other scrapbooking 'sealants' do.
I tore up little tiny pieces of core'dination cardstock, which gave a really cool effect because of the coloured core, and using a paintbrush I started 'gluing' these little pieces down and painting over the top of them with the sealant. So far so good. (I was doodling ideas on the front cover which the cardstock covers nicely!)
I kept going until the cover was covered.
Then I 'liberally' painted on the sealer in 3 or so layers letting semi dry between 'heavy' coats building up the layers. You can get it quite thick and deep, and it only takes a few hours to dry, total – to be handle-able. Overnight to be totally hardened.
I LOVE this stuff…….
Here is my finished cover
I made the little album out of Core'dinations cardstock and bound it with machine stitching, fabric and bookbinding glue (but thats a whole other tutorial!) But honestly I am thrilled with this new product I have found. It is going to be very well used as I find more uses for it.
Here is what I am using my little 'Home truths' album for…….
So I hope you will give it a try.
HELMAR Acrylic Sealer read more about it HERE
For more Helmar products see HERE
So that's all from me today. Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!
Lydell Quin,
