Well, looks like I'm going to live. My family and I had the flu for almost two weeks! The doctor confirmed it was not of the oinking variety, but it was definitely one of the worst bouts of illness I've ever had. I think we all lost about 5 lbs. The worst was going out in public and trying to cough up a lung while paying for soup or something. I felt sorry for the clerks at Kroger! You know they didn't want to even touch my money!
As of today, I'm about caught up with the Oxford Impressions business I had to put on hold. Now I need to catch up on emails and web updates, so if I owe you a note or post, please bear with me.
Now, something arty. My artist friends and I are going to have a "metal" play date and I bought some toys with which to experiment. In addition to copper mesh, I ordered some liver of sulphur. I've always admired the colors one can achieve from oxidizing copper and thought I'd give it a go. I just read the package, however, and it seems like death in a jar! I'd appreciate any tips you can give me. I'm going to have to work up some courage before cracking it open!
Suzanne
Hey Suze- so glad to hear you're all okay! I don't know if I've ever worked with Liver of Sulphur. Just do it out in the garage or outside with plenty of ventilation and you should be fine. I think if you just heat copper up with a torch or lighter it turns it colors too... Marva
Posted by: Marva | May 05, 2009 at 07:43 PM
HI Suzanne,
Glad to see you back in the land of the living. lol
I have used LOS with the metal clay. It stinks but isn't as bad as some of the labels make it out to be. In fact, if you let it sit out 24 hours, it becomes inert and you can dump it down the sink. To get really neat effects on copper, you should try heating it with a creme brule torch, those little mini butane torches. Copper goes through the same colour changes with heat. Don't do it too long though, or it becomes silver and loses the wonderful blues, greens, magentas.
Hope this helps
Rosemary
Posted by: Rosemary | May 06, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Hi Suzanne, glad to hear your feeling better. I use liver of sulfer all the time. Trick is a little goes a long way. Depending on what kind you got. if its the small chunks use warm not hot water and drop a small chunk in about a cup of water.(I make mine in a cool whip container because I usually just do small pieces.) It desolves fairly quickly ,then just place the piece you want to oxidize in the mixture. it will change color really fast ,the longer you leave it in the darker it gets. when you have reached your desired color take it out. let it dry ,then you want to buff it with steel wool. it will have a slight sheen ,but really pretty. I usually rub a soft cloth or jewelry cloth over it to remove any dust. thats it. You will want to do this in a ventalated area, its really not that bad .kind of like rotten eggs.Hope this helps and have fun!!
Posted by: Lynn Stevens | May 09, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Hello , first tiome to post -- have bought your stamps at stamp store before --but was led to your site by Ms Louise of Kard Krazy -- as for the metal- was looking for liver of sulphur last week -guess I will have to order it -- I was posting a metal birdy that has rusted wings from a kit -
Love the info from the above poster -- Do love your stamps !! Kathy - ga
Posted by: kathy lowry | May 13, 2009 at 05:22 PM
Hi Suzanne - just wanted to let you know that I have passed on an award to you - no obligation to accept of course! Details are here -
http://debbibaker.blogspot.com/2009/05/catching-up-with-real-life.html
Posted by: Debbi Baker | May 16, 2009 at 05:08 AM