Click here to go home

Yes, we do wholesale - just contact us to find out how...

back to home page

Home

Subscribe to our mailing list to be the first to find out about new colours being released, specials, upcoming events and so on...

Click here to join pipedreamink
Click to join pipedreamink

 

 

 

 

updated: 05/12/06

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are OPALS Embossing Enamels?

OPALS are a new generation of thick embossing enamels, made in rich opalescent colours. They range from deep blue and purple, to golden yellow and bronze toned terracotta; from strong pink and fern green to the more subtle shades of mauve, pastel green. OPALS come in 26 colours all reflecting the colours of Australia.Also new to the OPALS collection, are the OPALETTES, sets of five OPALS in five groupings - warms, earths, cools, limited edition and Tropicals - in small 9 gram jars. Great for drop-ins, the OPALETTES are the perfect 'taster' set.

OPALS can be used for all sorts of projects. They make wonderful tiles for cards, gorgeous seals, fabulous jewellery, and amazing 3D items like boxes and picture frames. They work on any surface, which will take heat, including card, timber, craft wood, stone, latex moulds and glass. OPALS are beautiful left smooth, and fantastic when a stamp is pressed in to give texture. Without doubt, OPALS are a great addition to any stamper's gear.

How do you use OPALS Embossing Enamels?

To use OPALS, you will need a heat gun, Versamark pad, perfect medium pad or any regular embossing pad and OPALS powder.

  • Ink up the surface you want to OPALISE well with a versamark pad, and then dip the piece into the powder or pour it over the surface, making sure that the cover is even.
  • Heat until all the granules melt evenly with the heat gun 2 - 5 cms away, then quickly redip the piece into the powder while still hot. If the surface has cooled down too much, you will only get a patchy covering. Just reheat and dip it into the opals powder again.
  • Repeat this process so that you have at least three layers. This should give a lovely thickly coloured tile.
  • Press an inked stamp into the molten OPALS gently. Leave the OPALS to cool for 10 seconds, and then gently remove the stamp from the OPALS.
  • If you do not like the image in the OPALS, or it does not come out clearly, just reheat the tile and press the stamp in again. Ideas for using OPALS Embossing Enamels
  • When making a tile or coated shape, always make sure that the cover of ink and powder is even. Don't let the powder to sit in clumps - tap off the excess before heating.
  • We suggest using Versamark pads as the ink - they are stickier and juicier than others. Always buy a reinker too, as the OPALS powder sticks best when the pad has been reinked recently.
  • Drop in other colours of OPALS into the third layer of your tile when it is still hot. The OPALS don't mix and muddy there colours and stand out clearly. This looks like a star studded sky and makes a great background.
  • Versamark a random shape onto glad bake, then OPAL with four or more coats will give an amazing unbaked piece that can be peeled off the glad bake without difficulty, and then attached to any piece with double-sided tape as an embellishment.
  • When cooled, highlighting your OPALED piece with Rub'n'buff or similar can add depth and richness.
  • Don't just use square or rectangle shapes for tiles; triangles and random shapes look fantastic too.
  • You cannot make a mistake with OPALS. If an image does not come out clearly, or you do not like a colour combination, reheat and add another layer of OPALS embossing enamel. You will never know what was beneath!!!
  • Above all else, have fun with your OPALS - we know you will love what you can do with them.

 

Frequently asked questions about OPALS

Q. Why does so much powder blow off when I use my OPALS?  

A. There are two main reasons for this happening. The first is that your versa mark pad (or embossing pad) is not inky enough. Always make sure that your pad is reinked regularly and it is a good idea to buy a reinker with a new pad. It will last you for years and years. The surface that you are putting the opals on should look shiny and wet when held up to your eye. If not - reink your pad. The second reason is holding your heat gun too far away from the surface that you are opaling. Think about it - if you hold your heat gun 15cm away from the surface, the ink below is likely to dry before the powder begins to melt. By holding your heat gun 5cm away, the powder has already melted before the ink has a chance to heat up. If all the powder is blown off when you are heating your second and third layer, the chance is the OPALS underneath have cooled too much. You need to keep the heat gun as close as possible to the surface to keep the opals warm for re-dipping into the powder. If it is hot enough, the powder will have begun to melt to the surface, again helping to keep it in place. There will always be some OPALS powder blown off when you are embossing, so keep an empty container nearby for all the scraps. They can be used as drop-ins for another project. You can put your project into a box to contain any excess blown off.

Q. Why am I getting a bumpy effect with the Franklin Clear Opals?

A. You need to hold the heat gun close so that all the powder melts evenly. You are likely to get a bumpy layer first, however by heating subsequent layers it will even out into a smooth, glassy surface. If you are opaling a large area, such as a clock, you need to work in sections. I would suggest putting on the first layer and melting all the powder. By the time you will have done this, most of the surface will have cooled down again. Go back and focus on a corner (one quarter) of the clock face and put your five layers on this until it is smooth. Then attack the other corners in the same manner. As the MDF heats up, it will retain heat, and therefore make it easier to keep the opals warm between layers. If you have some dimples in the end, heat up the area and sprinkle on the Franklin until it is an even surface.

Q. Are OPALS safe to use in my scrapbooks?

A. OPALS are acid free and perfectly safe to use in your scrapbooks, as are all embossing powders.

Q. Are OPALS Australian made?

A. OPALS are manufactured in Tasmania and are very much Australian Made - hence the names of the different colours. Each colour is named after a part of Australia whether it be a place, flora or fauna, and on the side of the jars is an explaination of where the name comes from.

 

If you have any other questions about using OPALS, or you would like some ideas on how to use them in different ways, please do not hesitate to contact Niamh or Sue at info@pipedreamink.com or com and visit our website www.pipedreamink.com And remember - if you have had your work published using and crediting OPALS embossing enamel, contact us at Pipe Dreamink and we will send you a large jar of OPALS for free!!!