clearly better

I’m retiring from Envirotex. Tired of the stuff. My last two cigar boxes were my best in every way except that the resin set up with a haze, leaving me thoroughly disgusted.  I’m sure it’s mostly user error, but still. And then there’s the toxic fumes issue.
Anyway, the real reason I began to use Envirotex [...]

decoupage the house (5): Envirotex and the scrabble tile

I swore I would not succumb, yet I did:

The scrabble tile pendant must be this season’s greatest craft sweep. And I can see why. They’re pretty, they’re fun, they’re easy to customize.
Envirotex makes a great finish for a scrabble tile pendant. If you’ve already done the cigar box, no sweat. It’s easier. You’d have [...]

done is better than perfect

Hurrah, I took my own advice and gave myself enough time, and these are done with a week to spare. Most unusual for me. I forced myself to agree to no torch time until they were ready to go, very painful indeed.

They’re all just as high-gloss as the last one. And Envirotex is so forgiving. [...]

decoupage the house (4): EnviroTex Lite and the cigar box

Cigar boxes, how I do love thee.
Seriously. Just plain old empty wood cigar boxes. The woods, the labels, the fragrance, the sheer nifty goodness of packaging–the fact that there’s something left over after the contents are gone that’s worth having in itself. I could build a shrine to them. Of them. I certainly have enough [...]

decoupage the house (3) : EnviroTex Lite

I love Envirotex as a decoupage medium. It’s a two-part resin, self-leveling, which makes for a beautiful finish but also means it’s going to flow. A tray is ideal for a first Envirotex project, allowing you to get some experience with the pouring and setting up before you have to worry about drips and edges.
Paint [...]

trouble at home

I’m making trouble at home. Not actually having trouble. All the difference.
I’m always making something. That reminds me, the Maker Faire [“the most fun a hacker can have with his pants on!!!”] is coming to Austin next weekend, and I am going to be there, even though it will be dripping with geeks, even though [...]

decoupage the house (2)

It occurs to me that I never formally announced the decoupage the house series. But it seems self-explanatory enough. Second only to my formidable sewing stash is my collection of papers, varnish, and wood destined for decoupage. I’ve got cigar boxes, shelves from garage sales and thrift stores, and two major pieces of furniture to [...]

decoupage the house (1)

Enough is enough. I work at home. My husband works at home. We are not thrilled to answer the door and find an earnest young asshole trying to sell us magazines. There’s been an epidemic of these guys lately. They will tell you they are from some generic-sounding educational institute, they will introduce themselves and [...]