Friendly Plastic - £1.25 per strip

I have just reduced the price of the Friendly Plastic Strips to £1.25 each, and of course the free UK 2nd class postage for all orders over £35 still applies.  This price will certainly run for December, but I am not sure how long I can hold it after that.  Now is the time to take advantage of these prices.

Harrogate Show

Does anybody know of anybody who could help me at the Harrogate Show?  I have help for Thursday but I need somebody for Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th.  Please email me if you can help - theframeworkshop@btconnect.com.

I am still here!!!

Just a quick note to say I am still alive and kicking!!  It has been a pretty hectic time of the year with all the shows but the last one is next week - Harrogate 24th-27th (Hall C Stand C660).  After Harrogate I will load some more photos for you.

Upgraded Web Site

Our new upgraded website is now operational.  You will not see many differences until you come to order, so you do not have to find your way around a totally new design.  However when you order you will find it much quicker and easier.  For example if you are ordering Friendly Plastic you will remain on the list of Friendly Plastic colours and the shopping basket comes to you on that page.  This is much quicker than going to the shopping basket and then finding where you were!  I hope you will find it a big improvement.

I still have to do some work myself, such as adding the photos to the category headings.  Unfortunately some things did not transfer over to the new system.  The other thing which did not transfer are the links on the product description.  I am going to have to work through and change them manually so that they work.  Please bear with me on this as I will have to fit it inbetween exhibitions.

Another new feature is the ability to leave testimonials.  This is on the right hand side of the front page and I believe this is a good feature for anybody new coming to the site as they can check that we do post promptly and do our level best to give a good service.  If you are having a look at the web-site perhaps you could put a testimonial on for me - if you can a big thanks from me.  (There is also a product review facility but I don't think this is possible until you have ordered on the new site - still getting to grips with this).
http://www.theframeworkshop.co.uk/

Cuff Bracelet in Friendly Plastic

Whilst I was in Manchester Christel was working on another Jewellery piece.  This is a cuff bracelet she has made using 2 strips of African Violet.  She joined the 2 together and used a rubber stamp at random to achieve texture.  She wrapped it around a bottle (of the correct size) on the Teflon Sheet whilst it was still warm and did not remove it until it was totally cold.  Christel then used the Copper Multi-Surface Paint, allowing the paint to fill the indentations made by the rubber stamp, but then rubbing it off the surface before it dried so it did not remain on the unstamped African Violet.  I wonder if she will notice if I pinch it off her!

Customer's Pendant seen at Event City

I saw this pendant on a customer at Event City, Manchester.  I originally spotted it at a distance and thought it quite stunning and a perfect example that Friendly Plastic does not have to be complicated.  Whilst she did say she had been somewhat over enthusiastic with heating the bottom green colour we both felt the black showing through did actually add to the piece.

Event City Manchester

It was a little worrying that the exhibition was moving from G-Mex to Event City at Trafford Park, as it had been established at G-Mex for many years.  However what a good move it was.  Event City was a very spacious venue, with loads of seating room, and NO parking charges for exhibitors or public.  I met a lot of new people who were visiting an exhibition for the first time, as well as many existing customers.  Thanks to you all for supporting this new venue. 

One of my best friends at the exhibitions, Alison, did her first show with Zentangle.  Alison has been at the exhibitions  before and most recently has been seen helping me at Exeter, Dublin & Harrogate.  She is now introducing Zentangle to the UK at the exhibitions and can be seen at Exeter, Alexandra Palace, NEC, Glasgow & Harrogate.  As she has worked with Friendly Plastic when she has been helping me she has used Friendly Plastic as a base for Zentangle, as well as producing many other ideas.  Here are the images of a display she produced for my stand,  it could quite easily be framed as a piece of wall-art in its own right, or used for jewellery ideas.  If anybody needs any details of Alison and where to contact her I can pass on her details (she has a big range of books and the special pens).

                      

Special Bank Holiday Promotion

I have a special August Bank Holiday promotion running on the web-site until Monday 29th.  It will finish on Monday night (albeit in reality I will not be able to change it until I come in on Tuesday morning).  I've got Monday off next week!!  You will see discounts across many of the ranges, including Friendly Plastic and Greeting Cards, together with many of the mixed media items.

Now to let you know a little of what I think is good news.  Whilst I have had many appreciative comments about our web-site I am aware that now the ordering system is rather outdated and can be labourious.  I am now having the web-site updated and the whole ordering system will be much quicker and slicker.  They anticipate it will take them 2-3 weeks, but I will have to be careful not to clash with an exhibition when it goes live.  However it should be up and running by mid-late October.  I dare not leave the husband 'home alone' with a new web-site launch!!!

Hope everybody is well and enjoying Friendly Plastic.  My next exhibition is next week when it is Manchester - now at Event City, Trafford Park instead of G-Mex.  I will of course have the Friendly Plastic strips and pellets there, together with the new multi-surface paints and the Kunin felt.  Come and see me!

Kunin Felt

I have now loaded the Kunin Felt on the web-site.  There are 22 different plain colours together + glitter felt, embossed felt and an Alligator finish in Black.  Kunin Felt is the one that as well as being stitched into can also be burnt with a heat gun so that it forms holes, this makes it ideal for Mixed Media work.  I had this on the stand at Festival of Quilts the other week-end and it was extremely popular.

Crafts 4 All - Bristol - 8th-9th Sept

I have noticed that I am listed on the exhibitors list for the show at Bristol in a couple of weeks time.  Sorry, but I am not doing that particular exhibition.  My listing as an exhibitor has been a genuine error and the fact that I will not be there is no reflection on the Show.  I have had to leave that weekend free for other committments (I am currently working with our web-people on a web-site upgrade which will make the ordering process much quicker and easier).  Apologies to anybody who thought I would be there - the next closest I am will be Cardiff on 29th Sept - 1st Oct.

NEC Quilt

This beautiful book was created by Lisa Millward, a Textile Artist and she kindly brought it as a gift to me at the Quilt Exhibition.  It really is gorgeous, with loads of different techniques, and too nice to use!  Not only that she also brought me a cup of tea to the stand - it can't get better than that!

Lisa does undertake commissions so if you need something special I can always put you in contact with her.

Quilt Show at the NEC

A thank you to all my customers who visited me at The Festival of Quilts.  I met some lovely people - and an extra thanks to the many who travelled from abroad to visit the show.  What a fabulous show it is.  For those of you who were not able to visit the Show here are some photos of just a few of the things which took my eye + a photo of my stand of course!

Obviously my Stand on the left.  We did have some confusion with my Stand No, but by the 2nd day the people on my original stand were very good at sending people round to me.

The ammonite quilt on the right was about 4-5' tall.

Above obviously one of the winners on the left and on the right just a section of a quilt - I saw this just as I was ready for a cup of tea myself!

I love the quilt on the left for its colour mix, and well what can I say about the Sinatra Quilt.  How talented somebody is to create this in fabric - and this was actually 1 of a set of 3 (I have posted another photo on facebook of the other 2).

Well back to getting for the next exhibition - 1st-3rd September at Trafford Park (this is the replacement for G-Mex in Manchester so it will be a new venue for us all).

Friendly Plastic 101 Project Book

The goods news is that The Friendly Plastic 101 Project Book has arrived.  Whilst it has been reprinted with a new cover the book has the same projects as previously.  This book is brilliant for ideas and it is very easy to follow because it has so many photographs, including work in progress photos.  Even better news is that the price has been reduced from £14.50 and it is now £12.  I will have stocks with me at the Quilt Show next week.

                         Some of the ideas which
                         are illustrated in the book

Quilt Show at the NEC

Next week is the NEC Quilt Show (11th-14th August) which I am sure will be, as usual, a very busy show.  My stand no there is E15 (which is different to last year).  I will of course have the Friendly Plastic strips and pellets with me and I will be launching Kunin Felt (the one that burns) on my stand.  You will also be able to see some of the new displays for this new season.  (Not sure how many with the felt as the stocks don't arrive until today).  Hope to see you at the NEC.

Facebook Store

I am trialling a new store on Facebook which is now open.  At the moment I have a limited range in the Store - I am trying to determine the ins and outs of its workings before I add more items.  The postage on the Store is £2.50 no matter how much or how little you order so that makes it all quite simple.  Payment is by Paypal.  Would welcome any input anybody may have.

Moorcroft Cards

Now for something completely different to Friendly Plastic.  If you haven't seen the Moorcroft Cards which I sell on my website they are certainly worth a look.  The quality of the cards is superb and they are great for keeping as spare cards at home - they are blank inside so they cover all occasions.  There is also a range of Christmas cards - these do have a message inside.  I have just received the brand new release of cards which are now available.  This is the set of 8 cards which are available either individually or as a set of 8.

Set of 8 Moorcroft Cards 2011 release

More cubes in Friendly Plastic

2 more cube ideas with Friendly Plastic.  Both of these have been made with the Friendly Plastic Pellets.  On the one on the left we have used the Karantha Silicone mould and then coloured with the Multi-surface Paint.  The one on the right has been made to size using the metal cutters.  The texture comes from pushing in plastic canvas and leaving it in and the again using the Multi Surface Paints.  If you need to know how to make cubes go to the Video Label (bottom right), click on it and view the video titled Fusing & Layering Friendly Plastic.  These are some of the new items which will be on display at the exhibitions in the Autumn.
By the way I have now added 5 more colours of Multi-Surface Paints because I have had such a good reaction to them.   The new colours are: White, Russet Red, Emerald Green, Royal Purple and Mid Blue.

Friendly Plastic Pellets

The good news is that there is a price reduction on the Friendly Plastic Pellets - together with new sized packets - 50gms, 100 gms and 200 gms.  This is effective immediately.  Friendly Plastic Pellets are brilliant for moulding with (see the previous post with the bowl) and because you colour them yourself  you are not restricted to set colours, and can mix the colours as you want.

This piece is about 2" in size and the pellets were heated (you can do them easily in hot water).  They were then rolled flat between 2 Teflon sheets and rubberstamped.  When cold they were painted with Colourful Thoughts Multi-Surface Paints using Peacock and Copper.  These paints can also be used on scrap plastic and on the black backing of the strips.  They are quite dense in colour and have a very good coverage.

These pieces are coloured using Alcohol Inks.  You can add the ink to the warm plastic and mix it in and you almost get a matt stone effect.  If you colour the Pellets when they go cold (this is the more popular method) you get more of a gleam with the colour.

This piece is part of a card embellishment, actually done some time ago.  Again it is made of pellets, rubber stamped and coloured with the Alcohol Inks.   When it had been coloured it was then reheated and foil laid lightly on the top, allowed to cool, and then removed.  This just adds a bit of 'glitz' and is a nice technique for jewellery pieces.

Bowl made with Friendly Plastic Pellets

Whilst this bowl was made a couple of weeks ago we have only just had chance to colour it!  It is approx 6" in diameter and as a guideline used about 100 gms of Friendly Plastic Pellets - though we did make it quite thick and the pellets could be rolled thinner.

The pellets were melted in hot water and rolled flat on the Teflon (with a teflon sheet over the top).  We deliberately left the ones around the top of the bowl only partly heated to give a 'bobbled' effect.  The piece was pressed into a large cereal bowl and then rubber stamped to give the texture.  When it was cold it was then coloured with Multi Surface Paints in 2 colours - Peacock and Copper.

Hope you like it!!

Butterfly Mask

Last week I promised to let you know how we had created the mask which I put onto the blog.  So here is what we used.

Firstly we gathered together some of Friendly Plastic Scraps and heated them all on the Teflon Sheet and then rolled them flat.  Do not worry about the colours, or if  black is showing through as the paints will totally cover the Friendly Plastic.

We painted the mask with Colourful Thoughts Multi-Surface Paint (Copper).  The paint goes straight onto the mask - unlike when using the Alcohol Inks when the mask has to be primed first.

We then heated some of the scrap plastic onto the mask and used a rubber stamp to create the relief in the Friendly Plastic.

Lastly the mask was finished by painting over the Friendly Plastic with the paint using both Copper and Peacock.  The Butterflies were added (these had been made using the Butterfly Cutters (set of 3).

(I will be adding the paints to the web-site today/tomorrow).

Who would think this was from waste Friendly Plastic?

No3 Patchwork with Friendly Plastic

In this video you can learn how to make patchwork in Friendly Plastic.  This is a very good technique for making jewellery pieces.  The photos show examples from the video.

Butterfly Mask

This is a new mask which we have done for Doncaster this weekend - using some new products which are not yet on the web-site.  We have used some scrap Friendly Plastic (all those little tiny bits).  Full details will be revealed next week.

Charlotte & Friendly Plastic

On Saturday we had a visit at the shop from my Stepson with his daughter, Charlotte.  Quite often when she comes to the shop I am at an exhibition or my Friendly Plastic is boxed ready for a show.  So, she has never seen Friendly Plastic before.  She had a look on the computer at the videos we have just done as was obviously interested. 

            

I asked her if she wanted a go and there was no hesitation.   Having only seen the video she firstly used the marbling comb and we made that into a pendant.  She had her eyes on one of the abstracts and wanted to try that.  Here is her abstract (she then persuaded her Grandad to frame it!).  We all think it is brilliant for only a 2nd attempt (she did all the layout herself).  But, we do have a dispute on which way to hang it so I have shown it both ways up.  After that came a brooch and then another pendant!  Needless to say she went away with an early birthday present!

Summer Crafting - Doncaster

I am now on serious countdown for the Doncaster show at the end of this week (16th and 17th July).  Where does the time go?  It looks as if it will be a very busy show so I hope to see some of you there.  There is one more in video in the pipeline before Doncaster - I just have to edit it and load it.  Must try and get the music running better this time!

Friendly Plastic Images from No 2 Video

 Here are some of the images from the No 2 Video (Fusing and Layering Friendly Plastic)

                             

No 2 Fusing & Layering Friendly Plastic Video

After last week's failed attempt I think we have better success this time.  So here is our 2nd video.  As the title suggests it shows you how to fuse and join Friendly Plastic.  It also demonstrates how to make boxes in Friendly Plastic and to use them for unusual Christmas Decorations.  Also, we have music this time - albeit a little stilted - I will try to crack that for the 3rd video.

Video No 2 - Friendly Plastic

If you have seen video no 2 (joining and layering Friendly Plastic) and wondering where it has gone, I have had to delete it temporarily.  Only part of the video uploaded and the important bits were missing.  You must have thought I had gone mad!  Keep watching this space and it should reappear (properly I hope) by the end of this week.

Video - Using the Marbling Comb with Friendly Plastic

Success - here is the proper link to the new You Tube Video with Friendly Plastic.  Why my laptop at home would not do this on Saturday night goodness knows!!

Marbling Comb Video

We have just done our first video!!!  It is designed for beginners in Friendly Plastic and shows how to heat and use the Marbling Comb.  I hope it will also be useful for people who have seen my exhibition demonstration with Friendly Plastic and would like a refresher when they get home.  I hope to make more videos soon with other techniques.  Any comments would be very welcome to give me some feedback.
I am having a bit of trouble linking it to the blog from my home computer - I will give it a go from the shop on Monday.  Meanwhile you can view by following my Facebook link and the link from Facebook.  Or,  alternatively by logging in directly to YouTube - it can be found by searching moltendesigns1.

Sandown Park Video

As you can see I am experimenting with my blog.  Sorry you have this on twice but I have now discovered, as you can see, how to load the video so that you do not have to go to You Tube (discovered accidentally!!!).  My real aim is to get the videos on the right hand side so that they stay on the front page.  This is because I hope to do more videos soon.  Does anybody know how to load the video into the Gadget boxes???

Block Printing with Friendly Plastics

Video showing Block Printing into Friendly Plastic

Back in January I was filmed  at the Sandown Park show demonstrating how to use the Colouricious Wooden Blocks in Friendly Plastic.
Here is the You Tube Link http://youtu.be/BSAcy9N2kOI

Adding sparkle to Friendly Plastic

This lunchtime, after doing the regular post run, I was coming back through our Indoor Market and spotted the sparkly nail varnish used in Nail Art.  I thought of Friendly Plastic.  So I bought some and experimented.  First of all I covered the back of a ready made pendant - shown on the left.  It really is a nice easy way to make the backs of jewellery prettier. 

Of course it did not stop there, as things never do.  So I started looking at some of the simple jewellery pieces which we sell in our shop and experimented with the Nail Varnish on the front of the Friendly Plastic.  Again it has just added that little bit of glitz.

On the left Friendly Plastic
rubberstamped and the Glitter
Nail Varnish just added to the
stamped area.

On the right Friendly Plastic
pellets, rubber stamped &
highlighted with the nail varnish. The heavier copper metallic is done using foils (face down) onto the warm Friendly Plastic.  (The pellets were coloured with Alcohol Inks)

Lastly a brooch, just highlighted with the varnish.

Just one word of warning - do a test piece first - I have noticed in the past that some cheap clear nail varnishes have removed the metallic foil from the Friendly Plastic.  The better quality ones have been fine.  I did not have that problem with this glitter nail varnish and it only cost me £1.99.

Summer Crafting - Doncaster Racecourse - July

My next exhibition is in July (Sat & Sun 16th & 17th) at Doncaster Racecourse.  It is organised by Stephanie Weightman (ex of Create & Craft) and this is its 2nd year.  The full details of the Show are on the website http://www.summercrafting.co.uk/.  It will be a fabulous show with many of the Create & Craft regulars.  My Stand number is 50a under the name of Molten Designs.  Hope to see many of  you there.

Angelina Fibres

If you are using Angelina Fibres with your Friendly Plastic you might be interested in the packs I have just introduced to my web-site http://www.theframeworkshop.co.uk/.

There are 3 colours in each pack and they are £7 per pack. 




There are 4 different colour variations available:
2 Blue shades with silver
Gold, Bronze & Crystal Aurora
2 Green shades with Crystal Green
Purple, Amethyst & Calypso
(Approx  total of 15gms per pack)

Masks

The Masks have arrived!  I have just unpacked the box and loaded the stock onto the internet site.  So I now have in stock the following:
2-eye mask, Full Face Mask, Shaped Full Face Mask, the Long Nosed Masked the new Phantom Mask as shown on the left.  This Phantom mask is the only one in brown.  I have already said that the brown masks are nothing like as smooth as the white papier mache, so the technique of using the Alcohol Inks directly onto the primed mask would be nothing like as good as on the white surface.  You can of course though still use Friendly Plastic on the brown papier mache.  (I should also say that I have had to put a 'handling' fee onto the masks (either 50p or 80p) depending on the mask.  This is because for posting I have to pack them into a box.  If anybody needs to order multiple masks let me know.  For multiple despatches I only need to add one handling charge, but of course the computer sales system will not allow this and it will add 50p for each mask ordered.

One other point to mention is that there are now only 2 Cobra Friendly Plastic strips left in stock!

See my earlier blog (under the label Masks) for examples of some decorated masks, including some decorated with Alcohol Inks and Friendly Plastic combined.  This really is a very quick and economical way to create a mask.

Write 'n Rub Tonertex Pens and Scrapito

In order to consolidate my range I have decided to discontinue Scrapito (used for card-making with foils and peel-offs) and I have an overstock situation of the Tonertex Write 'n Rub Pens.  I have now reduced the stock by 25%.  They are now on the web-site reduced under their own category, and also show in the Special Offer category.  If anybody belongs to a club and needs a quantity of Write 'n Rub Pens e-mail me  as I can do special prices for quantities of 20 and more.  Tonertex Pens set of 3.

Friendly Plastic - COBRA & PEWTER

Remember that lovely Black & Silver Snakeskin effect Friendly Plastic?  Well although it is discontinued some has turned up - albeit only 20 strips!!!  (For however long they last!)   It looks as though it is still discontinued, however checks are being made with the manufacturer for a definite answer.  I will let you know as soon as I know.

I have also reintroduced Pewter back into my Friendly Plastic range.  At one time it became very difficult to tell the difference between Pewter and Silver Friendly Plastic.  I have had another look at it and you can now tell that the Pewter Friendly Plastic is darker than the Silver Friendly Plastic - so it is back in the range.

Blank Papier Mache Masks

Now for some good news, particularly if you are one of the people who have been asking me for the Long Nose Blank Mask.  I have managed to resource them and they are on their way to us now.  I have the full face mask, the shaped full face mask as shown below, and the long nose mask all coming in.  The 2 eye mask is already in stock.  All these are in the white papier mache.  When I blogged the finished masks recently I did not dare mention that I thought I had resourced the blanks in case it backfired on me.  I also have a new shape coming in which is a half face mask, like the Phantom of the Opera type.  This mask is in the brown papier machier rather than the white.  Friendly Plastic still works on the brown but I find that the white is a smoother finish (particularly for painting or colouring with Alcohol Inks).  I'll let you know when the box arrives!

Friendly Plastic Masks

Friendly Plastic can be used to make stunning masks, as you probably know.  I usually work on the white papier mache mask bases (when I can get them) which tend to be a nicer surface than the brown type.  I do have the 2 eye hole masks available on the web-site (£5.50 each).  There are many different ways of making the masks.  Below are photos of  full face masks and an eye mask - which have been totally covered in Friendly Plastic.  Some of you will seen the orange full face mask at the exhibitions.

You can see from these 2 masks some of the different items which can be easily incorporated.  From feathers and mirror mosaics on the full size masks to plastic coated wire swirls on the small mask.  On the mask below I have added beads by wiring them onto the lacey crown, and Friendly Plastic has been wrapped around the 'tails' hanging from the mask.  You can acutally heat the Friendly Plastic directly onto the mask, and it will fuse to the mask, and you can just continue building up the Friendly Plastic until it is completed.   You can of course reheat the mask at the end to add any embellishments, or to create patterning with a needle tool or rubber stamp.  The 'crown' pieces on the purple mask below were created away from the mask, I then dipped the edge in hot water to fix them to the mask.  Another alternative is to cover the mask with tin foil (a good quality one) - make sure it covers the mask well and is well pressed down.   When the mask is cold it can be lifted off with the foil and the base reused (and the foil pulled away from the Friendly Plastic mask).  Please be patient and do not remove it until it is totally cold!!

By the way the blank mask which I used for this one includes the back 'halo' - which is shown totally covered in purple.  Whilst I do not have this on my web-site I do have 2 or 3 available, so contact me if you would like one.  They are not on the web-site because of the size of the box I have to use!  You can of course always pre-order and collect at an exhibition.

As I said before the masks above are totally covered with Friendly Plastic, but there is another alternative to decorating the mask bases with Friendly Plastic, which is more economical in its use of Friendly Plastic.
These are the examples:

All the masks were worked directly onto the mask bases.  Because I was going to use Alcohol Inks I had to prime the bases firstly, using 2 coats of watered down PVA.  Allowing the first coat to dry before the 2nd was applied, and then allowing it to dry out completely.  For the Friendly Plastic part on the top and bottom mask you can use either Friendly Plastic pellets or 'waste' Friendly Plastic.  The Friendly Plastic was heated on the Teflon Sheet and then a 2nd Teflon Sheet laid on top and then rolled flat.  It was then heated onto the mask and rubbed stamped to create the texture (put the rubber stamp into a clear ink pad first).  Finally the masks were finished with a mixture of Alcohol Inks (including Metallic) over the mask base and the Friendly Plastic.  The ties were done by plaiting metallic threads.
The middle mask is slightly different in that the mask was covered with Alcohol Inks and the flowers were added last (these were made from the pre-coloured Friendly Plastic Strips).  And of course the beaded lengths were added by making tiny holes in the mask.
Hope you enjoy this post.