Hello Helmar Fans
It's Sharon joining you again today.
In my creative world, I'm always on the lookout for projects or things that will improve or enhance my creative processes.
Today's share is a very easy project... but, trust me when I tell you, that it has had a huge impact on my art practises and organisation!!! In my opinion, a very worthwhile and diverse project!!!
Writing for the Helmar Creative Team Blog, I'm coming to realise that I'm not what you would consider an 'organised creator'!!! In other words, I don't think about all the resources I require before starting a project... rather, I dive right in and, as I'm creating, I hope that I will have all the supplies I need on hand to complete that task. Hehehe... I say this as I've just started a slow stitch project and realised the thread colour I have chosen is one I don't have enough of to complete my project. Looks like I'm off to the shop to buy more lol.
Why is she telling us this, you may ask..
Well... I've also come to realise that I'm also not the person who can easily list the items you need for a project. Hahaha!!! At least, not until I've finished that project. Sooo... here goes (but just know I'll probably come back and adjust this list as I'm working. It's just the way I roll!!!)
What you will need:
- Helmar Fabric Glue - I have made several of these palettes now and the Helmar Fabric Glue has been used for each of them. I am still using them to this day... but I'm always looking for a spare one lol.
- Paper towel - in case of excess glue/seepage and cleaning the top of your Helmar Fabric Glue Bottle.
- A household tile - size of your choosing. The one I used for demonstration is 7 7/8" or 20cms square. I specifically chose a gloss white tile as white will give you a correct colour representation when looking at, or mixing paints, on your palette. Be careful when choosing your white tiles as there are many shades of white and, speaking from experience, it wasn't until I arrived home with some of my tile selections that I realised some I had chosen were actually more an off-white/light cream. You may notice that tile in the photos below.
- HELPFUL TIP: I have a business in my area that sells surplus building supplies. I purchased my tiles from there and was able to buy them as individual tiles rather than purchasing a set/pack.
- A foam tile - I purchased mine some time ago from my local Kmart, but they are available from many different retailers. As long as your foam tile is slightly larger than your household tile. Please Note: The foam tile I'm using for this demonstration has already been used for previous projects so you don't see a full size tile in my photos.
- A stanley knife - for cutting your foam tile... now you should be all set!!!
The tile I'm using for today's project, is one that I've been using as a palette for a while now but, having others that have undertaken this process, I can assure you, they are much better/easier to use once this process is complete. The main reason is:
- The tile feels less 'delicate' to use once the foam tile has been adhered. You can move it around and store it with less worry about it breaking.
- Having a foam base means it will adjust easily to many desk surfaces... even a slightly uneven surface with less concerns of breaking.
- I've noticed that, over time, the weakest part of the tile seems to be the corners. Somehow, they tend to chip away slowly, but, this will help protect them and, although it won't prevent it from happening completely... this process definitely makes them more durable. I can't say I've noticed any chipping since completing this process. (You will see evidence of chipping on the underneath of the tile used in this demonstration, in the photos below.)
It's a very simple process...
Simply turn your tile over and, taking your Helmar Fabric Glue, apply a generous amount of glue to the entire underneath surface of the tile. When doing this, I tend to run the glue around the edges first, trying to get as close to the edge as possible.
Then I run the glue up and down the tile in one direction.
Then, turning the tile 45 degrees, I then run the glue up and down the tile again. You will end up with a criss-cross pattern of glue across the entire underneath surface of the tile.
Turning your foam tile over to expose the flat/smooth surface, position your household tile in place on top of your foam tile carefully. I use my fingers to guide the tile to the edge of the foam tile if it has an edge (as pictured below). Running my fingers along the entire edge to check that it's in position correctly.
Once in place, be sure to remove any excess glue with paper towel, being careful not to move the tile and checking placement again once excess glue is removed.
A gentle reminder to also remove any excess glue from the tip of your glue bottle with your paper towel…
… and replace the lid. (This is as much for me as it is you as it’s so easy to forget this step when you’re focused on what you’re making. Yesss… I’m speaking from experience!!!)
I tend to leave overnight to ensure the glue is dry and the tile is well adhered.
After a very patient night (I was really tempted to do this next step sooner - but I waited lol)...
take your Stanley knife (I tend to allow myself quite a long blade to easily navigate the depth of both the household tile and the foam tile),
and cut the foam tile along your first edge, using your household tile as your cutting guide.
Be sure to try and keep your blade as vertical as possible so that your finished edge is an even, straight surface.
Then, turning your tile, cut along the next edge to release the excess foam tile from your project.
(Continue this process all the way around your tile as necessary until all excess foam tile has been removed.)
I do find I end up with 'stringy' pieces of foam tile along the edges where I've cut.
You may notice them in the photo below if you look at the edge of the foam tile close to the Helmar Glue Bottle.
I usually just kind of pinch and pull those to remove them where I can to give a somewhat 'finished' surface.
That's it!!! Process complete... and your new DIY Art/Paint Palette is ready to use!!!
I particularly like these palettes for my water colour paints. I don't tend to use the half pans, but prefer to use them from a tube... personal preference (and I don't have any half pans lol). Using my DIY Art Palette, I can squeeze a little paint to work with, as needed and, if I don't use it all, I let it dry (as is the case with my demonstration tile) and I easily reactivate the paint by spraying them with a little water or dipping my brush into a cup of water if I choose to only reactivate some of my colours.
Here, I'm using my watercolour paints to create sample paint swatches on different kinds of book paper. I use these in my journals when decorating ephemera. Not only do they look beautiful and make quite an impact... but painting the paint sample swatches is incredibly relaxing and a fun way to explore colour and paint mixing!!! A perfect process for someone who is just discovering their artistic voice!!!
If I'm finished with a particular colour that has been reactivated, I can easily wipe it off my palette with a little paper towel!!!
(If your paint is dry, you can scrape it off quite easily with a paint scraper also.)
BONUS USE: When I first made these tiles, I had planned to make a couple of small tiles and a larger tile. I wanted the smaller tiles for my watercolours and thought a larger tile would be perfect to use, not only as a paint palette, but perhaps as a DIY 'glass' craft mat.
Well, I can honestly tell you... that would have been a wonderful use!!! But, it didn't last for long!!!
One day, I had been gelli printing using my gelli plate (I have two - one is a DIY gelli plate, the other I purchased from Amazon) and I had been storing them with an overhead transparency sheet on the top and bottom of my plate, removing the top sheet only to use them. This was working fabulously but it was quite flimsy, a little slippery and my DIY gelli plate was starting to split as the overhead transparency sheets were flexible. I also noticed the heat was affecting my DIY plate (my purchased Gelli plate was quite new at the time) and I had ‘bubbles’ (indentations) forming on my DIY Gelli plate caused by the air that was a trapped underneath the overhead transparency sheet and the extreme summer heat.
I decided to place my large (store bought) gelli plate onto my large tile and... it worked perfectly!!!
It was stable and sturdy (no more slipping on my table)...
and it was easily cleaned if paint spilt or the surface simply became 'messy' over time!!!
It wasn't long before I had seconded both my large DIY Art Palettes to use for my Gelli Plates!!!
Last year I did a 'makeover' of both my studios and, in my Mixed Media Studio, I now have two Ikea Alex Drawer Units. One of those units is now where I store my Gelli plates if I'm not using them or I simply need my desk space for other purposes. Mind you... it isn't often they are both put away at the same time lol.
I no longer cover the top of them with anything and my plates store beautifully between uses. My DIY plate, I believe, is now about 4 years old. I have remelted and reshaped… but it is the same plate. You can see in the photo above, it is now half a Gelli plate, quite discoloured and it is a little tackier than the purchased Gelli plate. But it love it and still use it often!!!
I have no idea if there are other uses for these DIY Art Palettes... but I wouldn't be at all surprised if I, or you, were to discover more in the future!!!
I hope you find this project useful and you have a little fun getting 'messy' with some paints!!!
Thank goodness for my Helmar Fabric Glue!!! 🥰
Happy crafting!!!
I look forward to sharing with you again soon!!!
Sharon
