Hello! It’s Robyn Wood with you today, sharing a quick and easy project - a pair of coloured tea light holders sealed with Helmar Crystal Kote Gloss Varnish.
Helmar produces a range of aerosol fixative and varnish products that make protecting your work very easy. Simply spray on according to the directions on the back of the tin, wait for it to dry and you are done – your work is then protected from dust & grime.
I find them the perfect product to preserve the colouring of these tea light holders which had been done with alcohol inks.
I managed to pick up this pair of clear glass tea light holders at a local discount store with the plan of altering them. They looked a little plain otherwise and alcohol inks are a fantastic way of adding a burst of colour to non-porous surfaces such as glass.
Firstly, I cleaned the tea light holders with warm soapy water and made sure they were totally dry. Then I went to town with a variety of bright, warm colours of alcohol inks and dabbed colour all over the outside of the glass. The alcohol evaporates really fast so this is a quick project.
I wanted to retain the glossy shine of the glass as well as give them a protective layer to make cleaning and care easier. Helmar Crystal Kote Gloss Varnish is perfect for the job! There is also a ‘matte’ version if you wish to have a less glossy appearance.
As the varnish is an aerosol, I took them outside to the back yard and gave them a couple of coats of spray and allowed them to touch dry. This generally doesn’t take very long, then I set them aside overnight to fully dry.
I found the spray 'moved' a little of the alcohol ink colour but not in a way that ruined the project.
Once I popped in a couple of battery operated tea lights, I had a lovely soft light that brought a bit of happiness to my space.
Supplies:
Helmar Crystal Kote Gloss Varnish
Ranger Alcohol Inks in yellows & reds
Ranger Blending Tool & felt
I hope you have enjoyed learning how this project was created. I hope it gives you some ideas on how to use Helmar Crystal Kote Varnish sprays – I’d love to see what you do with them! Until next time…
