Another gem from the BBC programme A Victorian Christmas - how to make a toy theatre.
There are downloadable pdf instructions for this as well (unfortunately this is a direct link, so you'll have to go to the page, using the link above, to download it).
Bless Stampington - they are now doing instructional videos on YouTube! So for all you soldering fans who are a little unsure of what to do... here you are!
Blade Rubber has lots of soldering supplies: the glass slides, frames, copper tape, alchohol inks, collage materials. For the actual solder and a soldering iron, try DIY stores and computer/electronic shops like Maplins.
Copyright Susie Jefferson
Here are my tips on how to solder safely:
Glass (depending on thickness) can resist a certain amount of shock, but is susceptible to heat changes.
Metal is very efficient in transmitting heat - so let soldered pieces cool down periodically. Overheating can damage your piece irreversibly (scorching paper and causing the glass to crack).
Glass will also show every little mark: fingerprints, smudges of glue or paint – so clean any glass you wish to use with a proprietary glass cleaner and kitchen roll on BOTH sides. Where possible, handle at the edges.
Wash your hands in soap and water – to work successfully with glass, your hands need to be absolutely grease-free.
Work on a heat-proof surface to protect work tops from any solder drips.
If you don’t wear glasses and are cutting glass, you need to wear safety glasses or goggles. (If not cutting glass, sensible working practices should suffice.)
Always use a proper glass cutter, not a tile cutter.
Always work in a well lighted and well ventilated area.
If you are susceptible to fumes, have a respiratory infection or are suffering from a cold or cough, you might wish to wear a dust mask.
Always use LEAD-FREE solder. Any fumes you might notice will not be harmful.
DON’T buy a soldering iron from your local discount store and also don’t buy one from a stained glass store (neither has a temperature control, and too high a temperature will crack your project).
Always unplug your soldering iron if you step away from your work station (even if only for a minute to answer the phone etc). It’s a good idea to let it cool down anyway – too much heat is bad for your glass.
Having said all that - go for it! It's a lot of fun!
I love shrink plastic - but it's really frustrating when you want to do it and find you haven't got any left! So what about thisbrilliant project which uses old food containers.
Claire Chauvin at Poopscape Projects shows you exactly how in step-by-step photos, to turn these:
It's always fun to see a new transfer technique - and I haven't seen one using acrylic paint before! Trust Claudine Hellmuth to come up with a new twist...
It's also good to see what to do with the little bits of lint leftovers - this cheat's method saves a lot of work!
This is a lovely YouTube video on paste paper, which I think you'll enjoy. Just a word of warning - the music is set pretty loud, so just be prepared for it...
Nice and simple, no complicated recipes - and very effective! I like this one very much.
Please note all artwork, photographs and text is copyrighted and the intellectual property of the artist (ie: myself) with all rights reserved, and therefore may not be used or reproduced in any way without my permission . In other words, if you want to copy or use something, please just ask!
