Friendly Plastic® Splash Technique

Design by Jana Ewy

MATERIALS

AMACO® Friendly Plastic® 7” Stick – White
AMACO® PolyBlade
AMACO® Needle Tool
Adirondack® Alcohol inks – Stream, Lettuce, Oregano, Butterscotch
Alcohol blending fluid
Rubbing alcohol
Paintbrush
3/4” Heart shape cutter 
Small dish of ice cold water with a few drops of olive oil in it. Note: Keep the cutter in this dish. 
Scissors
Electric griddle set at 200-250°F
Non-stick baking sheet
Envirotex Lite resin sealer or any high gloss acrylic sealer 
Non-stick cookie sheet
E6000 Glue
Jewelry components and findings of your choice: chain, clasp, bead cap, dragonfly connector, pendant connector, jump rings, and 3 small rhinestones

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1
Place the stick of plastic on a protected work surface. Apply a wash of the blending fluid over the plastic stick.

Step 2
In a random pattern, apply drops of Lettuce and Butterscotch as your background colors. Allow the colors to blend together. Use your paintbrush to fill in any white areas that are left. Clean brush.

Step 3
Dip the brush into the rubbing alcohol and touch the plastic where you want to create white circles. These circles will resemble puddles. 

Step 4
Mix a drop of Stream and Butterscotch together to create another shade of green, dilute slightly with rubbing alcohol and using the brush, apply within the white puddles. 

Step 5
Continue this process until you have attained a pattern you are happy with. 

Step 6
As the final application, dip your brush into the rubbing alcohol and splash (splatter) the alcohol across the surface of the plastic. This helps disperse the ink a little more, creating a more intricate pattern. Allow to dry completely.

Step 7
Pre-heat the griddle. Place the baking sheet onto the griddle and the plastic onto the baking sheet. Allow the plastic to soften. 

Step 8
Remove the pan from the griddle. While the plastic is still warm, cut out three hearts by pressing the cutter into the softened plastic. Be sure to dip the cutter back into the cold water after each cut. This will help keep it from sticking to the plastic. Allow the plastic to cool. Note: You may place the pan under cold running water to speed the cooling process along. 

Step 9
Use the needle tool to press under the edges of the cooled plastic to remove it from the pan. Pop out the ovals. If needed, use the PolyBlade to cut around each one. With scissors, cut a stem from the remaining plastic.

Step 10
Apply the Envirotex sealer following the manufacturer’s instructions. Place pieces on a non-stick cookie sheet. This way if there is any run off, it will be easy to remove later. Once the Envirotex is mixed, pour it into a small squeeze bottle. The application will be more precise and much easier. Blow softly through a straw to pop any bubbles that remain. Allow the resin to dry at least 12 hours. If there has been any run off, remove the piece from the pan by pressing the needle tool under it and lifting it off the sheet. You can cut the excess that has run off with scissors. Envirotex cures completely in 24 hours.

Step 11
Place a heart onto your non-stick sheet and heat along the point of the heart with your heat gun to soften the plastic. Now position the other two hearts on either side and press them up against the softened heart. This will form the clover. Continue to apply heat over the clover, then add the stem. Continue to heat for a few seconds to secure the bond. Allow to cool completely.

Step 12
Gather your jewelry components and findings. Position and glue the dragonfly along the top of the clover so the loop of the dragon extends above the clover. This will be your connecting point. Glue on the bead cap and rhinestones. Allow the glue to dry.

Step 13
Assemble the necklace and attach to the clover pendant using jump rings.