By Michelle Zimmerman

Tools and Materials
Friendly Plastic® 7″ Metallic Designer Sticks–5-6 Colors of your choice
AMACO® Craft Marbling Comb
Fun Wire™–22 gauge, Pearlized Gold, 48″
Wooden Craft Frame
Heat resistant surface or aluminum foil
Corrugated cardboard the size of the frame
E6000 Glue or similar
Container with water and a few drops of olive oil
Heat Gun, Skillet, Pan of hot water or Oven (Heat Gun is recommended)
Scissors (Tim Holtz micro serrated scissors from Tonic are recommended)

Step 1
Select 5-6 Friendly Plastic® colors. You will need sufficient sticks so that, when they are lined up side by side, they will make a sheet of plastic large enough to cover your frame plus a little extra over. Cut your Friendly Plastic® Designer Sticks into long strips approximately 3/16″ wide.

Step 2
While you can soften the Friendly Plastic® in hot water, an embossing Heat Gun works particularly well. Using the heat gun, heat one stick of the cut Friendly Plastic¬® until you can see it starting to soften. Push the edge of a second stick into the softened edge of the softened stick and continue softening the plastic and pressing sticks together. Alternate your colors to form a pleasing pattern of stripes. By softening the plastic and pressing the pieces you together you will ensure you do not get open spaces between the strips.

Step 3
To create the marbleized effect, dip your marbling comb in the water and oil. Starting beyond the edge of the softened plastic, drag across the sticks from one side to the other.

Step 4
While the plastic is still warm and very soft, start at the opposite sides and place the marbling comb in between the drag you just made and this time drag back the other way. Make sure to start the movement with the comb well before you touch the Friendly Plastic® and drag through the entire plastic layer, not just its surface.

Step 5
Trace the frame shape onto your corrugated cardboard and cut a piece of cardboard the same size as your frame. Place your sheet of marbleized Friendly Plastic® over the cardboard frame shape and trim around the edges to create a sheet slightly larger than the size of your frame. Trim the inside piece from the marbleized sheet so you have a marbleized sheet of Friendly Plastic® just larger all around but the same shape as your frame. It’s easier to work with Friendly Plastic® if you meld it to the corrugated cardboard and then glue the cardboard to the frame. Place the Friendly Plastic® sheet on top of your corrugated cardboard and heat gently so that it softens and adheres to the cardboard. Cut four small pieces of contrasting color Friendly Plastic® for the corners of the frame, place in position and heat to melt the pieces onto the frame.

Step 6
Cut four 12″ pieces of Fun Wire™ and twist each to form a small flower shape. Adhere the flowers to the four corners of the frame. Apply E6000 glue to the back of the cardboard and to the frame and adhere the two pieces. Place two or three heavy books on top of the frame and set aside until the glue is firmly set.

Tips
Friendly Plastic® works best when adhered to a surface like cardboard that has some “give” in it. This helps avoid air bubbles which can form under the Friendly Plastic® when it is heated onto a rigid surface.

Choose colors for your frame that complement each other. Use four or five colors and include a mix of some light and some dark colors. Having some light colors will help draw attention to the wonderful marbleized effect you have created.