Tyra Smith,Cloud 9, Product Review,Micro Beads, Pennywise Art Supplies

Opals Embossing Enamels
Author: Tyra L. Smith
(Manufacturer Pipe DreamInk http://www.pipedreamink.com/)

Opals Embossing Enamels are a coarse grained, PEARLESCENT embossing powder, similar to UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamels). Opals can be used in all the same and exciting ways that UTEE is used. Do let me say that I firmly believe both UTEE and Opals are different enough that you could easily justify buying and using both products. I own and use both myself and do not feel as though I've duplicated a purchase or wasted money. When compared to UTEE, The Opals have an entirely different color line, as well as a different look and feel.

Opals are PEARLESCENT in appearance, which gives you a very soft, satiny look and feel. When melted, they are thick and creamy. Once cooled after melting, the Opals do not seem to be brittle and don't seem to crack easily. One thing I particularly like is that the clear Opals (the color name for the clear Opals is "Franklin"), when melted...does not turn an "amber-ish" color, it remains nice and clear. While there are times when I want that amber color, there are also as many times when I want a nice, clear color too. Opals will melt and mix with any other embossing powder or embossing enamel, and are quite stunning either used alone or in combination with other brands and colors of embossing enamels and embossing powders.

To view some fished samples using the Opals Embossing Enamels, click HERE.

What really caught my interest with the Opals Embossing Enamels is the pearlescent appearance, the fantastic color line and the sizes available for purchase. Opals are available in the following colors:

Aurora (rich lavender)
Banksia (ochre)
Bluegum (light blue)
Currawong (rich black)
Daintree (vivid green)
Dove Lake (rich, vibrant blue)
Eucalypt (silver green)
Eureka (gold)
Fernglade (emerald green)
Fool's Gold (yellow)
Franklin (clear)
Lily Pily (purple)
Macquarie (turquoise)
Mango (orange)
Mountain Berry (pink)
Rosevears (burgundy)
Sandstone (cream)
Sunburnt (gorgeous copper)
Tarkine (gorgeous light green)
The Nut (rich brown)
Valentine (lavender)
Wild Hibiscus (vivid pink)
Wineglass Bay (light blue green)
Zeehan (silver)

The Opals are sold in three sizes:
1. Opals - 90 gram jars
2. Opals Tweenies - 50 gram jars
3. Opalettes - 9 gram jars, sold in sets of 5 jars. The following sets are available:
Tropicals - Mango, Wild Hibiscus, Lilly Pilly, Macquarie and Daintree
Cools - Dove Lake, Bluegum, Wineglass Bay, Tarkine and Fern Glade
Warms- Aurora, Mountain Berry, Valentine, Fool's Gold and Sunburnt.
Earths- Eucalypt, Sandstone, Banksia, Rosevears and The Nut.

You can create some really interesting image transfers using the Clear Opals. There's no need to add anything to them, no Flex, nothing. You just melt the Clear Opals, pour it on a magazine page or photocopy, let cool and harden. Then soak it in water and rub off the paper. WALLAH....the image is transferred to the Opals. It is a very nice look and an easy way of creating an image transfer. Since the Clear Opals doesn't turn amber-ish when heated, the image transfer is very clear and pretty.

I think the Opals Embossing Enamels are a very good product that will compliment many of the projects we work on. The Opals are particularly stunning when used in combination with the Krafty Lady Art Moulds. I'm glad I got mine and look forward to using them in my art studio.

Click HERE to view samples of projects using the Opals Embossing Enamels

Copyright 2005 Tyra Smith Cloud9@netnet.net
NOTE: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED, STORED IN A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM BY ANY MEANS ELECTRONIC, MECHANICAL, PHOTOCOPYING OR OTHERWISE, WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER.