Textured PC Tiles with Homemade Rub n Buff Mosaic Box

[jillpalumbo]

Hi again,
Cacberry, I think I may cover up the tiles with tape, not because I'm worried about the RNB coming off, but because I have had a bit of experience with getting grout into textured stuff, so yes, I like the idea of taping it.  I learned the hard way on my kitchen back splash a couple years back.  I figure I can always reapply the rub n buff though, since it is just added to highlight the texture, and I doubt if the sanded or unsanded grout will be able to rub off the texture.  Oh well, I'm getting tired and saying the same thing over and over???  Sorry.
LadyRonnie and Cindi, I found the linseed oil in a small bottle at hobby lobby, but I could have bought it at Lowes (found it online).  It was cheaper at Hobby Lobby.  Yes, I bet anywhere that sells paint will have it since many people use it to thin paint and clean brushes.  I guess it is used in woodworking too from what I found on a google search.  I think it has thousands of uses, the more I looked, the more I found.
Barbara, thanks so much for adding another glue to the mix.  I'm so glad to see you joining conversations.  Your work is amazing.
Lori, I think we can bring some more of these mosaic buddies to the PC side of life yet    

[widgina]

You are hilarious! welcome to your new obsession!
 Thanks for the homemade rub n buff, what a great idea!!!
And...your tiles are AMAZING!!!!

[cadonna]

One of the threads i was reading said you can get the linseed oil and boiled linseed oil in the paint dept at HD or Lowe's. Gotta check it out.

[Tina]

Ok all you PC tile experts...you know who you are...
Where do we find all these great texture-making tools?  You've got beautiful tiles there, but I dont' have anything like that around my craft stores...where do you find the "stamps" or whatever-it-is that you're using?!
TIA!

[cindiloo]

I have found some great textured stamps here STAMP CAMP..you want to look for deep-etched stamps...and unmounted is better, Imo...but you can find textures in a lot of things...I was just noticing the frame on an old picture frame I have and thinking that would make a nice texture in clay. I also found some cool rubber stamps in the soap making section at Michaels. Also..I learned..cornstartch is my friend for keeping clay from sticking in the stamps!

[lorimendenhall]

there are lots of nice stamps at Joanns and Michaels, also look at the texture sheets in the polymer clay section under the Studio by Sculpey brand at those craft stores. those are very good. I love Lisa Pavelka's texture sheets. I suspect polymer clay express has lots as well.

[shrty411]

One of the threads i was reading said you can get the linseed oil and boiled linseed oil in the paint dept at HD or Lowe's. Gotta check it out.

I was at Hob Lob today and found every kind of linseed oil, but nothing that said boiled. My HD didn't have ANY linseed oil

[jillpalumbo]

Hi again, sorry, Cadonna, about the problem finding boiled linseed oil.  Do you have any big box hardware stores nearby? 

Now about the stamps, I make all my own.  I don't like using a stamp that other people all over the world have.  I don't know why, it just feels like I'm cheating or something.  I don't feel like others are cheating, and I have shared my stamps with other people.  I just don't want to use something manufactured in a factory, especially if I plan to sell my items someday.  It is a hangup of mine.
Anyway, I keep finding stuff that makes cool stamps. It seems there is an endless supply.  One time a student left her necklace on my desk to trade me for a pencil.  BTW I used to just give pencils away, hundreds each school year, but then I'd find them all over the floor in the room or hallway, so I started trading.  If they are in a bind, I will allow them to borrow a pencil if they let me borrow something they have that they care about and isn't footwear (stinky) or their textbook (they hate textbooks).    I'm really not coldhearted, really.  Twenty years ago students brought two pencils with them to every class, but I teach kids in generational poverty, and they don't come prepared to class, and it is a battle I've chosen not to fight.
Anyway, she left her necklace, a little angel wing, on my desk and forgot it, so I "re-borrowed" it overnight to make a stamp of it.  Sneaky, I am.  The next day I gave her candy and confessed, and now she brings me neat little charms and things to borrow.  She gets a piece of candy and I get a new stamp .  I've also made stamps with trims (like sewing notions). I use real leaves, grass gone to seed, twigs, etc. in the summer/spring/fall.  I carve some and I build others.  My husband brought me a key chain his Korean exchange student gave him, and I made a stamp with that.  Somtime I make little stamps and combine them  to make other bigger stamps.  Oh no, I feel the sudden urge to do a tutorial for this.  If we get as much snow as is predicted, and I have another snow day, I'll make one for sure. 

[MilliMoMo]

now she brings me neat little charms and things to borrow.  She gets a piece of candy and I get a new stamp

Jill, that is really touching.  It obviously feels really special to her.   

[Tina]

Oooo- yes!  A TOOT!!!

[Cracked]

That's a gorgeous box Jill and I love the fact you make your own stamps out of just about everything!!!   

[Eileen ~ PantherFL]

Jill,
I totally understand the pencil thing.  This was my own boys, they kept telling me they needed money for the book store for pencils, or needed me to buy pencils, etc.  I finally found out they were using them to break, like mini karate boards, one holding between thumb & finger, the other using index fingers to smack & break!!  I severely restricted their pencil funds after that, LOL!

[nanatricia]

Jill that  was such a lovley story .You must be a great teacher.
I also love your box!
If you think about making stamp look a round there are all kinds of thing that can make a impreshion(MS) you will be surprised what you come up with.

[lorimendenhall]

Jill, great for you that you make your own. I always say I will but never do. I know how you feel about "cheating" because that's how I feel about using other people's canes (which I would never do). I don't feel using pre-made stamps is cheating luckily! do you make them out of polymer or photoelectric plates?

[jillpalumbo]

Oh, I love this group.  I feel like people here are so supportive and helpful and understanding.  You all are a blessing to me,  . 
Lori, I'm so glad you understand about the stamps.  Yeah, like buying someone else's cane.  That is it exactly.  I felt a bit snooty saying that.  I am a bit of a hypocrite though.  I have no qualms about making stamps from old buttons or things I borrow or get on a fabulous sale -all of which are made in factories.  I guess they become mine in my mind when I take something that wasn't made for the purpose of becoming a stamp. 
I make mine out of regular polymer clay scraps or the sculpey mold maker clay.  I don't know what photoelectric plates are, so I'm very sure I've never used that.  So much to learn!
I laid out many of my examples and my sketches for a photo tutorial tomorrow and I found the book that inspired me to start making my own stamps.  We'll see if there is a delay or closure.  Our roads are already a mess!  I will hate trying to teach kids who were ready to be out in April all the way until July, but I do like a few snow days sprinkled here and there in the winter.