An introduction to Friendly Plastic

Illustration: A square of Friendly plastic with the impression of a heart rubber stamp. The stamp was inked with a metallic gold stamp pad.

Materials used

A heat gun
A heatproof surface to protect your table
Kitchen foil
Scissors
Rubber stamp to fit the Friendly plastic
Something to hold/move the hot plastic such as blunt cocktail stick

Method

Cut the Friendly plastic to the required size with scissors. It should be larger than the stamp you are going to press into it.

Place a square of kitchen foil larger than the Friendly plastic onto your heatproof surface (such as a baking tray). Place the Friendly plastic on the foil.

Heat the plastic. You need to be a few inches away, but straight on, not wafting much, until the Friendly plastic surface wrinkles slightly or glosses over. Turn off the heat gun. Ink your rubber stamp and then push it into the heated plastic. Take care not to touch the hot plastic as it can burn.

You have to press the stamp in firmly, but care is required so as not to push too much. Some experimentation will be required.

Leave Friendly plastic to cool on the foil.

When the plastic is cool peel it off the stamp carefully.

If you try to take it off the rubber stamp before it has cooled sufficiently, the stamp may pull apart from its' mount, so don't experiment with your favourite stamp.

The plastic can be reheated for further work.

When your Friendly plastic design is complete it can be fixed on your greetings card with double-sided foam pads.

Handy hints

It is important to press whatever into the Friendly plastic while it is hot.

You can press other things into the Friendly plastic such as buttons, beads, wire, etc. If you want to leave decorative items in the Friendly plastic they may not hold well when it is cool. Remove the item and fix it in place with clear multipurpose adhesive such as UHU.

You can add ink to your stamp before pressing it into the Friendly plastic to create colour variations.

Friendly plastic can be used for jewellery. Any holes could be made while the Friendly plastic is still hot.

You don't have to use square shapes of Friendly plastic; it can be trimmed to any shape.

Have fun and mind you don't burn yourself.

This page is based on information supplied by Barbara Charlish and used with kind permission.

The heart stamped square in the illustration was created by Valerie Custance and used with kind permission.

The rubber stamp PSX Brushed Rose Heart C2546 is copyright Personal Stamp Exchange and reproduced with kind permission.

This project was originally published at Card Inspirations. It is reproduced here here with kind permission. Card Inspirations are sponsors of the Card Making Inspirations web site.

Product availability

We regret that we are unable to advise the reader of a source of supply for the materials used in the projects on the Card Making Inspirations web site.

The layouts and techniques used in these projects are timeless. However, products such as stamps, stickers and patterned papers are quickly discontinued to be replaced by new items. When this happens we suggest that there is a lot of satisfaction in finding an alternative product that suits the design.

For stitching card patterns please visit our sponsors Card Inspirations and Stitching Cards.

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