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Tumbled Marble Tile ~ Heat Embossing & Shimmerz

By M. Elizabeth Lee
Rubber Roadsters
Publisher/Editor~Advanced Stamping Team Designer/Writer

There are a variety of mediums that can be used to render color and decoration to Tumble Marble Tile.  The majority of them will need sealing to make them waterproof for a functional art design.  However, there is no need to seal heat set inks or markers.  This will allow the tile to be used as a coaster that naturally absorbs the moisture from iced drinks.

Tumbled Marble Tile needs very little prepping.  Dampen a Viva paper towel and wipe off the surface.  Also, the tile can be completely immersed and washed with soap and water.  Rinse out any soap residue thoroughly and allow tile to dry completely prior to decorating.

Regarding my personal approach to designing Tumble Marble Tiles, I prefer to add color to the background of the tile.  This accentuates the natural marble effects, veins and sparkle of the tile. 

It is often asked if tiles can be heat embossed.  The answer is definitely yes!  The tile should only be used for decorative purposes and not functional such as a coaster or trivet.  The constant friction of something being placed on it could wear the embossed design right off.  An attractive way to display a tile is on an easel.  Another idea would be to glue the tile to a wide ribbon and hang on the wall.

Supplies

• Bella Flor Stamp Set (TAC)
• Crafter’s Pigment Ink (ColorBox)
• Heat Tool (Milwaukee~*TAC)
• Stamp-n-Stuff Clear Embossing Powder (Mark Enterprises)
• Tumbled Marble Tile (Lowe’s Hardware)
• Pumpkin (Shimmerz)
• Royal Red (Shimmerz)
• Golden Wheat (Shimmerz)
• Key Lime (Shimmerz)
• Celery (Shimmerz)
• Ultra Marine (Shimmerz)
• Royal Purple (Shimmerz)
• #8 Flat La Corneille Brush (Loew-Cornell)
• #4 Round Soft-Grip Brush (Royal)
• Water receptacle
• Clear or Gloss Spray Sealer (Krylon)
• Sheet of Cork (Lowes)
• Glue: Golden Gel Mediums Soft Get ( Matte) (Golden)
• Palette Knife (Royal)
• 5.0 Mechanical Pencil (Pentech)
• Kneaded Eraser (Staedtler)
• Paper Towel (Viva)
• ProCraft Craft Gloves (Wilshire Technologies)
• Oven Mit
   

1. Prepare tile by lightly wiping it down with a damp Viva paper towel to remove any dust and allow to dry. Lay the tile on the cork sheet and mark around it with a pencil. Remove any pencil lines from the tile with a kneaded eraser. Cut the cork approximately 1/8" inside the pencil line and set aside as a backing for the tile.
    

2. Use Black Crafter’s Ink to stamp images on tile.  Ink up the Flower Cutie image and stamp image in the center of the tile.  Ink up the leaf image and stamp in all four corners. Ink up the bumble bee image and stamp above the flower.   Ink up the word stamp, Bella Flor, and stamp underneath the flower. Sprinkle on clear embossing powder, shake off excess, and return to jar. Melt the embossing powder with a heat tool.  This will take a few minutes to process on the tile.  Wear an oven mitt as the tile will become hot.  
    

3. Using the #4 liner brush and Pumpkin, paint the flower petals.  Basecoat all greenery with Key Lime.  Basecoat the flower’s center and bumble bee with Golden Wheat.
    

4. Using the #4 liner brush, shade each flower petal with Royal Red.  Make a coma stroke under each eye with Royal Red to form cheeks.  Shade all greenery with Celery referring to photo for placement guide. 
    

5. Using the #8 flat brush and Ultra Marine and Royal purple alternately, make criss-cross strokes to the background until it is covered with paint.  When completely dry, mist on several light coats of clear or glossy Krylon Sealer.  Allow to dry in-between coats.  Avoid using matte finishes as they will reduce the luster.   
    

6. Glue the cork onto the backside of the tile with Golden Gel Medium and a palette knife.  This provides a professional finished look and protects furniture from scratches.

Shimmerz is a high~shimmering coloring medium for all types of surfaces with quick dry properties.  It is not waterproof and requires a final coat of sealer.

 Published previously on SS Reflections

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