For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Hi Ellen
Not silly at all - I've never thought of sealing it - now that is silly. After it is waxed I just leave it, and as far as I can tell (from looking at those poor little not-quite-right guys who never get to leave my house) the wax doesn't deteriorate.:)
I like Blue Peter style Vicky, thank you so much!! I'm going to try your way the next time.
I do use coloured waxes, black and brown on black or brown noses, and I use them to age my bears paws too! The ones I have are ezy-wax.
I'm a bit late jumping in here... cause I just finished a waxed nose a few minutes ago :)
I'm trying 2 finish up my Teddies 4 Charity bear... yes, I'm late.... and I used part of Sue Ann's method - of painting on the beeswax...with a twist ;)
First, I don't have an electric stove and was afraid 2 heat the beeswax on my gas stove. Then I remembered my candle warmer! It looks like a mug warmer, but lower wattage.
I put a small amount of beeswax into a small glass condiment cup and put it on the warmer. Worked like a charm! Used a paintbrush to paint the wax on (carefully) and let it set a few minutes. I should mention that the wax solidified almost as soon as I painted it on. So probably the candle warmer did not get the wax as hot as the way Sue Ann does it.
But that was fixed in the next step... I turned the toaster on (without anything in it) and held teddy's nose over the heat. I'd put him back and forth (did NOT want any wax dripping into the toaster! I did not have any problems).
The toaster melted the wax nicely into the threads. I then used a part of a brown paper lunchbag to buff it. Then did everything one more time and I was done!
:redface: It never ocurred to me to use the microwave!!! Ack!!
I love your bear, Vicky--beautiful face :D
Eileen
great idea Laura, thank you! i have a mug warmer sitting at home doing nothing but collect dust!!
Vicky - thanks ever so much for saying how you wax your noses - I'm going to have fun trying out all these techniques :)
Catherine
Hi Eileen
The microwave is great for wax - I'm not much of a cook so I may as well use it for something!:)
Laura you're a genius!!!!!! I can use my oil burner, I have a few collecting dust, what a fab idea - oooooh you're a gem;)
Hi
I love waxed noses so I had a quick scan through the messages and I have to admit to cruelty to bears - when I have done my noses - which is definitely not as expert as the other makers here!!
I do not buff at all I take the bear upstairs to my room where I keep - my hairdryer
then I give the nose a gentle blast with the mid heat on the dryer until I see a healthy shining glow !!
Please no one think this is intentionly cruel I just found that my hands were not so good at buffing so necessity being the mother of invention - thats why I tried this
Anne
:lol:
The microwave is great for wax - I'm not much of a cook so I may as well use it for something!
:lol:
Cook?
Eileen
:lol:
The microwave is great for wax - I'm not much of a cook so I may as well use it for something!
:lol:
Cook?
Eileen
What is that four lettered word???
Lots of great ideas from everyone, I'm going to try a few out!!
Denise.
Heather and Vicky,
You can use plain beeswax on a coloured nose but if you wish to build up he layers for a more solid waxed nose, the layers start to become more milky and take on the colour of the wax. So when you want a solid waxed nose in a brighter colour, you will get the best results if you use a matching coloured wax.
Thanks Hayley
I was just going to ask if you can use coloured candle wax - but I have just noticed you have an array of lovely colours at the Bearcupboard! I wonder how they would look used over a darker colour?
many thanks
Vicky
Thanks for the info Hayley. Makes sense to me!! :clap:
Heather