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Ok..I have my pearl ex and hairspray - now what do I do? How much pearl ex do I add to the hairspray and also...what color pearl ex do I use?
Can you tell I'm completely pearl ex-challenged? Thanks - Julia
I too was once PE impared;) But once you get your hands in it, you'll be hooked. I used a small travel size spray bottle and started out with about 1/4 teaspoon. Make sure you shake it up each time you use it because it will settle at the bottom. Try it on a scrap piece of paper and see if you want more and add a little at a time. Color is your choice. I tend to like the gold on a white piece of CS.
Oh - and make sure don't spray it too close to the paper and push on the nozzle firmly or it could get blotchey. Just experiment with it and you'll find your groove.
Alcohol---The truth of the matter is that I have no idea. I wish that I were creative enough to make up a fabulous story for you. My speculation would be that is make a little bit of hairspray go further and perhaps helps it to dry quicker????
I thought you were going to say the alcohol was to drink while you are mixing the CE and the pearl ex. Don't think I am a big drinker or something, that was just what I thought you were going to say cuz I had never heard that combo before. Ha-Ha :oops: :oops:
Ok, so for every inch of alcohol I put in the hairspray, I get to drink one too? :lol: Sounds like a good plan to me! I want to see your gals' cards after doing that one That would make sense though to use it for your hairspray to go farther. Thanks!
Oh - is it regular alcohol (for the hairspray - to drink is your choice ) or do you have to use that denatured alcohol like I use in my polished stone technique?
Boy ~ you can sure tell when a thread is started on a weekend
I always poor out some of the hairspray and add RUBBING alcohol (Gods forbid I use the good stuff for PE ) Usually the cheap hairspray is too gummy for the PE to blend easily.
In case you're not too relaxed from all the alcohol to care, adding rubbing alcohol is meant to speed up the drying and seal your pearl ex.
Most cheap hairspray already have alcohol so I don't add it.
I use 1/4 tsp. pearl ex added to a travel size hairspray bottle.
Shake the bottle well and spray a few times in the sink to make sure the p/ex is flowing. It helps to shake the bottle frequently while you are working.
Try matching your pearl ex to your CS for a nice subtle look. eg. copper on really rust CS.
Note, some of the colors have less shimmer and won't give the same sparkle to your project. ie. turquoise.
I thought the alcohol was primarily to keep the spray nozzle from getting gummed up with hair spray so you continue to get a nice fine mist. The hair spray seals the PE to the cardstock.
I've made sprays with gold PE and white pearl. I love both for different effects on different colors of CS. I'm sure you'll love whatever you try.
Actually ALL hairsprays have alcohol. It's the primary ingredient. Adding the rubbing alcohol just cuts down the gunkyness of some hairsprays (think Aqua Net).
Pearl Ex & hairspray
