On my online workbook this week: Snow to report!

Dear

This week's inspiration is the loveliest fresh snow fluttering down delicately outside my design room window.

My tip for you this week is about glue craftsmanship. Absolutely, using glue is a skill.

You have to learn how to work ever so delicately with glue. I do find that most glue dispensers are not precise enough. My design solution is to use the tip of a bamboo skewer (or toothpick) as an applicator. I dip the skewer in the glue or pour out a bit of glue onto the toothpick (see the pictures above) and apply that to the object I want to secure. This way you have a lot more control over the amount of glue and the placement in even the most awkward gaps between bits of plant material.

My second tip is for when the glue pops loose or if you glue something in the wrong spot or if you glue a few items on top of one another and now you have an enormous blob of visible glue just sitting there spoiling the magic of your design. Whenever you need to reglue something, rather take the time to first completely remove the glue that might already be stuck there. Pick it off... if it is hot glue, wait until it is cool and it will simply peel off. If you are removing floral glue wait until it is just tacky and then dab it to lift it off) or wipe it off (if it is wood glue) completely and then start fresh. This way you do not get a build up of unsightly glue and you can continue to design with the “magical” mechanics behind how you accomplished the design completely concealed.

And once done go over the design and peel away any glue that you might have missed while designing… It is well worth the effort!

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine