At Spotlight you can find everything you need to create, decorate and celebrate! With quality products at great prices and passionate service you can count on, you can create inspiration everyday at Spotlight.
Which Glue gun should I use?
Hot Melt Mini – Purple
• Ideal for projects where fine detail is needed-for all surface types.
• 10Watts
Hot Melt Large – Yellow
• Sturdy, larger gun ideal for larger projects on all surface types.
• 40Watts
Low Temp Mini – Pink
• Handy, compact & ideal for projects where finer, more intricate detail is required, and that may be heat sensitive or have a delicate surface such as lace, foil, silk flowers, ribbon, and foam.
• Ideal for educational situations as the lower temperature reduces the risk of serious burns, or industrial applications where delicate components could be damaged by the use of standard high temperature glues
• Low melt glue sticks are specially formulated for low temperature use, and are not suitable for use with Hot Melt guns
What Scrapbook is best for my needs, Adhesive pages, or Acrylic Sleeves?
Adhesive Pages
For a more formal or classic look this is a great option. If you have original photos that are important then this is your best solution. Once the clear sheet is placed over the top, then you can add your embellishments over the top of the protective sheet.
Acrylic sleeves.
This style album is less formal and allows for a wider range of embellishments; including dimensional embellishments If you intend to use beautiful scrapbook papers, with either digital prints or photocopied images, then this is a great way to display your photos. Then the embellishments can be applied directly to the sheet, so the placement is precise.
Permanent Spine
This is a useful album style if you have photos of an occasion that you would like to keep separately. You can then design your pages around the special occasion so you can share the best photos with friends.
Refillable albums.
These albums are ideal to keep if you intend to add new photographs. Putting your baby photos in a refillable album allows you to add new images as they years go by. Then – a great 21st gift idea.
Best Tip – Always look for albums that are ‘Acid Free Lignin Free’ to protect your memories.
Getting started with Card making
Before you can begin there are a few essential items you will need
• Blank Cards & envelopes
• Adhesive (tape or paste)
• Paper trimmer
• Scissors
• Craft mat
• Metal ruler
• Bond Folder
• Pens & Markers
• Ink Pads
There are many card making styles to try, and some beautiful effects can be accomplished by using some of the following techniques;
Stamping
• A great way to add sentiments to your cards very quickly. So it is ideal for making lots of cards at the one time.
Foiling
• Adds dimension and shine to your designs
Embossing
• Embossing can be achieved with the use of powders and a heat gun, or an embossing machine.
Glitter
• A great way to add colour and sparkle to your design.
Punching
• This application has many uses, but is ideal as a creative way to add a frame to a graphic image on your card.
Embellishing
• Choose from a large selection of embellishments that compliment the colour and theme of your cards.
Die Cutting
• You can hand cut your cards, or punch them with a popular icon, or use a machine to create a Die Cut. Using a machine is helpful when you have a large number of cards to make.
Look for our project sheets throughout the Papercraft department for ideas and instructions.
Craft paint is a water based paint which has many types & uses. Craft paint also cleans up in water.
• Folk art - which is usually done on wood, cardboard or metal surfaces. This paint is thin and therefore creates good detail when using fine brush strokes. Product dries with a matt finish.
• Craft Acrylic – This paint can be used on picture frames, placemats, paper, card, and even metal. This paint is usually of a medium texture, available in bright colours and is most often used for pieces that will stay inside. These colours can be diluted or mixed together. These products dry with a semi gloss finish.
What is the difference between Oil Colour, Acrylic Colour and Watercolour in Artist quality paint?
• Oil Colour - These paints are made from dry rich pigments and traditionally come from plants, flowers, clay and metals. The colours in oil paint are usually brighter and more lively and are resistant to fading, and perform much better over long periods of time. Oils dry very slowly so an artist can continue working with the artwork day after day and the paint will still be wet. Oil colour will only clean up with white spirits or turpentine solutions. It can not be diluted with water and dries with a beautiful lustre and glossy finish. Oil painting requires more patience than acrylic or watercolour and is better for more advanced techniques and painters.
• Acrylic Paint – This paint is also created with a dry powdered pigment which is then add to a polymer to make it into paint. In most cases acrylic paint has a medium density however there are new types such as ‘heavy body’ which have a thick and buttery consistency. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, and can be used with mediums such as fabric fixative making them able to be used on fabric. Mediums such as crackle medium or iridescent medium alter the final effect of the paint to suit the project requirements. Acrylic paints have a gloss and dry moderately quickly. They will not crack and flake and mix very easily with other water based paints. Many acrylic paints now behave like oil without the messy additives and clean up and dry much faster. These paints adhere to canvas, paper, fabric well and come in bright and attractive colours. They are fine for broad brush strokes or fine work. This is the best option for amateur or up and coming artists and students.
• Watercolour – Traditionally watercolours are very transparent. They also made from ground pigment. Watercolour can be diluted and reduced down with water which will make the colour thinner and softer. Mediums can be added to keep the brightness of the colour but thin the paint, as well as mask out an area that you do not wish the paint to cover. Varnishes and finishes can be applied to watercolour work. Watercolour is for use on paper surfaces. The best paper is watercolour paper made especially for this medium. The paper is 100% cotton and has been sized or coated with special chemicals designed to preserve the colour and make the artwork archival.
What is specialty paint?
• Glass Paint – is transparent and is used to paint on clear glass or Perspex or plastic surfaces. The light is able to shine through but shows the colour. These paints clean up with water and can easily be mixed together.
• Porcelain Paint – is used for decorating mugs, vases or anything made from ceramic or glass. In most cases they are transparent colour and come in paint or marker form. Oven baking is often required to make this paint permanent and dishwasher safe.
• Fabric Paint- is for decorating all type of fabric. In most cases these paints are heat set with a hot iron or hair dryer and then become washable. Fabric paints perform like acrylics however they become permanent when properly set to the fabric. They are mixable and glitter, gems and beads can often be added for a special touch. Fabric paint wash up with water.
What canvas do I need – ‘panel’ or ‘stretch’?
• Canvas Panels- These are panels made from either MDF or Masonite and covered with cotton canvas and gesso primed. Panels are perfect for artwork which will eventually be framed and perform like stretched canvas and give a very rigid, flat surface which looks like canvas with out the depth.
• Stretched Canvas – is cotton canvas stretched over a wooden frame and stapled at the back to give a taut and firm surface. The canvas is coated several times with a gesso or primer to stop the paint from penetrating the canvas and running through to the back. It also lets the paint sit on surface and so less paint is required. In addition the gesso makes the paint adhere better to the canvas and makes it last longer. Some canvas come with little wooden triangle which can be forced into the slits at each corner and used to tighten the frame and make it sit flush on the wall.
