Grandma's Heirloom Recipe Card

• Print
• Email

Details

Last Updated: Tuesday, 02 April 2013 15:13

1. Begin with properly fired shelf cone 04 bisque.  Moisten a clean sponge and wipe bisque to remove any dust.
2. Choose a recipe that’s fairly short.  Although you can use this technique to replicate typewriter print, the idea is to capture special handwriting – so a handwritten recipe is recommended.  You need good contrast between the writing and the background, so a white background is preferred.
3. Scan your recipe into the computer; you may need to increase the contrast between the background and writing, and/or change the photo from color to black and white.  Use photo editing software to size the recipe to 8”x10”, invert the color scheme, and mirror the print.  In Photoshop, this is Image>Adjustments>Invert (to change writing to white and background to black), and Image>Image Rotation>Flip Canvas (to mirror the image).  Different program will have different instructions.  Alternatively, you can take the recipe to a copy shop and explain that you need this done.  Whether the edits are completed by your or a copy shop, ultimately you’ll need to print a few copies on a laser printer.  Ink Jet will not work for this technique.
4. Dilute an amount of SC-32 Bluebeard. Using a CB-110 #10/0 Liner Brush to drop a small amount on one of your extra recipe copies.  Drop the diluted glaze at a place where a white (writing) area meets black.  Your glaze dilution is correct when the glaze will repel from the black and pull to the white.  You’re ready to start.
5. With your diluted glaze and a CB-110 #10/0 Liner Brush, carefully trace over the handwriting in the recipe, depositing the glaze in the negative (white) space.  The glaze should bead away from the black ink, but take care not to get glaze in the black areas.
6. Once the handwriting areas are completed, you can use thinned SC-15 Tuxedo to go over any lines from the original recipe card, or typed areas, as in our example.  Allow to dry.
7. With a CB-604 #4 Soft Fan Brush, coat the entire recipe with a solid layer of FN-001 White.  Be sure not to move the glaze around too much, as it may smear the layer underneath.
8. While still wet, place the recipe in place, face down on the Clay Canvas.  Let settle for 60 seconds or so, then carefully press from the center outward, to remove air bubbles.  Allow to remain in place for 24 hours.
9. Our recipe card had a design on the left side; rather than replicate the design, we chose a simpler one.  If you’d like to add a design, be sure to size your handwritten recipe copies so the edge design will still fit on the clay canvas.  If teaching a class, perform these steps after step 6 above, while waiting for the glaze to dry on the recipe.
10. Tear a blank piece of paper, to create a torn edge (as shown in the photo).  Keeping in mind the space needed for the recipe, place the paper on the right side of the canvas, with the torn edge to the left.
11. With a CB-604 #4 Soft Fan Brush, apply 3 coats SC-72 Grape Jelly, taking care to draw the brush across the edge of the paper across the canvas from right to left, once per row per coat.  Remove the paper after the third coat, and allow the glaze to dry.
12. Print the pattern for the vintage cook, and use AC-230 Clay Carbon Paper to transfer the pattern to the piece.
13. Use the SG-401 Designer Liner to trace the lines on the cook.
14. Once the piece has thoroughly dried, you may remove the recipe copy from step above.  If desired, you can “age” the recipe by putting a few strategic splatters of thinned SC-34 Down to Earth and SC-46 Rawhide to resemble food splatters.
15. Using a CB-604 #4 Soft Fan, apply 2 coats of  S-2101 Crystal Clear Brushing Glaze over piece.  Allow to dry.
16. Stilt and fire to shelf cone 06/05.

• Holiday / Seasonal