Volcano Arts | Idea Center | Bookbinding Supplies

World Headquarters Volcano, CA (pop. 85)

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Volcano Arts Embellishments

Omni-Gel | Charms | Strap Webbing | Eyelets | Snaps

Omni-Gel
	Don't ever run the paper pulp you rub from an Omni-Gel image down your sink. You'll plug it up in no time. Instead, line a colander with a paper towel and then pour the water and paper pulp through it. The paper towel will catch all the pulp but allow the water to pass through.
To transfer this picture of my Great Grandmother onto the metal book I coated it with Omni-Gel and then transferred it with a tacking iron. I then washed and rubbed the paper off the back of the image leaving only the Omni-Gel and ink. What a fantastic way to preserve photos (copies)!
	Charms Check out my Shoe Charm necklace. It started life as a bracelet but it got too heavy. The charms are from all over and no two are alike. Some were gifts and some I collected myself.
Strap Webbing I used our Strap Webbing to make a shoulder strap on a Distressed Leather Journal. I simply cut slits in the leather (opposite the spine), slipped the webbing through and then used our Japanese Screw Punch to punch holes for sewing. I used a simple stitch sewn with waxed binding thread.
	Harry Potter lives! I sacrificed my copy of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" to make this great box with an embedded Clock. What a perfect supply box for your desktop. You'll always know what time it is! So, how did I get the hole just right? Easy! I just used the clock to trace a circle on my box lid. I then took at awl and poked holes all the way around the circle. Then I used a utility knife to connect the holes. You'll want to be extra neat and careful if the back side of your clock will show after you're done.

Snaps
The snaps that we sell come in 4 parts and are easy to install using a hammer and a Better Eyelet Tool. Christine uses them for attaching a tab to a journal so that it can be snapped shut. Note, the tab itself is held onto the back of the journal using a Rivet.

The prettiest finish is on this piece.

Parts A and B go together and parts C and D go together.

Step by step:

Before installing the snap you must have a hole drilled in both items that you will be snapping. Our Japanese Screw Punch is ideal for this application in most cases. A 1/8" hole (tip # 3 on the punch) is perfect.
Part C is the part that will be seen from the outside of the project when it is snapped so parts C and D will be on the tab of your journal (assuming that a tab is what you are using).
Insert part A through the hole in 1 piece of your project (the tip should come through the front).
Place part B over part A so that the tip of A is through the hole in B.
Place the Better Eyelet Tool's little nubby tip into the tip of part A.
Use a hammer to hit the Eyelet Tool until part A's end is flared out and the snap doesn't wiggle.
Now repeat in the other surface to be snapped using parts C and D.
Insert part C through the hole in the second surface to be snapped.
Place part D over part C so that the tip of C is through the hole in D.
Place the Better Eyelet Tool's little nubby tip into the tip of part C.
Use a hammer to hit the Eyelet Tool until part C's end is flared out and the snap doesn't wiggle.

Our snaps work best on material that is about 1/8" thick. If the material is too thin the snap posts will be too long and will split or worse when you try to flare them out. The solution is to put the snap in a Hand Vise and cut the appropriate amount of the post off with your Saw Frame (a 3/0 blade is good for this). Use the snap as usual.

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