Beeswax Beauty.

Most of you are already aware of how very much I love using beeswax in my art. It is my preferred medium of choice because it can be used in so many different ways to create a variety of effects. For this project I wanted to create a "direct fusion" transfer into the beeswax using the simplest of supplies. There are many ways to transfer onto beeswax but one of my favorites is the fusion method.

I started with a blank canvas box that had held some spa products that I had received as a gift some time ago. As you can see from the photo, the box is octagonal and I wondered how the beeswax would handle the sharp angles and corners of the box but it did fine.

I gathered my pelleted, "natural" colored beeswax, some decorative napkins and my heat ironing tool also known as a "Hot Wax Stylus". You can find this and many other beeswax accessories on Suze Weinberg's Website. I painted the box with a buttery yellow acrylic paint so it would match the color of the beeswax. Next, I applied several thick layers of beeswax using an old paintbrush in long, smooth strokes.

I then took my napkin and peeled apart the 2 ply's of white backing leaving only the actual image sheet intact. I laid the napkin over the still warm beeswax and then pressed into it firmly.

Next, I took my hot wax stylus and slowly and with consistent strokes; I ironed over the napkin. When you begin to iron two things happen. First the napkin begins to absorb the wax making everything but the image disappear. Secondly, as the napkin absorbs, it begins to fuse into the wax until it eventually comes to sit under a layer of the beeswax. When these two things happen it completely transfers the napkin into the wax appearing as if it had been hand painted onto the surface.

If you wanted to, you could also take this technique a step further by adding glitter glue or perfect pearls to add a bit of shine to the finished piece. I preferred to leave this one like this because I just loved how bright and buttery the beeswax appeared against the pinkish coral of the orchids.

As you can see from the photo's it is virtually undetectable that the image used to be a decorative napkin at all. This technique can be used on almost any flat surface that can be easily ironed. You can get decorative napkins in so many beautiful styles and patterns these days so why not try this technique on a blank journal, a candle, or even a box as I did here. With all that you can do using this natural and versatile material, its no wonder I love beeswax!