Joins & Fixings
One of the major problems with mixed media is how to join pieces together. The materials that make up your piece may be entirely different in composition and fixing them together can be a matter of trial and error. If you don't want to use solder or anything to do with heat all is not lost as you still have a number of choices. There are glues, double sided tape, rivets, headpins, wire, screws and/or nails. It is likely that in any one piece you will need to utilise a number of techniques.
- Laminex can be glued to fabric with Aquadhere. Make sure you coat the whole surface of the Laminex.
- Double sided tape works well securing Perpsex, Laminex or Formica together. Wondertape is the best I have found and it comes in a range of widths.
- You need to use acid free glues when using paper otherwise the glue will eat into the paper.
- If you are incorporating beads into your design, you can use a head pin and curl the end to hold the bead in place or use a handmade rivet. The first end of the rivet is easy to make but to finish the other end when it is in the designed piece can be tricky if you are trying to finish on top of a bead. Tap too hard and the bead can shatter. Tap to softly and you can't finish the rivet properly.
- Depending on your design you may be able to wire pieces together and wire can be glued to Perpsex with an acid free glue.
