Frequently asked questions:
Is it an oil-based marbling paint?
  • No. It is a water-based formulated marbling paint that stains most natural fibres including fabric. It is a quick drying non-toxic paint.

Can you use any fabric to do marbling ?
  • Only fabrics that absorb water quickly can work with this marbling.
  • Test your fabric under a tap-if the fabric absorbs quickly – good to use for marbling !
  • Test your fabric under a tap-if the WATER runs off or absorbs slowly – no good to use!
  • The quicker it absorbs water the better your print will turn out.
  • TEST ALL materials.

Do you treat the fabric and wood with anything?
  • Yes, all fabric printing needs a mordant, we use 30g Alum found in crystal form in your Kit. (for total of 6 litres water)
  • How to use the Alum sachet included in the Kit:
    (The Instructions are labled on the sachet)
    To pre-treat fabric. Dissolve 10g crystals in 2 litres of near boiling water 
    Submerge fabric for 2 minutes or spray wood 
    Allow to drip dry.
    Once dry, can you them marble the item.
  • The solution can be reused, pour into a clean container - labled ''DO NOT DRINK'' as it looks like water.

What is the SIZE and MORDANT?
  • Remember the mordent (ALUM CRYSTALS) is for preparing the fabric for the paint. DO NOT CONFUSE THE TWO.
    It is s not used to float the pigment, that is the FLOWTER POWDER which is another sachet in your Kit used to mix with tap water called the SIZE. The size is to carry the pigment and keep the pigment separated, allowing controled designs creations.
    ​
Do you need to treat paper, tiles, cork, and pottery?
  • I do not treat paper, tiles and pottery.
  • I treat hard wood by spraying it with alum solution. 
  • Always treat fabric with alum found in your kit.

How to dry prints after marbling?
  • Leave all items to dry before touching; there is no need to rub them.
  • All porous surfaces dry at different rates.
  • Paper and fabric prints are quick, lay print face down onto some kitchen towel to allow the floater liquid to be absorbed.
  • Paper can also be left to drip dry.
  • Less porous surfaces take longer to dry, like stones and shells.

Do you have to iron the fabric?
  • Yes, rinse under a tap after marbled, this allows all alum to be rinsed out and then dry iron on the back. (Heat fixes fabric)
 
Can you wash the fabric?
  • Yes, on a gentle cycle in your washing machine.

Can you marble glass?
  • No it is not porous, the paints will not work directly on glass.

What other things can you marble?
  • Terracotta pot (if unglazed)
  • Papier-mâché items
  • Pebbles
  • Shells
  • Paper balls
  • Wooden blocks
  • Leather
TOP TIPS:
  • To whiten the surface before marbling, rather use a diluted white chalk paint as it keeps the surface porous as white acrylic paint may actually prevent the marbling pigment from sticking properly, as it seals the porous surface.
  • For the best results on all porous surfaces, we recommend using Alum to prepare the surface before marbling.

How many prints can you get with the full kit?
  • Generally 400 prints for fabric A6. Up to 1000 prints for paper A6 (Mini Kit)
  • Depends on which kit you have, Primary Kit has more pigment than Mini Kit
  • Depends on how much paint you use per print and what you are printing.
  • Depends on what size the print is.

How do you print large prints?
  • The bigger the tray, the bigger the print is going to be. 
  • For example: For scarves and lampshades we used a garden grow-bag plastic tray. Remember you only need an inch deep tray.

What is the paint floating on?
  • The Floater Powder is a plant extract in powder form, which is mixed with tap water, this is called the SIZE. Larger trays need more Floater mix.

How long does the floater liquid last once mixed?
  • Up to 3 months
  • Storage it in a cool dark place, not in the fridge.

How do you dilute the paint?         
  • One part paint to one part water into an empty container with an air-tight lid.
  • Once you have finished your master-pieces, you can put the lids back on, and prolong the diluted paint until it’s finished. 
  • Always keep them in a cool place.

Will the paint stain clothes?
  • Yes, so prepare yourself with an apron and use some plastic/newspaper on your table for protection.

How do you mix the floater?
  • Only refer to the Floater pot or sachet for instructions.

Primary Large Kit:
Pot of floater powder 42g POT with blue spoon provided- 
(Use a slightly heaped BLUE SPOON per 1 litre of  HOT TAP water )
OR measure Floater Powder 3.5g per litre tap water.
  • Bring your pot of TAP water to near boiling. 
  • Sprinkle in your Floater Powder 3.5g / slightly heaped blue spoon provided, and whisk quickly until all the powder is dissolved. 
  • Pour into a container with a lid and leave to cool overnight.
  • Whisk again before use until even. Electric whisk can be used.
  • Storage it in a cool dark place, not in the fridge.
  • Do not drink

Mini Marbling Kit:
  • 7g  per sachet with 2 litres water mixing
  • Same mixing as above

Can dissolved alum be kept? How should this be stored and for how long?
  • The dissolved alum can be stored in any bottle (old milk containers that is cleaned out thoroughly) please label it ALUM DO NOT DRINK.
  • You can put dissolved alum in a spray bottle to spray items. 
  • It will keep for 3 applications of 10g per 2 litres of hot water. 
    (One sachet is 30g) You can keep each solution for 3 applied occasions.     (Total of 9 applications) 
  • Or use whole sachet for 6 litres water and keep.

Why should fabric not be ironed before it’s printed onto? Why is this?
  • The reason why we do not ironing the fabric after you have treated the fabric with alum, is that the alum oxides too quickly, and damages the fabric. Once the print is taken off the tray, we advise rinsing it under the tap to get rid of the alum and floater, and then dry iron the back to fix the fabric for washing purposes.
Are your pigments non-toxic and child safe?
  • ​Yes, if schools needs a Safety Data Sheet we can provide one (just email us at [email protected])

Can you marble onto skin for personal and commercial body marbling?
  • No. Our pigments are not cosmetically approved in the UK & abroad EU. Not to be used as body marbling pigments.
  • Body marbling is considered to have cosmetic implications, as it is a print on your skin, so we do not advertise or encourage body marbling. 
  • If  the paint does get onto your skin, hands or fingers, simply wash off with warm water and soap or use alcolol hand sanitiser on a cloth to remove if no warm water and soap is available. There is no toxins, so nothing to worry about.

         Regulatory Status
  • No Skin Application: The pigments must not be used for personal or commercial body marbling.
  • UK Cosmetic Law: Body marbling falls under cosmetic regulations because the print adheres directly to the skin.
  • Not Advertised: The manufacturer does not endorse, market, or encourage using these paints for skin art.

        Safety & First Aid
  • Non-Toxic: The formula contains no toxins and poses no serious health risks if accidental contact occurs.
  • Easy Removal: Accidental spills on skin, hands or fingers wash off easily with warm water and soap.
  • Alternative Cleaning: Alcohol hand sanitiser on a cloth can remove the pigment if warm water and soap is unavailable.

What paper is good to marble?

​How to reminders: (VIDEOS)
​
All the solutions and reasons to the above reminders are covered in the instructions provided in the Marbling 4 Fun kit.

In my 30+ years experience, almost every angle has been covered and hence being placed into the instructions for your benefit. 

This is an ancient craft and is very forgiving. Like anything creative, with practise, comes perfection, and perfection is a unique masterpiece neither wrong nor right. It is a work of art.

My advice, enjoy the process and have fun!                       

Craig Joubert.