I'm at my wits end with this stuff, any help would be VERY much appreciated!!!

The pendants I make involve decoupaging printed-out photos/images (using high quality photo paper) to a pendant base.

I have tried some different styles, including various wood tiles, glass tiles (with the image underneath), and currently metal bezels.

I've had pretty good luck with decoupaging onto the wooden tiles, BUT with every other method I run into one major problem every time! The ink from the image smears and runs. 

There is only ONE kind of sealer that does not smear the ink, and it's an acrylic spray sealer, so I cannot use it for bezel pendants in which the whole is to pour the sealer so it has a built-up affect, like with Diamond Glaze. The built-up ones are what I've always liked best, so that's what I want to conquer.

I've done lots of reading and even personally asking Etsy sellers (who sell the supplies for this stuff) for help, and have not had any luck.

I've tried so many different techniques and products for making the ink stay put. Nothing works!

*I've used a protective spray meant to keep ink from running (works GREAT under my acrylic spray sealer, but nothing else)
*I've tried Diamond Glaze and 3D Crystal Lacquer on their own
*I've tried using my protective spray, THEN a nice coat of my acrylic spray sealer, THEN several coats of Diamond Glaze
*I've tried the protective spray, then Mod Podge (like, every kind of Mod Podge too), then Diamond Glaze
*I've used a protective anti-smear product called Micro Glaze
*I've tried using slightly less ink when I print the images

If you have any ideas I'm all ears. I'm losing hope!

I have a question you guys!!
So, I use the kind that you print on, and I made 9 shrinkies the other night, and lightened all of the pics by at LEAST 50% before printing. They were PERFECT when they came out of the oven, I was so happy...
But then I applied some sealer...and it darkened them...a lot. GRRR! They still look nice I think, but like I said, they're just way darker then what I wanted.
Anyone else experience this?? What should I do next time..maybe lighten the pics by, what, 60% or something? I want to perfect my technique!

Hello! Thanks for the positive feedback, you're too sweet:)
I'll be happy to help! Now, maybe it's cause I just woke up and my brain's not working, but I'm a little confused by your problem...Are you saying you're having trouble with the actual sewing of stretch fabrics, like the thread is bunching up?? If so, that's a completely common problem, which you can remedy by using a zig-zag stitch or any "stretch" stitch on your machine, and of course by serging it, and also by NOT stretching the fabric as you sew it. What kinds of skirts are you making? Your thighs make the skirt poof out?  Hmm, if so you can just make the skirt bigger. Hehee, sorry,  I'm dense. 

~Haylee

Ok, here's my report after trying out my Inkjet sheets tonight for the first time!!

I spent about 5 trillion hours fiddling with my printer settings to make sure that when it printed it wouldn't cut off any of the picture (I have bad luck with my printer, dont' ask me why, I'm just dense, haha!) and photoshop settings to make sure I got the pictures I was using light enough. I couldn't get it to look right in my ACDSee program, so I instead used Photoshop and lightened the photos by 50% (I'm a novice with PS, so it took a minute to realize the section I needed to go to was under Adjustments, then under Hue/Saturation).

I fit two pictures on 1 sheet, and it printed out just fine thank god! Then I pre-heated my oven to 275 degrees.

I carefully cut the pictures out with normal scissors, and punched a hole at the tops with my hole puncher, then put them on a cookie sheet with a side of a paper bag I tore off. I baked them for about 5 minutes. Our oven does NOT have a window on it, and I was worried about this, but take it from me, it didn't actually matter luckily! Now, for my first ever attempt at Shrinky Dinks I think my pieces came out ok, but they were both square and rectangle shaped, and they did come out slanted. BUT, I figured it was probably because the paper bag underneath them was a little bumpy and not flat. So then I did batch #2, sans paper bag, instead I used a piece of parchment paper. This time my pieces came out pretty much perfect!! I was so excited!!

But....then....I turned into a complete idiot!

I saw that one of my pieces looked a little splotchy (My guess is I rubbed it without even acknowledging and some of the ink got smudged), so...I..*nervous laugh*....I dampened a towel and tried to wipe it clean. *hangs head* That's not even the worse of my idiocy. I then thought it would be a good idea to use Windex....Yeah, so basically now that piece is ruined, because "apparently" the ink is not smudge-proof....or Windex-proof.

Yeah, and this is after reading everything there is to read on shrink plastic...I KNEW not to go wiping off the ink, but I did it anyway. AHEM, anyway, I can't wait to try more, I'm now addicted, and I have 10 more sheets to play with!  I'm gonna seal my one good remaining piece with Mod Podge tonight and see how that looks.

I used Modge podge when I did the last set and I haven't had a problem with the gloss or the image smearing. My main issue was that I got bubbles If I tried to make it thicker. I just dabbed it on with a soft paintbrush. I didn't brush it across the surface and it worked out quite well.

Applesonastick, i'm not sure...I'd say try it and see without anything added.

I think I'll definitely try the Mod Podge I luckily have on hand already, to see if I like it (I've used it for decoupage a million times, so I'm happy I'm familiar with it). Does it get tacky, to the touch??
Because when I've decoupaged with it it always seems to feel somewhat sticky, which kinda bugs me!

Hi guys!
I'm currently waiting for my first ever Shrinky Dinks to come in the mail!! - The inkjet printer ones! Can't wait!

But my question is this: What are some good sealers for the printable sheets??

I've only found a few short references to sealers on here, but never in regards to the printable sheets.
Can anyone give me some recommendations?? I'd be ever so grateful!

P.S. I should mention that I'm looking for a shiny finish, something that adds dimension and depth to the colors, if that makes sense..not a matte finish

Oh thanks! That definitely makes sense, it's just one of those things where my mind is stuck and I get past my feeling of "I don't get it!", haha. I often have a blocked brain. Thanks for your example, it did make sense! I'm still a little unsure of the technicalities of it though...

[multiple panels]

Hi!
When browsing through DIY stuff on Ebay (for example) I always see the expression "multiple panels" and variations thereof on corset tops, dresses, and sometimes pencil skirts. I've seen people say that it fits the body as ideal as possible.

Well, I don't get it! How exactly does it fit better? What does having several different panels and seams on a garment do exactly? Is that only true for just non-stretchy garments, which have to be more fitted??

Please, please, please tell me. I've actually been wondering this for months and finally decided to break down and ask you guys!

~Haylee

No, I didn't I think I probably forgot about it and moved onto some other project, that's usually what happens with me if I don't understand how to make something right away. I have sewing ADD! Haha, anyway....yeah, I still totally want to try it out soon though!

Hello! So...I find the cutest fabric at Walmart (shush if you don't like it!), where I mainly shop, for less than 3 bucks a yard usually, so when I search on Ebay for the really popular fabrics, the ones a lot of the "famous" DIY online sellers are using, I realize the fabric is being sold sometimes over 10 bucks a yard, when shipping is included.

I'm sorry, I am admittedly a cheap skate, but I just don't understand how these people make a profit when they're paying so much for fabric. Am I missing something? I'd love to be able to get those cute fabrics on Ebay too, especially the lycra ones with cupcakes or skulls and other crazy prints, but I just can't figure out how I could do that and see any money leftover once/if it sells.

I am a DIY seller on Etsy, and I am still trying to figure out the smartest way to make profits. Are there any bargain fabric stores online that are *actually* cheaper than Ebay, or is Ebay it?

Sorry if this thread is kinda scattered, I just wanted to open a dialogue about this topic, hehe.

~Haylee