Jennifer,
My answer will address the regular paste vs the overlay paste which I have not used. I'm not clear from your post if you are mistakenly using the overlay paste or not.
I know a lot of people thin the paste out, I do not. When "I" do it, it seems to add too many bubbles in it.
I teach the following method and it seems to work well on my items and my students.
- First I make sure the paste is a nice smooth consistency - a bit thinner than
Elmers glue
- I load up my brush with lots of slip, so much so that my brush itself really doesn't touch the leaf or other items. I don't load it up so that it is drippy and uncontrolable.
- Apply the layer evenly over the leaf. The first layer is the most important as it will be the layer on the top that you see once the leaf burns away.
- Let the layer dry completely.
- Add the next layer the same way and so on.
Using a thick layer and a light touch will prevent that pulling away effect.
Just another note. If you are covering the whole seed pod you will get the general shape of the pod, but you won't see the outside detail on the pod because it will be in the inside (understand) If you are interested in seeing the detail. Mold half the pod at a time with a two part molding compound. Then make each half, let it dry and then put the two halfs together.
Let me know how it goes. And pics would be cool too.