Daniel you are right melting things takes a good eye for knowing when it is done and often a few seconds longer can be disaster. I still recall several times as a kiddo when my projects were not successful and wax was everywhere. It certainly slowed my enthusiasm for melting stuff.
But since then I dabbled with melting crayons, sealing wax, ribbon, material edges on handmade small flowers, acetate, candles and soap for adhering stamped images and liquid applique for puffy snow on cards. Another product that melts is Wonder Under (WU) a sheer woven fabric adhesive which one generally sandwiches between 2 layers of fabric and when ironed the 2 fabrics are adhered together. Another use is to adhere fabric to paper.
Daniel is liquid applique what you are describing as 3-D acrylic paint? If not, please as you said "Tell us what you do & how you do it".
Thanks!...Jan