Glitter glass

[beadammed]

I love shiney.  Does anyone know of glittery glass that is compatible with 104?  I'd love to see some examples of beads if there is.

[Trudi]

You can use dichroic in a number of ways.

Stright Dichroic Glass - usually comes in stripes. Easiest to use when "fire polished" so that the ends are rounded off. The dichroic needs to be protected from the flame as it scumms up when it comes in contact with the flame (it can take a little, but not much). You need to put the dichro face down  with the encased side on the outside. You can get dichro on black or clear glass. But unless you're really clever I'd stick to the clear!

It's hard to photograph - but the middle section in this shines like mad



You can use the same stripes to make stringer. I wind a gather of clear around a mandrel - marver round. add the dichro - gently in the higher part of flame - marvering the ends down so the flame doesn't get it!! encase in clear - lauscha is great as it's soft and melts fast and can take a lot of heat. - melt down and marver. Attach a punty or mandrel on the other side - Rotate in the flame getting a nice even heat. take out of flame allow to cool a little (depending on how thick you want it) and pull. this breaks up the dichro and gives it a different look. but once made is easier to work with and you have a lot of control where you want to put it!

Excuse this bead – murrini ended up too close to the "shore line" – but I have used dichro stringer in here – you can see it on the dark base though



And there's the dichro on copper foil - you can use in various ways. But it's expensive. OK if you're sharing with someone. And there are many ways to use it. Some I've learned from bought tutorials so I don't feel it's for me to share. But you can roll beads on it and it sticks well and is resistant to the heat. But this is a very different look – not one for me, but other like it.


Hope that helps!

[princess pink]

trudi, was just about to pm you for some dichro tips!!

Do i need to encase the dicro before hitting it on my bead? i got some of those strips from off mandrel like you and some schott clear so was gonna have a go this afternoon but any tips are appreciated!

[Trudi]

Tools
Dichro – (Fused/fire polished  with rounded edges is best)
Old mandrels (or you can use glass rods – but I like mandrels as they can take more heat – I use some old 2.4mm ones)
Marver
Tweezers (self locking are good, but not essential) If you have self locking tweezers – put your dichroic in ready



make a clear barrel on an old mandrel

marver smooth

with the coated surface facing the flame – heat the dicro in the higher /cooler part of the flame. You just need to warm the end so that is starts to soften and you can join to the base barrel.

Turn the dicro round and with the dicro side on the bead, gently hold just under the flame and gently melt round the barrel. – don't go too fast, but try to keep it warm. If it does cool and crack no worries you will be melting it in later.

When it's attached give it some gentle heat just so you can marver the ends down – make it easier to encase without great air gaps.

Cover in clear  - marver

Attach the other mandrel (or make a punty if you prefer)

Heat thoroughly and slowly

Take out of heat – give it a moment (depending on how thick/thin you want it). And pull.

If you do use old mandrels – either keep them for this type of job. If you want to re-use them for making beads, please sand them down or you might find bits of glass exploding off them – and you don't want that now!

I hope that helps. You never know – I might persuade Jojo or someone to take pictures next time I have a go!

[Shirley]

Reichenbach Ocean and Antique Crystal have glittery bits in.

Goldstone, available as stringer or as frit - I've seen Gold, blue, lime and dark greens and old gold. Also called aventurine.

All good fun to play with

[Trudi]

I do love my goldstone too!

Great ideas Shirley  - and easier for newbies to start out with!

[Mary]

Or mica powder or flakes. The flakes can look really like glitter.

[Mand]

I'm loving the Reichenbach Ocean I got at Flame Off    It looks dreamy over white.

[Shirley]

Ocean is one of the nicest. Looks great by itself or encased in clear too.

[squirsygirl]

Dichroic's lovely over yellow - I encase the sides flat stick of dichroic before using it:



Anyone got any pikkies of mica powder?

Kirsty

[Trudi]

try it over pearl beige for a sophisticated look!

[Lush!]

Mica powder ...

[♥♥Tan♥♥]

Julie does the mica rub off after a while?

Mary that is beautiful, is it mica flakes?

[Lush!]

I don't think it does, Tan, I have tried cos I prefer a very subtle coating 

[Steampunkglass]

I was going to say goldtone too, lovely glittery effects! Also, although not a glass, theres always putting flakes of gold or silver leaf in too