Inspiration Thread - Ways to decorate a bead?

[helbels]

Hiya

I was having one of those days yesterday where I was feeling utterly uninspired at the torch and just looking at my glassy stash trying to think of something to make.

I'm sure we all have days like these from time to time.

So I wondered if it would be good to have a thread that simply lists ideas on how to decorate a basic bead. 

I'll start off:

1) Encase it

2) Add some frit

3) Stringer Scrollwork

4) Add some silver foil and put some frit over it

5) Silver glass accents

5) Add a few dots...


What others? You can be as detailed or vague as you like... or simply expand on some of the ideas already posted...

If you think this is a crap idea for a thread, let me know and I'll delete it!

[MadelineBunyan]

5a)poke hole in centre of dots, melt flat = flower

6)poke some holes, dot of transparent = my favourite things..bubbles!

7)cold stringer, twist, snap off

8)stringer lines any old how, rake.

9) stick dots on top of other dots

9a) 9 + 6

[ARBeads]

Great Idea, I've had one of those days today, really frustrating.

My favourite is pick 2 odd colours (you know the stash you never use because it's always bird poo...) and make an implosion wave bead. You'll never be dissappointed (expect bird poo) but you may be surprised..........If it is fowl effluent you can always go one step to far and etch  

[ScarletLeonard]

If in doubt make a gravity bead

If I'm having a day of nothing working I do end up with a ton of gravity beads and for some reason they always work best when I'm trying to do something else.

[Hazer]

I don't think this is a very helpful suggestion, but I used to like trailing stringers in little wispy, raised lines around the base bead, so it was a bit Saturn-esque

[MadelineBunyan]

twisty stringer!

I still haven't found my 'bead that I make when everything seems to be coming out pants' I usually try several things that also don't work

at the moment I cant stop sticking fins on things, and I'm not even making fish!

[awrylemming]

What about:
Cz's
Fine silver trails
Copper cut outs
Mica

All lovely and fun!

[Juniper]

1) If a bead is turning in to bird poo it still makes quite a lovely fish.

2) A sculptural always saves my day. I can't stop making toes...

3) Raised dots

4) raked lines of stringer

4a) 3 + 4

[Blue Kiln Beads]

I like abit of encasing in clear then applying decoration on the top. 

[Trudi]

Layers of encasing in different colours to create effects!

Enamel transfers!

Silver or copper messh inside a bead. The silver can be left in tact or melted further in to leave dots!

[MadelineBunyan]

bit of silver leaf on a base bead, then wrap in thick stringer of a transparent colour(or colours), in a round about sort of way. turquoise and teals work well. melt in.

oh, fine silver wire

[Kalorlo]

Add murrini! Try applying them in different ways - patted in flush, left raised and rounded, raised and poked in the middle, clear on top at any stage, twist the centre, twist just outside to give them a tail...

Add silvered stringer, not necessarily just ivory (coral, hades, avocado...).

Wrap it in shards.

[Shirl]

I have been having fun recently making those "snakeskin" (or could it be dragon scales)....style beads

[awrylemming]

Add gold leaf, or try fuming