Need sparkle help...
 

I need some sparkle in my beads and am wondering if there is something out there that I haven't tried. Here's what I've already incorporated in my beads:

1. Mica

2. Pixie dust

3. Goldstone & aventurine

4. 90 & 96 dichroic frit flakes

5. Double Helix on the exterior of a bead

What else is there? Photos would be terrific ... I'm out of ideas and you all amaze me with your ideas. I work in 90. 96 and 104. Thanks so much!!

Leaf. Silver, gold, palladium.

Gold and palladium leaf butterflies with DH clio and Helios (after a class with Irina Sergeeva)

Ugh, pic too small and won't let me delete.. Here it is bigger

You put clio over the palladium and then encased with clear????

No encasement, palladium or gold and then clio detailing on top

They're beautiful ... I'll have to try that. Thanks!

Those are GORGEOUS!!!! Now I need to research and see more of your work and the instructor's!!!

Silver mesh, brass shavings...not having any luck finding pictures.

I have the brass shaving but forgot how to use them ... haven't tried the silver mesh yet. Figured I'd burn it up.

CZs add a lot of sparkle.

The brass outgases when heated and if the pieces are small enough you can get nice tiny bubbles. You probably want to follow the 5% rule so that the gas bubbles don't case any cracks or outright fractures.

Clear encasement and mind the amount of time you spend admiring it before getting it in to the kiln.

At least I think that was how the instructions went.

And a longer version with photos here:
http://lampworketc.com/forums/showth...ght=brass+frit

Thanks Eileen!

I remembered that one, and need to do more beads with my brass frit!

Thanks Eileen and Phill ... Much appreciated!

Dichroic Extract and you can use it on any coe.
This is a bad photo of my first attempt to use it. It is twice as sparkly in real life.

How did you use it? In the flame??

Base bead of blue, dichroic extract in a very thin layer on a marver, base bead hot and roll over the extract. Keep the bead in the cooler part of your flame and encase. It can also be left on the outside of the bead.

It is expensive and you get a tiny glass jar of sparkling flakes but you use so little at a time it will last quite a while.

I haven't been able to burn it off like dichroic glass, and no scumming. I have wasted lots of $ on dichroic glass and had given up hope of being able to use it. Since this is the coating scrapped off the glass you can use it on any Coe of Glass.


This is another one I made. The DE only shows half of the sparkly as in person.

Jennifer, your beads using the dichroic extract are so pretty. I have some jars but have been too afraid to use it. I especially like your floral bead. Lydia

Thank you, Lydia. I wish my photo did it justice.

I was afraid to use it as well, but figured I wasted a lot more dichroic glass than what the jar of extract cost so I just jumped in.

Obviously I'm partial to my dichro stringer. :wink: I like that I can control where the sparkle is going.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c8...tardisbead.jpg

I keep missing your stringer when you post it for sale. One of these days I hope to score some to try.[-o<