I've made hippos. I start with a very round, pudgy bead and then add a donut bead on one side (usually the right since I'm right handed). To the donut bead I add large dots of glass on the top and bottom to build up the mouth area; I tend to make the top mouth part fatter- it looks better that way in my opinion. I then add four dots for legs. Once the legs are the size I want I gently heat them and flatten them, so the hippo can stand. I then take a thick stringer and add the tail and two dots for ears. I heat the ears a bit, poke with my dental pick and sort of pull back at the same time to make an ear cavity. Next comes the teeth. I add four white dots to the mouth- two up and two down and melt in a bit. I add more white to the top teeth. I add the eyes next and then return to gently heat the top teeth and pull down into points.
wizzie
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