Dragon Scale Beads How-To - Page 5

Carols Glass · #**121** 2008-04-01, 5:23pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Parkinson

LOL thanks Carol ... I hate wasting time and materials even though I know its the only way to find out some things ... wasting stuff bugs me ... although lately my waste and future frit piles are getting rather large due to experiments that I could have passed on with a little more reading here but I already spend too much time here

I know exactly what you are saying here!

*Naos* · #**122** 2008-04-01, 5:33pm

LOL Well hey, you TRIED, right? I often come up with my best techniques by just trying new stuff - the Dragon Scales were a prime example.

cherie · #**123** 2008-04-02, 8:42am

Im going to try this today...I just got some copper green, I have heard so much about this color!

Anzie · #**124** 2008-04-05, 10:26am

I tried out your Tut the other day Amber. I'm really liking this type of bead. Thank you,:-

*Naos* · #**125** 2008-04-05, 1:59pm

WOW Anzie - they're beautiful! You got just the right spread around the scales - very nice!

Anzie · #**126** 2008-04-06, 6:51am

Thanks! What other colors would work well with this type of bead. I tried it with a red I have and they just didn't spread very well. And does the base bead glass make that much of a difference?
Thanks again for this tutorial, you guys have really helped this self taught newbie alot!

*Naos* · #**127** 2008-04-06, 8:15am

Yes, the viscosity of the base glass is just as important. That's why I use Ivory, Ochre Green or Copper for the base glass - they tend to droop enough to spread the scales.

I have had successful scale dot formation with the following colors besides EDP:

Lauscha Olive
Lauscha Steel Blue
Vet River Rock
Enameled Stringer - Dark Ivory base rolled over any color enamel

ziggys · #**128** 2008-04-06, 10:39pm

Oh I bet enamel stringer would be cool. I don't have the Lausha Steel Blue or Olive. And I am so in love with River Rock I don't want to put anything on top of it.

I bet that would offer hundreds of great colors!

ziggys · #**129** 2008-04-06, 10:42pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherie

Im going to try this today...I just got some copper green, I have heard so much about this color!

You are going to fall in love with it. It's a wonderful color to put on top of just about anything in stringers, or under just about anything as a base bead. But Copper Green is so expensive I like to put down clear or white first for a base bead with the CG on top. Clear looks cool as the first layer of a bead IMHO.

CG is also fun for putting dots of colors on top that will spread, like Periwinkle, and EDP.
Makes me think of Mosaic Green. I'm hoping they still make it, 'cause I've never tried it, and I really want to!

tikiterri · #**130** 2008-04-07, 9:31am

Thanks for the How-to I love these beads.

mdimatteo · #**131** 2008-05-29, 7:21am

Deborah, those beads are georgeous!
Mary

Carols Glass · #**132** 2008-05-29, 11:40am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziggys

Oh I bet enamel stringer would be cool. I don't have the Lausha Steel Blue or Olive. And I am so in love with River Rock I don't want to put anything on top of it.

I bet that would offer hundreds of great colors!

I was wondering if Amber meant to put the River Rock on top of the bead not as a base, as in the top color of the silvered ivory dots. That way, you are not really using much River rock?

ziggys · #**133** 2008-06-02, 9:12am

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeadDesignsByCarol

I was wondering if Amber meant to put the River Rock on top of the bead not as a base, as in the top color of the silvered ivory dots. That way, you are not really using much River rock?

Oh! Your right. Now that I read it again I see what you mean. Can't wait to try that one out!
Thanks for letting me know.

ziggys · #**134** 2008-06-03, 1:01pm

Ok, I tried River Rock on top of Ivory, (and the dots of SIS) but didn't really like it. I think the contrast or bright colors looks better. And it didn't spread well for me.

Tried a base of Effetre Trans. med Amethyst with EDP on top and the dots spread like wild fire!

Oh and Mark, I'm just like you. I don't want to waste any glass until I know what I'm doing. But how will I know what I'm doing until I waste glass??? I'm still trying to figure that out.

cherie · #**135** 2008-07-07, 9:18am

I love how these turned out, Thanks for sharing Amber.
I used Ochre as a base, sis and epd . They do look better etched. I tried it with copper green and it didnt turn out at all.
Has anyone experimented with any of the Reichbech (sp) glasses?
Im going to try some purples, pinks and blues today. Ill post pics if they turn out ok.

cherie · #**136** 2008-07-07, 5:41pm

Ok, this is what I tried..the Reinbach colors did not work for me at all. I tried a transparent, blue, pink and purple. The colors would not spread and the SIS overpowered the colors. Same for the vetro. blues, turquoises and moretti's blues and turquoises...I tried rods that felt rough. I think I will just need to get the laushasha steel blue.

I really like the EPD..I found if I work the EPD in a really low, really oxidizing flame it wont devit. It takes a lot longer to work the bead, but the results are well worth it. Im going to etch these and try to post some pics tomorrow.

ziggys · #**137** 2008-07-11, 2:18am

Cherie, Thanks for letting us know. I'm totally hooked on these. It's one of the few sets I've made.
Did you try any of the opaque Riechs? I will if not. I don't have steel blue either.

You've convinced me to etch mine. I love the EDP too. It seems there is a lot of control over the color of EDP by how hot you heat it. I like the pinks I get instead of the dark violet. I'll try a low oxy flame so I can keep that color without the devit!
Did you try a Tranparent Amethyst base?
Hope to see pics.

cherie · #**138** 2008-07-12, 7:09am

Yes..I just love how these turn out with the EPD..I have been putting two dots of EPD..After I layer the first dot I melt it some then add anther dot..I get really purple dots....My next glass order steel blue is definantly on my list. I didnt try any of the opaque colors of Riech, but if I get a chance to torch today I will. I want to try some pinks next. I will try the EPD for a more pink..that would be pretty I think.

ziggys · #**139** 2008-07-13, 3:35pm

Re-hi Cheri, To get the pinks from EDP I don't heat it much, or let the glass swirl and droop. Forgot to clarify that. But that way the silver looks silver, and doesn't turn black. I get very dark purple with black outlines, when I really heat it up and swirl in a neutral flame.
I'm going to try two dots of EDP now. Thanks!

BugNerd · #**140** 2008-07-27, 9:03pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightCat

I added a video demo of Amber's tutorial to my hotglass/youtube collection. I used some different materials because I needed to use what I had on hand so it isn't exact. If you are interested in seeing an amature take a stab at this bead style, here it is -> Dragon Scale Bead

Thanks,
Ross - hotglass

Great job on your videos!!! I'm just starting and have watched most of them. They are very very helpful!!!!!!!!!

Thank you! I'll definitely be trying these beads.

One question (Naos, Nightcat, anyone that wants to answer

)I have is about the silver leaf/foil. Is there a special kind that I need or do I just buy silver leaf? The reason I'm asking is that there appeared to be a couple different kinds (not different brands, but something was different about them). I was unable to figure out the difference.

*Naos* · #**141** 2008-07-28, 7:59am

Ricky - Silver Leaf is best. Foil is thicker and tends to clump vs. the nice spread of the leaf.

BugNerd · #**142** 2008-07-28, 1:19pm

Thank you!

*Naos* · #**143** 2008-11-19, 7:01pm

Bumpety bump bump

Eduardo · #**144** 2008-12-04, 3:06pm

..........................

*Naos* · #**145** 2008-12-11, 10:08pm

Thanks, Eduardo - hope you give it a try!

debkauz · #**146** 2009-01-02, 8:15pm

This is always one of my favorites!

*Naos* · #**147** 2009-01-07, 3:02pm

Thanks, Deb!

Here are a few new ones I created recently, using Lauscha Steel Blue and Lauscha Olive for the scale colors. Base glasses used were Vetrofond Wasabi (Green Ochre) and Effetre Curdled Ivory.

They look good shiny, too!

sunflower33 · #**148** 2009-01-14, 7:39pm

Amber, thanks so much for posting this tut!
I love your latest dragon scale beads, they're gorgeous!

Here is a dragon scale bead I made last night by following the directions in your tut, except that I used silver foil instead of silver leaf. It has a base of curdled ivory, the silver-wrapped ivory stringer (with foil), and dots of EDP. I melted the dots in but didn't really heat and gravity swirl them. I etched it though!

The orange-y colors in the EDP are really pretty. I think it turned more orange because of all the silver from the foil.
Thanks again for sharing this tut with us, Amber!

*Naos* · #**149** 2009-01-21, 6:29pm

Karolen - they're gorgeous! I love the colors you got!

Here's my version with EDP. It's on a Copper Green base, using the SIS (with silver leaf) and EDP dots...

thatsmithlady · #**150** 2009-09-01, 12:40pm

Keep coming back here to remind myself to make these dragon beads...