A play with micro beads

Sigh, am such a sucker for trying out new things and techniques - no wonder the craft room is almost bursting at the seams :( A buddy of mine (Zo) commented the other day that I do mix things - she meant it nicely I know and I sure do mix as I just can't settle on one style or technique - always fascinated by new ideas to try.

For AGES I've wanted to have a play with glass micro beads, bought some clear ones plus super sticky adhesive backing and then sat here eyeing up the pot of beads with fear hesitation and there they stayed. But, this week's Less Is More challenge is to use beads and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge is to have three of something on your card - bingo, inspiration and here we have my first play:

I used:

- 4.75" x 4.75" square white card stock

- SU's 'Ornament Keepsakes' stamps, stamped using Adirondack 'Purple Twilight'

- Woodware Ultra High Bond adhesive sheet - it's just like the tape with the red protective covering and, to my mind, is the very best way of ensuring the little perishers micro beads stick. I'd had a little play with a little scrap of normal double sided adhesive sheet when the beads first arrived and the beads picked off easily - you need the really strong stuff if that's how you want to fix the beads. I haven't tried glue but believe that Glossy Accents works well - so long as you leave it overnight to dry

- the stamped shapes were covered with the adhesive sheet, red side left on and then die cut with the SU matching dies - of course you could just fussy cut them either

- then the red protective layers were peeled off and the shapes dunked into a little tray of clear glass micro beads

- I just drew the lines for the baubles with a Whispers pen

- sentiment is stamped with Adirondack 'Purple Twilight' ink and a sentiment from Woodware's 'Bubble Wreath' set

My guess is that many of you know about micro beads, Sue Wilson of Particraft uses them a lot, they're teensy and I wouldn't like to spill a pot of them as they do bounce all over the place given half a chance! I use one of those special little trays with a pouring spout and stopper at one end. The beads come in colours as well as clear and don't have a hole in the centre like seed beads we used for cross-stitch - waaaaaay too small for that! Here's a close up of a bauble:

Lovely and 'schparkly' :)

I can see some butterflies getting the 'micro' treatment next!

And last, but by no means least - this is also for Sarn's Rudolph Day Challenge - remember, it's the 25th of each month. You have until the end of the month to link a Christmas card.

Edit: and Hazel just reminded me, I can link this into her Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra as well - so I am :)

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