Monday 25 March 2013

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 :)

Di
x

32 comments:

  1. Hi Di. It's 1.00 here but I stayed up for a few more minutes to see whether my scheduled blog posted when it should, and it did!
    I like your card and the effect of these beads. I do it with accent beads which I think are even smaller than these. They roll everywhere so you need a tray to collect the 'escapees'. In a worshop we used them over stickeroos! I thought you might like to try that knowing your love for them. Now I'm off to bed. Kate x

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  2. WOW! This is gorgeous with all that schparkly purple and white! I love those ornaments decorated with beads! Beautiful creation!

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  3. I was playing with these in the week, and the only way I could get the little herberts to stay put was by pouring UTEE over them and blasting them to within an inch of their lives.

    I'll look up the Woodware sticky stuff now... :)

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  4. Lovely! I am always scared of these beads. Have some Martha Stewart micro ones, my 1st effort was not stellar! You have inspired me to try again, using the sticky sheet stuff. Really like your ornaments. TFS

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  5. Pwetty and beady. You certainly know how to try your patience.
    Knocking on Sarn's door but knowone's there. Too cold to play on the swings so going home.
    Hugs Mrs a.

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  6. Wauuu,
    how lovely effect.
    Love your card,
    hugs and happy mothers day Di,
    Tamara

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  7. Beautiful card...those beads really gave a nice look...I like the idea from the poster who suggested using them over stickeroos!

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  8. And there was me thinking you had sat and sewn all those little beads in place! :-) Such a fab result Di.
    Hugs,
    A x

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  9. Beadiful card! Love the look of the beaded ornaments Cathy x

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  10. Absolutely gorgeous, not sure I would have had the patience to manage two colours and on baubles, I just use them for flower centres.
    luv
    Debby

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  11. The baubles look great with the beads. Funnily enough I used them for the first time this weekend as well for my Less is More card. I had been sitting looking at them since before Christmas.Don't think I'd want to try them with glue though!

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  12. So pretty! Tried these once with glue - so not impressed! Will dig out some adhesive sheet and have another go
    Hugs
    Debs x

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  13. Fabulous card Di. Loving the micro-beads.
    Hugs
    Caz x

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  14. WOW - amazing stuff here Di. Congrats on not spilling the beads EVERYHWERE except where you wanted them to go. Great idea to make the ornaments schparkle. Thanks for playing along.

    Hugs
    Sarn xxx

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  15. A girl after my own heart - I can never settle on a 'style', just make all sorts! Your card is fantastic - gorgeous use of those beads (I tend to be frightened by them - got some somewhere, perhaps I should have a try - you've certainly inspired me). Thanks for entering this gorgeous card into my CHNC challenge 117 - don't forget that you could also add it to CHNC challenge extra for March x

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  16. Schparkly!!! Just fab Di - and love the colour!

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  17. Wow Fabulous works of art Di, lots of sparkles and beautiful colour too! if ever theres a challenge your there right away good for you and another string to your bow xx

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  18. Wow your balls are gorgeous Di!! And purple too! Double points for that!
    Hugs
    xx

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  19. Thanks for also linking for CHNC challenge extra for March x

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  20. Of course I meant it nicely! Lol You see, I get it cos I'm a mixer too! Always tempted by new things and random craft purchases enter my room often. Now micro beads are something I want to try soon too, but not bought any yet! Yours look fab and I love those stamps, which is why they found themselves in my room as well!! What are we like! Ha ha Take care Zo xx

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  21. I love the little micro beads..in fact, I have a lot of them, I just rarely use them...but you've inspired me to try different ways to use them! Beautiful card!

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  22. Eek! Wowza! Crikey, girl, these beaded ornaments are the cat's pajamas!! My tact tile buttons are on full alert!!!

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  23. di this is fab.. love how you have used the micro beads

    Thanks for joining us this week
    Jen
    "Less Is More"

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  24. Wow Di, this is amazing! Lynn x

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  25. These look gorgeous Di, well worth the effort,great colour too. Brilliant card.

    Kath x

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  26. snap-I've been wanting to do this for ages too, got the beads finally but then no time to use them, until yesterday - wow isn't the effect amazing, Sue Wilson was right!
    Love how you used them, watch out for mine soon!
    Linbyx

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  27. Wow another technique expertly demonstrated Di, you have inspired all sorts of experiments in my craft room. I have mini pearls that might just work too, bought them thinking they were bigger shows I was never very good at measuring lol. Hugs, Amanda x. Oh forgot to say love the colours on this too.

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  28. Hello Di, love your beaded baubles. I've seen SW use them, of course, but it's nice to see what you make of them. The colour purple (see what I did there) is different for a Christmas card and I like something different :) Hugs, Elizabeth xx

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  29. Oh my Di!
    What concentrated use of beads... dedication to duty I'd say, just fab!
    Thanks so much
    Chrissie
    "Less is More"

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  30. This is super Di, such a lot of beautiful beads.
    Lynne xxx

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  31. These are fab baubles Di! I've never used micro beads before but they look like the beads that we used to get at the end of the cartridges from our fountain pans! We used to put them in our pens to make them 'rattle'!
    Lizy xx

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