Sunday 7 December 2008

The Leandra Bead


Earlier this year I was lucky enough to go to Suze Weinburg's house (Suze is Ranger Industries UTEE expert) while visting the New Jersey area, and I showed her this technique. She has been having loads of fun with it (see her blog) and from there you will see she has called it the "Leandra Bead".

Now that the article I wrote for a UK magazine on this technique has been published for some time, I can share some tips and tricks with you so you can make your own "Leandra beads". No 2 are the same, and there are so many colour options for these. I am even using them as 'finials' (sp?) on the end of a dowel to hang other proejcts from too. It really is a lot of fun. Good luck and let me know how you get on!

I am really drawn to jewellery, and I was thinking there must be some way to stamp, and make a bead that can be used for bracelets, earrings etc. by using the melt pot and UTEE. This is kind of a fondue system, dipping the item into hot UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel) to glaze or cover an item. By using a headpin, you then can easily create a loop for the bead to be attached to a necklace or other finding.
Step One: Stamp you paper and add colour to the paper to determine the colour of your beads. I used dye ink. Wrap your 1cm paper strips (make them wider for longer beads) around a wooden toothpick/ cocktail stick and secure with a little dab of glue. Make all your paper beads to this point. 10 of each colour is a good starting point.Step Two: Put the paper bead on the very end of the toothpick, and dip into the deep end of your MeltPot. Lift, let the excess drip away, then place onto a craft sheet as shown for about 10 seconds to set up.NB. I melted in the MP some Clear UTEE with a teaspoon of UTEE flex. You can also add to this 'to dye for' tints. Just a small drop will change the colour to tint the clear UTEE. The flex prevents the UTEE beads from Smashing or cracking, so they are more durable for jewellery.
Step Three: While the bead is warm, peel it off the craft sheet, remove the toothpick. A bell shaped base should have formed. Push a headpin through the base. The will anchor in the UTEE.Step Four: Now re-dip the bead into the UTEE, allow the excess to drip off again, then keep moving the bead until the UTEE has set up. Don't expect a perfect bead, sometimes they are round, but most often they are kind of pear or bell shaped. Once you get a whole lot on a chain, they look fab. Each is a unique and kind of organic looking creation!Step Five: Additions. After dip 2, you may like to wrap the bead in wire, dip into some bedazzles, perfect pearls or any other items like gold leaf etc that will cling to the hot or warm UTEE. Now re-dip again to trap these items in the glaze. Here are some examples.Some of these have also been dipped into other colours of UTEE such as UTEE Brightz. Of course you can do the whole bead process with any colour of UTEE, and lately I have made some stunning marbled looking beads by melting a mix of brights, clear, metallic and a dab of black or white into the pot togehter.

For marbled UTEE: Pour puddles of each powder into the pot, sprinkle someflex over the top, put the lid on and leave it all to melt. Once it is molten, gently draw lines through the mix with your non-stick spatula 3-5 times to marble the colours. If you over mix it goes 'cack', so resist the urge to mix.

Now dip your bead into the marble mixture. A good idea for marbled beads is to start with a wooden bead (say about 1 inch diameter. If the headpin falls through the hole of the bead, just put a sequin onto the headpin first, then the wooden bead. You can dip this into your marble mix once or twice. Marbled beads also look really good with a glaze of clear over the top.

Step Six: Attaching the bead is easy because of the head pin. Bend in half, thread onto the chain. I use 2 pairs of pliers, One to hold the bent wire , and the other to wrap as shown. You need to ensure there is a gap so that the bead can swing. Snip off the excess from wrapping and you're done!


I hope you enjoy this technique as much as i have! There are loads of way to use this idea - not just for jewelery. They make great "feet" for boxes !

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Leandra
I can't wait to give these beads a try .....
I did manage to make some at the gothic arch class , it's great fun once you get the technique right.Thanks so much for sharing your great ideas .
Have agood christmas with your family , you deserve it ...
Bye for now Lorraine xx

Isabelle Norris said...

I've so wanted to try this ever since you showed them to me when you came over in September! They are even more beautiful IRL.
Somehow, I have not had the chance (I wonder why LOL),but this is top of my list when I settle again on the other side of the pond.
Hugs,
isa xxx

Sharne Gregory said...

Thank you for sharing this tech., it looks like its fun to do. I shall have to put a U.T.E. melting pot on my Christmas list.

Andrea said...

what a stunning creation, looks like very hard work but with a brilliant result x

SueC said...

Good to have you back Leandra...have been thinking of you... and thanks for the bead technique. Melt pot here I come tomorrow!!
Sue in Spain x

DF - Heidi said...

keep those awesome ideas coming just love the technique thanks for sharing

Cecile Nichols said...

What a great tutorial!! I can do this! Thank you for sharing!

Cecile

Kazza said...

I've been wanting to try having a go at these - thank you for the great tutorial. x Karen

Janny said...

Wauw they are gorgous!

Anonymous said...

ho awesome leandra! thanks so much for sharing - will need to try ;)

Debo said...

Brill! I got a Melt Pot for Christmas!!!! (OK, I did order it on behalf of hubby, after seeing your article in Craft Stamper!) Can't wait to start playing! Thanks for the wonderful inspiration!
Debbie, Essex

Julie Corfield said...

Hey Leandra! Just found your blog :) You inspired me to make more beads too after you first Weekender back in September! Addictive is not the word!! Have a great 2009. Juliex

tanya watts said...

hiya leandra!
i can still see Suze going on about your bead at Ranger U hihi!
i read the article in Craftstamper, yes i get thazt in Belgium in the English supermarket near Brussels hihi! whern i pick o-up my cadbury's load!
i'm definitly going to give this bead a go! i love the idea of using them as little feet for boxes actually!
have a wonderful NEW YEAR!!!
love & hugs, tanya watts

Gayle said...

Thank you for the easy to follow step-by-step instructions. This will be the perfect craft for my granddaughter's (age 12) sleepover this weekend.

Unknown said...

OMG!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for the tutorial. I looked everywhere for the magazine with the write up and couldn' find it anywhere in the US. I just saw where Suze wrote up a tutorial on her blog and between these 2 I think I have it, now I just have to make them. EHHHHH (with excitement)

Minxy said...

WOW your beads are frickin awsome, i can't wait for some free time so i can give them a try myself, thanks so much for sharing the tecnique with us x

Anonymous said...

This is an awesome method! I'm going to have to give this one a try. thanks for the helpful tips

Vicky said...

Wonderful tutuorial!! Have you tried making buttons with a similiar technique? If so, how have you done the holes to keep them open or made shanks on the back? Thanks for your response.

Ann said...

this wonderful beads creation is worth the effort, it is perfect!

Dragon said...

Absolutely amazing, Leandra... they look like the ones that are all the rage for those little silver bracelets at some exhorbitant price!!! Thanks for the inspiration, can't wait to tey some out...
Frankie
xx

Kristin Dudish said...

Hi Leandra,

These are beautiful beads and a wonderful tutorial - I was wondering if it would be alright if I pinned your tutorial on pinterest? (With credit to you and a link back to this post, of course.)

Thank you for your consideration :)

Kristin

Unknown said...

Great items...I love making paper beads myself for crafts / crafters

Nicole Maki said...

Thanks so much for this awesome tutorial. I made a bunch with my teenage son and save for several fairly significant burns, it was a huge success. Iove how they look embellishing seam binding on gifts.

Here's my post about your beads, if you want to stop by:

http://madebynicole.blogspot.com/2014/01/leandra-beads.html

Warmly,
Nicole

Anonymous said...

How do I find “flex”? I’ve looked everywhere on line?????