Discovering Some New Stuff

Now, I'm not trying this right now. I don't have the supplies or the money. I have a hideous headache, so thought I'd just link this stuff to check back later. Due to a group I'm in for chronically ill crafters and artists, I discovered...Viking knitting.

Viking Knitting by Awesome Cool and Quirky artisan

This girl is so cool, I've subbed to her channel now. I want to keep watching her speed dry brushing vids and her tutorials.  One thing other than wire that one needs is a tool for stretching. She made her own.

Here's her website: Blue Kitty Creations
Check under Gallery and Sindri Collection and you can see exactly what Viking Knit is. Her bracelets are stunning.  I do want to try this eventually. I don't have....well I might have wire that's appropriate. I'm not sure. She sells her stuff on Etsy and is working on more as well.  We had a blast watching her tutorials and videos last night for A.) the stuff she shares is cool and B.) she's quirky and FUN.  Love her personality. Makes me miss having a webcam though. Someday we will. We've wanted to vlog.

Here is where you can buy a Draw Plate

I've heard people use the circle wrenches, key holes, anything they can to stretch the jewelry.

And look! It's a cat :)  Zoey is my art assistant. I'm in too much pain to function today, but she's keeping me company. Ignore the dirty carpet. It's our art space. There are fuzzies, string and who knows what lost beads one might find.

Back to Paper Beads...Varnishes and Links

Some of us started this as children, so keep in mind this is a great craft to do with kids. You can also take some scribbled art that little kids make and turn those into memento beads for mommy.

I wanted to post some of the links I'm finding useful. It's a lot of trial and error with paper beads. I find I love white glue (Elmer's) first, then the clear blue gel type elmer's after. The final varnish is where I'm still fighting for a solution. I like acrylic nail polish, but it becomes goopy fast so isn't an ideal solution. That's my main search topic tonight. This is some of what I've found:

Paper Bead Making 101
What do you use to vanish your beads? Paper Beads What do you use to vanish your beads?
How to Protect Your Paper Beads
Paper Beads - Beading Daily

Why link to other sites rather than making my own experiment? Why reinvent the wheel?  I'm still experimenting for what I prefer. I plan to locate the Triple Thick or the Minwax stuff. The last link has a gorgeous photo of very glossy beads with Triple Thick.

For papers:

I already have a book I plan to use to make a certain type of cylinder bead. I love scrapbooking paper and magazine pages the most, however. These provide some of the prettiest colors. The tougher feel of the scrapbook paper creates a sturdier bead, though. The color play of the magazines, though....I LOVE that. I'm sculpting the pendants in polymer clay. I have three dragons from years ago that I might use. They haven't sold on Etsy yet, so might as well. I made a weird little face pendant the other night to use with some black and pink beads.

On that note, it's beyond sleepy time.