Think Crafts Blog - Craft Ideas and Projects - CreateForLess

I’ve been fusing glass for about 5 years now and it’s a craft that is always fascinating. Glass fusing is basically layering several pieces of glass with the same COE and then fusing the pieces together in a kiln or heat source.  The layers of glass create a new single piece of glass.  You can then go on to slump the fused glass using a mold to create bowls, plates, and all kinds of art.

The process is time consuming.  You must create a design or use a pattern.  You need to cut the pieces of glass.  Clean all the pieces to remove any oils or dust.  You then layer your pieces onto a kiln shelf (that is either prepared with kiln wash to prevent sticking or with a piece of shelf paper). You then must fire or bake the glass in a kiln for a timed process.  You can’t just super heat glass because it will shatter so you slowly ramp up the heat in the kiln until the glass melts and then slowly ramp the heat down.  There are schedules prepared by the manufacturers of the glass to help you time the firing.  Once fired, the glass must cool before you can continue.  Fused pieces can take several hours or several days to create. The end result is worth it!

Diamond Tech has created a product kit that turns glass fusing into a very do-able, easy to understand process with its Fuseworks Beginner’s Fusing Kit.  Imagine fusing glass in your microwave in minutes! I have to be very honest, I couldn’t believe fusing could be done so quickly, but all my doubts were gone after my first fusing with the kit and its mini Fuseworks Microwave Kiln!!!

You get a ton of stuff in the kit: an assortment of 90 COE glass, Dichroic bits and pieces (beautiful patterned glass), millefiori glass (small discs that have patterns like flowers and such), confetti glass (thin shards of glass), kiln paper, glass cutter, hot mitts, and jewelry findings (earring sets and bails), plus very well written instructions.  You can make many fused jewelry pieces with the supplies included in the kit.

And it really is as easy as cutting your glass, laying down the kiln paper, stacking your glass, putting the top on the kiln, placing the kiln in your microwave and microwaving for a few minutes!!!  I was thrilled with my pieces and I didn’t have to fire up my kiln… all I needed was my microwave. Your piece is even annealed during the 40-50 minute cool down.

A few words to know when fusing:

Anneal: this is a process where the glass becomes its strongest, all glass pieces should be annealed or there is a good chance of the glass cracking over time.

COE: Coeffcient of Expansion, this is usually given to you as a number: 90 COE, 104 COE.  All glass has a COE number and you can only fuse glass pieces that have the same COE number.  In other words you can’t mix a piece of glass with a 90 COE with a piece of glass with a 104 COE.  Manufacturers will give you the COE of their glass.

Dichroic Glass: A glass with multiple micro-layers of metal oxides which give the glass optical properties.

Dichroic glass shimmers when fused.

Millefiori: A glass work technique where rods of patterned glass are formed and then cut into small discs.

Many discs of millfiori are fused to create this pendant.

Check out my next blog when guest blogger Jeanne Baruth goes into detail about using this new Fuseworks Microwave Kiln!

Guest Blogger: Rita S. LeVine, Diamond Tech

Mosaics add charm and whimsy to any room in your home or a corner of your garden. Mosaics are not only beautiful to display but they are truly a lot of fun to make!

Traditional mosaics are made by cutting tiny pieces of glass and fitting them together with just enough space between each piece for grout. Traditions change however and today’s contemporary mosaics are not only made from glass but broken china pieces, buttons, shells and even Grandma’s rhinestone jewelry.

To begin, choose an item on which to mosaic, my favorites are garage sale fountains, small bistro table and stepping stones but generally mosaics can be applied to any and all surfaces. If you’ve chosen a smooth surface rough it up first using fine grit sandpaper or score it using a craft knife. A rough surface will allow the adhesive to form a better grip. Next, decide on a pattern for your mosaic. For inspiration visit your local library or book store for a pattern or mosaic book. Once you have an idea for a design, draw it on paper and transfer it to the surface using carbon paper and a sharpened pencil or simply draw it directly on the surface.  

Nipping to size your pieces for the mosaic.

As with any craft project the proper tools are essential. Gather or purchase a good multipurpose adhesive (we prefer Liquid Nails), grout, tile nippers (for nipping tile), wheeled glass nippers (for nipping glass), a large sponge, latex gloves, sealer, protective eyewear, drop cloth or newspaper for work surface protection.

Now let’s have some fun choosing tesserae! Tesserae is the small pieces used to make a mosaic. China, pottery pieces, stones, marbles and cut glass are popular forms of tesserae. Ceramic and glass tiles are another form of tesserae. Ceramic tiles have glossy color fired onto the top surface of a ceramic or porcelain tile. Glass tile or Vitreous tile has rich color that extends throughout the body of the tile. Either has smooth front and textured back for better adhesive grip. 

Gluing pieces down onto surface.

Before gluing the tesserae to your surface determine the best placement and fit. Nip pieces using either a tile or wheeled glass nippers to desire shape, ensuring a proper fit. It is always best to work from the center of the design outward making sure you stop 1/4 ” from the edge of the surface. Leave 1/8″ space between each piece of tesserae for grout.

When you are ready to glue, pick up each piece place a small amount of glue on the backside and press firmly into place. Hold in place until there is no movement in the tesserae. If the surface is rounded, place it on its side using pillows to hold it in place as you mosaic. Continue this process until the design is complete. Allow glue to dry according to manufacture’s instructions. 

Applying the grout.

The final step in mosaics is applying the grout. Grout can dramatically effect on the look of your mosaic. Grouts are available in a multitude of colors, select a shade that either blends or contrast with the tesserae. Mixing grout is quite simple. Wearing a disposable glove, follow the manufacturer’s directions and mix just enough for the project. Once mixed apply to the surface, spread the grout into all the nooks and crannies. Wait about 15 minutes for grout to set. Begin to gently wipe away the excess grout using a paper towel taking care not to pull the grout out of tile spaces.  It is very important to remove any grout on the tiles surface before grout is completely dry. Using the soft cloth, buff the tiles to a clean shine. Allow 24 hours for the mosaic piece to dry thoroughly.

Cleaning all excess grout from mosaic.

References:

Diamond Tech

Society of American Mosaic Artists

Where has the year gone?  It seemed to fly by so quickly this year that I’m having to do some last minute thinking about what to make for gifts I want to give my family and friends!  I recently found an interesting website, Buy Handmade. The site asks you to pledge to buy handmade items this holiday season and I think that’s a wonderful idea! I signed the pledge and I hope you do too! I also think we should pledge not just to buy what others make, but we should make our own handmade items to give!

This holiday season I’m giving:

• Handmade rubbing salts (recipe below)
• Bracelets that include handmade beads I purchased in China
• Decorative soaps in slumped soap dishes (My husband helps me with the glass fusing and kilns)
• Handcrafted holiday cards and tags (Made from all my paper scraps and card blanks)

Handmade rubbing salts are a great winter holiday gift.  You can use the rubbing salts in your bath or shower and your skin feels so soft afterwards. Here are the instructions for making your own rubbing salts!

Materials

• Canning or glass jars with air tight lids
• Vitamin E or Grapeseed Oil Extract (found at health food stores or pharmacies)
• Essential Oil (scent of your choice)
• Table salt (fine salts)
• Carrier Oil (any oil without a scent like almond oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil)
• Embellishments for jars (ribbon, lace, stickers, labels, etc)

Instructions

• Pour salt into jar about 3/4 full.
• Pour in carrier oil, completely covering salt.
• Add 5-8 drops of essential oil (scent) to mixture.
• Seal jar tight and embellish.  Allow salt rub “rest” 3 days, after 3 days scent is at its peak.  If you desire more scent then add more essential oil.

I’ve noticed over the last few years that I am seeing the word GREEN more than I usually do in an average day.  Green is my favorite color so I notice any shade of it, even words.  Most people think I like green because it symbolizes money, but I picked out the color green way back in kindergarten so I don’t think money is my inspiration.  No, I like green because it always reminds me of fresh mown grass, mossy hills filled with wildflowers, and walks through gardens and woods.  Green is nature and in nature is my favorite place to be!

But back to my original thought, seeing the word GREEN being tossed about!  This type of green means being kind to our earth.  It means recycle, reuse, reduce, and refuse!  At first I thought it might just be another celebrity cause that would last about as long as a popcycle on a summer day, but I think I’m going to have to put my slightly jaded assumption in the trash!  Living green is becoming part of our daily lifestyle and it’s a wonderful thing.  Especially since green crafting is coming into its own!

Check out these Green Crafting Articles, Blogs, and Websites!

Green Crafting, Can It Make A Difference?

Crafting A Green World

Needlepointers Going Green

Green Options

Going Green With Crafting

Green Crafting Ideas to Do with Your Grandchildren

RecycleCindy On Green Planet Crafting

Green Craft Projects

My green pledge is to be wise in my purchases, recycle materials instead of just tossing them, reuse what I have on hand, refuse to use harmful products, and make a point of complimenting others who are doing their part in keeping our planet safe and beautiful.

Please share your green craft sites with us!  And let us know what you are doing to stay green in your creativity!

I’m hopelessly addicted to needlepunch or punchneedle (I’m not really sure which term to use!). I don’t always have time to make a project from a kit or punch a complex design so I came up with an easy way to get my needlepunch dose without having to concentrate too hard!

I use needlepunch as a background for jewelry pendants!  I use miniature frames and variegated floss; I’ll needlepunch the frame shape (measure the inside area of the frame) as a background.  Once done, I apply fray stop around the edge of the design, apply to the back of the design (remember when doing needlepunch you are working the back of the design). Once the fray stop has dried, I cut out the background. The fray stopping adhesive keeps the raw ends of the floss from unraveling.  I add a cute button, bead, or charm to the background. If needed I mat the design onto light cardboard and insert into the frame. 

The photo above shows an example of a pendant set done with a fish, turtle, and seahorse bead!  Ocean and sea life are my favorite themes for needlepunch and many of my crafting projects.