Photoshop tip: Layer Masks

show you 2 techniques using the Layer Mask in Photoshop to enhance your Bead photography Read more

News about the Boatload of Colors in the New Messy Shipment

A new shipment of CiM/Messy Color glass has just arrived at Frantz Art Glass and there are loads of new unique colors and nine new special assortments. Read more

Tips and Techniques: A Solution for Cracking Encasements

I was having problems with certain glass colors consistently cracking their encasement’s. Read more

Using Copper in Glass Beads

I have been experimenting with and using copper in various forms in my glass beads for years.  I had been looking for some substantial copper sheet to cut out images to encase and embed into my beads and I found it when I used the Dichroic on Copper sheet that is produced by CBS (Coatings by Sandberg).  I did a blog on using the dichroic on copper sheet a while back and now I am featuring the copper sheet that is a byproduct which came from that process, as a design element in glass beads.  It is a great way to recycle the copper sheet that the dichroic comes on!

Dichroic covered sheet of copper # 555000	Bead made from dichroic on copper sheet.

The hobby industry has a wide range of images that are set up as punch tools that can punch out a crisp image for paper or thin metal sheeting that makes the process a lot easier if you are doing series of beads or fusing with metal inclusions.  I cut out the images I used with a sharp pair of small scissors and I also used some of the metal stamping tools that I use to emboss bead caps, to emboss a secondary image onto the copper inclusions I used in my beads.

Copper and glass get along really well together as long as the copper inclusion isn’t too thick.  I discovered through my experimenting with copper that if you use too much or too thick of a copper inclusion, you might crack your bead.

There is a wonderful ruddy pink color that develops on copper pieces that are encased in a glass bead or fused project that I find delightful.  When you place the copper on the surface of a bead, the copper turns black/brown because the flame oxidizes the metal surface.  I removed this oxidation by tumbling my finished beads in a small tumbler with metal shot that removes the oxidation slowly over a couple of hours.  If you don’t have a tumbler, you can use a dremel tool to polish the surface copper inclusion back to their original copper color.

I had a great time experimenting with copper encasing and inclusions and I think you will too.

Click on photos to see larger image.

Copper heart inclusion in a bead made with CiM/Messy Color “Fremen” and goldstone details.	Copper star embedded in bead made with CiM/Messy Color “Olive”.	Copper hand embedded in a bead made with CiM/Messy Color “Mermaid”.

Copper moon in a bead made with CiM/Messy Color “Mermaid”.	Bead made of CIM/Messy Color “Caledon” with embedded, embossed copper heart .	Copper stars embedded in a bead made of CiM/Messy Color “Cornflower” that was rolled in silver foil and burned in.

For more info on Dichroic on Copper click here.