2015 Glass Craft & Bead Expo ~ Cold Fusion Jewelry with Carrie Strope

Cold Fusion Jewelry Techniques

Thursday 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Cold Fusion Jewelry Techniques with Carrie Strope

You don’t need to own a kiln to create stunning micro mosaic and cold fusion jewelry. Using bezel cup pendants and an assortment of bling, you will learn a whole new technique for adding pizazz to your jewelry! 

Made using dichro dots, No Days Groutless, bezel pendants and sterling chain

Several different methods of working with frit, mica, dichroic glass, UV resin and more will be covered. The tips and tricks Carrie will be sharing take all of the guesswork out of the process, so you will leave with a successful new set of earrings and matching pendant, as well as many new techniques to use for future jewelry projects.
 

Magical millefiore pendant created quickly with cold fusion techniques

If you do have access to a kiln, Carrie will walk you through the steps necessary to create pressed glass, frit balls and dichro dots at home. Students bring: safety glasses and glass cutting tools. Some cutting tools will be available for classroom use.

Layered Dichroic Glass Jewelry Project Sheet

To download the pdf, visit Streuter's project gallery.

  Fusing scrap bits of dichroic glass together in layers can create jewelry with depth and an aura of mystery. Use this project sheet or the accompanying video below to walk you through the process.

Approximate time to complete project = 2 hours

Find more project sheets at Streuter.com.

Q&A Monday ~ Mosaic Jewelry Help!

No Days Instructor and Support Carrie Strope Sohayda

Hi, there! Carrie, here... Not only do I travel the country teaching folks how to use No Days adhesives (and other techniques), but I also answer customer support emails about using No Days. So, if you're having an issue with the adhesives, chances are good that I'll be answering your questions! Since I get so many good questions, I thought it might be a great learning opportunity for people that may be having some of the same issues but haven't thought to email us. Don't worry, I'll keep the emails anonymous! Also, don't forget that we've got a lot of really fabulous videos (I put those together, too...) on our YouTube channel. So for those of you who are visual learners (umm...we're visual artists, right?), you may want to check them out! If you've got questions, feel free to contact us at info@streuter.com.

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Subject: Re: Customer needs help

Recently a customer contacted us about troubles with using No Days Mosaic Adhesive for micro mosaic jewelry...

Dichroic Dot Mosaic Jewelry using No Days Groutless Mosaic Adhesive

Hi ~

I’d like to raise my concern about the usage of  NO DAYS Mosaic Adhesive.  I have used the film – the thin one for my mosaic jewelry, and use a Black and Decker heat gun but it doesn’t work well because:

1.  It takes a long time to for the film to be melted (about 5 minutes).

2.  For small pieces, such as 1/8”, the air from the heat gun blows them away!

I haven’t used the thicker one (No Days Groutless) yet, but I think it will not be able to be melted at all because the thin one is already very difficult to use.  Since I only use small pieces for my jewelry, the NO DAYS Mosaic Adhesive seems to not work.

Thanks,

X

Dear X ~

 I followed the link you provided for the heat gun you are using. You should have no problems getting the adhesive to melt with that heat gun, whether it is on low or high. I'm curious to know what kind of pieces you are using in your jewelry. Both glass and ceramics are insulators, so it does take longer to heat them than it does to heat metal (a conductor). However, small pieces shouldn't take 5 minutes to heat. Also, when using small pieces, you'll want to start with the heat gun on low and hold it well above your work (6-8" or more) until you see the pieces shimmy. Let the adhesive melt and then it's safe to move the gun closer.

Micro mosaic shadowbox created with No Days Groutless

I have a video that I'm working on that shows a micro mosaic completed with Groutless Mosaic Adhesive (http://streutertechnologies.blogspot.com/2012/08/micro-mosaic-tutorial-no-days-groutless.html), but it's not quite finished.

Here is a video that shows using the groutless on small pieces. 

I also realized with your inquiry that I haven't made a video specific to jewelry yet. Many times when working with jewelry pieces and groutless (or mosaic adhesive), I'll put my pieces on a hot plate/electric skillet to heat set, avoiding the heat gun altogether. I don't have pictures of this yet, but here's a post that shows the hot plate at work with glass on glass:

Heat setting No Days Mosaic Adhesive with an electric skillet

Let me know if you have further questions.
Hope this helps!
Carrie Strope Sohayda

Hi Carrie,

Thanks so much for replying to my email.  I think that my heat gun is broken because it’s not hot at all!  It’s even less hot than my hair dryer!  So I returned it to Amazon and asked for a replacement.

The jewelry I make is quite small – 1" to 2"; therefore, I put all the tiny pieces (including tiny glass beads) very close together, so close that you barely see a gap between them, and I use the thin adhesive film.  I am waiting for the heat gun replacement and will try again.  If it doesn’t work due to the blowing air from the heat gun, I think I will heat it from the BOTTOM of the jewelry piece which acts similarly to placing the jewelry piece on an electric skillet.

Thanks,

X
 
Great idea, X!!!  What a good suggestion for those of you trying to heat small jewelry trays with a heat gun. Try using the heat gun on the bottom of your trays to heat!

Remember, if you've got any questions about using No Days, contact me at info@streuter.com, and I'm happy to help! Got any more suggestions or questions regarding this post? Please comment below!

Groutless Micro Mosaic Jewelry Project Sheet

To download the pdf, visit Streuter's project gallery.

 Using No Days Groutless Mosaic Adhesive, you can create finished micro mosaic jewelry in no time at all and eliminate the mess and trouble of grouting to boot! The video below is an introduction to using No Days Groutless...

Approximate time to complete project = 1 hour

Find more project sheets at Streuter.com.

Creating a Purse Hanger using No Days Bailbond Project Sheet

To download the pdf, visit Streuter's project gallery.

Do you have a bunch of cabochons lying around waiting to become jewelry? Try changing things up a bit and making a purse hanger or a bracelet. No Days Bailbond works great for adding all kinds of findings to your glass creations.

Miniature Dichroic Cabochons attached to a disk bracelet with No Days Bailbond

Dichroic glass cabochon glued to a bracelet finding from Slumpy's

Dichroic Dot Earrings by CalyxAnn on etsy

Featured Artist Barb Byrne of Eclectic Treasures

Barb Byrne of Eclectic Treasures has always immersed herself in arts & crafts. She began sewing in high school, working with embroidery and needlework as a young adult, and then spinning and basket weaving when she moved with her husband to a 300-acre farm in mid-Missouri in 1990.
In the late 90s, she wove a full-sized baby cradle for her first grandchild and it was so well-received that she began a small business, aptly named Heirloom Cradles, making and selling doll cradles of all sizes, including miniatures. While on the farm, Barb began growing her own gourds after discovering gourd art, turning her gourds into decorated vases, bowls, and jewelry. She found a way to marry her love of weaving with gourds and her specialty became weaving natural materials onto the rims of decorated gourds.

Fused Glass Coasters using
No Days Liquid Fusing Adhesive
for Frit Detailing

Adhering Bails to Pendants using an Oven with No Days Bailbond

Heat setting several pieces at once in an oven/toaster oven


It’s easy to use No Days BailBond on several pieces and heat set them all at once using an oven.

Cut a piece of BailBond to fit the size of your bail.

Use a bit of painter’s tape to create a sandwich by placing your BailBond between the pendant and the bail. The tape will prevent the bail from moving in the oven once the BailBond has melted. Place the pendant sandwich face down.

Primer for Using No Days BailBond Adhesive for Jewelry and Other Findings

Beginning to Use No Days BailBond

When you first begin to use No Days BailBond, you may be frustrated by a bail that won’t stay where you put it. As the heat set adhesive turns to liquid, the bail may slide along the surface. 

To help keep your pendant, BailBond and bail in place before the adhesive sets, you can use a bit of painter’s tape to hold the pieces together. While you’re still getting used to working with No Days BailBond, there is a greater chance of overheating with this technique, because you can’t see the adhesive or feel when the adhesive bonds with the bail and the pendant. This means a bit more clean up, but it’s still simple. 

Attaching a Cabochon to Purse Hanger with No Days Bailbond

Adhering a Fused Glass Cabochon to a Purse Hanger Finding Using No Days BailBond


No Days BailBond is versatile and works well with a number of different findings. For this video, I’ll demonstrate how easy it is to use BailBond to attach a cabochon to a purse hanger finding.

Using a Soldering Iron to Attach a Bail to a Pendant with No Days BailBond

Heating No Days BailBond using a Soldering Iron

No Days BailBond is a heat set adhesive that is quick and easy to use. By heat setting with a battery powered portable electronics soldering iron:

• You’re able to feel when the NO Days BailBond is beginning to adhere. 
• You can pinpoint the heat exactly where you need it. 
• It’s portable and easy to use at a show, where you may not have access to electricity.

Attach And Wear Your Jewelry Quickly with No Days BailBond Adhesive

Attach and Wear Instantly!

No Days Bail Bond allows you to attach a bail or finding to your jewelry and wear it instantly because as soon as it cools, it’s cured.


Begin by cutting a piece of BailBond just slightly longer than your bail. As it’s heated the BailBond will pull in and fill any gaps. Make a sandwich with the bail, BailBond and pendant. 

Affixing Cabochons to a Disc Bracelet Blank with No Days Mosaic Adhesive

NO Days Mosaic Adhesive for Adhering Jewelry

Tools and Materials:
-NO Days Mosaic Adhesive (or glueFilm or No Days BailBond)
-cabochons, buttons, tiles, etc. to attach to jewelry finding
-disc bracelet (or other) finding
-standard heat gun or embossing tool
-masking tape or painter's tape
-heat proof surface to work on
-metal tool for pushing on cabochons

Creating Layered Dichroic Fused Glass Jewelry Using HoneyDoo Zuper Glue

Creating Layered Dichroic Jewelry with HoneyDoo Zuper Glue

HoneyDoo Zuper Glue is a great way to build stackups of fused glass that you can easily transport to the kiln without worry of your creation toppling. In this video, learn how to make a layered dichroic glass tile, fuse it in the kiln, and cut it into pieces for jewelry. Gather your materials: various fusible dichroic on black and clear glass, a 2” x 2” square of black or other color glass for the base, a 2” x 2” piece of clear glass and HoneyDoo Zuper Glue.

HoneyDoo Zuper Glue Around the House

HoneyDoo Zuper Glue Around the House

HoneyDoo Zuper Glue is a super strong and reliable glue for use around the house, shop and studio on glass, ceramics, plastic, wood, rubber, paper, metal, cardstock and more!

HoneyDoo Zuper Glue is available in 10 g bottles with a stiletto tip nozzle or ultra fine tip applicator allowing you to apply the Zuper Glue with accuracy and precision.

Before applying HoneyDoo Zuper Glue, make sure all surfaces are clean and dry.  
Apply HoneyDoo Zuper Glue sparingly to one surface. Replace the lid on the bottle. Then, simply press your 2 surfaces together for 30 seconds to set the glue.  Set the object aside for 2 to 3 hours to fully cure the adhesive before applying any stress.

To clean up, use a cotton swab and acetone to wipe away any excess adhesive before the glue has fully cured.

If you’re repairing an item that has residue from a failed bond, scrape off any residue and clean the surface with acetone. For greater strength, if a metal has a surface coating, you may sand it off with a bit of wet/dry silica carbide sandpaper before gluing.

If you’ve ever had super glue cure in the bottle after only using it once, then you’ll love 

HoneyDoo Zuper Glue!