Floral Kiln Formed Beads

Today’s tutorial takes kiln formed beads one step further by creating a fused in floral pattern. By varying this pattern, you can create a wide variety of designer beads for beautiful jewelry. This tutorial uses the Channel Bead Mold Kit.

: Begin with a kiln washed channel bead mold, dipped mandrels and a piece of glass. I’m using bottle glass

: Each bead has two layers, the top layer is the width of the bead mold channel.

: The top layer of glass should be this wide

: The bottom layer is 1/8″ smaller

: Cut 2 glass strips for each channel, one for the top layer, one for the bottom layer.

: Measure and mark at 3/4″ intervals

: Mark the strips at the same time to keep the sizes consistent

: Score each strip on the lines

: Break the strips into rectangles, keeping each size separate.

: Place the BOTTOM layer of glass in the channel first.

: Add a dipped mandrel to the center of the glass pieces

: Add the top layer of glass

: Repeat with the remaining channels

: When all beads are assembled, fire to a full fuse.

: Fused Beads using a fuse firing schedule

: Twist beads off of mandrels, pliers are handy for this part

Part 2 – Floral Focal Bead

Next we’ll make the floral center beads. The bead making process is the same as Part 1, we will be painting flowers on the glass before assembly. I used two colors of glass line paint for the flowers and two colors of green for the leaves.

: Glassline Paint and brushes

: Paint flowers on bottom layer of the bead. Since the glass is small, my flowers are alternating dots of color.

: Place bottom layer of glass on the mold with the paint side UP

: Place a dipped mandrel on the center of the glass

: Add the top layer of glass to cap the paint

: Fire to a full fuse

Part 3 – Assembling the bracelet.

The length of your bracelet will depend on the size of your arm, if you have a bracelet that you like the length of, you could measure it and use it as a guide.

: Materials for the bracelet

: Arrange the beads how you like them, and cut a wire a few inches longer.

: Slip a crimp bead on the wire.

: Slip the wire through the clasp, and then back through the crimp bead.

: Crimp the wire using the crimp pliers

: Add 3 white spacer beads, then the fused beads in the arranged order

: Add 3 white spacer beads at the end of the bracelet

: Add a crimp bead

: Add the other side of the clasp

: Thread the wire back through the crimp bead

: Thread the excess wire back through the white spacer beads

: Crimp the crimp bead using the crimp pliers

: Trim excess wire using wire cutters

: And you’re finished! Wear it with pride!

: Floral Kiln Formed Bead Bracelet

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Tips and Trouble Shooting:

If the gap is too small to slide pieces together, you’ll need to widen it with either a diamond file or a diamond bit on a dremel tool. Use plenty of water and wear a mask.
Make sure the feet are level, if your vase isn’t balancing, you may need to grind the feet larger and flatter
If your fiber paper doesn’t come out cleanly, add water and dig it out with a skewer or hooked wire.
Yes, the vase can hold water

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