Video:Tips and Supplies for Making Beaded Snowflakes
with Ana PizarroBeaded snowflakes are a fun, beautiful bit of beadwork that aren't hard to make. This About.com video will offer some tips on what you'll need to make your own beaded snowflakes.See Transcript
Transcript:Tips and Supplies for Making Beaded Snowflakes
Hi, my name is Ana Pizarro from Caravan Beads of Chicago, here for About.com. Today, I'll be showing you tips and other products that you can use to finish your beaded snowflakes.
I'm going to show you an organizational system; how to use glue to secure your knots; the difference between a fishing line and a beading thread; how to use the pliers with your fishing line; how to condition your thread; different ways of cutting your thread at the end; and an option to stiffen your beaded snowflake.
Beaded Snowflake Tips: Organizing Beads
As you can see to get to this finished snowflake, it will make your life easier if you make a little sign for each type of bead that you're using. This will help you to follow your pattern easily.
Beaded Snowflake Tips: Glue the Knots
When you finish your beaded snowflake, you finish with half hitch knots. If possible, try to put a little glue over the knot.
Beaded Snowflake Tips: Thread Types
When making a beaded snowflake, you can use either FireLine, which is a fishing line, or Nymo, which is a beading thread. It's also a really good idea to condition your thread. In order to condition your thread, you can either use beeswax. Just pass your thread over the beeswax. Or you can use the synthetic kind which is called Thread Heaven. Press your finger and pass the thread.
Beaded Snowflake Tips: Flattening Thread Ends
If you're going to use FireLine, which is the one I prefer for the beaded snowflake, I would rather use the chain nose pliers to flatten the end of the thread, and that will make it easy for you to thread your needle. To finish your beaded snowflake, you can always use household scissors.
Beaded Snowflake Tips: Using Thread Burner
Today, I'm going to show you how to use your thread burner to cut your beading thread. To cut your FireLine when you're finishing your project, press here until the tip of the burner gets really hot. Once it gets hot, you want to go really close to your project, and this will immediately cut it. It will also create a little bead, because it will be melted.
Beaded Snowflake Tips: Using Krylon
The last tip to finish your beaded snowflake is to make it stiffer. You can use Krylon for that. Place your beaded snowflake over wax paper. Shake the Krylon for two minutes. Spray your beaded snowflake about 10-12 inches away from it.
Beaded snowflakes are very easy to make and I showed you a few tips to make it easier. To learn how to make a beaded snowflake, and for more tips, visit us at About.com.