Creativity In A Nutshell

Many people who are just starting to make their own jewelry ask me where I buy my supplies. For a long time I ordered from Firemountaingems.com . They have great wholesale prices and some fantastic deals. However, lately I have been unable to spend as much in one shopping trip as I would need to in order to make it worth while to shop there - considering the large quantity of their packages and the added cost of shipping and handling. I have been shopping around, mostly at artbeads.com and a few other places.
I needed to stock up on a few silver plated findings - since I am an idiot and left my big old container of findings at school, and I checked brightlingsbeads.com.
I recalled I had purchased several things from them before, so I thought, eh, why not? Here's where it gets interesting. Maybe I just didn't remember, or maybe I always spent more at brightlingsbeads in the past... They say they have free shipping on their page, so I just grabbed a couple things and whent through the checkout. I guess I wasn't paying enough attention, but they charged me for shipping. I looked back through and it does say, somewhere, that it's only free if you spend $25 or more. Now, this is not at all unreasonable. I was just really really annoyed at myself for not seeing that - I could have gotten what I needed from artbeads.com and not even had to worry about shipping and handling. Whatever. I got over it.
My package arrived yesterday and last night I thought I would have a go at finishing some of my new earrings. I went to bend the silver plated wire for the earrings and. it. snapped. I swear, I wasn't using too much force or something like that. It didn't bend at all -just snapped. I am sooooo annoyed now. I needed those darn eyepins for these earrings and now I can't finish them and I really wanted to get them done now! That is my rant for the day. :(

In my bead and charm-making adventures, I have often heard many people talk about working with Diamond Glaze. I have mostly been tampering with Glossy Accents, but I though, eh, what the heck?! Got ta try something new, right? Well... my first venture with Diamond Glaze was in my Artistry Beads Tutorial, and things could have gone better.

Problems:

• I found that the Diamond Glaze quickly began to set and harden, much like nailpolish lacquer. 
• There were literally millions of big and little bubbles, which were already in the bottle. I know that if you shake the bottle, you're going to get bubbles. I didn't shake the bottle. Still there were all these annoying little bubbles! Gah!

Good Things:

• I really like the nice, solid and hard finish with the Diamond Glaze. It's very shiny, and shiny is good :)
• It has no smell that I noticed
• It didn't take long to dry... but then again that's a good and a bad thing
• I have been told that you can mix watercolors etc into it, and it's water-soluble, so that adds other options, however, I have not yet experimented with that aspect of Diamond Glaze yet
  

What's the Plan, Stan?

• Well, I am going to continue to experiment with the Diamond Glaze to see if I can't get something to work. As I find solutions, I will post them to keep you all updated!
• If you have any tips or tools of the trade to use with Diamond Glaze, please, share! Email me at cagarp@plymouth.edu
  

Where can you buy some Diamond Glaze of your own?
Art fire

• What the Deuce IS It?
  
•  Pearl Ex Pigments, made by Jaquard (who also make Lumiere Light Body Metallic Acrylic Paints) are color-concentrated powders with lovely bits of shimmery mica. That's all there is to 'em. And that's the beauty. You can mix them into anything, layer them on top of anything, and create some really fantastic designs while you're at it.
• According to the Jaquard Website, you can mix them into:
• Pearl Ex Varnish
• Gum arabic
  
• Oil paint
  
• Acrylic paint
  
• Gouache
• Varnish
• Clay
• Poly Clay
  
• Melted wax
• And almost any other medium out there :)
  
• Check out
  http://www.jacquardproducts.com/products/pearlex/ for more information.
  
• The Good, Bad and Ugly
•  Pros:
• They come in tons of beautiful colors (over 50)
  
• As noted, they are highly concentrated, so you really don't have to use all that much.
• You can create a wide variety of effects with them
• They're color fast
• They're light fast
• They're non-toxic
• They're acid free
• They won't tarnish
• And They're Beautiful!
  
• Cons
• They are pretty pricey
• You have to apply them with a medium that is going to hold them (as a binder)- so while you may make some kind of paste with just water, once the water evaporates, the pigment will just fall off.
• Some of the hues just won't look quite right on lighter backgrounds. Most watercolor artists will understand the importance of hue-contrasts and value-contrast, so really, that's to be expected. Try using all the colors on light and dark backgrounds to see what effect you like best.
  
• Verdict
• Pearl Ex Pigments are super fun, relatively easy to work with and will add sparkle and beautiful to any project.
  
• Try It Out!
•  Scrabble Tile Bracelet 
• Tutorial : Scrabble Tile Pendants and Charms 
• Monday Madness : Weekly Earring Project 
• Resin Casting Project
  
• Go Get Some!
•  http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=430429&pid=_Froogle&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=757999
• http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=100306 
  

Made by Inkssentials (Ranger) Glossy Accents is actually a scrapbooking product. However, it was discovered by jewelry/bead artisans as a sealant for beads.


Pros:

• Relatively easy to use - pop off the cap and you're ready to go
• No fumes! This is great for me since my "studio" is also my bedroom, and I don't want to smell nasty unhealthy fumes all night.
• Acid Free & Non Toxic (Good for the Planet; Good for You)
  
• Inexpensive - I think I got mine for around $5 (a 2 oz bottle)
  
• Dries quickly - However, I tend to think it has dried a bit before it has - it comes out kind of milky, and as it dried it clears. Do not be fooled! Let it set for as long as possible so it can dry to a hard finish.
  
• Doesn't react with alcohol inks - domino crafters know how important this is :)
  

Cons

• You can't coat a 3D object in one swoop
• BUBBLES! (Remember the yellow fish in Finding Nemo? He would have loved Glossy Accents!)
• Uneven surface - I have noticed, especially with my scrabble tiles, that the Glossy Accents has not dried in a smooth coat, but in a slightly uneven, lightly textured surface. It's not terribly noticeable, but still, I wonder why. I had read that you can have issues with Glossy Accents if you use too much, but I didn't use that much on the tiles.
  
• Water soluble- this is not a water-proof product. So, if you were to suddenly get caught in a downpour of rain, I couldn't promise that your pendant wouldn't begin to get sticky. However, I have never done a water test, so I don't know how much exposure will how much cause disintegration.
  

Of all the products I have tried so far, Glossy Accents has been the easiest and most convenient. I know most people love Modge Podge, but I am not a fan of the inevitable brush or makeup sponge marks left behind. The bubbles you can work with, by being careful to not shake the bottle, and using the applicator tip or a needle to pop them. I have also reconciled myself to the fact that there will be bubbles. 

Fun Tutorials and Projects using Glossy Accents:

• Domino Pendants
• Project: Scrabble Tile Bracelet
• Tutorial : Scrabble Tile Pendants and Charms
  
• Earring Project

Additional Information
http://www.rangerink.com/products/prod_inkssentials_glossy.htm

Where to Purchase:
Michaels or other similar craft store (though I didn't find any at my local JoAnn's)
http://store.scrapbook.com/gb-gac17042.html
http://www.capaper.com/product/5571?meta=FRG&utm_source=GBASE&utm_medium=CPC&utm_content=&utm_campaign=