Working with Enamels

[CorriDawn]

The main thing with enamels is to work it cool. twirl fast so you don't boil it. Also, you can use two colors of enamel mixed together and they won't melt into one color, they stay as seperate colors, so it is kind of a speckled effect.

They do want to come to the surface, so if you melt in your decoration on top of the enamels, then you probably will not get a nice crisp edge.

A cool thing to do is to use white enamel on a bead and then copper foil over it. it turns beautiful blue/green colors.

They are pretty cool. ANyone else have tips for enamels?

Also, make sure you use proper ventilation when using enamels!

[starlia]

When I took Janice Peacock's class we took some enamels and reduction powders and put them into shakers. We made the shakers from mesh you can get at a tobacco shop and cut holes in the tops of film cannister lids. It works like a charm when you want to completely cover your piece.

[CorriDawn]

I roll the bead in the enamel like you do with frit

[starlia]

I roll it sometimes too but I really like the crusty look you get when applying it with a shaker.