Comments on: Use Iridescent Buffalo Snow Flakes to Make Faux Opals http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/buffalo-snow-flakes-faux-opals/8672/ "Make What You Love... Love What You Make!" Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:54:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jocelyn http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/buffalo-snow-flakes-faux-opals/8672/#comment-48403 Jocelyn Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:20:26 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=8672#comment-48403 Great thread, thanks Kat. LOL!!!! Great thread, thanks Kat. LOL!!!!

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/buffalo-snow-flakes-faux-opals/8672/#comment-46390 Phaedrakat Tue, 04 Jan 2011 06:53:38 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=8672#comment-46390 @<a href="#comment-42499">Jocelyn</a>: Jocelyn, I remember when I wrote the above how tickled I was by all the fun experiments and ideas you were trying at the time. I had forgotten about this...my search for Peggy's "snow business" led me to the above posts. I had to laugh again as I pictured you "sneaking" about... Hope the New Year brings you great joy, health, & happiness! @Jocelyn: Jocelyn, I remember when I wrote the above how tickled I was by all the fun experiments and ideas you were trying at the time. I had forgotten about this…my search for Peggy’s “snow business” led me to the above posts. I had to laugh again as I pictured you “sneaking” about… Hope the New Year brings you great joy, health, & happiness!

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/buffalo-snow-flakes-faux-opals/8672/#comment-42567 Phaedrakat Wed, 27 Oct 2010 01:30:37 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=8672#comment-42567 I love the way you approach claying experimentation, Jocelyn! When I read your exploits, I mean comments...I imagine you searching your home for your next project (using the classic "sneak" pose -- tippy-toes, arms up in front, hands pointed, as if holding 'imaginary pencils' -- you get the picture.) You creep up on unsuspecting household items, and then snatch them up for clay use -- disregarding their original purpose with no thought for their feelings. The gravy ladle never had a chance...DID it? Tell the truth... Of course, there are no photos...you wouldn't want to incriminate yourself, now, would you? ;D Okay, I'm kidding of course. I know you don't adopt the sneaking pose, do ya? But I love how you come up with cool ideas...you're always throwing some 'out there' for others to take hold of. I like this reverse "Faux-pal"...using a mold to reduce the sanding seems incredibly helpful. I just came across the perfect old finding/wanna-be mold...I think. I'll have to give your method a try & see if it works for me...and also how much depth is possible this way. Thanks for sharing your fabulous imagination...you're awesome!! I love the way you approach claying experimentation, Jocelyn! When I read your exploits, I mean comments…I imagine you searching your home for your next project (using the classic “sneak” pose — tippy-toes, arms up in front, hands pointed, as if holding ‘imaginary pencils’ — you get the picture.) You creep up on unsuspecting household items, and then snatch them up for clay use — disregarding their original purpose with no thought for their feelings. The gravy ladle never had a chance…DID it? Tell the truth… Of course, there are no photos…you wouldn’t want to incriminate yourself, now, would you? ;D

Okay, I’m kidding of course. I know you don’t adopt the sneaking pose, do ya? But I love how you come up with cool ideas…you’re always throwing some ‘out there’ for others to take hold of. I like this reverse “Faux-pal”…using a mold to reduce the sanding seems incredibly helpful. I just came across the perfect old finding/wanna-be mold…I think. I’ll have to give your method a try & see if it works for me…and also how much depth is possible this way. Thanks for sharing your fabulous imagination…you’re awesome!!

]]> By: Jocelyn http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/buffalo-snow-flakes-faux-opals/8672/#comment-42499 Jocelyn Sat, 23 Oct 2010 13:39:20 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=8672#comment-42499 Sorry folks, no pics of reverse fopals. But reversing the steps into a metal or silicone mold should work pretty well once you work out all the kinks. It doesn't have depth like Cindy gets, but, enough so I am thrilled with the results, especially the limited sanding. In the home, the only mold I have found is the metal soapdish, though last nite I looked at tablespoons, teaspoons, and those small ladles for gravies. Hmmm. Start slow with the liquid, line the bottom, let it set up overnite, then line it again before adding the rest. Best of luck too. Love making this beautiful substance. Sorry folks, no pics of reverse fopals. But reversing the steps into a metal or silicone mold should work pretty well once you work out all the kinks.

It doesn’t have depth like Cindy gets, but, enough so I am thrilled with the results, especially the limited sanding.

In the home, the only mold I have found is the metal soapdish, though last nite I looked at tablespoons, teaspoons, and those small ladles for gravies. Hmmm.

Start slow with the liquid, line the bottom, let it set up overnite, then line it again before adding the rest.

Best of luck too. Love making this beautiful substance.

]]> By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/buffalo-snow-flakes-faux-opals/8672/#comment-42422 Phaedrakat Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:04:34 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=8672#comment-42422 Oooh, yeah! I'd love to see the molded "fopal" too! Smart idea there, Jocelyn! Also, another great idea by DJ...to cut up iridescent bows, ribbon, etc. when you can't find Buffalo Snow. Still -- the holiday season is approaching, so we can start watching for "snow" again. It's a seasonal item, so it should be making it's way into your local JoAnn, Michael's, etc. Watch out for it... remember, Buffalo Snow can look like any of these packages shown at the following link: <a href="http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/polymer-clay-faux-opal-pendant-hammered-copper-jewelry-bail/6894/#comment-28102">Buffalo Snow Packaging</a> Oooh, yeah! I’d love to see the molded “fopal” too! Smart idea there, Jocelyn! Also, another great idea by DJ…to cut up iridescent bows, ribbon, etc. when you can’t find Buffalo Snow. Still — the holiday season is approaching, so we can start watching for “snow” again. It’s a seasonal item, so it should be making it’s way into your local JoAnn, Michael’s, etc. Watch out for it… remember, Buffalo Snow can look like any of these packages shown at the following link: Buffalo Snow Packaging

]]> By: DJ http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/buffalo-snow-flakes-faux-opals/8672/#comment-42419 DJ Thu, 21 Oct 2010 06:57:59 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=8672#comment-42419 Patty, the mica flakes I have are thicker, brittle pieces. They don't have as much color variation or sheen to them either. One thing I tried a few months ago (couldn't find bags of b. snow) was at the Dollar store. In the gift wrap section they often have iridescent, transparent bows. I bought one in a shade I liked and cut up some tiny shreds. It doesn't take long...you don't need too much, and one bow will last a while. You can buy a few different shades and still not spend too much either. Jocelyn I've been wondering about molds for fopals, sounds like a success! Somehow, I completely missed this thread. You should post a pic in the facebook gallery :) Patty, the mica flakes I have are thicker, brittle pieces. They don’t have as much color variation or sheen to them either. One thing I tried a few months ago (couldn’t find bags of b. snow) was at the Dollar store. In the gift wrap section they often have iridescent, transparent bows. I bought one in a shade I liked and cut up some tiny shreds. It doesn’t take long…you don’t need too much, and one bow will last a while. You can buy a few different shades and still not spend too much either.

Jocelyn I’ve been wondering about molds for fopals, sounds like a success! Somehow, I completely missed this thread. You should post a pic in the facebook gallery :)

]]> By: carolyn http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/buffalo-snow-flakes-faux-opals/8672/#comment-42338 carolyn Tue, 19 Oct 2010 04:44:44 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=8672#comment-42338 @Patty Collins: Hi, Patty. I am not familiar with mica flakes (except for the ones I get out of the creek by my home). I can tell you that Buffalo snow is not the same as mica powder. @Patty Collins: Hi, Patty. I am not familiar with mica flakes (except for the ones I get out of the creek by my home). I can tell you that Buffalo snow is not the same as mica powder.

]]> By: Patty Collins http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/buffalo-snow-flakes-faux-opals/8672/#comment-42337 Patty Collins Tue, 19 Oct 2010 04:27:32 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=8672#comment-42337 Is buffalo snow and mica flakes the same thing? Is buffalo snow and mica flakes the same thing?

]]> By: Jocelyn http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/buffalo-snow-flakes-faux-opals/8672/#comment-38413 Jocelyn Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:20:39 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=8672#comment-38413 More late nite experimentation, lol. Pulled out an old metal soap dish that needs to be mounted in the bathroom and used it as a mold for reverse fopals. Worked great! Much easier baking in the metal mold, just pop it in the oven then into a bath of ice cubes to unmold. Caution, this makes a pretty big bead. It is so beautiful, thank you Cindy. Now, to find more buffalo snow.... More late nite experimentation, lol. Pulled out an old metal soap dish that needs to be mounted in the bathroom and used it as a mold for reverse fopals. Worked great! Much easier baking in the metal mold, just pop it in the oven then into a bath of ice cubes to unmold. Caution, this makes a pretty big bead. It is so beautiful, thank you Cindy. Now, to find more buffalo snow….

]]> By: Jocelyn http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/buffalo-snow-flakes-faux-opals/8672/#comment-38144 Jocelyn Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:39:36 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=8672#comment-38144 No problem Peggie, just hope your results come out happily for you! No problem Peggie, just hope your results come out happily for you!

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