You've arrived at the end of our microbeadie trail here at  Stamper's Quest Magaine. This is our last featured project of this year's Pennywise Arts Blog Hop.  If you have just arrived here and don't know about the Hop, please visit the Pennywise Arts Blog to learn all about it.  If you haven't seen our featured article to begin hopping here on the Trail, click here to read it.  We don't want you miss out on your chance to win fantastic prizes and blog candy!

I recently attended a rubber stamp show in northern Idaho where my friend, Becky, and I met up with Suzanne, owner of Pennywise Arts, and a group of "Beadie Buddies" from Washington.  What a wonderful time we had visiting over lunch at McKenzie River Pizza.  These ladies from the Pennywise Art Yahoo Group are some of the most talented I know.   

During the show I was showing Suzanne one of the stamps I purchased from Judikins, when both of us thought of beads at the same time.  So in honor of Suzanne and our visit, I created Nature's Way Dragonfly.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it.   I wish the photographs would capture the true beauty of the shimmer of the glaze and the sparkle of the beads.   

By: Bea Rosenleaf, Artistic Guide

 Nature's Way Dragonfly
Framed Art  

Finished size: Fits an 8" x 10" frame  

Supplies:
Stamps:
All JudiKins:
  2960-G Splatter Pattern
   3481-E  Pinwheel Flower
   2339-H Dragonfly
Sentiment (Stampscapes)
Papers:
Black Glossy cardstock (unknown)
White Glossy cardstock (unknown), cut to 4.25" x 5.5"
Scrap piece of matte White cardstock
Pearl Metallic cardstock (unknown)
Inks:
Vintage Photo Distress ink pad (Ranger Ink)
Onyx Black Versafine ink pad (Tsukineko)
VersaMark Watermark ink pad (Tsukineko)
Gold pigment ink pad (Color Box)
Mica Gloss Metallic Effects Inks: (JudiKins)
   Lilac
   Gold Gold
   Ice Blue
Other:
Acrylic Block (use one that will cover the white piece of cardstock)
Gold Perfect Pearls (Ranger Ink)
Mini Mister (Ranger Ink)
Small scoop or craft stick
Water
O'So Sticky  6" x 9" adhesive sheet (Pennywise Art**)
Brayer (Speedball)
Gold leafing pen (Krylon)
Black Embossing Powder (EK Success)
Gold Border peel-off stickers (Craft n' Craftin'...from Crafter's Companion)
Microbeads: (Pennywise Arts) 
   Clear DB-2000 Ultra Fine Micro Beads
   LB-1024 Denim Translucent Glass Mini Micro Beads
   LB-1034 Wild Plum Translucent Glass Mini Micro Beads
   LB-0011 Black Opaque Glass Micro Beads
Craft Knife (X-acto)
Self-healing cutting mat (Fiskars)
2 Black brads (Creating Memories)
Heat Gun
Foam Adhesive Strips (Recollections from Michael's)
8" x 10" frame or table-top display easel
Tidy tray or dish or box top
Craft sheet  

** Please note that Pennywise Arts is no longer carrying the O'So Sticky Tape or Sheets.  Like product can be found at any craft store.  Terrifically Tacky Tape is the same. I've also seen it called Redliner Tape.  You need to use this heavier duty adhesive to keep the beads stuck to it.   

Cut paper to the following sizes, then proceed with the directions to create your own framed art.  

• Black Glossy cardstock:   1 - 8" x 10"
                                                      1 - 4.25" x 5.5"
• Pearl Metallic cardstock:  1 - 5" x 7"
                                                       1 - 6" x 1"
• White cardstock:  3.5" x 4.5"

Directions:  

1. Take acrylic block and directly apply Vintage Photo ink in various spots around the block. (You do not need to cover the entire surface of the block.)  Spray the block with a mixture of Gold Perfect Pearls mixed with water. (I use 2 craft stick "scoops" to a Mini Mister with water added up to the last "r" in Ranger.) Make sure you shake the mister well to blend the Perfect Pearls. Stamp the block on the white piece of cardstock.  Let dry well. (Can use a heat tool to speed this up, but you really need to be sure the cardstock is totally dry before applying the adhesive.)
2.  Stamp dragonfly with Onyx Black ink onto the white piece of cardstock.  Let ink dry well.
3. Cut a piece of the adhesive sheet to the same size as the white cardstock (3.5" x 4.5"). Remove the white backing piece (I do just a small section at a time making it easier to line up and adhere to the cardstock.  (You don't want to handle the adhesive much as it will lose its stickiness and show fingerprints.) and adhere to the top of the dragonfly image cardstock. Be careful...once it's stuck, it's stuck!
4. Using a sharp craft knife (Suggestion: Use a new blade), carefully cut around the dragonfly's wings and tail.  Don't cut too deeply...just enough to cut through the red liner.
5. Carefully remove the red liner from the four wing sections only. Tip: Use the blade of the craft knife to help lift up the red liner. 
6. Place the dragonfly piece into a Tidy Tray, or other receptacle to keep the beads contained. Sprinkle the Wild Plum and Denim microbeads onto the exposed wing sections.  Do one color at a time, replacing the beads back into their container before doing the next color.  Rub the beads with your fingers, pressing firmly to set the beads into the adhesive.
7. Repeat the above process with the Black microbeads on the dragonfly's tail.
8. Now, carefully remove the rest of the red liner and place the piece into the tray. Sprinkle the ultra fine Clear beads over the entire piece.  Again, rub firmly with your fingers to set the beads.  Return the excess beads to their container and set piece aside.
9. Once dry, apply the Gold Leafing pen to the edges, going right over the top of the beads.  Set aside to dry.

Now we are going to create the background on the 4.25" x 5.5" piece of black glossy cardstock that will mat the dragonfly.  

1. Set the Black Glossy cardstock piece on the craft sheet.  Place Lilac, Old Gold and Ice Blue dabs of the Mica Gloss inks (about 2 to 3 drops) onto surface of the cardstock. (Beware: A little bit goes a long ways! And the Old Gold will overpower the other colors. My piece doesn't show much of the other colors, but I liked how it looked so I used it anyway.)  Using the brayer, spread the inks over the entire surface of the piece.  Now take the white piece of cardstock and sandwich it (glossy sides together) on top of the black piece.  Rub your hand over the surface to spread the inks. Carefully pull apart and set the white piece aside. You can use this for another piece of artwork!
2. Quickly take the Pinwheel Flower stamp and press it into the ink on the black piece creating a really cool background!  Try twisting the stamp a bit for a little bit different spin. Allow this to dry completely. These inks take a bit of time, even if you use a heat tool, so patience is required (I know...). Be sure to wash your stamp immediately after finishing the background piece.

Set the black piece aside to dry and we'll move on to the pearl metallic mat piece.  

1. Take the Old Gold Mica Gloss ink and drop some either on the craft mat or onto an acrylic block (The block has to be big enough for the stamp you are using.) and spread out with the brayer.  Tap the Splatter stamp into the Mica Gloss ink and randomly stamp onto the two pieces of Pearl cardstock (You can even use the ink on the brayer to apply to the stamp!) to create a marble-looking background. Be sure to wash that stamp when you are done!
2. This piece won't take quite as long to dry since the ink isn't as thick. When it's dry take the Gold ink pad and apply to the edges.  Let the ink set for a while (it takes a long time to dry on coated cardstocks because it's a pigment ink) and then rub lightly with a paper towel. This gives a nice edging effect that blends into the marble look.
3. On the smaller of the two pieces, stamp the sentiment with Versamark and emboss with the Black embossing powder. 
4. Determine how you want to layout your pieces and then carefully adhere to the 8" x 10" Black glossy piece. Warning:  Be sure to take into consideration the frame that will border your artwork before adhering!
5. I wanted the dragonfly to really be the focal point of this framed piece, so I used two layers of foam tape to give it a deeper 3-D appearance.
6. Affix 2 black brads to either side of the sentiment. Apply the gold peel-off borders. 
7. Be sure to sign your work of art. Frame and proudly display!

Here is a close-up of the dragonfly.  I really wish photographs would capture the true dazzle and sparkle.  

This piece of art is a gift for someone special. I hope she will enjoy it for years to come.  

Here's a second project using beads as a highlight to add interest and dimension to your project:  

By: Bea Rosenleaf, Artistic Guide

 Be Quirky  

Finished Card: 5" x 6.5"  

Supplies:
Stamps:
CL486 Fish & Shells (Hero Arts)
Be Quirky Sentiment (The Angel Company)
Inks:
Tuxedo Black Memento ink pad (Tsukineko)
Adirondack Alcohol inks, various colors (Ranger Ink)
Blending Solution (Ranger Ink)
Papers:
White card base (Michael's)
Turquoise Blue cardstock  cut to 6.25" x 4.5" (Unknown)
Black cardstock, cut to 5.75" x 4.25" (Unknown)
2 pieces of White glossy cardstock, cut to 5.5" x 4.25" (Unknown)
Other:
Alcohol based markers in coral colors (ShinHan) **
LB-0011 Black Opaque Glass Micro Beads  (Pennywise Arts)
Bubble beads (Pennywise Arts)
Glossy Accents (Ranger Inks)
Silver leafing pen (Krylon)
Ink blending tool (Ranger Inks)
3-D dots or tape (Scotch Brand)
Tidy Tray or other type of receptacle  

Directions:
  

1. Create background pieces using alcohol inks. (I honestly can't remember what colors I used on these pieces as I made them quite a while ago and didn't label them. So sorry!)  Apply the inks with the blending tool and Blending solutions.  Sometimes after I get a background done, I may add a drop of ink here and there creating spots.  Create one background with blues and yellows to create the "ocean" and the second piece with whatever colors you want your fish to be.
2. Stamp the school of fish on the blue background using the Black ink.  Let it dry well (takes a little longer on glossy cardstock). Now stamp the coral around the bottom and side. 
3. Color the coral with any kind of marker. I used alcohol based pens by Shinhan.  Did you know that coral comes in many different colors?  It's not just pink, red, or coral. I've seen yellow and orange coral as well. So let your imagination run wild! This is, after all, your ocean! Just choose colors that will show up on your background.  I chose the standard coral colors because it coordinated with my fish.
4. Outline the "ocean" piece with the Silver Krylon leafing pen and set aside to dry.
5. Stamp the fish on the second alcohol background piece. Let dry well, then cut it out.  Place the fish in a Tidy Tray or other receptable to catch the excess beads. Add Glossy Accents to the larger stripes and sprinkle Black microbeads over it. Let dry. Return the excess beads to the container.
6. While the beads are drying on the fish, stamp the coral on the Turquoise Blue piece of cardstock up the left side and across the bottom. Adhere this piece to the card base.
7. Adhere the "ocean" piece to the black matt piece and adhere that to the card.
8. Stamp "Be Quirky" wherever it pleases you with the Black ink.
9. Apply 3-D dots to the fish and place over the fish in the center of the card. Off-set a bit, if you want, to create a bit of a shadow.
10. Apply a line of Glossy Accents vertically from the fish's mouth and place the smaller and a few larger Bubble Beads to create the look of air bubbles.  Let dry.
    

    Close-up of the microbeads

11. Sign your card and share the love with someone special!

This card can be yours by leaving a comment! Be sure to leave your email address when leaving a comment, otherwise we have no way of notifying you if you win.  Your comment also enters you in the drawing for a $25 shopping spree with Pennywise Arts!  

Drawings will take place on Monday and winners of all of Stamper's Quest blog candy from the Pennywise Arts Blog Hop will be announced. Make sure you check it out in the afternoon.  

Be  sure to visit Pennywise Arts for a vast array of beads. They have many sizes, lots of colors and different styles of beads.  You can also find some other products to create various types of projects.   

And if you join their yahoo group, you will find so much inspiration and talent and some of the greatest, most friendly, people on the face of the Earth!  They have beady parties, shoebox parties, roadtrips, pity parties, lots of different types of swaps to participate in and just plain fun. Dare you to join!  

Suzanne is giving away some terrific prizes during the Blog Hop, so be sure to leave comments on all the various blogs you are visiting this weekend. 

This concludes Stamper's Quest's featured projects for the Pennywise Arts 2011 Blog Hop. We sure had a lot of fun using Suzanne's microbeads to create these projects for you.  We hope you got some inspiration and ideas to create your works of art using microbeads. 

Hop on back to the Pennywise Blog, where it all began!  We hope to do this again, Suzanne!! 

Now, go "Bead the World!"