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Post by michelle on Apr 17, 2021 20:11:42 GMT -6
Hey Fellow Bead Enthusiasts, I have another question. The following photo is from this website: www.liveinternet.ru/users/4525554/post278049230/ A talented Russian beader. Anyway, my question is do you think she is using ultra suede in lieu of the Lacy Stiff Stuff recommended for beginners?
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Post by caeterle on Apr 18, 2021 9:24:57 GMT -6
I think she could also be using some kind of felt, other embroidery artists do that, too. Stiff Stuff is only available in white and even if it can be colored. I have some black backing from Beadsmith, for example, which has a more felt-like texture than Stiff Stuff, but I also found a tutorial on how to stiffen regular felt for embroidery (I haven't watched it yet, but thought it was very interesting, also because I wondered if I could try to wet felt backing myself ... an experiment which is probably never going to happen). Here's a post on different backings www.thesprucecrafts.com/types-of-bead-embroidery-foundations-4068490Here's the video if you're interested
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Post by michelle on Apr 18, 2021 11:54:04 GMT -6
Thanks so much, Cat! Strangely, the lacy stiff stiff I have is black. It’s fine for some things, but not others. I really appreciate the links, because I can tell, I’m going to need a variety of colors!
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Post by caeterle on Apr 18, 2021 12:01:53 GMT -6
Oh, I just saw that they now have more colors - white, black, red, and blue. It used to be just white and my German bead store only carries the white, so I hadn't checked the original site again.
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Post by michelle on Apr 18, 2021 12:30:21 GMT -6
The piece I have was purchased from Amazon - and black was the only color I could find. Weird! I watched 3 techniques for stiffening felt on the video. The process for the three I watched looks pretty straightforward. One item was floor polish, and the other two were Elmers Glue and Mod Podge.
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Post by caeterle on Apr 18, 2021 12:35:05 GMT -6
This is the original page, Michelle www.happyjacksbeademporium.com/index.htmlLet me know if you try out any of those things and I will let you know if I come up with something, but at the moment I still have enough backing because I only just ordered.
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Post by michelle on Apr 18, 2021 19:57:37 GMT -6
Thanks for the link! I still have enough of my black for my next project (fortunately black is a good color for my next one), but then I will need something....
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cymmy
Full Member
Posts: 194
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Post by cymmy on May 16, 2021 8:09:59 GMT -6
I just watched the whole video and it is very informative. I can try at least three of these but I think I am going to go with the white school glue one. I just coated some cardstock with this so the guys could paint yesterday. I had no surfaces otherwise. I personally think that modge-podge, elmer's glue and acrylic paint are extremely similar. I work with them doing the acrylic pours and they all have similar characteristics. Thanks for the video Cat, I think its exactly what I needed
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Post by michelle on Jun 5, 2021 12:59:23 GMT -6
I ordered a stack off 48 felt pieces in as many colors from Amazon. Way cheaper than Lacy’s Stiff Stuff. I’m trying to decide if I actually need to add the glue to them. The felt is a tiny bit thinner, but I can’t tell much difference otherwise. I guess I’ll add glue to one and see how I feel about it.
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Post by caeterle on Jun 6, 2021 2:02:52 GMT -6
48 ... you really do have big plans! How big are those pieces? Are they as stiff as the Lacy's? Will you let us know how you like them? I have questions! I worked with the BeadSmith backing a few days ago which is thicker than the Lacy's and again I thought I really prefer the Lacy's.
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Post by michelle on Jun 6, 2021 14:55:28 GMT -6
I have a lot of manufactured sea glass that needs the right colors behind it to make it look good. The felt pieces are 8 x12 inches (approximately 20 x 30 cm). The felt that hasn’t had any glue treatments seems to be a bit less stiff than Lacy’s. I think that’s due to it being slightly thinner. The glued versions seem stiffer than Lacy’s. But I haven’t actually worked with them yet. I think I’ll get started tonight.
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Post by caeterle on Jun 7, 2021 1:37:40 GMT -6
That makes perfect sense to me. Most of my cabs are opaque, so it doesn't really matter.
It'll be very interesting to hear what you say because you are right, the Lacy's isn't cheap. I also mean to try different backings than the Ultrasuede because that stuff is really expensive. I don't remember where I read or heard it, but someone said they tried a kind of vinyl instead that was in a kit and they really liked that.
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Post by michelle on Jun 8, 2021 12:16:03 GMT -6
Yeah, I’d use ultra suede only if I intended the background to show. Otherwise, it’s a waste imo.
I bet vinyl would be nice!
Okay, so I’ve discovered you can put too much Mod Podge on the felt. I lost the paint brush I use with Mod Podge, so I poured it on the felt and spread it with my fingers. This resulted in some places with too much stiffness - too much because it’s hard to put the needle through. Fortunately, it’s not all that way. Otherwise, it’s working just fine.
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Post by caeterle on Jun 8, 2021 12:51:32 GMT -6
What do you use for the back, Michelle? I like the idea of a very clean back. My wire pendants were not always that nice, putting something really nice on to hide my imperfect stitches is very appealing to me I now wish I hadn't thrown away a few things that I might have been able to use for backing, but of course I couldn't know. Good tip! That sounds totally like something that could happen to me!
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Post by michelle on Jun 8, 2021 21:10:07 GMT -6
Right now, I am using ultra suede on the back. I found a pack of ultra suede on Amazon: 5 x 7 inches 6 pieces for $9.97. Won’t work for large items though. I may try felt. LOL! I do have a lot. What do you use, Cat?
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