Tag: Webinars

6” x 8.5”

Let the festivities begin! Fall is a season for celebrating family, friends and feasting. At my house, the dining room table is the center of attention at this time of year. Accordingly, I like to decorate the table with a special piece of art that brings cheerful energy to our gatherings. This brightly colored turkey is the perfect adornment for such joyous occasions. It may look complicated, but it’s actually fast and easy to make.

To get started, cut out the paper pattern with scissors. To make the base, trace the turkey shape on clear glass with a marker. Cut as much of the clear glass as possible by hand. Use a glass saw to detail the inside cuts. The clear base layer can be made up of pieces if you don’t have access to a saw. Grind the clear glass to remove sharp edges and improve the shape.

For the colorful design layer, cut the pattern up with scissors. Affix the paper pieces to the appropriate colored glass with a glue stick. Cut the pieces as closely to the paper as possible. Cut a second turkey body out of patterned dichroic on clear. Then grind the cut glass pieces to improve the shapes and remove any sharp edges.

Place the clear base on a second pattern. Apply a small amount of fuser’s glue to the clear base and then assemble the colorful design layer on top. Stack the dichroic body on top. Allow the glue to dry until the pieces are secure. If you move to the next step too soon, the glass pieces will slide around when you apply the frit. This causes blurred edges that I feel distract from the design.

Using a spoon, pour a small amount of fine frit onto the turkey. Work the frit down into any gaps with a paint brush. This step gives the finished artwork a nice added detail. I selected a complimentary yellow to highlight this bold color palate. When using this technique, I intentionally pick fine frit instead of powder. The excess fine frit is easier to clean off the surface of the project than powder which tends to stick.

Next add a dichroic dot for an eye and a yellow triangle for a beak. Now for a little bling. Nip wavy Firestrips to size and place them on the turkey’s feathers for a flashy zinger.

The assembled turkey is fused and then slumped over a barrel shaped mold. The slumped turkey is then glued to the front of the clear candle shelter. Colored fused glass strips cover the remainder of the clear candle shelter to give it a festive flare all the way around.

Using a strip cutter cut 16 strips total ½” wide, 5 7/8” long out of red, orange and green glass. Cut 16 strips of iridized clear the same size. Stack the clear iridized strips on the color strips.

Fuse the turkey and strips to a full fuse temperature using the guide below.

Slump the fused turkey over the ceramic mold.

Glue the slumped turkey to the clear candle shelter with E6000 adhesive. Tape the fused glass to the clear shelter to ensure it doesn’t slide off. Let the glue dry overnight.

Glue the fused glass strips to the remainder of the clear shelter. Tape them in place. Let the glue dry overnight.

Double duty. This fancy turkey project can be used as a candle holder or a flower vase. Either way, it’s a beautiful seasonal addition to any decor.

Fusing Guide

Segment 1: Ramp 300 F/hr to 1300 and hold 30 min.

Segment 2: Ramp 500F/hr to 1465 and hold 10 min.

Segment 3: Ramp 9999(AFAP*) to 960 and hold 40 min.

Segment 4: Cool to room temperature.

*As fast as possible

Slumping Guide

Segment 1: Ramp 300 F/hr to 1265 and hold 10 min.

Segment 2: Ramp 9999(AFAP*) to 960 and hold 40 min.

Segment 3: Cool to room temperature.

*As fast as possible

NOTE: Kilns fire differently. Test fire these guides in your kiln and then make adjustments as needed.

Oceanside 96 Glass

100SF Clear for the turkey base layer, ½ Sq. Ft.

Oceanside 96 Glass

60-2700-96 Orange/Clear for turkey and strips, ½ Sq. Ft.

60-6120-96 Grenadine/Clear for turkey and strips, ½ Sq. Ft.

60-7550-96-4 Fern Green/Clear for strips, ¼ Sq. Ft.

61-00-96-IR-4 Clear Thin Iridized for strips, 1 Sq. Ft.

F2-2602-96-8 Yellow Opal Frit, Fine

CBS System 96 Dichroic Glass

Pebbles Pattern on Clear 4” x 4”

Wavy “Firestrips”, 2 – 14-inch-long pieces

Tools and Materials

Ceramic Slumping Mold 10 ½” x 9” x 4”

Clear Candle Shelter 6” Tall, 4” Wide, 12” Around

Fuser’s Glue, Marker, Glue Stick, E6000 Adhesive, Masking Tape

Pillar Candle or Flowers

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lisa & Niki

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Be a Cut Above

One of the fastest and easiest ways to improve your fused glass art and dramatically expand your design style is to develop your glass cutting skills.

The beauty of working with fusing is the simplicity of the medium. Many people come to the craft with little or no glass cutting experience. Due to the ease of fabrication and wealth of readily available information, they’re successfully producing attractive pieces from the start.

But if you’re now tiring of the simple cut and assemble methods that got you started and longing to move in a more advanced direction, a small dose of technique is the jump start you need.

It may seem like a trivial topic to address, but your project complexity is in direct relation to your cutting confidence. In other words, the better you cut, the more likely you are to venture outside of your comfort zone and take on more challenging projects.

Here are some tips to get you started. 

1 Consistent pressure.

Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t take a heavy hand to make a good score line on glass. What it takes is consistent, medium pressure from the very beginning to the very end of the score. The glass cutter should, “sing” as it rolls over the surface of the glass. It’s a pleasant, consistent sound beginning to end. It’s not a cringing grinding noise. A good score is visible its entire length. But it’s not messy and littered with thin splinters. The grinding noise and splinters are signs you’re applying way too much pressure.

Many beginners start strong but let up the pressure as their hand moves farther away from their body. In this case, breakage tends to occur ¾ of the way down the score line. Beginners believe the score comes solely from the hand. A good score comes from making your wrist, elbow and shoulder one rigid tool. This combined strength and rigidity helps you apply consistent pressure the entire length of the score even at an awkward distance from your body. 

When cutting an unusually long piece, I turn the glass so I can run my score right to left instead of away from my body. This way I can move my body along with my hand and more easily maintain the consistent pressure needed for a successful break.    

2 Cut on the smoothest side of the glass.

In some cases, I prefer the look, color or pattern on the textured side of a sheet of glass. I turn the glass over and cut on the smoother side and then simply turn the glass back over when I assemble my project. The glass cutter wheel will have better, more consistent, contact with the glass the entire length of the score if you cut on the smoothest side. 

3 Beginning and end.

Try to start your score as close to the leading edge of the glass as possible without falling backward off the glass. Apply consistent, medium pressure from the very start. End the score as close to the far edge as possible without falling off the glass. Repeatedly falling off the glass edge will damage the cutter wheel and could possibly cause the glass to shatter.  

4 Use the right tool for the job.

Use a strip cutter or circle cutter when applicable. Accuracy is key for professional quality artwork. These tools give your work consistency. Plus, they save material by reducing waste and breakage.

When cutting strips, I cut a few more than I need and select the best, straightest strips for my project. The extra pieces find their way into smaller projects, pot melts or free flows. Nothing goes to waste.

Whenever possible, I opt to use running pliers over grozing or breaking pliers to break glass away from a sheet. Running pliers give the most reliable results. They work best if the glass being removed is at least as wide as the rubber tipped plier jaw. When breaking narrow or small curved pieces away, I choose grozing plies because the narrow jaw fits in tight places and allows me to get close to the score line.     

5 Use paper patterns.

Don’t hesitate to cut around a paper pattern to include an intricate shape in your work. This is a terrific way to transition away from strictly geometric designs and into pieces with lively organic elements.

Glass wants to break in a straight line. To cut rounded shapes, we make a series or gradual curves and break the excess glass away in steps until we have a glass shape that closely resembles our pattern.  

When cutting around a paper pattern piece, cut as close to the paper as possible without running into it. Beginners tend to cut a wide safety halo around the paper. It just postpones the inevitable. Be brave. Go for it. If the glass is going to break unfavorably the halo, no matter how heavenly, won’t prevent it.

Something to build on.  

The more time and effort you put into each step makes the next step easier and the finished product that much better. Don’t rush a project just to get it in the kiln. Give it the time it needs and produce your best work, every time. If you have to ask, “Is this good enough,” it probably isn’t. Do yourself a favor, re-do that piece or step. You can thank me later when you’re doing the, my piece came out awesome, happy dance.  

Go ahead. Cut it up!

Happy fusing!
Lisa & Niki

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Glass fusing is more popular than ever. The originality and quality of work I’m seeing in galleries, on websites and in our fusing groups is amazing. With so many enticing techniques to try it’s tempting to copy other artist’s work.

We all want guarantees that our limited time, hard work and expensive materials will produce dependable, beautiful results every time. And so, we play it safe and continually make the same reliable projects. Or we take the easy route and reproduce other’s work that we find attractive. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. You can develop your own individual design style. By applying a few simple concepts, your finished work and the time spent creating it will be more rewarding and exciting. 

1. Be Original!

It’s all been done before you argue. How can I be original, you ask? Yes, it’s all been done. But even the simplest techniques seen through your special artist’s lens and executed with your skilled hands can produce all new results.

To advance beyond routine projects begin by examining art that you admire. When you see a piece of art that really speaks to you, study it. Reduce your admiration down to the most basic attribute of the art. What really captures your interest? Is it the color, the shape or the imagery? Take that feature, hold on to it, then put it aside temporarily. Look at another piece of art. Identify the specific characteristic that you find attractive and put that feature aside temporarily. Do this for a third piece of art. Study it until you know exactly what trait appeals to you. Then take those three characteristics and combine them and you’re guaranteed to design your own original art.

2. Shape Up!

One of the fastest and easiest things you can do to make your art stand out is to give it a unique shape.

The most common shape for fused glass projects is the square. Primarily, because it’s economical, there’s no waste. And, because there’s very little cutting, it enables you to get right to the fun stuff, building the design. It’s also popular with beginners and hobbyists with basic cutting skills. By moving away for the square, you immediately increase the visual value of your work.

The rectangle is popular for the same reasons. If you change the shape of your square or rectangle, even slightly, you’re sure to engage the viewer longer.

The circle is traditionally a very pleasing shape. It requires a higher skill level to cut and therefore is more unique. But it also benefits from innovative thinking and a fresh approach to the perimeter shape.

How do you come up with new shapes?

I like to draw quick, no obligation sketches on note book pages. I resist the urge to self-edit or limit the creative flow. The pencil just glides over the paper making a mess of the previously clean white space. The first few sketches usually resemble familiar, safe shapes and designs. But once those are out of my head, suddenly there’s room to be more creative. All new shapes begin to develop.

During these exercises I’m free to draw the impossible.

I then take bits and pieces from the shapes that I find interesting and remix them to create my own new, project profiles. And sometimes, if I’m lucky, I even manage to figure out how to build the impossible ones.

3. Combine Fusible Techniques

Putting it into practice.

The beauty of this approach is the techniques don’t have to be super difficult to have a positive impact on your new work. We all have our favorite, trusted, go-to techniques. Start there.  

Using a complimentary color scheme, make three individual pieces, using three different methods. Cut the pieces up. Reinvent their roles in your art. Move them around. Change the composition a few times. If nothing thrills you, set them aside and let your creative subconscious have a turn.

Don’t force the grouping. I find that once I relieve the pressure to solidify a design, one presents itself. And the new composition is usually one that I otherwise would never have thought of. In cases like this, I believe the physical, ready made pieces guide and influence the discovery of innovative designs. Try it. You’ll be amazed how this abstract assembly opens your mind to fresh ideas.

Trust yourself.    

Design with confidence. Resist the impulse to compare yourself or your work to others. Instead, blaze your own trail and don’t look back. Take pride in your individuality and what you contribute to the craft.

Take risks to further develop your personal design style. Nurture your unique artistic perspective and your creative spirit will flourish.

Happy fusing!
Lisa & Niki

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The magical thing about glass fusing is you can work with the same materials for years and all it takes to fascinate you again is the introduction of a new component. The round Christmas ornament is far from a unique design. But add a new twist, a little bling and amazingly you have a delightfully fresh version of an old favorite.

At this hectic time of year, we’re all looking for fast and flashy projects that make great gifts. These easy to make ornaments are your ticket to wonderfully productive studio time. What makes these simple pieces so attractive is the paring of traditional holiday colors along with lively patterns.

Making the Ornament Bowl

Begin by cutting a 9-inch circle of clear glass for the ornament base. Cut 2 clear pieces of glass to represent the bail of the ornament. Select your murrine and cut it into 1/8-inch-long bits with mosaic nippers. Choose your holiday colors and cut them into strips. Arrange the strips on the clear base. Separate the cut strips with twisted cane. For added interest, include a strip of murrine.

Then, just for fun, rearrange your materials. Try different combinations until you have a pleasing pattern. I love this spontaneous type of assembly as it always produces a more dynamic design than I originally imagined.

Using a 9-inch round paper pattern as a guide, draw the circle shape on the strips and cane with a marker. Cut the strips and cane to fit neatly on the clear base glass. Cut clear dichroic to represent the bail of the ornament.

Cut narrow strips of dichroic on clear. Arrange the dichroic strips on the wide band of color to make the snowflakes. Be sure the dichroic coating side is down so it won’t scratch when the bowl is used.

Place the assembled glass in the kiln on a primed or shelf paper lined kiln shelf. Stack the 2 clear bails beside the circle. Overlap the white and the clear bails with the dichroic bail to bridge the parts when fused.   

Making the Dichroic Ornaments

I plan to use these little beauties as festive spoon rests in the kitchen. The dichroic coating is fragile and will scratch if not protected by clear glass. When making functional art with dichroic glass, I assemble the projects differently. Unlike the first ornament, which was built on a clear base, the base of these small decorations will be made up of pieces. The pieces will then be capped with a single piece of clear glass to ramp up the dichroic colors and protect the coating from scratches. 

Begin by cutting 4-inch circles out of clear glass. Cut 2 bails for each of the ornaments out of clear glass. Set the circles and bails aside. Cut a fun assortment of 4-inch squares of dichroic on black into strips. Rearrange the strips to make four unique ornament designs. Add a few twisted canes for a lacy effect. Turn any textured glass strips over. Using the clear circles as a guide, trace the circle shape on the back of the dichroic strips with a silver marker. Cut the glass and cane to match the circle. Turn the cut glass over and rearrange the strips and cane. Cut a bail for each ornament out of dichroic on clear.

Place the dichroic and cane layer in the kiln on a primed or shelf paper lined kiln shelf. Cap the dichroic glass with the 4-inch clear glass circles. Stack the 2 clear bails beside the glass. Overlap the clear cap and the clear bails with the dichroic bail to bridge the parts when fused.

Full fuse all five ornaments using the guide below.

If any of the circles are uneven, grind the edges as needed to improve the shapes.

Place the fused glass in slumping molds. Slump using the guide below.

I love including functional art in everyday life. And the kitchen, being the hub of family activity that it is, is a great place to enjoy personal, hand-made holiday decorations.

Fusing Guide

Segment 1: Ramp 300 F/hr to 1300 and hold 30 min.

Segment 2: Ramp 500F/hr to 1465 and hold 10 min.

Segment 3: Ramp 9999(AFAP*) to 960 and hold 40 min.

Segment 4: Cool to room temperature.

*As fast as possible

Slumping Guide

Segment 1: Ramp 300 F/hr to 1265 and hold 10 min.

Segment 2: Ramp 9999(AFAP*) to 960 and hold 40 min.

Segment 3: Cool to room temperature.

*As fast as possible

NOTE: Kilns fire differently. Test fire these guides in your kiln, adjust as needed.

Here’s the glass I used to make these ornaments.

Glitzy Ornament Bowl, 9 Inch Round

Oceanside Glasstile 96

Clear, 100SF, 1 Sq. Ft. for Base

White, 200SF, ½ Sq. Ft for Design

Dark Green, 220-76SF, ¼ Sq. Ft for Design

Flame 60-602-96, ½ Sq. Ft. for Design

Twisted Cane, Assorted colors, 17 for Design

Murine, Red, White & Green, 1 for Design

CBS Dichroic on Clear, Scrap

Glitzy Ornament Dishes, 4 Inch Round

CBS Dichroic on Black

Assorted colors, 4 – 4 Inch x 4 Inch for Base Layer

Clear, 100 SF, 1 Sq. Ft for Second Layer

Ceramic Slumping Molds

1 – 10 Inch x 10 Inch Square

4 – 4 Inch x 4 Inch, Square

Happy fusing!
Lisa & Niki

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6” x 8.5”

Let the festivities begin! Fall is a season for celebrating family, friends and feasting. At my house, the dining room table is the center of attention at this time of year. Accordingly, I like to decorate the table with a special piece of art that brings cheerful energy to our gatherings. This brightly colored turkey is the perfect adornment for such joyous occasions. It may look complicated, but it’s actually fast and easy to make.

To get started, cut out the paper pattern with scissors. To make the base, trace the turkey shape on clear glass with a marker. Cut as much of the clear glass as possible by hand. Use a glass saw to detail the inside cuts. The clear base layer can be made up of pieces if you don’t have access to a saw. Grind the clear glass to remove sharp edges and improve the shape.

For the colorful design layer, cut the pattern up with scissors. Affix the paper pieces to the appropriate colored glass with a glue stick. Cut the pieces as closely to the paper as possible. Cut a second turkey body out of patterned dichroic on clear. Then grind the cut glass pieces to improve the shapes and remove any sharp edges.

Place the clear base on a second pattern. Apply a small amount of fuser’s glue to the clear base and then assemble the colorful design layer on top. Stack the dichroic body on top. Allow the glue to dry until the pieces are secure. If you move to the next step too soon, the glass pieces will slide around when you apply the frit. This causes blurred edges that I feel distract from the design.

Using a spoon, pour a small amount of fine frit onto the turkey. Work the frit down into any gaps with a paint brush. This step gives the finished artwork a nice added detail. I selected a complimentary yellow to highlight this bold color palate. When using this technique, I intentionally pick fine frit instead of powder. The excess fine frit is easier to clean off the surface of the project than powder which tends to stick.

Next add a dichroic dot for an eye and a yellow triangle for a beak. Now for a little bling. Nip wavy Firestrips to size and place them on the turkey’s feathers for a flashy zinger.

The assembled turkey is fused and then slumped over a barrel shaped mold. The slumped turkey is then glued to the front of the clear candle shelter. Colored fused glass strips cover the remainder of the clear candle shelter to give it a festive flare all the way around.

Using a strip cutter cut 16 strips total ½” wide, 5 7/8” long out of red, orange and green glass. Cut 16 strips of iridized clear the same size. Stack the clear iridized strips on the color strips.

Fuse the turkey and strips to a full fuse temperature using the guide below.

Slump the fused turkey over the ceramic mold.

Glue the slumped turkey to the clear candle shelter with E6000 adhesive. Tape the fused glass to the clear shelter to ensure it doesn’t slide off. Let the glue dry overnight.

Glue the fused glass strips to the remainder of the clear shelter. Tape them in place. Let the glue dry overnight.

Double duty. This fancy turkey project can be used as a candle holder or a flower vase. Either way, it’s a beautiful seasonal addition to any decor.

Fusing Guide

Segment 1: Ramp 300 F/hr to 1300 and hold 30 min.

Segment 2: Ramp 500F/hr to 1465 and hold 10 min.

Segment 3: Ramp 9999(AFAP*) to 960 and hold 40 min.

Segment 4: Cool to room temperature.

*As fast as possible

Slumping Guide

Segment 1: Ramp 300 F/hr to 1265 and hold 10 min.

Segment 2: Ramp 9999(AFAP*) to 960 and hold 40 min.

Segment 3: Cool to room temperature.

*As fast as possible

NOTE: Kilns fire differently. Test fire these guides in your kiln and then make adjustments as needed.

Oceanside 96 Glass

100SF Clear for the turkey base layer, ½ Sq. Ft.

Oceanside 96 Glass

60-2700-96 Orange/Clear for turkey and strips, ½ Sq. Ft.

60-6120-96 Grenadine/Clear for turkey and strips, ½ Sq. Ft.

60-7550-96-4 Fern Green/Clear for strips, ¼ Sq. Ft.

61-00-96-IR-4 Clear Thin Iridized for strips, 1 Sq. Ft.

F2-2602-96-8 Yellow Opal Frit, Fine

CBS System 96 Dichroic Glass

Pebbles Pattern on Clear 4” x 4”

Wavy “Firestrips”, 2 – 14-inch-long pieces

Tools and Materials

Ceramic Slumping Mold 10 ½” x 9” x 4”

Clear Candle Shelter 6” Tall, 4” Wide, 12” Around

Fuser’s Glue, Marker, Glue Stick, E6000 Adhesive, Masking Tape

Pillar Candle or Flowers

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lisa & Niki

Follow my blog for weekly inspiration sent right to your inbox.

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram

Become a Premium Video Member today and gain access to ALL 40 courses!

Check out my FREE downloadable patterns and never run out of inspiration!

Artwear Designed for Artists by Artists Tell them how you really feel with bold T-shirts, Eco-conscience tote bags and sassy mugs.

Get it now! Start fusing today!

Downloadable instructional videos for every skill level.

Instructional eBooks for every skill level.