A question about a project I am working on.

[rosetresures]

I don't know if this is the place to ask this or not, so I will apologize now, but here goes:

I am working on some beads, from newspaper type paper. My friend went to Israel and I took some of her paper she brought back home and made some rolled beads out of them. She wanted to be able to see the Hebrew lettering, so that's what what I did, made it where the text is visible.

I have the beads made. I want to put a wash of watercolor over the beads, but have the text still be visible. But, if I do that, my beads will unroll because the water will dissolve my glue. I usually use a different type of glue, but this newspaper print is really messy to work with and will damage quite easily, so I just wanted to get them rolled with as little mess as possible, so water based glue was the quick answer.

My question is this: is there a medium that goes on clear and dries porus enough that it will take the watercolor wash color and not dissolve the glue I used to make my beads. I can finish them as is and know they will be 100% ok and beautiful, but I just wanted to give a hint of color to the beads. Is there any medium that y'all know of seal something and still take a watercolor wash nicely?

Any help would be appreciated. Again, I do apologize if this is in the wrong place. thanks a ton y'all!! patty, aka: rosetresures

[tersa]

When I've made paper beads in the past, I've sealed them with clear nail polish. I wonder if you could add a tiny bit of ink from a re-inker, or even watercolors to the clear nail polish, or whatever medium you're using to seal or finish the beads. You could kill two birds with one stone by color washing and sealing them at the same time.


I've never tried this.... so have no idea if it would work.

Terry

[Scrapjanny]

I was going to suggest something similar to Tersa. As an alternative, maybe instead of watercolor, you could use a very pale alcohol ink to add a little color. It should be transparent enough to allow the letters to show through.

[rosetresures]

Thanks tersa and Scrapjanny. very good suggestions, now I have something to think about. thanks again!! patty

[dini]

I asked my bead making expert friend Trudy and she says:

"Tell her that she can add a tiny bit of color to her second or third coat of sealant. That is what I do to my Bible beads when I want to age them. If she does it in the first coat they will be too dark because of absorption, and splotchy because the glue has already sealed the paper in spots. I use alcohol inks in my dip solution. Just make a small batch at a time."

[rosetresures]

thanks so much Dini!! I appreciate that!!! patty

[Rebecca Ednie]

A very light watercolour wash shouldnt I roll the beads if you are careful to not add too much. When glue cures it changes composition. It can loosen slightly but would harden as they dried. But airbrushing them with Copics would work. I don’t know if you have those supplies though.

[rosetresures]

Thank you so much Rebecca, I really appreciate that!! patty