Glue for microbeads?

I'm having no luck getting crisp, sharp edges with the glues I'm using for Martha Stewart's microbeads. I've tried Martha Stewart Glittering Glue, Martha Stewart Fine Tip Glue Pen, Judy Kins Diamond Glaze and Aleene's Clear Gel Tacky Glue. The beads tend to roll off the edges rather than stick. I've tried thick and thin applications of glue and pouring the microbeads on the glue and placing the wet glue face down in the microbeads. No joy.

Try Glossy Accents by Ranger. Maybe that will work.

There used to be sticky sheets specially made for micro beads. I'll have to do a memory search...
Also the red line tape I've heard a lot of people like for micro beads.

Just sent you a PM... hth..

Glossy Accents! I PM'd you the link to a great tutorial on using it with the microbeads.

I have the tacky tape stuff.

I use zips, zots, glue lines, etc.

I haven't used the MS beads but with other beads I've had pretty good success with that red tape stuff...I want to say it is by Art Accentz?

ETA: Yup, here it is!

• Diva Scraps Said:

For microbeads? Really? Those work?

Thank you for all the helpful suggestions.

I'm trying to do three colors of microbeads that abut one another with a sharp dividing line between colors. So far, what seems to work best is the red super sticky tape and adding a second layer of microbeads using the Judy Kins Diamond Glaze which appears to be similar to the Glossy Accents.

I don't have any sheets of the super sticky stuff for microbeads that's like the super sticky tape so I've ordered some to try. I will post back with pictures of the results if I can get it to work.

That would be great, I'd love to see the comparison!

Using the Terrifically Tacky Tape sheets (sheet version of the super sticky tapes) doesn't produce nearly full enough coverage to use the microbeads successfully when one is abutting different colors. I even used an embossing heat gun to warm up the tape to make it stickier before applying the microbeads. It was necessary to add another layer of beads on top using Judy Kins Diamond Glaze to get adequate coverage.

I also tried seeing if I could get sufficiently dense coverage using E6000 glue. The results were similar to the Terrifically Tacky Tape but the edges weren't as clean. Also, the E6000 is very thick and difficult to work with.

I didn't take pictures of the results but I had previously tried using two layers microbeads using Judy Kins Diamond glaze for both layers. The results were lumpy and ugly. Using a single layer of microbeads with the Diamond glaze covered less well than using the Terrificly Tacky Tape. The Martha Stewart glue I tried early on was pretty useless. It didn't have enough tack and was too thick.

Following are the pictures of my Terrifically Tacky Tape sheets/Judy Kins Diamond Glaze results. I would suggest using microbeads over a similar color paper but I used white paper so it would be easier to see the actual coverage.

I printed the curved line pattern on white paper. Then I stuck the Terrifically Tacky Tape to the white paper and used an X-Acto knife with a #11 blade to cut the pattern on the white, top protective paper layer of the tape. It was much, much easier than I expected to cut the design in the protective layer of the tape without cutting through the base paper layer with the design printed on it.

Photo 1. Pink microbeads on Terrifically Tacky Tape.


Photo 2. Pink microbeads on Terrifically Tacky Tape with a second layer of beads applied on top using Judy Kins Diamond Glaze.


Photo 3. Two layers of pink microbeads and blue microbeads applied on Terrifically Tacky Tape.


Photo 4. Two layers of both the pink and blue microbeads.

That is SO cool! I've only used microbeads once, at a class. We adhered them to die cut snowflakes. I used Diamond Glaze, but it was messy, and there was some lumping. But they were clear beads, so it wasn't so noticable.

Sandie, The Judy Kins Diamond Glaze dispenser lets out too much glue which makes the end results lumpy. I just put on a drop or two at a time and used a toothpick to spread it around quite thinly. It's worth doing a little quick testing first to see how thin you can spread the Diamond Glaze and still get decent coverage.

Unless you are abutting different colors or are using the microbeads on a different color background I think doing two layers is gross overkill. The Terrifically Tacky Tape, the Diamond Glaze and E6000 all give acceptable, similar coverage for a single layer. However, the E6000 is thick and stinky with unsafe perchloroethylene in it. I wouldn't use it except in a pinch.

I've done this before using my xyron. I run the image upside down through my xyron, then place the sticky side onto the beads.

Hello! I know you sent the message to someone about a Microbeads tutorial, you wouldn't still happen to have that link or have any other information about using microbeads? I'm googled out and think Glossy accents is the best way to go but I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything.

If you can share, that woud be great, thanks!
Kari

Kari, I have PM'd you!