More Tyvek beads

Today's batch of beads. This is fun. You have got to try it, but do the heat gun part outside so you don't breath in the fumes as the Tyvek melts into the strange textures. Here's what I did to make them.

Paint recycled postal tyvek envelopes with lumiere metallic paints on both sides. Cut them into long pyramid shapes - I varied the sizes so won't give dimensions. The longer you cut them the thicker around the beads will be. The wider you cut them the broader they will be.

Wind the painted tyvek pieces onto a wooden skewer starting with the broad end of the tyvek. Do not use a metal skewer or you will burn your fingers as heat will transfer to it. And do not use plastic or it will melt. Use a skewer long enough that you can hold it without burning your fingers. When you are applying the tyvek to the skewer and get close to the narrow tip, put a little glue stick on the underside to hold it in place. You may want to put in a long sewing pin also, but I didn't find it necessary. You can wind more than one bead on each skewer.

Now, go outside with your skewers and your heat gun, something to set things on that is stable. I laid a piece of alum foil over my table. Plug in your heat gun. Hold the skewer in one hand and turn on heat gun, directing heat onto the rolled tyvekwith a distance of several inches. YOu will see the heat makes the tyvek curl on the edges and reveals other layers beneath. The more heat you use, the more it will alter the look. It will harden when it cools. YOu can go back and heat it more if you decide to. When it cools you can pull it off the skewer - but don't touch it until it is cool. They will surprise you with very interesting textures as they are heated.

There are fun things you can do to add variety. Dip the hot bead into some embossing powder and reheat. Or sprinkle a little on the heated bead. Or wrap in metallic thread or lightweight wire after it cools. After that you may want to add more embossing powder and reheat, or maybe it will look so good, you'll want to stop there.

These are great fun. Just don't breathe the hot Tyvek fumes, and don't burn yourself. This is not an appropriate project for children.