The instructions for this fused bottle stopper can be found here. You can find many more fun fusing projects in our Creative Corner and if you are looking for the Fuseworks Microwave Kiln near you, swing by our store locator.

• KraftyBlok Image Art – use KraftyBlok Image Art to create a custom wine label, add your own photos or use your original artwork to give your upcycled glass bottle a new look
• Copper foil – wrap copper foil on the edges of your glass bottle to give it a pretty finish or cut shapes out of copper foil shapes to add a design to you bottles.
• Mosaic – use bits of other cut glass bottles or stained glass chips, ceramic tiles or any other tesserae to mosaic the whole bottle or just a portion of it.
• Decoupage - decoupage your favorite scrapbook paper, photos or original art to the bottle
• Etching – use etching cream to add a motif or pattern on your bottle
• Yarn, Hemp or Jute – use a natural fiber cord to wrap around the top or the base of the bottle to give it a nautical feel
• Solder and beads – use a decorative solder technique to add detail to the top of the cut bottle, solder wire to the rim and add a few glitzy beads too!

Find tutotials for most of these projects in our Creative Corner. If you need help cutting your glass bottles, check out this blog post on cutting glass bottles. Find the G2 Bottle Cutter in a store near you.

Create a lovely KraftyBlok Vase for your special someone this Valentine’s Day.  Show off your favorite photo of you and your sweetie using KraftyBlok Image Art and set it permanently in the oven! This cute KraftyBlok is adorned with little red heart charmers, but you can dress it up with other trinkets that remind you of your love. Plus it makes a wonderful place to keep all those flowers you received!

Download the instructions and material list for this KraftyBlok project here and find more awesome KraftyBlok projects in our Creative Corner. If you are looking for KraftyBloks in your area, be sure to visit our store locator.

Be sure to visit the Diamond Tech Creative Corner for more Valentine’s Day inspiration and visit the store locator to find great mosaic products near you! Happy Valentine’s Crafting!

Using the direct method of mosaics, you place your tesserae directly on the surface you are covering. Each piece is applied one by one right side up to the surface.

Using the indirect method of mosaics, you apply your tesserae face down to contact paper and then apply the entire pattern to the surface you are working with.

How do you choose which method best?

Are you working with stepping stone or coaster molds?

• Either method is great for molds – when you create a stepping stone or a coaster with the indirect method, the cement will fill the space in between the glass – leaving a smooth surface, if you choose to mosaic with a mold using the direct method, you will have to grout your mosaic to fill in the space.

Are you working with an intricate pattern or working freehand?

•  If you are working with an intricate pattern, you may find it easier to apply your mosaic to contact paper placed directly over your pattern. If you are working with a surface that you can transfer your pattern to or  working  freehand then you can mosaic with the direct or indirect method.

What mediums are you working with?

• Sometimes it is much easier to use the indirect method when you are using small tiles or when you are using tesserae that is nipped to specific shapes. It also may depend on the glue you use – it is easier to use the direct method when you are working with less viscous glue.

The most important thing to remember when you are creating your mosaic is to use the method that you are most comfortable with, try them both and see what you like! To find some fun and inspiring mosaic projects, head on over to our Creative Corner and to find fabulous mosaic products near you, check out the store locator.

Reblogged from CHA Blog:

CHA celebrated the best of the best in original product design and creative communication tactics judged by CHA Staff, consultants and members of the press, as part of the Innovations Showcase, Exhibiting with Excellence and Golden Press Kit award competitions held at CHA’s 2012 Winter Conference & Trade Show in Anaheim, Calif. “At CHA, we’re always looking for ways to showcase truly innovative product designs at our trade shows that can help shape the industry and spark new trends,” says CHA …

Look who got a Golden Press Kit Award!

1. Embrace your mistakes! The most common mistake I make is over firing or burning my glass, especially with filigree (vibrant color, encased in clear glass) leaving a wispy, smoky look.  Sometimes the smoky look works out and you’ll find marbled swirls of grey and black encased in clear. Use these as accent beads with solid black or clear beads.  
2. Cover up your mistakes! The handiest tools I have are my graphite paddle and parallel press! Sometimes I use them for their intended purpose like adding texture and shaping a bead. But their added bonus is that you can hide a little mistake too. If you dislike the pattern you create or you add too much or too little color, you can change the look of your malformed bead very quickly by flattening the molten bead with a parallel press or change the texture with a graphite paddle or even swirling your colors with a rake!
3. Learn from your mistakes! I figured out that a lot of my pattern/texture mistakes came from the way I had my tools and glass laid out- rearrange your workspace to figure out what works for you. I also started the difficult practice of timing myself and I made a little chart with the time it takes to create an optimal bead and the time it takes to burn one.  

Check out the Diamond Tech Creative Corner for some fun glass bead making projects and check back every week for more glass craft tips and tricks.