I haven't written a lampwork bead tutorial in ages,
but at the request of someone on Lampworketc,
I decided it was time to write a tutorial on making
Popcorn Lampwork Beads.
These beads are very easy to make.
What do you need?
You need glass rods and stringers.
I use white rods and stringers and whatever color of yellow I have on hand.
I pull a stringer from the yellow rod. It should be about the size of a 3/32" mandrel.
Sorry for the poor quality of photos.
It's hard to make beads and take photos at the same time.
You will also need mandrels dipped in bead release.
I use 3/32" for these beads because whatever I don't use or sell can then be donated to
for the children who participate in the program.
Begin by making a white spacer bead on the mandrel.
See, so far, so good.
Using your yellow stringer, add a good sized dot to your white spacer bead.
Continue to flash your bead in the flame, but do NOT melt the dot.
Using your white stringer, now add 5-6 dots around the yellow dot.
Do not melt into the white bead.
Place your new bead in the kiln and anneal.
Pop!
You've made a popcorn bead.
WoooHooo!
Lampwork popcorn beads = no calories!
You can find them
HERE!
