a beeswax test (part 4)

I wanted to experiment with beeswax as an effective paper coating.

What better thing to try it out on than these paper beads?

I know there are a lot more possibilities out there - but I used what I have on hand.

(click on the images for a larger view)

this is a plain bead

this is a bead coated with "mod-podge" decoupage medium

this bead has diamond glaze on it

and this is the beeswax bead

Here are some of the differences: 

The mod-podge and the diamond glaze needed to be painted on. 

The beeswax bead was dipped.

The mod-podge and the beeswax dried quickly.

The diamond glaze took a couple of hours to dry.

The mod-podge bead will need more than 1 coat.

The beeswax bead needs to be buffed with a soft cloth.

The beeswax gave the paper a transparent effect.

The mod-podge and the diamond glaze did not.

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I liked the beeswax best.

Here's a necklace I made with the paper beads and some wood beads from Africa that I already had in my bead stash:

Dipping a lot of beads was easy.

I strung them onto some wire and loosely coiled it up.

I dropped it in the hot beeswax and let it soak for about 3 minutes.

When I took it out, I carefully uncoiled the wire and hung it up to dry.

It was completely "set" in about 2 minutes and ready to buff with a cloth in about half an hour.

You have to wait a little while before buffing because the beeswax is so sticky at first.

That's it.

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... next, I want to see what happens to different mediums treated with beeswax - like oil pastels, watercolors, collage, pen and ink, etc.