Melting Beads in Silicone Bakeware

[Kappy]

Just wanted to provide an update on the Wilton Star and Tree forms. The forms survived the beaded madness and produced some pretty cool shapes.

When they popped out of the Silicon Bakeware they were hazy looking (not shiny and clear). So, whipping out the blowtorch, they polished right up.

The question is what to do with them. I'm thinking that we might drill holes in them and make them ornaments.

PinkyK has pictures, which she should post sometime today.

Kappy

EDIT:  Here's the pictures!!

Here is a shot of the molds I used:


Close up of the Christmas Trees


We then loaded them up with beads:


Then we put them in the oven to melt. We put them in the oven at 380 degrees for about an hour. Kappy and I are always talking about our fume prevention and ventilation system.  Here is a picture of it. Basically it is a little HEPA filter on our counter. We also run the vent fan on the stove on high. You really don't need the extra air filter. We just got nervous with a brand new baby puppy in the house so we took extra precautions.


Here they are out of the oven. You can tell they shrunk up quite a bit.

[sweets4ever]

Woohoo... she better post pictures!

You could make...

• ornaments
• decorate wreaths with them
• connect a bunch edge-to-edge and make a round "forest" effect for a candle holder (I'm gonna do this with some other shapes I have!)
• sun catchers
• attach a paper give tag in the center of one or use smaller beads to spell out names on the top and use them as gift tags
• door hangers
• wind chimes

[PinkyK]

Photos! (*moved to first post of thread)  Heck, this ALMOST qualifies as a tutorial!

I'll post the finished finished products when I get home. I THOUGHT I had brought some shots with me today but alas I did not. SO this will have to tide you over until later.

[sweets4ever]

Ohhh...thank you for the pictures!!  They look awesome!!

OriginalYouth... the trays work!!  We must get some...we just must!

I'm baking this weekend - I can't wait. 

[PinkyK]

You can kind of see it in the photos but there are little drippy spikes on each of these. Look closely at the finished stars and you can see the spikey drips clinging to the wall of the mold..... We think a few minutes in the oven or a swipe with the blow torch will smooth those right out.

[Kappy]

The drippy spikes do melt under the might of the Blowtorch. But, it's still a little goofy looking. I was thinking that the spikes might be Dremmel worthy.

I figure that I have a Blowtorch and Power Tools, might as well use them. (Insert Tim Allen Grunt Here)

Kappy

[Yarn or Fabric]

Are those ikea ice cube trays?  What exactly are you making - like paperweights or onaments or something?  They don't look like they would make a bowl(okay, I am browsing through the recent pics/posts so I am sure I missed something here!)

[PinkyK]

I think they are silicone cup cake tins. Or muffin tins. I got them at Michaels in the cooking section. No IKEA here.  I think they will be Christmas ornaments.

[Kappy]

The forms are actually Wilton Brand Silicon Molds:

http://www.wilton.com/store/site/department.cfm?id=FC91284C-423B-522D-FDF4D71B1AF79E1C&fid=FC91286B-423B-522D-F8BDFF8CC0846EFB

The individual molds are about 2 inches by 2 inches, and about 1 inch deep. As Sweets said in a previous post, these can be used for a number of purposes, from ornaments, decorations, or whatever your imagination desires.

The problem with using IKEA ice cube trays, is that it would probably melt under the heat of the oven.

Just thought I would chime in.

Kappy

P.S. Maybe this discussion should move over to the Melted Bead Craftalong.

[PinkyK]

Now the issue is how do we hang them? If they are going to be ornaments what would be the best way to attach something with which to hang them?