BCA Bead Mosaic with Seed Beads and Crystal Passions® Flat Backs

Using a pencil, lightly sketch the desired design on 10x8-inch Sabrina Frey™ medium density fiberboard.

Using a bright pink permanent marker, color 36 inches of 5mm Art Edge™ EVA foam white adhesive strip. Then color six strands of 2mm Art Edge EVA foam white adhesive strip.

Spray a light coating of hairspray on the colored foam to prevent the color from bleeding. Let it dry.

Apply the bright pink 5mm foam adhesive strip to the edges of the fiberboard.

Outline the fiberboard with 2mm Art Edge EVA foam silver glitter adhesive strips, just inside the bright pink 5mm foam adhesive border.

Outline the heart ribbon image with strips of 2mm bright pink foam adhesive.

Outline the scroll design with strips of 2mm silver glitter foam adhesive.

Outline the flare images on the top and the branches on the sides with strips of 2mm silver glitter foam adhesive.

Using Aleene’s® Original Tacky Glue®, attach matte silver and alabaster white pearl 8x5mm DiamonDuo™ Czech pressed glass flat back beads and 8x7mm Preciosa Czech pressed glass silver triangle teardrops to the branches to make leaves.

Then attach TILA® 5x2.3mm transparent crystal clear half-tile rectangle seed beads around the bursts at the top.

With flush-cutting pliers, trim the connector loops off twelve 12x11mm imitation nickel-plated heart charms. Attach the hearts to the branches using Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue.

Use Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue to attach the following:

• Glue Crystal Passions® SS12 fuchsia flat backs to the heart charms.
• Glue Crystal Passions SS29 crystal orchid ignite LacquerPRO chatons to the branches.
• Glue Crystal Passions SS12 crystal flat backs around the heart ribbon.

Let all the glue dry before going on to Step 9.

Fill the center of the heart ribbon with Miyuki #15 translucent luster crystal clear rocaille seed beads.

Outline the heart with a bursting effect on the top, bottom and sides, using Miyuki #15 translucent luster crystal clear rocaille seed beads.

At the top, start filling the corners with Delica® #11 translucent matte scarlet light topaz round seed beads.

Add Delica #11 translucent cranberry-lined luster crystal clear round seed beads along the sides.

Add Miyuki #15 translucent magenta-lined luster amethyst rocaille seed beads along the sides below the Delica #11 translucent cranberry-lined luster crystal clear round seed beads you just added.

Add Miyuki #15 translucent grape-lined clear luster rocaille seed beads below the Miyuki #15 translucent magenta-lined luster amethyst rocaille seed beads on the sides, leading down to the bottom.

Sprinkle Delica #11 translucent pale pink-lined rainbow crystal clear round seed beads in the top and bottom portions of the heart, on top of the Miyuki #15 translucent luster crystal clear rocaille seed beads.

Pat the seed beads gently with your fingers to make sure they are in a single layer and that they are in the desired position. Make sure you put the fiberboard in a place where you won’t have to move it after gluing

Start slowly dripping Skinny Glue™ all over your beads. The seed beads will float, so go slowly and do a little at a time.

Cover the entire piece with glue, making sure you use enough glue to adhere the beads without soaking the board.

Let the glue dry for 24 hours.

Fill in any spaces you missed with seed beads. Reapply Skinny Glue and let the project dry for another 24 hours.

Apply a thin coat of liquid latex (found at craft and hobby stores) to all the shiny gemstones and crystals so they maintain their shine. Let the liquid latex dry, and then add a second coat. Let the second coat dry.

Spray the board all over with triple-thick clear glaze spray (found at craft and hobby stores)—about 4 coats. Let it dry.

Peel off the liquid latex using a needle or tweezers.