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Coverage
for 1/2 mm tiny glass marbles (not the same for larger marbles):
4 ounces
- about 3/8 cup
(1/2 mm size covers approximately 1.5 square feet - area
1' x 1.5')
8 ounces - about 3/4 cup
(1/2 mm size covers approximately 3 square feet - area 1' x
3')
1 Pound - about 1 1/2 cups
(1/2 mm size covers approximately 6 square feet - area 2'
x 3')
You get
far less coverage from larger sizes. 2mm micro marbles coverage
is about 1/3 of the coverage you get from 1/2 mm micro marbles.
Lightfast
Qualities - Ability to keep color under UV and Florescent Lighting
Semi-transparent
glass micro marbles: lightfast, holds color over time
Metallic coated glass micro marbles: not lightfast, fades with
light and time
We have
tested these in a sunny window, nothing scientific. The glass
ones appear to actually be made from colored glass, instead
of coated with something.
We have
tested multiple sources of these as well those carried by our
competitors and all the craft metallic micro beads on the market
that we've found are not lightfast. We found a source that makes
lightfast ones for clothing, but the colors are dull and they
cost quite a lot more. The metallic ones all fade rather quickly
to silver and then a tarnished silver. There are UV protective
sealers available if your project needs to hold up outside or
for a long period of time inside.
Ways
to adhere micro beads or micro marbles:
- Red
Liner Tape - clear double sided, super tacky tape.
This tape does not lose its tackiness over time, but if it
will be exposed to a lot of handling, we recommend using clear
glass sand to fill in the exposed tape between beads.
- Sticky
embossing powder - this is heat activated glue powder.
Use it like you would embossing powder, over an image stamped
with slow-drying or embossing ink. When heated with a heat
tool, the glue powder turns to a liquid glue that dries as
it cools.
- Liquid
glues - jewelers glue or glue that dries clear and
hard and permanent (doesn't remoisten). E6000 is quite strong
and permanent, but you might also try Diamond Glaze if you
find the E6000 hard to work with.
- Tsukineko's
Essential Glue Pad - you can stamp an image with the
glue pad and pour micro marbles over it. The glue, itself,
isn't strong enough, even when dry, to hold micro marbles,
except just enough to hold them in place while not being touched.
By melting superfine embossing
powder between the beads that are clinging to the glue pad
ink, you have a fairly strong hold for card making or scrapbook
embellishments. You need to seal it with additional protective
top coats if your project will be handled much and needs to
be permanent.
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