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Begin by choosing the slices you want to use.
I keep my murrini on a hot plate. If you don't have a hot plate watch for thermal shock.
I will be making two clear beads each containing a single butterfly slice.
Cut ends tend to *** when heated so start by peeling the end off a thin rod of clear.
Now I will make the base bead. This is kinda boring so it is fast forwarded.
Make sure that complex designs are encased before placing murrini. Otherwise the slice will distort the design.
If your murrini are already warm preheat the tweezers.
Then pick up a slice and hold it next to the flame. At the same time heat a single spot on the bead.
After carefully placing the murrini on the bead gently push it in with mashers.
Try to do this all at once so the murrini stays cold and gets pushed into the bead.
Now we will put a dot of clear over the murrini. Switch to the thin rod of clear.
Do a quick dab. Make sure the murrini is cold so you dont smear the design.
All that is left is to melt the bead round again. Slowly work in the dot of clear with gentle heat and a marver.
Try to direct the heat to the edges of the murrini and not the center. If you work too hot you may smear the murrini.
Because I just added glass to one side of the bead it is now lopsided. Add a dab of glass to the opposite side to balance the bead again.
Finally melt the whole thing round.
I will now make a second bead using the same process. Feel free to leave if you are getting bored.
If you want your murrini to be absolutely *** free wash them with alcohol/distilled water ahead of time.
Hold the murrini outside the flame while melting a small pool of glass on the bead.
And then place the murrini into the bead.
Push the murrini in as far as possible with mashers.
Put a dot of clear over the murrini. Make sure to cover the entire pattern with clear.
All that is left is to carefully melt the bead round.
It is possible to apply murrini without adding a dot of clear on top however it is much slower and very easy to smear.
Making murrini can be a complicated process however several people sell finished slices.
I recommend practicing on simpler patterns before using expensive murrini.
And finished! Wait until the end for a picture of the final beads.