Marie-tangle beads part 2

This introduction is from part 1 continue below for the rest of the instructions.

I like these, they remind me of Zentangles, but I thought I would call them Marie-tangles, because they are not drawn on, but stamped.

Also, I am anything but Zen most of the time, especially when I am writing the tutorials. When I am creating new stuff, I am all over the place, trying a million things at once.

This is a very old technique for me, using black ink and off white clay, but now, including a stamp that probably was a Zentangle before there were Zentagles, is how these came about.
From part 1

You will need:

Cernit in Caramel, black, and Opaque white
Pearl-ex stamp pad- black (Jacquard has discontinued these stamp pads ;-( I am using Clearsnap/Color Box Ancient page and they are perfect for this. More intense color and they dry on the surface of the clay too, you need that to make the beads and handle them before baking)
Stamps- Jumbo Miro Background
hand 150-002K
Fantasy Flower 2 - lg 260-001L
The stamp I am using is a very old molding mat from Color Box. It looks just like a busy doodle! The other stamps will work as well.
Or you can find your own stamps, with lots lines for this.
Clay Machine
Clay Slicing blade-SB
knitting needle pointed on both ends
5/16" round kemper cutter

Ink up the stamp with the stamp pad. I stamp the pad on to the stamp several times to build up the ink and make sure I have covered all of the lines.

Here is the pad all inked up. I have a small thin piece of packing foam under the stamp here. You can also use a folded old towel if can not find this sheet foam.
This way when you roll the clay tube rod over the stamp, the stamp is flexible and will stamp and mark the whole tube.

Place the rod or knitting needle with the clay on it on top of the edge of the stamp.
If you are using something smaller than these molding mats, then you only want to work with smaller sections of clay tube.
Roll the tube forward by holding the ends of the knitting needle.
You only have to roll forward an inch or inch and a quarter to cover the whole bead.
Do not pick up the bead to check and try to get it back on the stamp in the right place. This is one time deal.
If you screw it up, mash up all the clay and start over again.
It will color the clay, but you can use it for scrap or bead cores.

Here it is covered.

You can see how the ink is pulled of the stamp better here.

Here you can see the slight over stamped area.
















I use this ink because it dries on the surface of raw clay. When the ink is dry I take the bead gently off  the knitting needle, cut them to the size I want. I cut the long one about 2 1/2" long and bend it gently in to a curve.
The others are 3/4" sections and 1/4" sections. The straight beads can be cut after they are baked while the clay is still warm with the clay slicing blade.

Stay tuned for part 3