How to Use Colored Decals in Glass Fusing

Decals can add interesting dimensions to your fused glass art and jewelry. This tutorial will explain how to use decals designed to be fired in your kiln for fused glass, ceramic and enamel and add them to your fused glass designs.

Things You'll Need

• High Fire Ceramic Decals
• Fusible glass (such as Bullseye Glass)
• glass fusing kiln

Instructions

1. 

   Fuseworks™ makes a line of water-slide color decals in a variety of shapes and sizes. These decals become permanent when properly fused on glass.

2. 

   To make your own colored decals you can purchase solid colored sheets of Carefree Lusters® from Thompson Enamels or Beldecal glaze glass colors and cut the sheet into the shape you desire. You can use a craft knife, scissors or a craft punch to cut out your design.

3. 

   Clean your glass. Place the decal in a small bowl with warm water until the design floats off of the paper backing. Remove the decal from the water. Carefully apply your pre-made, cut or punched decal design to the glass. Position the decal as desired on the glass. Use a squeegee or paper towel to wick away all the remaining water until the decal sits completely dry against the glass.

4. 

   Fire the glass at about 1410 F. Ramp up slowly to 1,000 and then full up to 1410. Soak for 10 to 15 minutes. The decals will permanently bond during the firing process.

Tips & Warnings

• If you place the decal on the backside of clear dichroic glass over white glass you will get a shimmered look that is similar with iridized glass.

• The Thompson decals can be used on any vitreous surface. According to Thompson, typical firing temperatures are "1350° F for 3 minutes on enameled copper; 1080° F for 3 minutes on enameled aluminum; 1380° F on the non-tin side of window glass; and from about 1600° F to 1800° F on glazed ceramics, depending upon the softness or hardness of the glaze."

• Gold decals also add a nice touch to fused glass, to learn how to use gold decals see our ehow How to Use Gold Decals in Glass Fusing at http://www.ehow.com/how_4836438_use-gold-decals-glass-fusing.html or click on the link in the resource section of this article.

• Decals can be used as enamel on metal clay. For an explanation of how see our ehow How to Use Ceramic Decals on Metal Clay at http://www.ehow.com/how_4804626_use-ceramic-decals-metal-clay.html or click on the link in the resource section of this article.

• Never leave a kiln unattended when firing.

• Wear protective goggles when looking into a kiln.

Resources

• GeltDesigns
• Glass & Jewelry Tutorials Listed by Topic
• Fused Glass Tutorials
• Tutorials Based on Types of Jewelry: Rings, Earrings, Bracelets, Pendants, Etc
• Metal Clay Tutorials
• Metalsmithing and Art Jewelry 101 Tutorials
• Wire Wrapping & Findings Making Tutorials
• How to Use Gold Decals in Glass Fusing
• How to Use Ceramic Decals on Metal Clay
• Books on Warm Glass
• Books on Glass Fusing