Tips & Techniques
Get tips and techniques to become a better beader at Lima Beads.
Chatter
on “Make a Wire Wrapped Bead Link”:“I was trained to use a pair of chain nose pliers to manipulate the wire being…” read »
on “Using Epoxy with Cabs and Settings”:“I agree -- E6000 is the absolute best!…” read »
- on “Using Epoxy with Cabs and Settings”:
“I don't use epoxy on any of the jewelry I make, plus depending on the temperature…” read »
- on “Using Vintaj Patinas”:
“I just taught a class with middle school children and one painted on a silver piece…” read »
on “Adding a Focal to Patricia Healey Chain”:“Absolutely Gorgeous! I can't wait to use this!…” read »
- on “DIY Enamel Tile Bead Stretch Bracelets”:
“I need 1 egg for 50…” read »
- on “Making a Fish Tail Braid”:
“This is great! My mom didn't know what to do with my thick curly hair so…” read »
- on “Using the Sliding Square Knot”:
“How much cord do you use for the knot?…” read »
- on “Make a Stretch Bracelet”:
“I want to string the wool beads together with elastic thread in a needle. Which…” read »
on “Make a Stretch Bracelet”:“Love the instructions, but which stretch cord are you using? I don't see one like it…” read »
- on “DIY Enamel Tile Bead Stretch Bracelets”:
“No photo, sorry. I'm really in a bracelet "phase". I tried figuring this out on my…” read »
on “Using Colourful Soul Jewelry Pop-Outs & Ultimate Paints”:“Vintaj came out with this line in July. I am glad to see LB is selling…” read »
on “Using Colourful Soul Jewelry Pop-Outs & Ultimate Paints”:“*Squeaks with excitement* …” read »
- on “Make a Stretch Bracelet”:
“You carry the most beautiful beads, bar none. I tie a surgeon’s knot for more security,…” read »
- on “Using Vintaj Patinas”:
“Has anyone tried to use the patinas on coins?…” read »
- on “Using The Magic Finding”:
“Where can we buy the magic finding. It is not in your product list.…” read »
- on “Quick and Easy Ornament Hangers”:
“These are so pretty. I've been looking for a "template" for ear wires/cuffs. I think these…” read »
- on “Hammering Texture on a Blank”:
“Do you sell textured hammers and blocks I can't find?…” read »
on “Using a Hand Punch”:“Can I use it to open holes in Saint medals???…” read »
on “Using a Leather Cord Crimp End”:“A good starting point for necklaces would be 2mm(ideal for .5"-1.5" pendants). For larger pendants(1.5"+) 3,…” read »
- on “Using a Crimp Cover”:
“To cover a sz 2 crimp tube, 4mm would be ideal. 3mm would fit, but it…” read »
- on “Using a Leather Cord Crimp End”:
“Hi, I am new to working with leather and end caps or any other finishing findings,…” read »
- on “Using a Crimp Cover”:
“What size of a crimp cover would you use, for a size 2 crimp tube?…” read »
- on “Make a Stretch Bracelet”:
“Excellent tutorial and superb photos. Cute bracelet!…” read »
- on “Coloring Metal with Alcohol Inks”:
“I just started working with alcohol inks. Most people who use the medium use Krylon Kamar…” read »
on “Crystal Clay”:“Tried to be good…” read »
- on “Non-Identical Twins”:
“I have always loved this idea! It really resonates with me. Interesting to see…” read »
- on “String a Guru Bead on a Mala Necklace”:
“I, too, need to know how to attach a tassel to the guru bead.…” read »
- on “Wire Wrap a Bail on a Teardrop”:
“thank you. I've always wanted to try this…” read »
on “DIY Enamel Tile Bead Stretch Bracelets”:“I made one bracelet for my granddaughter and one for myself. They are easy and…” read »
on “How to make a paper bead”:“Interesting that paper beads are "in" again... Nearly 50 years ago, crafters (including my grandma) were…” read »
on “Using Epoxy with Cabs and Settings”:“Because of the constant abuse they usually get, glue is not an ideal hold for jump…” read »
- on “Wrap Loom Basics”:
“Moogie is right, if you need an answer from Lima you'll need to use the customer…” read »
- on “Make a Stretch Bracelet”:
“I’ve read in other tutorials to cut the elastic cord length needed and lightly pull each…” read »
- on “Using the Square Knot”:
“Perfect illustration and instruction for a knot-challenged brain …” read »
on “DIY Enamel Tile Bead Stretch Bracelets”:“These look like fun to make bracelets, and even more fun to wear.…” read »
- on “Using Lillypilly Metal Sheets & Discs”:
“I completely fell in love with the color of these little LillyPilly sheets and ordered my…” read »
on “The Simple Wire Bracelet”:“Nice tutorial. For me, I would need more visual. The camera needs to be closer…” read »
on “How to set a Nunn Design Glass Dome”:“Beautiful design!…” read »
- on “Using a Crimp Cover”:
“Tip:If I have miss judged my project, I have found I can use a crimp cover…” read »
Vintaj Patinas are opaque inks specially formulated by Ranger to adhere to metal and create beautiful, durable patina effects. Available in a palette of 15 hues, they can be blended and layered for endless results. Sold in sets of three, the color combinations were developed to emulate natural patinas that would occur over time.
Watch the following videos to learn how to use Vintaj Patinas:
Patina Tips and Tricks
- The patinas are formulated to be permanent on metal–no sealing is necessary. To keep the color from lightening naturally with time, you can seal it if you want.
- A little goes a long way… start with a small dab of patina.
- The patina colors are blendable, so mix them to create a natural look
- Use a paintbrush to apply the patina–and wash your brush with water right away
- Don’t dilute the patinas with water. Instead, dilute them with the Vintaj glaze to create a washed look.
Using the Vintaj Glaze
The Vintaj Glaze can be used as a sealer (to preserve the patina color), or as a patina extender to dilute your colors and create a washed look. While the patinas are permanent on metal and don’t require sealing, keep in mind that everything has a tendency to lighten with wear over time. If you want to preserve the look of your patina, seal your piece with a glaze after it finishes drying and after using the metal reliefing block.
What do I need to get started?
To begin creating your own designs with the Vintaj patinas, you’ll need a few things:
- One or more of the Vintaj Patina kits
- A metal reliefing block if you want to expose some of the metal underneath your patina finish
- Metal pieces to patina. Try Vintaj Brass, African Brass, or other metal beads, charms, or pendants.
- You may want to use the Vintaj glaze to extend or seal your patina colors.
- You’ll need some basics like craft paper, water, and a paintbrush to apply your patina.
Mixing Colors
Vintaj offers this handy guide to mixing different colors to arrive at your desired shade:
Gallery
We applied the Vintaj Patinas to a selection of metal beads and charms and loved the results! We were super impressed with how easily the patinas covered the metal with a single coat.
We hope you love the Vintaj Patinas as much as we do. You can share your own patina designs in our Design Gallery… we’d love to see what you come up with!
Designs using this Technique:
Buy Products from this Technique
You are viewing all 17 items.
You are viewing all 17 items.
On Mar 15, 2012 at 4:25 pm #
Zoraida b says:This product looks great! I like that the patina color does not need to be sealed and that it uses water as a clean up. I will definitely be ordering these kits!
On Mar 21, 2012 at 1:13 pm #
Dragons Chicky says:This was a very nice tutorial
. Gave me lota of ideas! Thanks Lima!
On Mar 22, 2012 at 8:35 am #
CAS says:I got the Rusted Hardware set … love it!! I already have the Retro Highway and Victorian Gable sets in my basket.
Super easy to use, cleans up in a jiffy, great looking plain or mixed. I used it to color Aluminum adhesive tape I used to cover the edges of a “microscope slide” pendant. It came out great and all I needed was a couple of drops of paint.
On Mar 27, 2012 at 6:15 am #
Mixed Kreations says:Oh I like this. You could do all kinds of neat things with these. Simple to do, comes in lots of great colors and easy clean.
Thanks for sharing.
On Mar 29, 2012 at 2:04 am #
beaded banana says:Just played with my new colors. Must remember to make sure my patina dries b4 adding glaze next time.
On Apr 08, 2012 at 5:15 pm #
beaded banana says:I am in love with the patinas! But I have a question…what other kinds of metal can’t use them on? Will they work on something silver plated, or with an antique gold finish? Does it stick to straight metal only, or metal which has already been coated?
On Apr 09, 2012 at 11:04 am #
Ali says:I have worked with these patinas on Green Girl Studios pewter, TierraCast, Vintaj Natural Brass & Arte Metal, African Brass, our blanks, and Lipstick Ranch iron (see all above). When these patina inks are completely dry, they don’t come off. I have tried scratching with my nail, rubbing on other beads … the only way to remove some is by using sand paper or the Vintaj reliefing block. When it comes to coated metal, I think it is just going to have to be trial an error depending on how thick the coating is and what the coating is. The patina inks are made to bond directly with metal, however with that said, the Lipstick Ranch pieces have all been triple coated to prevent further rusting and the patina inks are holding up just like any other piece. I am so happy with this new product, I think I might even use it on my switch plates at home
On Apr 10, 2012 at 2:25 pm #
beaded banana says:I have been playing around and so far so good. I even colored some mushroom door handles from Anthropologie. I will post pictures later.
On Apr 12, 2012 at 2:36 pm #
Laura Z aka Veggie Chick says:Here I am, ready to go. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I am using the “Rusted Hardware” set on a Vintaj Arte Metal Etruscan Antiquity Pendant. I think it will turn out gorgeous. Here goes………
On Apr 22, 2012 at 10:39 am #
Leena P says:Does anyone have an idea on how fast the colors will wear off /lighten if I don’t use the glaze to seal them? Can I use silver lacquer (stuff that smells like really strong nail polish and is used to stop copper /brass from tarnishing) to seal the patina?
On May 01, 2012 at 4:14 pm #
Linny May says:This looks awesome !!! I can’t wait to to try it out …***squeels *** NEW CRAFTING IDEARS…. overwhelming Excitment !!
On Jul 29, 2012 at 9:25 am #
D Kinsel says:Where can I find the copper wire at Home Depot? What about sheets? I’ve never worked with this medium before.
Thanks!
On Aug 02, 2012 at 1:06 am #
ckbmccune says:I am so pleased with my order. I received it in record time. I ordered on Monday and got it on Wednesday.WOW. The order is perfect. Thank you so much. I am going to try the VINTAJ patina painting on PMC+ after I experiment on my beautiful brass beads. I ordered all the paints and a bunch of beads. I am so excited. Staying up late tonight. Will send photos if I can figure out how to do it.
On Aug 07, 2012 at 3:13 pm #
Kate says:@D Kinsel– if you type “copper wire” into the search box on our website, it should pull up several varying gauges/sizes of beading wire! Same goes for “copper blanks”!
On Sep 04, 2012 at 7:52 pm #
Reba G says:Really Neat. I Get A lot of Ideas. I have learned
a lot today. I liked the knotting of the bracelets best. I would like to learn how to do
knotting….
Thanks, Reba G….
On Sep 05, 2012 at 8:34 am #
Kate says:@RebaG: we just added this simple leather cord bracelet that uses a basic knotting technique..check it out! http://www.limabeads.com/Simpl.....acelet-T59
On Dec 09, 2012 at 11:38 pm #
Lynda W says:that looks very doable, and very interesting. Thanks, Lynda
On Feb 09, 2013 at 10:48 pm #
Melissa A M says:Can’t wait to try this!
On Feb 21, 2013 at 5:01 pm #
D Mellish says:Any thoughts on using the Vintaz patinas or inks on polymer clay? Or is there an alternative product for this?
On Feb 22, 2013 at 8:58 am #
Linny May says:I have the antuque window kit , and have the victoran gable kit and the gaze in my cart right now , I LOVE that there are now single colors you can get do you can make your own set of colors , and i love the colors , there all so bright ,and s pretty !!! i can’t wait to play !
On Feb 22, 2013 at 12:15 pm #
T Bagstad says:Most of the jewelry I make is with antique brass. I’m excited to add the patina to my charm bracelets. Will send a pic when I get one finished. Thanks for your info.
On Mar 07, 2013 at 1:53 pm #
Kate says:Vintaj patinas are specially formulated for metal… I’d suggest checking out Swellegant– the coat ANYTHING colorant!
http://www.limabeads.com/Swellegant-C7518
On Feb 04, 2014 at 9:27 pm #
KSD says:The heat tool looks like a hair dryer. Can a regular hair dryer work? Do you Have to heat each piece? Does it set better with heat? Please let me know. Thanks,Ksd
On Feb 10, 2014 at 5:08 pm #
CatPark says:@KSD – The heat tool does indeed resemble a hair dryer. There are a couple of significant differences here: 1 – the heat tool puts out much more heat than a hair dryer 2 – the heat tool does not blow out as much air as a hair dryer For the patinas heat is not needed to set the pieces, they will dry on their own, the heat just speeds up the process. For the use with patinas a hair dryer should be fine. I just wouldn’t recommend it for use with any of the embossing powders.
On Apr 27, 2015 at 1:58 pm #
Advaughn351 says:This information was so SMART. I love Limabeads because they present wonderful beads, findings , and other products. Also,they give us information on how to use your purchased items.
On Aug 22, 2021 at 11:08 am #
T M says:Has anyone tried to use the patinas on coins?
On Jul 27, 2022 at 7:14 pm #
donnaruiz60 says:I just taught a class with middle school children and one painted on a silver piece and now she wants it to be silver again. Can Vintag patinas be removed from a piece?