8 replies to this topic

[Metanoia]

I will probably have to make some little gold coloured charms for part of an upcoming costume because I doubt I can buy anything that will work.

I was thinking about doing these in polymer clay, but the gold in spotlight is really not very nice - more brown than a nice gold.

What would be a good light weight option to simulate gold if I can't find something appropriate at the bead shops or online??


EDIT: another thought I just had is cardboard or balsa wood or thin plastic, sprayed gold... any ideas what that would look like?

They're going to be attached to the corners of a ... well... could be described as a cape I guess... along with two beads, and I don't want them to weight down the mateial (probably cotton) too much.

[Pinstripes]

Metallic spray paints from Spotlight come up pretty well, so if you wanted to make out of something the wrong colour and then spray paint, I think that would work well.

As for what to make them out of, I have no idea..... maybe if you can get acetate sheets (like overhead projector sheets) that might work well.

[wenz]

I've no great ideas but think that fast drying enamel spray paint would be good, depending what it's sprayed on of course!

After the cardboard tile dress I made for a friend, I give cardboard more credibility these days.

[Metanoia]

I could use that heavier postercard I guess cause it will have weight from the beads next to it too and I want it all to be fairly light.

Any ideas how I could attach it to the beads without punching a hole in it. They're supposed to be flat crosses, like little maltese crosses.

[wenz]

Any ideas how I could attach it to the beads without punching a hole in it. They're supposed to be flat crosses, like little maltese crosses.

Could you sandwich thread linking the beads between two layers of cardboard (or even thin leather you paint)? I can see what I mean but not describe it very well.

[Metanoia]

No I think I know what you mean and I just thought of that myself as I opened this to see what you'd written.

Leather is a good idea - we have heaps of it - but I don't know how well it would paint. I might try the cardboard first.

Thanks wenz

[wenz]

Leather is a good idea - we have heaps of it - but I don't know how well it would paint. I might try the cardboard first.

you can get metallic shoe dye ... perfect for leather. The biggest thing to know is that you need to use the surface preparation stuff first. And lots n lots of it. It takes 2/3rds of a bottle to prep 1 pair of pumps. That way the dye fixes into the leather & not the surface where it can crack n peel.

If you've got time & leather scraps you could experiment to see how it paints (with real paint).

[Starfire Phoenix]

I have the metallic leather spray paint in silver, but not gold. It's excellent stuff, and is good on veg tanned leather, however, it needs to be sealed very well before and after painting, or else the paint simply rubs off.

If you are using it on chrome tanned leather, you will have no problems with it rubbing off.

[Metanoia]

I think we may have both kinds, but mostly the veg tanned stuff. I will have to check.

Thanks