paddle help for the 'artistically challenged'?

[ambición6]

I did these 2 paddles for my kid last year. She's my only kid so I went all out....the part that was the hardest was the glaze, everything else was just paint and glitter.

Paddle 1

Paddle 2

[Senusret I]

Originally posted by ambición6
I did these 2 paddles for my kid last year. She's my only kid so I went all out....the part that was the hardest was the glaze, everything else was just paint and glitter.

Paddle 1

Paddle 2

Those are amazing...please share details!

What is your technique for glazing?

And like....how did you do it, period? lol

[ambición6]

Lol. you are too funny.

It's super easy!

1 - buy a regular paddle

2 - buy all the letters and things you want to stick on the paddle

at this point, most greeks just stick on the letters and they're "done" with their paddle. but some of our chapters (mine and our parent chapter) take it a step further.

I painted all the letters with acrylic paint and let them dry

the captain wheel - the entire paddle is painted green with white squiggly lines to give a crackling effect.

the long paddle - i found a pretty background online and blew it up and then went to kinko's and had it printed on glossy paper the size of the paddle, and cut it out to the shape of the paddle, and then glued it on as the background.

I'm actually helping my line sister do a paddle right now but the background of the paddle is going to be pictures...as soon as that one is glazed and done, i'll post it up. it's gonna look dope!

anywhos, after the paddles are dry, i just glued on all the letters that I had previously painted, sprinkled with glitter etc.

The tricky part is the glaze. and if you dont mix the glaze right (please follow the directions on the box to a T!!!!), the paddle will NEVER dry. My kid made me a paddle like 2 years ago that is still sticky because she didnt glaze it properly.

here's the stuff used to glaze it....you can get it at michaels.

Glaze


Here's some other's from my kid's line....i think her paddles were the nicest because they were the only ones that were glazed....
Line

[txdiva]

Originally posted by ambición6
I did these 2 paddles for my kid last year. She's my only kid so I went all out....the part that was the hardest was the glaze, everything else was just paint and glitter.

Paddle 1

Paddle 2

Those paddles are gorgeous!!!

[Senusret I]

Originally posted by ambición6

I painted all the letters with acrylic paint and let them dry

Well, that's tip number one.... I always used whatever I found at home depot, which was spray paint (high gloss enamel to be specific)

the captain wheel - the entire paddle is painted green with white squiggly lines to give a crackling effect.

I'll take your word for it...that's too advanced for me!

the long paddle - i found a pretty background online and blew it up and then went to kinko's and had it printed on glossy paper the size of the paddle, and cut it out to the shape of the paddle, and then glued it on as the background.

I would have NEVER thought of that. That's such a good idea.

The tricky part is the glaze. and if you dont mix the glaze right (please follow the directions on the box to a T!!!!), the paddle will NEVER dry. My kid made me a paddle like 2 years ago that is still sticky because she didnt glaze it properly.

here's the stuff used to glaze it....you can get it at michaels.

Glaze
[/URL]

I am DEFINITELY going to have to try that. I have been looking for the stuff that this one company used on a pre-made paddle I own.....and that's probably it. I never would have thought you could use a pour-on finish/glaze.

Thank you so much for your tips!

[Greekopedia]

I'm gonna have to take pictures of some paddles my fraternity has made.

The glaze makes a big difference. Wood becomes plastic.. it seems haha.

[ambición6]

Here's a paddle we just finished this weekend....
Paddle painted blue

and a pic of the paddle I received when I crossed. (the wood wasnt painted on that one)

Plain glazed

By the way,

It's my 5 year!!! anniversary as a member & founder today!!!!

[Senusret I]

Congratulations! Those paddles are nice.

I completed two paddles in the past two weeks -- wood from www.paddlemegreek.com.

The first was a Zeta/APO paddle for my friend's birthday, and the second was a "pick-me-up" paddle for an Alpha bro of mine.



Comments: One challenge I had was that the spray paints I used were different in texture. The white paint was perfect, an enamel. The gold paint wasn't as good, but that's because it was actually more of an antique finish.

The second challenge was matching up the colors of the letters with the paint pen colors. I used a regular bluepaint pen for the personalization, but I used a metallic blue for the Greek letters. It turned out okay, but you know....

Finally, I used a decoupage technique for the shield on the back. I simply printed out on white paper the APO and Zeta shields, cut them in half, and lined them up. I used rubber cement on the back, and again as a sealing agent on the front.

If I were to do it all over again, I would have put the shields on the front.

To be continued....

[Senusret I]

I forgot to mention that the clear finish I used made the paint from the metallic letters run, and I was PISSED. I SHOULD have learned then that using an aerosol top coat (like spray paint, but it's a clear finish) would be a much better idea, but noooooooo.....

So I made the following paddle kinda of spur of the moment:



The front is from an Alpha lithograph that I owned, but never used. The Brother's name is done in black paint pen with gold accents.

The back is a collection of photos of the brother that have been decoupaged down.

LESSON LEARNED: When you print out pictures for decoupaging, SEAL THEM. I should have used rubber cement (or decoupage glue) for the front AND back of the pictures. I was being careless, I guess, and when I applied my finish, the colors ran INSTANTLY.

The good part is that because the colors in the pictures ran, it gives the paddle an antiqued look, which is all well and good. I wasn't a happy camper, but I can live with it.

[ambición6]

oohhh I like the paddle with pictures!
are you going to glaze it?

i've been a paddle making maniac. me and by best friend/sister did this one for her little sister (blood) who just crossed this weekend.

[SigKapCoug]

Here's the one I made for my big:




and the one she made for me:





I am SO excited to take a little this fall and get back to paddle making!