Since some of you were interested in how to make the bangle I posted over at my Facebook account I decided to let you know how to make one. They are super easy to do. Well, at least I thought so...
How to make a photo bangle just like Michelle’s:
Supply list:
Wooden bangle flat surfaced sized 1" or wider
Craft acrylic paint (or wood stain for a more natural approach.)
1 small paint brush for painting
1 small paint brush, for the medium or decoupage. Please note that medium trashes any brush you use it with so make sure you get the cheapest and don’t use your favorite.
Sealer (if you use medium you can use that instead. Found at Michael's in with the craft paints and glue isle.)
Finer grit sand paper.
Newspaper-so not to get your work area messy
Paper plate-to use as a palette
Photos printed on the home printer. You can use actual photos but it doesn’t smear and the effect won’t quite look the same.
1. Find some photos and get them the right size:
First measure your bangle width. This is how wide your photos are going to have to be cut down to. Photos can go as long around the bangle as you wish them to be. You’ll want to figure out placement of all photos before you glue them down. My photos were sized 1x2” for the larger ones and 1x1” for the flower shots and I was able to get four 1x1’s and four 1x2’s on the 1” bangle. I have handy dandy Photoshop which allows me to crop specifically how I want to. I’m not sure how technical software most people have available. You can print them at home and experiment. After I printed the image I let them dry for at least an hour. I also printed them directly to regular paper and not photo paper. I’ve seen home photo paper react weird to medium so you may want to experiment with some prints before hand so not to ruin your masterpiece. Professional prints sometimes look funky when the medium is wet but dry just fine. Some home photo papers require 24 hrs to dry and that may help if you have problems. Now the cool thing with collage is you don’t have to use photos, you can use anything you want, magazine clippings, newsprint, scrapbook paper, origami papers, well just about anything you can glue. Please note though, if the paper is not acid free it may be subject to yellowing or discolor as it ages. Newsprint is notorious for this. On the other hand it might add a neat vintage effect later on when it does discolor. At this time DO NOT glue your photos down.
2. Pick out bangle color.
After you got what you want to place on the bangle it’s now time to decide what color you’re going to paint the base which is the inside and sides. I chose brown to be more neutral so I could get away with wearing it with more things. I also do not paint the photo side of the bangle unless there are going to be gaps between photos. With thinner papers the color may come through and most times I do not want that effect. I want my whites to stay bright. Don’t be afraid to go funky with your base color. A schnazy pink or lime green could really add some funk and fun, and draw more attention to your piece. I mean that’s why you’re wearing it to show it off!
3. Get painting:
Now that you have a color get that newspaper down, your paper plate paint, brushes. Place some paint in the plate enough to coat the sides and back of the bangle. It may take more then one coat. If you want more of a washed look water down the paint. Once dry it’s time to place the photos.
4. Place and glue those photos:
I’ve never used decoupage and am happy with using medium. So I will continue what I do with medium but believe using decoupage glue is the same exact process. Paint on the bangle the medium where you want the first photo to go, keeping in mind how things layer so they go down in the right order. Once there is a good thin coat (the wood likes to absorb some) lay the photo down and smooth it over while watching you don’t gunk up your fingers. Now that the photo is placed paint medium over the print. Now with prints made on plain paper some of the ink should muddy a tad and the medium may pull some streaks into the print. I happen to like this and feel it gives it a little aged look as well as adding character. If you don’t, have professional prints made. Continue placing the rest of your prints first placing medium on the bangle then smoothing down the print and coating the top. Once you’ve got that down and it’s all dry pull out the sandpaper.
5. Sand her down.
Sand the corner of the bangle where your print meets the edge. DO NOT sand the sides. This smooths the transition from print to wood and gives a clean professional edge. It doesn’t take much and I always go down and away from the print. You don't need alot of back and forth motion. You're simply wearing down the edge of the prints. Now that you’ve done this you’re probably going what the heck I now have a light line where the wood comes through. To fix this take your base coat and water it slightly so it’s not full strength and carefully go over the edge with your brush. Keep a paper towel handy if you are afraid of going over. I don’t have this problem and you can build with layers if it’s not quite dark enough. Let dry.
6. Seal it:
Now it’s time to seal the bangle. I used medium again or you can use an acrylic sealer. I suggest using gloss if you go that route. Coat the entire piece, front, back and sides. Of course don’t do this all at once or you will paint yourself into a corner so to speak. I usually do two to three coats.
7. You’re done:
Once dry voila you have a wonderful photo bangle to wear and show off! This explanation seems long but once you do it you’ll realize how simple it is.
Tips: Not sure what size bangle to get? When I shop at the mall bangles are always too small so I got the extra large and it fits, the large doesn’t fit me. For average wrists I suggest medium or large. For larger boned people I suggest XL.
To give your bangle an antiqued or aged look water down some brown paint and go over the prints. It's ok to paint over the medium. They even make an antiquing paint just for this.
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