Lolita Charm: Lolita Deco Log: Part 2

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Lolita Deco Log: Part 2

I promised an update on my deco projects, so let's talk more about all that glitters, shines, and can be glued down to anything to moves! To begin with, here's the finished product of my iPod case -

Materials used: rose crystal chain; roughly 200+ swarovski crystals; flatback pearls; Diamond Glaze glue; one plastic clear iPod case (which interestingly enough has a cellphone strap hook!); two plastic cabochons (bunny and heart).

Other tools: tweezers, napkin or kleenex for excess glue, good lighting!

I started by framing the screen in the crystal chain - crystals in stone settings that are interconnected. They work really well for making straight lines, which can be yourself for defining borders. Since the crystal chain has large gaps in it, I filled these in with smaller rhinestones (4mm rose AB swarovskis). The click wheel is framed in a pattern of flatback pearls.

The back was a different story. First I glued down the large cabs - the bunny to start - and then outlined the shape in varying sizes of crystals and pearls. From there, you just keep fitting them together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. This is for a 'mix' motif, which means that the crystals and pearls are not uniform.

I find deco to be a very relaxing hobby, much like embroidery, which is also close, delicate work which requires concentration. It hones your spacial skills as well as your sense of color and design.

I'm happy with my iPod, but it's not my first piece, and I've mostly been learning by doing. Which leads me to:

Deco Tips I Have Learned the Hard Way

Make sure that your base is the same color as your crystals or main components. My first item was a black-and-white business card case, which created jarring gaps between the bright pink stones. The affect is much better with the pink iPod peeking out between pink stones.

If you're going to deco something expensive or electronic like an iPod, DS, or cellphone, make sure you deco a case and not the object itself. Doing that will void your warrenty, and you can potentially break the item when it gets smeared with glue.

Deco items are like dye jobs - they need retouching and have a short lifespan. My iPod needed fixing up after five months of daily use, for example - it had lost some of the chain on top, and a few crystals. Make sure you have a few of your supplies left for touch-ups. Eventually your item will reach a point where it is used beyond repair - and that's when you'll be glad you have a case that you can throw it and start over, rather than a sad-looking electronic.

Think outside the box on items to deco! The usual things are pillboxes and electronic cases for phones and the like. But if it's solid, you can most likely deco it - the backs of hairbrushes, the edges of fans, the tops of bento boxes, headphones - even sunglasses or keycovers. Universal Doll even shows how she decoed her bicycle!

The best way to design your deco projects is to look at as many deco pictures and magazines as you can. Look on tumblr, Livejournal communities, or just search 'decoden' or 'dekoden'.

I haven't decided yet what my next project will be - it's a toss-up between a new phone case and a summer fan to carry! But that'll be my next deco-themed post :)

Favorite Deco Resources

artbeads.com - where I like to buy my swarovski crystals

Mimilolo - an etsy shop for cabochons and crystal chains

ToffeeHouse - another etsy shop for charms and cabochons, including plush princessy bears

Full Moon Nails - deco parts for nails as well as other items

Dekoden.com - now available in English!

Labels: crafty loli

13 Comments:

At April 3, 2010 at 9:48 PM , Keely Valentine said...: Deco posts are the best!
I love posting deco spam.
Your ipod looks great! can i ask where you got the glue?
At April 3, 2010 at 9:56 PM , Victoria Suzanne said...: @Keely Valentine: I buy Diamond Glaze at my local scrapbook and craftstore :)
At April 3, 2010 at 10:01 PM , Bridget said...: Hi, I have just started reading your blog and I am finding it really interesting.
By the way you have such a cute iPod!
At April 3, 2010 at 10:23 PM , Delano said...: The bunny is very cute. A very nice job! I bet your neck was sore afterwards!
At April 3, 2010 at 10:42 PM , Victoria Suzanne said...: @Arna: thanks so much!

@Delano: Not really, I took breaks and had the screen open on the porch to the spring weather, so it was really comfortable actually :)
At April 4, 2010 at 12:39 AM , Emily Jane said...: I'm thinking about decoing my DS...do you find that it gets in the way a lot, or makes it really uncomfortable to hold?
xxx
At April 4, 2010 at 1:01 AM , Victoria Suzanne said...: @MissEmilyJane: I did have to use my click wheel in a different way (with my fingers instead of the broad part of my thumb), but I still can use the device easily. It also makes it signifigantly heavier and larger, but I prefer something a little bigger anyway. That being said, if you deco the case/lid of a DS, it probably won't interfere with your ability to use it.
At April 4, 2010 at 5:55 AM , Hello Naka said...: super cute :3
At April 4, 2010 at 7:08 PM , Victoria said...: Very adorable. I've been feeling inspired to deco my blue iPod. I'm thinking of using blue and green as my color scheme, which I haven't seen yet (I haven't seen many things though, lol). xD I have a clear case, but it's all scuffed up after using it for a year. Once I get some materials, I might try my hand at deco after reading these useful tips. :)
At April 4, 2010 at 11:56 PM , Mitsu said...: Absolutely amazing work! Love the details you put into it!

Make sure that your base is the same color as your crystals or main components. My first item was a black-and-white business card case, which created jarring gaps between the bright pink stones. The affect is much better with the pink iPod peeking out between pink stones.

I absolutely agree! I think this is the biggest mistake people make in decoing.

eheeheh thanks for the link. I was riding my bike today <3
At April 5, 2010 at 1:24 AM , Victoria Suzanne said...: @Mitsu: It took me a while to realize the important of your base item, even coloring the designs with Sharpies to match. I picked it up from reading up about your bike actually! I'd love for you to finish the deco series you've got on your blog :)

@Victoria: I'd love to see blue and green deco, much more unusual colors! I just can't give up on pink ;D
At April 5, 2010 at 7:04 PM , caro-chan said...: I really like the look of the rhinestone chain, with the silver clasps around the rhinestones. It's something a little different looking. I love the jigsaw puzzely kind of deco much more than the uniform rhinetones, it just ends up looking so much more organic this way.
At April 10, 2010 at 2:39 PM , nyampokinoko said...: it looks beautiful ^^
I recently deco'd my wacom and no I didn't use fancy stuff like those crystals I went crazy and used cute lolita stickers and tiny plastic flowers. I can't decide wether i hate or love it xD

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Saturday, April 3, 2010

Lolita Deco Log: Part 2

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