i wonder how well cardboard would hold up in the die. with the the clear nature of the die, you might be able to fit the art from an mtg card in there for some added flair.
It would be cool to do like a 3D card that was just the art and stick it in there... Like do a 3D swamp and have the skull in front of it... and same with islands but instead have like a cool looking water drop.. etc.. Good Idea, I'm gonna try that next if I ever have time..
Ok, Ill share this one.. but not my babies (the dice made of cards) since those were totally an original idea and like I said, I see them as my babies..
Ok so for this you will need the following stuff
*whatever you want to be suspended i.e the skull, you can use just about any material except bronze I believe, which I think there is just an additional step for metal. otherwise i think it will turn green or something (not sure haven't tried metal)
*liquid plastic, which can be found at most craft stores for like $20-$25
*a jumbo size D20 (or whatever size you want)
*Mold Builder (liquid latex) which can also be found at craft stores or online for like $22
*a Paint brush you dont mind losing
*Plaster
*Dremmel Tool (or just fine grit sandpaper if you are really, really, really patient.. ONLY fine grit.. like 220 or more otherwise you'll ruin your D20)
*A flat surfaced container or something else you can use for the mother mold process..
*Either paint or Vinyl (Numbers.. i used Red Vinyl) you can find vinyl at craft stores or online for like $20 a roll...
*Water based Clear Polycrylic Laminate (get the gloss) You can get the small cans at like walmart or lowes for like $5-$10
*6 small clear disposable cups (this part is important to use all the same size, and they'll be trash after this so don't use regular drinking glasses)
*Plastic Spoon
*Mold Release Spray.. found at crafting stores as well..
*Xacto knife
*Wax Paper
Ok. So Step One.. The Mold
So you will need to do this on a flat surface. Doing it over plastic (like a sheet of acrylic) will work the best.. You can just use wax paper but if you do you need to tape it down.. So take the D20 and put it in the center of your area. Its best if you can glue it down with like a small amount of hot glue. If you want to paint the numbers on I suggest leaving the 1 face down so you'll have less to do later when prepping to paint.. Ok so you brush on the mold builder (liquid latex) in a thin layer.. and cover the entire thing.. Refer to the instructions for how long to wait to do the next layer.. You will need to do A LOT of laters.. At the very least till it is about 1/4" thick but no less.. The sides and bottom will take a ton load more layers because when you are done it should look like a cube.. if It isnt you will have problems getting it out of your mother mold.. it doesn't have to be perfect, but just make sure the base is either the same width or wider than the sides and top... After you are finished Take the Xacto knife and cut from the top of one side to the bottom along the surface of the D20 (this part can be very tricky and a pain in the butt, but it is important) Leave the D20 in the mold becuase you still need to build the mother mold..
Now the Mother Mold
You will need a mother mold because once you take the latex mold off the D20 it will be floppy and imposible to hold together evenly. So, with the opening on the bottom still Take the Container (like a butter tub or something) and cut the bottom off.. Put this around your Mold. It is best to glue this down with hot glue one to seal the bottom and two to keep it from moving once you put the plaster in..
Spray the Latex Mold and D20 with the Mold release Spray. A light amount is all that is needed. Mix plaster and Pour into container and allow to harden.. Remove the container, then take the mold and D20 out of the plaster (this could be a little tricky) Then you should be able to remove the D20 from the latex mold. Put the Latex mold Back into the plaster, now it is ready for the casting
Liquid plastic can be really difficult and messy to work with.. Follow the directions on the specific resin you use, some have different mixing ratios and if not mixed correctly will either, turn yellow, not cure, or turn out sticky.. So Mix enough to fill your D20 mold half way, then according to the directions, allow to cure. Then place the item you want suspended in it and fill the mold the rest of the way with the liquid plastic. Allow to cure completely. Remove from mold.
Step 4 Finishing
This part will vary depending on if you made your mold correctly and mixed the plastic correctly. If there are any rough edges, sand with a Dremmel tool or fine grade sandpaper. Be careful not to over sand or you could melt the plastic. Once its sanded you are ready to do the numbers, either paint them or put vinyl.. Once paint is dried time to coat with the laminate. Make sure to mix every time. If you keep 2 cups with water in them next to you, you can just set the spoon your mixing with in the water so the laminate doesnt harden over the spoon and mess up the can and you don't have to use 10,000 spoons. I also do this with those disposable paintbrushes.. Do one side at a time and be sure the laminate doesnt run off the edges. Allow each side to dry all the way before moving on to the next..
It took me forever to make, but I finally finished! I'm actually proud of this and thought I would share. The next one I want to make will have the skull suspended in blood and have roman numerals on it. I want to make a whole bunch of different kinds, so if you have any neat ideas you would like to share, please do. Thank you for looking
Ah yeah....Not much else to compair them too. The dots just don't stand out. The silver looks really bad on a white card. The dots are just sloppy looking. Try using a small hole punch and then gluing the dots on the little squares of paper before you insert then into the dice. Not only will it be more uniform but clean looking. The originals look like you could scrape the paint off with your finger nail.
Here are a recent set where the dots are more uniform, but still hand painted. The dots can't be scraped off because there is a protective coating over them. As far as color goes I have different colors I can make them, the silver is just the standard. I also do white, blue, black, red, green, and gold. Ive already looked for a hole punch i could use to do just that, however I have yet to find one that is the correct size. The more I progress in making these Ill post pictures. Though that may take some time because these require a tremendous amount of time.
The dots are what has kept me from buying them, I'm not sure what other options he has though.
Well they are hand painted and not with a paint pen. The most recent set I did the dots looked really good. Ill have to get a hold of the person I made them for (they're local) and get pictures and post them since I've gotten a lot better at hand painting them.
Im also planning on making a set with mana symbols as the dots and also a set of the numbers painted on instead of dots, which I'll do when Im finished with the sets I'm currently working on.
Other than that what is it that you don't like about the dots? Color? too Sloppy? Too Big? I appreciate the criticism because it lets me know what it is I need to work on improving. So if you have any other suggestions Id love to hear it.. As I said before, Ill get a hold of the guy I just made some for and get pics. His I painted each side with a different color according to the color of the cards he chose for them.
What will you do when people come to you looking for fine art and you have none of my pieces? Oh you'll rue the day you called this crappy! Blarg waves his hands around his face as he did back in the tavern
RUE!!!
Blarg took this opportunity to market his skills. He caught up with Herschell..
Ay ya fine sir, Think I didn't remember you did ya? I see you have a new friend since we last met He points to pugsley
How about a nice portrait of your pal ey? You know if you really want to show how much he.. or she.. I mean it means to ya..
Local?! I'm not Local.. And LUNATIC? Ill show you!
Blarg looks back at the fat man
I'll be back for my mud! I won't forget!! then waves his hands around his face obviously trying to be ominous Beee Aaafraid, very afraid. Or just enough to make you be intimidated, either way... AAAFFFRRAAIIIDD!!
Then stomps out of the tavern and heads to the stables to see if he could find the armaments the men in the tavern were talking about.
Umm well sharpened pitchfork?
It would be cool to do like a 3D card that was just the art and stick it in there... Like do a 3D swamp and have the skull in front of it... and same with islands but instead have like a cool looking water drop.. etc.. Good Idea, I'm gonna try that next if I ever have time..
I wonder what that would have in it
Ok so for this you will need the following stuff
*liquid plastic, which can be found at most craft stores for like $20-$25
*a jumbo size D20 (or whatever size you want)
*Mold Builder (liquid latex) which can also be found at craft stores or online for like $22
*a Paint brush you dont mind losing
*Plaster
*Dremmel Tool (or just fine grit sandpaper if you are really, really, really patient.. ONLY fine grit.. like 220 or more otherwise you'll ruin your D20)
*A flat surfaced container or something else you can use for the mother mold process..
*Either paint or Vinyl (Numbers.. i used Red Vinyl) you can find vinyl at craft stores or online for like $20 a roll...
*Water based Clear Polycrylic Laminate (get the gloss) You can get the small cans at like walmart or lowes for like $5-$10
*6 small clear disposable cups (this part is important to use all the same size, and they'll be trash after this so don't use regular drinking glasses)
*Plastic Spoon
*Mold Release Spray.. found at crafting stores as well..
*Xacto knife
*Wax Paper
Now the Mother Mold
Spray the Latex Mold and D20 with the Mold release Spray. A light amount is all that is needed. Mix plaster and Pour into container and allow to harden.. Remove the container, then take the mold and D20 out of the plaster (this could be a little tricky) Then you should be able to remove the D20 from the latex mold. Put the Latex mold Back into the plaster, now it is ready for the casting
*side note, you could also make the mold this way which seems easier/less time consuming I just don't know where to get that stuff or how much it costs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSH19G_6Yeo&list=UU7JH-AS_XyppJeHf4T1uLgw
Step 3.. Casting
Step 4 Finishing
And there you have it.. Suspended Skull D20
Here are a recent set where the dots are more uniform, but still hand painted. The dots can't be scraped off because there is a protective coating over them. As far as color goes I have different colors I can make them, the silver is just the standard. I also do white, blue, black, red, green, and gold. Ive already looked for a hole punch i could use to do just that, however I have yet to find one that is the correct size. The more I progress in making these Ill post pictures. Though that may take some time because these require a tremendous amount of time.
Well they are hand painted and not with a paint pen. The most recent set I did the dots looked really good. Ill have to get a hold of the person I made them for (they're local) and get pictures and post them since I've gotten a lot better at hand painting them.
Im also planning on making a set with mana symbols as the dots and also a set of the numbers painted on instead of dots, which I'll do when Im finished with the sets I'm currently working on.
Other than that what is it that you don't like about the dots? Color? too Sloppy? Too Big? I appreciate the criticism because it lets me know what it is I need to work on improving. So if you have any other suggestions Id love to hear it.. As I said before, Ill get a hold of the guy I just made some for and get pics. His I painted each side with a different color according to the color of the cards he chose for them.
RUE!!!
Ay ya fine sir, Think I didn't remember you did ya? I see you have a new friend since we last met He points to pugsley
How about a nice portrait of your pal ey? You know if you really want to show how much he.. or she.. I mean it means to ya..
Hmmm.. that is a good idea I should try that.. not sure how it would look.. Ill post pics when im done
Ill think about it.. if I do im going to need to make a video, which would require a camera and also time...
Blarg looks back at the fat man
I'll be back for my mud! I won't forget!! then waves his hands around his face obviously trying to be ominous Beee Aaafraid, very afraid. Or just enough to make you be intimidated, either way... AAAFFFRRAAIIIDD!!
Then stomps out of the tavern and heads to the stables to see if he could find the armaments the men in the tavern were talking about.