Sunday, March 1, 2009

Fancy up those eyes!

Sometimes you need to make those soulless eyes for certain designs. Maybe for Robot Eyes or Blood-Red Demon Eyes.

If you're looking for a solid eye color, but it's not available, it's easy to modify a pair of black eyes with a few simple household items.


Here's what you'll need: Eyes and a color. You can use Model Paint (not pictured), Metallic Sharpies (My favorite) or Nail Polish, fine sand paper.
Also a bit of scrap paper helps to avoid messes.

Before beginning work, prep the eyes by sanding them with a fine grit sandpaper. You aren't sanding to reshape the eye, but rather to buff up the surface and give the paint something to adhere to. This will help keep paint from chipping or flaking after drying.


My favorite coloring tool is the Metallic Sharpie markers. They give good coverage, aren't very messy and are easy to control. However you may need to double coat the eye to ensure a thick enough color layer.


Ta-da! A new silver eye. You don't need to paint the post, since that will be in the doll. I like to color a bit on the back for full coverage.


If you use nail polish or model paint you'll want to make a little paper structure to hold the eyes, since you won't be able to put them down until they dry.

Fold a piece of paper three times.


You will make the paper into a triangle with a little overlapping flap to help keep the triangle sturdy.


Then push the eyes through the paper. The paper will hold the eyes stable while you paint and keep them out of the way while they dry. (Be careful, it's only paper, so use a delicate hand while painting.)


Here's a pair of metallic green eyes I painted with nail polish. Like your nails, they will need a double coat. See where I went over with the paint? That's why the paper holder is so helpful.


Here's a Moon Bun I'm working on with soulless silver eyes.

What I love about amigurumi is being able to look at life differently.
Simple and inexpensive tricks can make your design a knock out.
I highly encourage you to step out of the lines and try new ways of using items to enhance your crafting.



2 comments:

jenni said...

Great idea! I never really thought about coloring eyes before!

CraftyGamer said...

Thats a good idea! I've tried painting them and it hasn't worked out so well.