Stamped and Sponged Domino Jewelry

The domino jewelry on this site was created using the techniques below. Dominoes have been a rage in the stamping world. The smooth, ivory-colored plastic is a perfect surface for decorating with stamps and inks, and the sizes and shapes of these game pieces make them excellent candidates for jewelry--pendants, bracelets and even earrings. The technique detailed below provides one approach to decorating these pieces. You should experiment with your art materials to create a look that suits your style.

Please note that while I tend to lean towards Asian themes, these canvases-in-miniature are suitable for many different art forms--including collage!

Materials

• Plastic domino (cheap plastic dominoes from the drug store drill the easiest)
• Dremmel or power drill
• Clear scotch tape
• Permanent/Archival ink pads: Black, colors as desired
• Brilliance metallic ink pads in your choice of colors
• Sharpie, Fabrico or other permanent markers (optional)
• Make-up sponges, cut into small pieces
• Alligator clip and thin dowel
• Rubber stamps: I like Asian images, so I usually have a focal image, a chop image as an accent, something with small Asian characters and other small images as layered accents.
• Heat gun
• Workable Fixative spray
• Optional: Pearl Ex, Schmincke or other powdered pigment and tooth pick
• Krylon leafing pen (gold, copper or silver�as desired)
• Waxed cotton cording
• Assorted beads
• Necklace findings�end crimp, clasp
• Spray or brush-on polyurethane finish sealer (I use Flecto Verathane Gloss finish)

How To

1. Drill a hole through the side of the domino using a Dremmel or power drill. Try to drive it straight through the side. You can also drill top to bottom, but you�ll need a long eye pin to string the domino onto the necklace.
2. Create a �tab� on the back of the domino using scotch tape. This is so you have something to hold onto while you�re working with the domino.
3. Stamp domino with your primary image in black archival ink. If the domino slips, immediately clean with solvent-based stamp cleaner and try again. When you�re satisfied, heat set with a heat gun.
4. Place your piece of sponge in the alligator clip. The clip should be placed onto a piece of dowel so you have a clip on a stick as a stylus. Dip the sponge onto your choice of colors and lightly dab the domino with color. You can use tiny pieces of sponge to stipple in detail areas, or use a permanent marker to color fine details. Remember to use VERY light dabbing motions, or you will remove instead of add more color.
5. Spray the domino lightly with workable fixative and let dry before proceeding. If you�re impatient, like me, lightly heat the workable fixative with your heat gun to speed up drying.
6. Ink accent images with Brilliance ink and stamp around edges of main image or even on main image. Note that after you varnish the domino, these inks will seem to float on a level above the main image.
7. Ink chop stamp with red ink and stamp. This gives a look of a signature in Asian art.
8. Spray again with workable fixative. Allow to dry.
9. Color the back side (and sides, if desired) of the domino with Krylon leafing pen. Alllow to dry. Sign back with permanent ink pen if desired. Spray with workable fixative.
10. Coat the front and sides with polyurethane finish. Allow to dry. Flip over and coat the back. Allow to dry. Cover with a minimum of 3 coats of finish.
11. String onto cording, and bead as desired. Add findings and complete the necklace.

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