Altered Art Domino Pendants- The Tutorial

Hi, everyone! I thought I'd share my latest craft obsession with all, by way of my own tutorial. I recently took a closer look into the world of altered art dominoes, and since then, I haven't thought of much else. All I do is drill, prime paint and work away. I love making these! They are so much fun and the possibilities are endless. The sky is literally the limit. Dominoes are so versatile- they can be turned into pendants for jewelry, miniature books- the possibilities are seemingly endless! In fact, the world of altered game pieces is truly amazing. If you peruse Flickr, the pictures you will see of the countless works of art people have come up with using dominoes, puzzle pieces, etc. just takes your breath away.

I myself have been making domino pendants. I will, of course, try my hand at making domino books (how can anyone refuse?), but for now, I am just head over heels in love with the pendants. I hope this tutorial helps out anyone who has been wanting to make their own for a while, but wasn't sure how to start.

1- Acquire a box of dominoes. Walmart sells the tins for about $3-$6. Very reasonable.

2- You will need: gesso (for acrylic paint), acrylic paints in any color(s) of your choosing, either small artsy cutouts- and if so, you will also need decoupage glue (such as ModPodge)-or rubber/acrylic stamps and ink pad, paint brushes, clear lacquer/sealing medium, drill, work area, safety eyewear, safety mask.

3- First off, you must decide what kind of altered domino you want to create. Do you want to decoupage artwork onto the domino, or would you prefer to use a rubber stamp? I myself am partial to stamps. The amazing stamps out there make for interesting, artsy pendants. However, decoupaged artwork can be just as awesome. I've tried both mediums.

4- Once you have made your decision, it's time to set to work! You will need your drill, safety eyewear and mask next. I personally use a Dremel drill. Very Important: You must always wear safety glasses and a mask while drilling. No exceptions!

5- Using a small bit, drill a hole through the domino. You can make the pendant vertical or horizontal. Drilling the dominoes is very messy. If working at your kitchen table, drape an old towel over it, so the domino dust won't go all over your table.

6- Once the hole is drilled, dust off the domino and get your gesso. Prime the entire domino, using a paint brush. Let the gesso dry before proceeding.

7- Paint the domino your color(s) of choice. Let it dry completely. Acrylics are the best choice if you want the paint to dry quickly.

8- If you are decoupaging artwork onto your pendant, take a paintbrush, dab your decoupage glue to the back of the cutout and then stick it onto the pendant, however you want to situate it. Once it is stuck, take a bit more glue and brush it over the cutout. Let it dry completely before layering something else over it. Repeat for multiple layers, if any.

9- If you are using a rubber stamp, make sure the acrylic paint is dry. Ink the stamp and stamp away! Put domino aside and let the ink dry. This might take a while. It's best to leave the domino to dry for a few hours.

10- Once everything is dry, take your domino pendant(s) and lacquer spray to a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors, and put on your safety glasses and mask. Make sure to stand downwind while spraying. Place the pendants on a flat surface and hold the spray can about a foot or so away from them, and spray top to bottom in a left-to-right motion. I use Krylon's Triple-Thick Glass-like Glaze. If you notice that your lacquer comes out foggy, wait 30 minutes and re-spray. Don't spray too close, or they will get gloppy.

11- Once the fumes have died down, carefully pick up the pendants by the sides where you have not sprayed and take them to an area where they can dry for a full 24 hours. They must be fully dry so that your fingerprints do not affect the glaze when you touch it.

12- After they have dried 100%, you can glaze the back sides with the same lacquer, or, to make the process easier and quicker, use clear topcoat nail polish, to glaze the back and sides of the domino. This should dry fairly quickly, and once it does, the pendant is now ready to be strung onto a chain or necklace of your choice.

I hope you have found this tutorial helpful, and that it inspires you to make your own. Feel free to share your own finished altered dominoes. Below are some photographs of a few of my own finished pendants: