Questions tagged [technique-selection]
When wondering what kind of technique can or should be used to achieve a certain effect or result. This can range from e.g. drawing or sewing techniques to preparing materials for processing. A detailed description of the desired outcome is recommended.
61 questions
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Easy way to steam a large piece of velvet
I just got a large piece of velvet (cotton viscose mix) that has some visible damage. I assume that it was rolled up and the roll either layed horizontally or if it was standing up, other heavy rolls ...
Elmy♦
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Glitter before gloss varnish, or gloss varnish before glitter (or something else entirely)?
I'm making a moderately sized scale model of Cinderella's pumpkin coach.
I want it to have a high gloss finish with glitter highlights on the edges and details.
My intention is to coat it in several ...
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creating a pumpkin skin texture for easy dry brushing?
I am going to make a miniature diorama that contains a number of small plastic pumpkins that I already own (see picture below for an idea of what they look like).
The pumpkins are about an inch across ...
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Making a tensegrity table height adjustable
I'm interested in making a "tensegrity" coffee table shaped like this:
That is, two rigid (in my case wooden) frames connected by five prestressed tensioned cables (chains in the image) ...
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Ideas on how to create a mold or stencil of lettered emblem on back of vehicle?
Apologies, as I'm sure this is an unusual question. I'm wondering if anyone could come up with a way to create a stencil, or molding of the letters on this vehicle, with materials or techinques that ...
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Looking for snowman hands [closed]
I have an Avon Brilliant snowman lamp. Last Christmas I realized that his acrylic arms are missing. I have called several craft stores and Avon regarding replacement arms with no avail. I was hoping ...
user17876
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How can I get (something similar to) Day-Glo back-painted glass?
I have a project for a small side table where I would like to use a piece of 3/4” thick back painted glass. Ideally I’d like to go for a Day-Glo orange that gives a glow similar to that of the acrylic ...
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Repairing small spot on epoxy table damaged by adhesive
After setting up a new epoxy table as a computer desk, I placed a small keyboard stand with rubber feet on it. Unfortunately, it seems like the rubber feet had some sort of adhesive coating on them, ...
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How to create a coconut tree trunk?
For one of my art hobby projects, I want to create a miniature coconut tree trunk closely resembling an actual coconut tree. Below is a close-up image for reference:
I am thinking of using some kind ...
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How can I make well focused and bulbous eyes for my sock puppet?
I have a sock puppet, and I would like to give it some good looking puppet eyes. It doesn't need to be any specific material or shape, but I do want it to:
be capable of good eye focus and
be ...
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How do I get or make large glitter paper sheets for origami stars?
I'm trying to make a ton of origami stars (like how I (and many others) used to in middle school) for a future music/live performance, but I want them to be the most glitzed-out 2000's glitter puke ...
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Creating an "oily" effect using acrylic airbrush paints?
Are there any techniques that can be used to imitate an oily sheen on a surface using matt acrylic paints and an airbrush?
I want to color the carapace on a large beetle shell that ranges from black\...
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How to restore antique dressform?
I bought this antique-looking dressform for my partner, but I can tell it's seen better days. It says Adjustoform on the neck, which I expect is the brand. I want to repair it as best as possible, but ...
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How to Carve Tapered Recess into Wood
I am looking to carve a tapered recess into a piece of wood, like that of the center element in the picture below:
What is the best way to do this?
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Manually bending an epoxy-resin object: can I adjust the materials to have it remain pliable?
I want create a small statue with a set of gargoyle\bat like wings that are outstretched, but which curve inwards. The total span of each win will be less than 8" (≈ 20 cm) from base to tip.
...
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Surface Treatment to Make Carbon Steel Look Like Cast Iron
I am working on a project building speaker enclosures using hollow carbon steel spheres like the kind listed here:
Source
I am looking to produce these enclosures with a variety of looks / finishes, ...
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How to knit a cross for 2 stitch cables that is symetrical
I have a project where I need to have a 2-stitch cable cross over the other as shown in the picture. But I want it to be symmetrical (as in I don't just want one crossing over the other) and I don't ...
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What's one of the best increase techniques that can avoid or minimize eyelets for sweaters?
For my sweater knitting technique, I use M1R (Make 1 Right) and M1L (Make 1 Left) with two knit stitches in between every other round as shown in RJ Knits video on his top-down sweater (here) and it ...
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How to preserve slightly decayed Jack-O-Latern
I have an art project where I'd like to carve a jack-o-latern, let it decay slightly (think post halloween, pumpkin left out, slightly melting face) and then cover the result in chrome, or a similar ...
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How can I fix and protect fraying fabric handles?
I have a jacquard satchel. The fabric is very fine, don't know if it is silk or synthetic. Being black and silver, it is hard to photograph well:
The handles are heavy cord wrapped in the same fabric....
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Making a rubber duck swim in a tabletop pond
I plan to build a small round tabletop pond (radius 15 cm).
I want to put a small rubber duck inside, and I want it to "swim" constantly, preferably moving randomly in the pond (as opposed ...
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How to keep Craft matchsticks from splitting while cutting?
I want to make some itty bitty wooden cubes, so I bought some crafting matchsticks and planned to cut them. However, when I cut them, they break up into strands of wood and become brittle. Any idea ...
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How to darken this light-golden metal
I have these rods with rounded ends, originally from a light fixture, with a full golden color of medium brightness and shine. I'd like to use those ends, and perhaps file more semispheres from the ...
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Attaching Pearls to 18k Gold Jewelry: Professional Techniques
Is using glue a secure and professional method for attaching fully drilled pearls and other natural beads to 18k gold jewellery pieces?
Could you provide guidance on a recommended method for carefully ...
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Is there a way to unclump dryer lint?
I want to experiment with dryer lint[1]; things like blending it into paper pulp to add tiny colored fibers (or making paper just from the lint), and seeing if it might add strength to plaster, cement,...
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Which knitting pattern is particularly heat insulating?
I want to knit a tea cosy like shown in this picture (not affiliated; image source):
I want it to give proper insulation to my tea pot to keep the contents warm for longer. Originally I planned on ...
Elmy♦
- 13.8k
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How would one go about creating a "trunk" for a gemstone tree?
I am looking to create a gemstone tree as a gift for someone. I think I have a good game plan ready as they do not seem too complicated, but based on the tree I already have and how I would like to ...
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How to temporary stick paper/card together so it can be removed later without tearing and too much residue
I am making a display/collage and need to stick some art works to mounting card to then be displayed in a frame.
However, it is highly like I'll want to rearrange or reuse the works in a different ...
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How to fix a broken, very thin silver necklace
I am trying to fix a silver necklace. It is, however, too thin for me to just add a new link to to join the broken parts.
Can it be welded together somehow, or is there some other preferred ...
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Technique for making roots\vines for wargaming backgrounds
I'm looking for techniques that can be used to make roots or vines that hang down from the ceiling, on a 35mm miniature scale. Mostly the vines themselves, I have the leafs covered.
The kind that a ...
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How do I rescue a skirt that I attempted to lengthen but now has a very wavy hem?
I tried to upcycle a skirt by adding a lace trim to increase the length, but I think it sticks out like a sore thumb.
The skirt is straight but the hem below has extreme waves.
How can I flatten these ...
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How to avoid gaps between stitches in crocheted clothes
When I crochet something, I always end up with gaps in between my stitches, leading to a sort of open-weave effect. That's fine for baggy cardigans and the like, but for tops, dresses, skirts, etc, I'...
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How do you paint a plastic miniature to look like polished mahogany?
I have a miniature trophy made out of plastic (3D printed from PLA) and I want to paint the base to look like polished mahogany. It's about 2" across.
Is there any guidance on which colors to use,...
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How can I draw a horizontal line on a spherical object?
I have made this jar using plaster:
I painted it with plastic white paint as a base, and then applied this gold metallic paint.
Now I want to paint some horizontal brown lines using oil-based brown ...
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Methods for removing acrylic paint from PET or PLA model kits?
Are there any recommended ways to remove acrylic model paint from a PET or PLA model kit that has not been varnished.
For example, to allow old kits to be stripped down and repainted once your skill ...
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How do I draw an evenly spaced spiral around a long cylinder?
I want to make a set of giant sized candy cane decorations for my driveway next Christmas consisting of a white downpipe with a red strip painted around it, and a hanger on it for a lantern. Like you ...
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How do I attach frilly extension of skirt using a sewing machine WITHOUT the thread appearing on the front of the skirt?
How do I attach frilly extension of skirt using a sewing machine WITHOUT the thread appearing on the front of the skirt?
Without sewing machine only alternative to sew on the frilly extension is to ...
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How can I speed up the curing process of Mod Podge?
I made a gift using Mod Podge. I just found out I have to wait 4 weeks before it cures, but I only have 2 weeks! It's sticky, and it's not shiny!
I used regular Mod Podge, Gloss (3 layers) to ...
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How do I extend the length of a Plaid Wool Maxi Skirt
How do I extend the length of a plaid, wool maxi skirt?
If this was lighter material, I can simply sew on a lace trim, but this is winter wool maxi skirt.
Wish to extend an inch.
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Make sphere models
Background
I want to make simplistic models of atomic structures using spheres (overview). Each model consists of maximum 10 spheres that have the same diameter. Normally I use ping pong balls or ...
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How is this fabric stretched without folds?
The picture depicts a speaker protection grille which needs to have the cloth replaced. I managed to source an apparently identical piece of fabric (a cotton/elastane mix according to the seller) but ...
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My grandma's fingers are becoming too old for knitting. What alternatives are there?
My grandma is getting old. She loves her knitting and needlework. Especially with less visitors coming to her retirement home in Covid times, it keeps up her spirits. But now she tells me her fingers ...
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How to start/end a cluster of 5 cross-stitches in 2/3 colors, that's not adjacent to any other part of the pattern?
I've recently been gifted a small cross-stitch project kit, and learning how to do it has mostly been easy, just following the instructions that came with the kit: Tuck in ends (you can do that for ...
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Fracture filling a citrine gemstone
Long story short, the gem was dropped on a stone tile floor and cracked pretty badly. The gem was cracked on the inside before but now a few of those cracks run to the surface and a little chip can ...
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How to mold outer shoe sole to the shape of my feet without using a last?
I'm currently sewing my first pair of shoes. They are made of fabric only (no leather, cork or other materials) and a commercial foam insole for comfort. I have covered the insole with matching lining ...
Elmy♦
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Mounting a stone for display
I have acquired a fossil stone that I would like to display - its 1.6kg, 30cm x 12cm (15cm at its widest).
I was really after some ideas as to how to mount this - maybe perhaps on a wooden plinth but ...
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How I can calculate the hand position on a clock background?
I have an old quartz clock mechanism and I want to use it in a custom clock body.
I can easily calculate and place the 12, 3, 6, and 9 positions, but how I can calculate the other positions?
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Keeping thermoplastic from sticking to models
Sometimes, when making things with thermoplastic (I have Thibra; the other big brand here is Worbla), I want to be able to use other objects as models (like if I need a small cone I could wrap it ...
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Using an underpainting and painting a gradient on top of another, with gouache
Premise:
When we paint with gouache, previously laid layers of paint will get re-wet, and dissolve again, mixing into and strongly impacting (usually, for the worse) whatever we are trying to create ...
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How do I mix charcoal and graphite correctly?
Using graphite is somewhat risky. I've seen that when I use graphite it ends up very shiny, am I doing anything wrong? If im correct, the process is: apply the charcoal then the graphite, but how can ...
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