How to Use Craft Conchos

Hey all,

I just listed a large lot of butterfly conchos and thought I'd post something here about how I use them.

First off, yes, you can use them in the usual ways -- as bandana ties, in handmade belts, as buttons on vests, jackets, purses, etc.

But here are some additional things you might not have thought of. Conchos are inexpensive and with a bit of altering you can make them look like precious metals, combine them with found objects in your collage work, etc.

1. Rub black acrylic paint (from the tube is best) all over the concho, then gently wipe the excess paint off the high areas with a slightly damp paper towel. The paint will adhere to the low, design areas and give your concho a low-cost, non-toxic patina.

2. OR Use an instant patina solution like Silver Black or Black n Silver to create a real patina. Read the instructions and use carefully, as this is a more toxic solution than the above. I usually let the patina dry, then rinse it off before buffing.

3. Use your lightweight metal conchos on altered book covers, in found object collage and assemblage and all kinds of contemporary art projects. Here's how I used one on an altered journal cover:

The concho at the bottom started as a bright, shiny silver concho. I applied a patina, then printed out the words I wanted. I cut down the words to the height of the slots in the concho, and cut down the width to almost the width of the concho. I threaded the paper through, and glue it to the concho on the back. The I glued the concho to the journal cover!

Have fun!

visitors since July 06, 2006!