Tailgate DIY: Baseball Card Skateboard
I'm not alone in thinking that skateboards are the perfect canvas for art...so why not mix my love of a blank skateboard with my love of baseball?!?
I decided to take an old longboard, strip it completely down (yes, grips and all), sand it, stain the top and decoupage printed baseball cards on the bottom. Decoupage is the fancy french term for glue sh*t on something else to make it art.
I used baseball cards...but who says you can't use football cards...hockey cards...pics of unicorns...I don't care, just get creative!
Check out my how-to:
1. Clean up that board! Use a heat gun to help strip the grip and help loosen the glue. Once you've got the grips off, use a screw driver to take off the trucks and wheels - put all the associated pieces in a safe spot, you won't need them until the very end of the project again.
2. I used a walnut coloured stain on the top of the deck and simply left the bottom nude in preparation for my decoupage.
3. Searching the interwebs, I found some of my favourite old baseball cards and loaded them into Illustrator so I could design my layout and play with the sizes of each card. Obviously not everyone has Illustrator...no problem, you don't need it! I recommend simply printing out each card that you like and laying it out on the board as you see fit.
4. Once you've got the cards that you like, start by putting a layer of glue on the back of the board using "Mod Podge" or the like. I used an inexpensive sponge applicator to spread the spread the glue on the board.
5. Continue adding the glue under the cards/paper as you apply it across the board.
6. Then you're gonna do the craziest thing ever!!! Glue on TOP of the images!! Be sure you spread the Mod Podge evenly across the surface and try not to leave too many white streaks (it'll dry clear, relax).
7. Allow the Mod Podge to dry, then use an exacto knife to trim away any edges. You can also do this throughout the project if you see some errant edges. You'll want to be sure you go over the edges with the Mod Podge.
8. After it's trimmed and dried, do two more coats of Mod Podge on the bottom (allowing it to dry in between coats).
9. This next step is totally optional: I used a high gloss polyurethane on to coat the top and the bottom because I wanted my longboard to look more like art than be functional. Again, simply use an inexpensive foam applicator to spread this evenly across the surface. Also do 2-3 coats, allowing it to dry in between. I use this stuff on so many of my design projects that it's worth the cost for me...but if you only plan to do one skateboard, just Mod Podge it TBH.
10. Re-assemble your board and you're done!!!
*Because I know some dumb*ss might blame me....please do not use a skateboard without proper grips on the deck, protective gear, yadda yadda...
**Remember, this is art...it will not withstand grinding, etc.
***Questions on my how-to? DM me on instagram @tailgatemercantile or email me: info@tailgatemercantile.ca