How to Distress Acrylic Teddy Bears
Though the first mass-produced teddy bears were made of mohair, most modern teddy bears are made out of an acrylic fake fur. If kept clean and relatively untortured, these acrylic bears can maintain their like-new sheen for years. Though this is a blessing for those who like their toys kept pristine, it is a curse for those who prefer their belongings to show a little bit of wear and tear, or who are designing props for theater or film productions.
Things You'll Need
- Stove
- Water
- Large sauce pot
- Tongs
- Washer
- Dryer
- Iron with steamer
- Black acrylic paint
- Paintbrush
- Fuller's earth
- Fire extinguisher
- Long-nosed barbecue lighter
Instructions
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Using tongs, dip the teddy bear in a pot of boiling water. Stir it around for a minute or two, then pull it out. Rinse the bear under cold water until it is cool enough to handle. Squeeze out the excess water and hang the bear to dry.
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Alternatively, run the bear through two or three washer-dryer cycles. Wash the bear in hot water and dry it in cold air. If more distress -- or more specifically aimed distress -- is desired, steam the bear with an iron in between the washer and the dryer.
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Alternatively -- or in addition to either of the previous methods -- thin black acrylic paint with water, and paint areas of the bear's fur to make it look dirty, or achieve the same effect by rolling the bear in fuller's earth.
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Alternatively, in a controlled environment far from flammable materials and with a fire extinguisher close by, burn the bear's fur with a long-nosed barbecue lighter.
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Tips & Warnings
Fuller's earth is a claylike earthen material that is often used to decolorize or purify oils and greases. It is available at hardware stores.
References
- Photo Credit Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
