Pebeo and Gedeo Beginners Bracelet Guide
Monday, March 4th, 2013Pebeo is a range of French ‘Effect Colour’ paints which can be used in conjunction with Gedeo Glazing Resin to create interesting and unique finishes on a variety of materials. This was my first encounter with these products and I have to say I was quite impressed with the finish that could be achieved in a relatively short period of time.
To make the bracelet above you will need:
- 1 x Pebeo Bracelet Blank
- 1 x Pebeo Fantasy Prisme Discovery Set
- 1 x Gedeo Glazing Resin
- Pebeo small elite mixing palette
- Cocktail sticks (or something similar for mixing)
- Pipettes
- Pebeo universal paint remover
- Before getting started, you will need to prepare your work area. You need a flat surface with a protective covering (preferably non-porous) and good ventilation.
- Gather together all your materials and choose your colours. The Pebeo Fantasy Prisme Discovery Set is a great place to start as it contains 6 colours including neutrals and brights so it’s ideal for experimenting with different effects. I went for a monochrome look by using the Onyx with the Eggshell White.
- Lay out the bracelet blank ensuring it is completely flat.
- Mix your colours thoroughly. (This will take some time but is essential for a good result). The desired finish with the Fantasy Prisme range is an abstract segmentation rather like a series of squashed bubbles which appear as the paints dry. If your paints are not mixed thoroughly this effect will not appear and you will simply get a flat colour finish.
This picture shows The Fantasy Prisme in the top section and a combination of The Fantasy Moon and Fantasy Prisme in the bottom section. - How you transfer the Pebeo to the bracelet is personal preference and it really depends on the finish you are trying to achieve. You can use a pipette, a brush, a cocktail stick or simply pour it in. The key to success is control and I found dripping the paint from the end of a cocktail stick worked very well. These paints are actually far more fluid than I expected them to be and initially I had a few problems when trying to combine two colours. As soon as the paint is applied it will start to spread. If you want to add another colour to create a contrast, you need to do this quickly. If you allow the first colour to cover the surface completely and then add the second colour, one tends to be absorbed into the other which doesn’t look so good.
This picture shows how The Fantasy Moon and Fantasy Prisme have amalgamated losing both effects. - Once the paints have dried (allow 24hours), you will notice that the surface will have dipped into a concave curve. This is entirely normal, and this is where the Gedeo glazing resin comes in.
- Gedeo glazing resin is a 2 part resin compound which, when mixed forms a rounded, clear layer, that gives the Pebeo that professional glazed finish. (Well that’s the idea!)
Again you need to make sure your work area is well ventilated as this is strong stuff! Mix together the resin as instructed (one part hardener to two parts resin) using the mixer provided in the pack. The instructions say mix thoroughly but not vigorously which is easier said than done. In order for the resin to harden, the two component parts must be completely mixed but to achieve this requires a certain degree of force which unfortunately results in air bubbles. Once the air bubbles are in the mixture they are very difficult to remove so heed my warning and mix slowly and steadily.
- Once mixed, apply the mixture onto the painted surface. I used the mixing stick to drip the resin in to allow more control, but you can pour it in if you feel confident. It is thicker than the Pebeo paint and is much easier to control. It doesn’t spread too quickly and can be teased into the corners and edges until the required effect is achieved. You then need to allow another 24hours, preferably in a dust free environment, for your piece to dry completely and then voila – it’s finished!
The Finished Piece!
Once the resin is applied the colours do dull down a little which is a shame, but the domed finish is rather nice (despite the air bubbles in my case).
Like any craft, Pebeo and Gedeo are a little tricky to perfect, but once mastered the possibilities are endless. (Especially when you consider the range of materials these paints can be used on: Wood, paper, glass and ceramics to name but a few). My advice would be to practise, practise, practise and be patient as it takes time for the full effect to work, but all in all, well worth the effort for a unique finish.






































