Crystalizing Antlers

So I'm doing some experimenting on a recipe and technique for growing crystals on antlers for a new way to display antlers and for some possible 'rouge' taxidermy.

First recipe, good big crystal, but not very well adhered to antler and fairly delicate.

http://img09.deviantart.net/9105/i/2...ry-da4y154.jpg


Second recipe worked better. They crystal size is smaller (need to work on that) but it's *much* more solid, hardened right to the antler. It's still wet here so it's hard to see the full definition. I'm going to be adding some purple to give it an amethyst look. Right now I'm adding some crystals to the tines. I will then mount it to a tree slice and add some large pieces of quartz and some moss for a full display.

http://pre10.deviantart.net/d8a3/th/...ry-da4y2dn.jpg

Detail of crystals

http://orig14.deviantart.net/6a99/f/...ry-da4y2ro.jpg

Will post more as I refine and finish. They will be for sale if I can come up with a good durable product.

Fascinating project. I look forward to seeing more!

That's actually pretty cool, I like the look of it a lot :gj:

Thanks! I added the purple. Sorry about the bad pic, I placed the antler in a new soak for the tines before thinking about taking a pic of the purple. Faux amethyst. :)


http://orig06.deviantart.net/ddd7/f/...ry-da4yci5.jpg

Looks like the color took pretty well - very nicely done! I can see something like this being hugely popular with a wide variety of people. Do you use antlers from hunted game, natural sheds, or both? The natural sheds I've seen tend to be pretty porous and dried out - those look more like hunted game or farmed cut-offs. Much nicer antlers. I think I'd be inclined to add pieces of geode to the display, or druzy. Or terminated black tourmaline crystals... Then again, I could go on and on and on.

That's awesome! Looking forward to seeing more pictures.

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This set of antlers were natural sheds that were found in short order (so not enough time to dry out or be eaten by mice).

I have some quartz crystal points coming in the mail that I'm going to use to enhance these. ;)

Thanks all! I'm having fun with this!

I'm working on a third recipe right now to see if I can get the crystals a little longer. I feel like a mad scientist.

I never knew you could do something like this. Good luck with your recipient and remember to only use your power for good.

This is the borax crystal technique, yeah? What do you use for colour? Food dye? Or are you using sytheticn chemicals (one guy made faux alexandrite...dont think you could do that with borax crystals lol)
Is there a special way/ technique to make bigger crystals?

As for your stuff, I love your second clear/white crystals~ It would make a fabulous effect on a rogue taxidermy piece of like. A white / ice stag or some sort chimera.

An Ice stag would be awesome! Right now I'm experimenting to crystallize the base of some ram horns that I plan on using in some rougue taxidermy.

I'm experimenting with a few different mixtures of salts in hopes of getting longer yet stable crystals.


As for my powers...what's the point in using them for good?