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Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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How-to: Optical Illusion Yo-yo

May 27, 2013 1 Comment

How-to: Optical Illusion Yo-yo at HandsOccupied.com

I was hanging out on Pinterest and found this awesome rainbow illusion fan – the blades are painted primary colors, so when the fan’s on, you see a rainbow of color. Suffering a bout of instant inspiration for applying the idea to other surfaces, I realized my newly rekindled interest in yo-yoing was the perfect place to take the rainbow concept for a spin. (Sorry. Puns. They’re just so tempting to use when you write about crafts.)

Supplies

  • white, red, yellow & blue paper, all 8.5 by 11 inches
  • computer printer
  • Mod Podge Super Gloss
  • paint brush
  • rubbing alcohol
  • scissors
  • this template

Directions

Measure the diameter of your yo-yo. If it’s 2 inches, you can use this template as-is, but if it’s a different size, you’ll need to adjust the template accordingly. Print the template with a regular computer printer onto one each of each of your four sheets of paper. Cut two slices of the red, blue and yellow papers from the template, leaving whole the white circle templates.

How-to: Optical Illusion Yo-yo at HandsOccupied.com

Carefully cut out the two white circles from the template and set one aside. Grab one of each colored slice.

How-to: Optical Illusion Yo-yo at HandsOccupied.com

With the black lines facing away from you, hold your white circle up to a light source.

How-to: Optical Illusion Yo-yo at HandsOccupied.com

Paint a layer of Mod Podge onto three non-adjacent slices of the circle (leave a dry slice between each Mod-Podged slice).

How-to: Optical Illusion Yo-yo at HandsOccupied.com

With any visible template lines facing down, place a primary colored slice on each of the patches of Mod Podge.

How-to: Optical Illusion Yo-yo at HandsOccupied.com

Wipe down your yo-yo with rubbing alcohol. Paint a thick layer of Mod Podge onto one side of the yo-yo, and place the paper circle on the center of it. There’s a convenient ridge on the yo-yo I used for this project that made centering the paper easy.

How-to: Optical Illusion Yo-yo at HandsOccupied.com

Paint another layer of Mod Podge over the top of the placed paper circle. After letting the first side dry totally, repeat the process of creating and decoupaging a second paper circle onto the opposite side of the yo-yo.

How-to: Optical Illusion Yo-yo at HandsOccupied.com

 I first posted this project at Mod Podge Rocks last month. I write a monthly tutorial for Mod Podge Rocks, which you should check out on Facebook, Pinterest & Twitter for tons of decoupage craft project instructions.

Filed Under: Decoupage, How-to, My Work Elsewhere Tagged With: crafts, diy, kids crafts, mod podge, optical illusion, rainbow, yo-yo

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

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  1. Science Meets Crafts Program Kit: Rainbow Illusion Yo-yos | Library as Incubator Project says:
    September 20, 2013 at 6:42 am

    […] out How to Make Rainbow Optical Illusion Yo-Yos for the step by step on making these one at a time. I encourage you to make one yourself before […]

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Yarn craft designer & author. Into intarsia knits, latch hook, color & vintage-modern style.
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This yoke deserved a mid-blocking closeup, don’t This yoke deserved a mid-blocking closeup, don’t you think? ❤️💛💙
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Pattern: modified #soldotnacrop sweater / yarn: various from my stash
If you look closely, you’ll see I’m casually k If you look closely, you’ll see I’m casually knitting from one sweater into another here, no big deal. (What can I say, I lost a game of yarn chicken. 😂) I almost didn’t post this because I was worried someone might have some nonsense to say about my ability to knit. Then I remembered I can’t care about that. Silly me, I almost forgot myself! 
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Speaking of which, dang it’s good to have my mental health back consistently after the past couple of years. The anxious parts of my personality are just chilling, rather than constantly screaming that my work isn’t good enough to share. The confident parts of me that matter have me creating (and starting to share my creations & process with strangers and friends) again! 
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Anybody else feel like they are beginning to return to themselves, so to speak, this spring?
I’m feeling better, & all my [big, bad bug] proj I’m feeling better, & all my [big, bad bug] project needs is a couple of short sleeves! I’ll be finishing this sweater *just* before it gets too warm to wear, but isn’t that always how it goes? 🫠🧶 
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#knittersofinstagram #soldotnacrop #handsoccupied #knitincolor #springknitting
Just divided the sleeves on this quick sweater, wh Just divided the sleeves on this quick sweater, which has unsurprisingly turned into a love letter to primary colors. ❤️💛💙 The heart stripe is a wee tweak I incorporated, and I don’t regret it! 
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 #handsoccupied #soldotnacrop #strandedcolorwork #knitting #yokesweater
I am unfortunately home bound for the near future I am unfortunately home bound for the near future thanks to the big, bad bug. So far I’ve knit half a sweater, consumed about a gallon of ginger tea, & plowed through 3 seasons of Pit Bulls and Parolees. 
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June doesn’t understand why I’m suddenly so boring, but she seems to like watching animal planet. 🤷🏼‍♀️
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