make my glasses look like they're broken

October 20, 2011 12:33 PM

Halloween Costume Filter: DIY broken lens eyeglasses.

I want to have a shattered lens in my eyeglasses for part of my costume, but am not sure how to achieve it.

What can I use to mimic the look of broken glass?

It's okay if the suggestion ruins the glasses, as they're an old pair that I don't use anymore. (That said, I don't think actually breaking them would work, since the lenses are plastic.)

posted by Lucinda to clothing, beauty, & fashion (14 answers total)

If they are plastic lenses, then you might be able to scratch in a bunch of 'cracks' to make it look like they're broken. That and some scotch tape or some duct tape could work well.
posted by pappy at 12:35 PM on October 20, 2011

Crinkle up some plastic wrap and scotch tape it in.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:37 PM on October 20, 2011

Joke cracked/broken glass decals, like you might see on a car window - I would link to some, but apparently most gag shops are classified as 'sexual materials' by our web filter at work...
posted by pupdog at 12:38 PM on October 20, 2011 [2 favorites]

General rule of thumb: if duct tape won't get the job done, a Sharpie probably will
posted by cubby at 12:39 PM on October 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

They sell faux antiquing crackle paint a just about every big box craft store. Just ask someone when you walk in, and they'll be able to point you to it. When I was a kid, my mom refinished a desk with a little boat painting on it. She repainted the boat in acrylic, then, if I remember correctly, brushed the stuff all over the top of it (it was clear), which gave it a weathered, cracked appearance when dry.

I bet it would be a pretty easy way to achieve a broken lenses look with it, and you could probably clean it off when you're done.
posted by phunniemee at 12:46 PM on October 20, 2011

I'd use a marker to draw in cracked marks.
posted by tchemgrrl at 12:59 PM on October 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

Pick the broken glass image of your choice and print it out on clear adhesive paper, cut and stick. You can buy one sheet of the paper at any office supply store.
posted by iconomy at 1:01 PM on October 20, 2011

Make your own safety glass by covering the lens with clear packing tape. Then bash it with a hammer.
posted by Madamina at 1:06 PM on October 20, 2011

When I was a kid, I used to freak my parents out by drawing cracks on the bathroom mirror with a piece of sharpened soap. It looks realistic and easily washes off.
posted by HarrysDad at 1:38 PM on October 20, 2011

Yeah, I'd set a wide-bit screwdriver on it, and give it a good tap with a hammer. The tape is a good plan.
posted by theora55 at 1:39 PM on October 20, 2011

Grease pencil.
posted by pompomtom at 4:58 PM on October 20, 2011

If you're drawing crack marks on it, draw them on in white, not black.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 10:20 PM on October 20, 2011

Following on Kid Charlemagne's suggestion, how about using Wite-Out to paint on cracks, with the pointy end of the brush?
posted by Lynsey at 10:22 AM on October 21, 2011

There are Wite-Out pens now. Might work a bit better than the brushy kind.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:02 AM on October 21, 2011