DIY Disco Surfboard With Luv AJ

Raise your hand if you, too, were blown away by the sick mirrored surfboard featured alongside the dangerously cool collection of shark tooth jewelry in Luv AJ‘s latest lookbook. It makes for the perfect objet d’art for us California-bred beach lovers, which had us seriously jonesing for our own. Lucky for us, designer Amanda Thomas is giving us the exclusive step by step tutorial, showing how we can create the same disco surfboard. And all for under $150.

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You’ll need:

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The first step is to track down an old surfboard. Try looking on Craiglist or post your search on Facebook – you’d be surprised at how many people have old boards they aren’t using and will give away for free. Any old board will work, no matter how worn and torn because we are going to be covering that baby with tiles so no one will see any of it’s blemishes. I also suggest getting a short board because they are much smaller and easier to tile.

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The next step is to clean the board. A surfboard wax scraper will usually do the trick. The board needs to be completely bare, so removing any and all wax, stickers, or traction pads is key. It takes a bit of elbow grease to get the surfboard completely clean but the scraper is pretty effective. I also used a Pickle Wax Remover at the very end to get off any excess wax that I had missed. A clean board is crucial!

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Now it’s time for the fun part. Grab the box of mirror tiles and the glue and get comfy – this step will takes about 2-3 hours.

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Lay down cardboard underneath the board to protect the surface you’re working on. Start laying tiles down the left edge of the board. The edge is curved so you just need to follow that edge from top to bottom. Start at the very tip top of the board and make sure the tiles stick out about 1/8″ so that you can’t see the the surfboard underneath. In terms of glue, only put about a penny sized dollop on each tile. You don’t want the glue to squeeze over the edges of the tiles because it will dry and effect the final look of the disco tiles.

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Start on the first edge, and once you hit the bottom, then go back to the top and start the second row. Keep making rows after rows and push the tiles as close to each other as possible. It may seem strange that the lines are curved, but they will come to a perfect point at the end. Use your discretion in tilting tiles a bit to fit areas if they do not sit side by side perfectly.

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Keep gluing the tiles row by row and then you will come to the end. Let the glue set overnight and wipe clean with glass cleaner.

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You’ve made a disco surfboard!

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(images & tutorial courtesy of Amanda Thomas of Luv AJ)

Leave a Comment

37 Comments

  1. Paty wrote:

    I loved it!!!
    I’m posting looks from Los Angeles and accessories:

    http://www.thegavlaks.com

    8.13.13
    Reply
  2. Mira wrote:

    Not that I need one but this is definitely the coolest surfboard I have ever seen 😀

    xx Mira

    http://www.glamdevils.com

    8.13.13
    Reply
  3. Omg this surfboard is so cool! I want one!!!
    XO CHAMAFASHION
    http://www.chamafashion.com/

    8.13.13
    Reply
  4. It’s perfect, such a cool home decoration! 🙂

    xoxo
    Fashion Agony blog

    8.13.13
    Reply
  5. Denisa wrote:

    Very nice inspiration. Great day.

    http://www.fashiondenis.com/

    8.13.13
    Reply
  6. STEL STYLE wrote:

    this is the coolest surfboard I have ever seen and it’s a nice home decor!!

    http://www.thestelstyle.com

    8.13.13
    Reply
  7. Rachelle wrote:

    wow that’s awesome.

    8.13.13
    Reply
  8. Laura wrote:

    Wow amazing ! Love it !
    Giveaway on my blog:
    http://www.thestilettoholic.com/2013/08/10/romwe-international-giveaway/

    8.13.13
    Reply
  9. Martyna wrote:

    it’s amazing, prefect home decoration! xx

    Martyna | NEON MIZZLE

    8.13.13
    Reply
  10. Ahhh this is so cool!

    8.13.13
    Reply
  11. That is absolutely amazing!! It may look a little out of place in my home in chicago, though. I wonder what else i can turn “disco”. ?
    xxx Sydney

    http://www.wethinkthereforewecreate.blogspot.com
    http://www.wethinkthereforewesparkle.blogspot.com

    8.13.13
    Reply
  12. Ambyr wrote:

    That’s awesome. I kind of want this handing in my living room.

    xoxo
    http://www.thewrittenrunway.com

    8.13.13
    Reply
  13. I think it’s a creative idea. Belongs in a modern art gallery or something.

    8.13.13
    Reply
  14. OMG that is soooo awesome!!!

    8.13.13
    Reply
  15. Jenna wrote:

    Wow! That really is amazing! Great home decor accessory.
    http://www.crocodileandturquoise.com

    8.13.13
    Reply
  16. i.s. wrote:
    8.13.13
    Reply
  17. Wow, that is so different! Love it!

    8.13.13
    Reply
  18. lol wrote:

    How the fuck do you surf on that now??

    8.25.13
    Reply
  19. J wrote:

    Great. My girlfriend came across this and thinks it would be cool do this with one of my boards. Maybe I’ll ask her if she’d want to try it on her yoga mat or a favorite dress instead…

    9.4.13
    Reply
  20. Vanessa wrote:

    i’d probably end up propping it up somewhere and admiring myself in it lol 🙂

    http://cafecraftea.blogspot.com

    9.15.13
    Reply
  21. This post is actually a nice one it helps new the web viewers, who are
    wishing in favor of blogging.

    Also visit my blog post … Bude Surf Shop (http://www.geckodecks.com)

    10.10.13
    Reply
  22. Dave clark wrote:

    Wow …So brilliantly have made this surfboard. It is really looking very cool and beautiful . This can also be used as a part of home decoration as I do. It will really give a awesome look.

    12.27.13
    Reply
  23. Awesome, got ideas on another shining DIY.

    4.4.14
    Reply
  24. This post was featured on my latest Massive List of Links!

    ♥Emma, of It’s Emma Elise

    6.6.14
    Reply
  25. Interesting DIY, guessing it’s more for decor than actually surfing?

    10.20.14
    Reply
  26. that’s bright and awesome wow 🙂

    9.12.15
    Reply
  27. Gabriel wrote:

    Great look but this board have a sharp edges.

    9.25.17
    Reply
  28. kelly jacob wrote:

    I wanted to express my gratitude for this article. It’s clear that a lot of research and thought went into it, and I appreciate the effort that you put into sharing your knowledge with readers.
    Awakesurfcollective

    4.24.23
    Reply