First off, props to all others posting their work.
Its cool to see how many different ways you can decorate your sandpaper.
Be it simple or time consuming, its really a signature on your set up.
How much of a bummer is it when you spend 3 hours on your grip and the board breaks in 10 minutes? I remember this happening a few times. On the flip side; I know I rode a lot of my designs till the board was thrashed beyond beat. It was like having a design I was stoked on made me ride the board longer than I would otherwise.
From about '97 till 2008; I made some sort of design on every board I skated. Basically all through my 20s. I'd guess around 250 - 300 boards. I've managed to hold onto the below 60 in some form. Here's some photos.
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%206%20OG_zpsfgfrfryx.jpg)
The first 2 years or so my technique was like this early example. Draw the design on the back. Cut it out with a razor. Make all those cut out pieces a little smaller with a pair of scissors. Then stick all these little grip scrapes in their spot. Eventually, I ended up just removing pieces to create an image.
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%2010%20muska%20stix_zpswi4xwrcs.jpg)
Muska silhouette stickers behind the 3rd eye really date this one
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%201%20bob%20carpet_zpsl3gadwec.png)
Young Bob Marley. And I think these 2 guys were from a design on a rug
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%202%20dream_zpskdktz7vc.png)
Over the years, I made maybe 15 Chinese characters. They were always some of my favorites. I remember one of the early ones, I drew it as you see it; and it wasn't until I'd cut it out that I realized it was backwards. Had to get another sheet. Wasn't a total loss as I used the fuckup as a stencil. So it was fast to redraw. Sometimes drawing the design took longer than cutting out the pieces. This one meant "Dream"
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%2012%20weed%20leaf_zps9rpg8rgn.jpg)
weed and yoga
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%209%20dance_zpstynac55a.jpg)
"Dance"
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%2019%20hosoi_zpsiwugqmvx.png)
Hosoi rocket wheel
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%2015%20all%20hail_zpsnllwrozr.jpg)
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%2016%20chi_zpsxbv2v5om.jpg)
"Chi"
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%205%20tree_zpsircwdynl.jpg)
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%2011%20oomm_zpssewfvhde.jpg)
OOOOOMMMMM
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%207%20kaya%20gnr_zps5ylmupbs.jpg)
Kaya Gun N Rose
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%208%20designs_zpspnr35rq3.jpg)
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%203%20bacardi_zpstpcvz6gj.jpg)
Bacardi bat. I remember while I was skating this one, a little kid who couldn't have been more than 14, saw it and knew what it was. I told him he was too young for that.
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%2018%20carpe%20diem%20unknown_zpsdb2zlgsi.jpg)
"Carpe diem" I don't remember what this one was
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%2017%20unknown%20chinese%20green%20bay_zpszvimahs6.jpg)
Not sure of this one again Go Pack Go!!
![](http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/handsclapanin/grip%2013%20assorted%20x%2011_zpsewkseuk1.jpg)
Forgot what this one means too
September 20, 2008. One of our cats died. Part of me died that day too. And I never made another grip design since. Just slap it on black.