Well, it's Shogatsu time again at Casa Jfro, so I'm working on some super-secret craft projects. I can't go into detail, but it involves sewing. Homemade gifts are economical, show a personal touch, and if you are sensible about it, not really very hard at all (Shhh!) I once saw a decorated matchbox at one of those little-gifty stores for 5$. C'mon! Anyone can slap on a picture cut from an old magazine on a matchbook and glue little beads on it, it's not rocket science.
Now, I love hipster craft sites and mags like Gothic Martha Stewart, Readymade, Craft and Craftster, but there are certain key words in instructions that always give me pause:
1. Saw: My little secret--I am very bad at straight lines. My little condo does not need to be full of random wood scraps that are only good for firewood. You can have the guy at Ace cut it for you, but that kind of defeats the point of DIY.
2. Solder or weld. I actually learned how to solder in Sculpture class. It's fun--if you have a studio dedicated to that sort of thing. I would be sad if my condo were to catch on fire. A hot glue gun is just barely safe in my clumsy hands.
3. Double boiler (or any other piece of fancy-schmancy cooking equipment). These sort of things are often required for beauty products or candles. If I don't have it already for food, I'm sure as hell not going to buy it for soap.
4. Any supplies that are more expensive than actually buying something from a store. I'm afraid to take up knitting because I know I'd bankrupt myself on fancy yarns, thereby defeating the whole point of DIY. If the supplies for one item are more expensive than a new book or DVD, forget it.
Here are some previous projects I've done, feel free to rip them off. One thing about crafts, you can't do the same thing for the same person twice.
Earrings
A calendar
Magnetic bookmarks
Refrigerator magnets/memo clips
Lavender moisturizer and hair spritz
Decoupaged boxes and trays
Stickers
Then there are semi-crafty things like: a personally-designed CafePress T-shirt, Moo Cards from my photos, and the ever-popular mix CDs.
PS. If anyone knows how to use a sewing machine or knows a good place to learn, let me know. Mom taught me how to sew by hand, but my stitches aren't neat enough for some projects.
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Now playing: VNV Nation - Lightwave
via FoxyTunes
Now, I love hipster craft sites and mags like Gothic Martha Stewart, Readymade, Craft and Craftster, but there are certain key words in instructions that always give me pause:
1. Saw: My little secret--I am very bad at straight lines. My little condo does not need to be full of random wood scraps that are only good for firewood. You can have the guy at Ace cut it for you, but that kind of defeats the point of DIY.
2. Solder or weld. I actually learned how to solder in Sculpture class. It's fun--if you have a studio dedicated to that sort of thing. I would be sad if my condo were to catch on fire. A hot glue gun is just barely safe in my clumsy hands.
3. Double boiler (or any other piece of fancy-schmancy cooking equipment). These sort of things are often required for beauty products or candles. If I don't have it already for food, I'm sure as hell not going to buy it for soap.
4. Any supplies that are more expensive than actually buying something from a store. I'm afraid to take up knitting because I know I'd bankrupt myself on fancy yarns, thereby defeating the whole point of DIY. If the supplies for one item are more expensive than a new book or DVD, forget it.
Here are some previous projects I've done, feel free to rip them off. One thing about crafts, you can't do the same thing for the same person twice.
Earrings
A calendar
Magnetic bookmarks
Refrigerator magnets/memo clips
Lavender moisturizer and hair spritz
Decoupaged boxes and trays
Stickers
Then there are semi-crafty things like: a personally-designed CafePress T-shirt, Moo Cards from my photos, and the ever-popular mix CDs.
PS. If anyone knows how to use a sewing machine or knows a good place to learn, let me know. Mom taught me how to sew by hand, but my stitches aren't neat enough for some projects.
----------------
Now playing: VNV Nation - Lightwave
via FoxyTunes
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