crafting for cheapskates

Crafty New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:09:00 +0000

So it's a new year and Borders isn't around for calendar shopping (they really were the best as far as calendars go. If you think it's the mall kiosk, you need to get over your obsession with lighthouses and that one specific breed of dog!).

Before you toss your 2011 calendar into the recycle bin, consider letting it live on in a different format. Reconstruct it in a new, minimal way.

Materials

old calendar
yarn and/or thin ribbon
small paper clips
12" x 12" cardboard or foam core
piece of scrapbook paper
scissors
small piece of paper to use as a template
Sharpie
Any kind of glue plus hot glue

Essentially, we're cutting out one of each number, 1-31. During the year, one number will be showing at a time. Since this is a minimalized calendar to last all year, no need for the months' names or the days, either. Simply remember to flip one number every morning.

If you want all of the squares to be the same size, create a square template and trace it directly on the calendar, around the number. Think about what's on the back because that's the part that will be showing for most of the time. Mix it up according to the rules that you personally want to break. Circles? Some big and some small? Try it, betch.

Steps:

Glue the scrapbook paper to the cardboard and allow to dry. Trim if needed.

Decide how many squares you want in a row. At first, I thought I'd use 7 but I reconsidered because I might think that the day of the week is implied upon first glance. So I did mine with 6 across, 5 down (I put 7 on the last one to include 31).

Tie the yarn or ribbon around the cardboard. If it's not tight enough, add glue to the back so it won't slip down. Add paperclips.

Attach each square in order with a paper clip, number side down.

Add a ribbon for hanging by hot gluing each end to the back. It helps to glue on top of the yarn to keep it in place.

Tips

Use teeny clothespins instead of paper clips.
Use a used itunes card or roller to push out any air bubbles when gluing the paper to the cardboard.
If your strings are still sagging, create small notches on each side of the cardboard and tie them tighter.
If you find it difficult to find a number with an interesting enough image on the back, find the interesting image first, then stamp, draw, or cut out the number yourself. You're not entirely helpless.
Make little bows or drape the ribbon on the sides.
When tracing your template, leave a strong border so you can see the number clearly.
Tell your gramma that just because you're an artist, that doesn't mean you like Thomas Kinkade.
If you use one month to cut out all 31 numbers, you'll get one image, scrambled.

p.s. If you live near San Jose, come to 2 Buck Tuesday at Kaleid Gallery, right across the street from San Jose State University on Tuesday, January 17th from 7:00pm - 10:00pm. Bring your old calendar and we'll make one together!

Merry Axe-mas!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:24:00 +0000

It's that magical time of the year when we get together to make holiday crafts. My pal Raven and I cracked open leftover Halloween beer and updated these nasty little Precious Moments-esque holiday statuettes.

Materials:

hot glue
heavy body paint
burned toole
acrylic paint

I broke off the arm that held the candy cane and the ball at the tip of the hat, and removed the scarf. I covered the bear in white heavy body acrylic paint, then with shades of ghoulish green and a wash of black acrylic. I added hot glue to form the eyeballs and then painted over the hot glue. I took a small Halloween skull, painted it, and glued it to the hat. He still wasn't icky enough, so I went back to the hot glue and added a pimple-like growth to his little neck.

It doesn't get any scarier than this elf that I found at a thrift store. My pal Raven coated him with paint, broke off a few bits here and there, added burned toole to the back, and that extra little touch of vomit livened up that jolly little beard.

Have a scary Xmas everyone!

Chandelier Necklace

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:20:00 +0000

Oh, the magic of Mod Podge. I mean, what can't you do with it? I've used it along with an old chandelier ornament to create a "True Necromance" necklace.

Materials

Mod Podge
Xacto and/or scissors
old chandelier ornament
beads/necklace
jump rings
head pin
needle nose pliars, rounded pliars, and nippers
image

Begin with a printout from your computer, image from a magazine, or drawing. For mine, I printed a black and white image and colored it with marker. Match it up with a crystal-type chandelier ornament.

Remove any old pieces of wire from the ornament & toss. Add 'Podge to the front of the image and press it to the back of the ornament.

If it's still a bit too small, add a piece of patterned paper behind it.

Allow to dry completely before cutting or you'll fuck up your scissors and possibly tear the image. Once it's dry, trim to the shape of the ornament, using an Xacto if needed.

Push a head pin through the hole and bend around the back. Using your rounded pliars, create a loop so that it settles on top of the ornament.

Nip that bitch off.

Add a jump ring 'r two and attach to a necklace or string of beads.
Now make like Herbie Hancock and rock it.

Tips:

If you don't like the unfinished back, add a layer of Mod Podge and some thin felt.
Drill more holes on the bottom and add smaller crystals for a more dangly necklace.
Take apart an old necklace and restructure it.
I'm guessing that an ornament with a flat back works best- or does it??
Find two matching ornaments and make earrings!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:11:00 +0000

Scary Craft The Sequel

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 06:11:00 +0000

Heya, scary bitches! Do not miss our next Scary Craft meeting because it's gonna be all Halloween and shit.

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011
5:30pm
Kaleid Gallery, San Jose Calif.

Bring a pair of unwanted eye-glasses; clear lenses preferred, as opposed to sun glasses.

Smell ya then!

The big day is TOMORROW

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 02:53:00 +0000

2 Buck Tuesday is THIS Tuesday at Kaleid Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:39:00 +0000

I'll be at Kaleid Gallery showing you how to make creepy shrinky dinks this Tuesday from 7pm-10 pm. This will be a sneak peek at our first project that we'll tackle at our first meeting on Saturday, the 27th. Bring a piece of #6 recyclable clear plastic - typically these are take-out boxes and lids. We'll do the project after we discuss some ideas and properly meet each other.

Scary Craft is HERE!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 17:43:00 +0000

Our first Scary Craft meeting will be on Saturday, August 27th from 1:00pm - 2:30pm at Kaleid Gallery in San Jo. Bring your ideas and suggestions, and any craft that you have made that you'd like to show us. I see this as an intro, so if we do work on a project, it will be brief. We have lots to discuss!

See you there, bitches!

Sody Pop Art

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:45:00 +0000

My pal, Courtney, and I have been doing free tutorials at Kaleid Gallery for their monthly Two Buck Tuesday events. For July, we found inspiration from a very popular tutorial, some variation you may have seen before:

We did it basically the same way, but we added art in the middle:

Materials:

Soda or beer can
scissors
Mod Podge
Magazines or photos

Watch the video if ya need ta. Wash your can, lop off the top, and cut off any little bits like this:

Then cut "petals" and peel back like a banana:

It ultimately works best if there are an odd number of petals.

Start with one petal and fold 'er up like this, going over its neighbor and tucking under the next one:

We like skipping one petal instead of skipping two, like it does in the video. Crease each one so it stays tucked under.

Tuck the last one in and under like so. If you get stuck at this stage, fake it and pull out yer scissors. No one will notice.

Front and back

Sure, this makes a good ashtray or candle holder as it is, but you can also take it farther and add something to the middle. If you want the image to lay flat, you'll need to cut out a circle that's larger than the middle area. This will hide the curvy bottom of the can:

If you want it to be recessed, cut out an image the size of the can bottom and cut a slit to the center of the image so that it conforms to the curve of the can:

make a single cut to the center of the circle

Slather Mod Podge on top and bottom of the image and allow to dry. Draw or scribble on it too!

Tips:

Mix it up with large iced tea cans or smaller Red Bull cans.
When you're cutting the top of the can off, keep it as close to the top as possible. If you cut the can too short, the petals won't reach over and you'll have a hot mess on your hands.
Cut the petals thinner or thicker for different patterns.
Don't cut yourself, dummy!
Get all fancy and layer multiple cans like this:

Some Scary News!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 06:48:00 +0000

Hi friends,

So I'm in a bit of a transitional phase at the moment, and I'd like some feedback from all y'all. I'm going to start a Scary Craft collective here in San Jose, and I'd really like to spend lots-a time making it rad. I'm considering putting my Cheapskates blog to bed and giving Scary Craft my all.

Don't fret, though! This new venture will include a blog with tutorials and inspiration, just like this one, plus monthly meetings and parties, Facebook posts and Tweets / Twats. If you live in these parts, this could mean that we get to hang out and actually make something together. I'd also like to know what kinds of ideas you have, and suggestions for anything fun.

At the moment, Monday nights work for me. What's everyone's schedules? Let's get together, scary bitches!!

Comments! Comments!

Who Says You Shouldn't Play With Your Food?

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:58:00 +0000

The cross-section of a bunch (?) of celery stalks easily makes a rose stamp. Check it out here! ... and don't forget to wash it off before you eat it.

Dude, Nice Knob

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 04:56:00 +0000

Looking for a place to hang your shit ? Add some knobs to your mirror!

Materials

spray paint
drawer pulls / knobs with flat backs (no screws)
mirror (this one was 5 smackers at Target)
tape
newspaper
any household glue like E6000
paint marker
old earring

Gather materials and decide which knobs go where. Remove any screws from drawer pulls that are screwy.

Spray paint or draw on any knobs that look too boring. I removed the hook from a rose-shaped earring and spray painted the design onto an otherwise lame knob. I also drew on the white ones using a paint pen:

Lay the earring on top of the knob and lightly spray

Jealous?

Cover the mirror with newspaper and tape down. Add spray paint to the frame of the mirror.

Stand the mirror up so the paint drips down

I used the earring on the mirror too

Keep spraying until you like how it looks. I wanted some of the spray to end up on the mirror surface, so after the initial spray, I removed the newspaper and added some random speckles. Allow to dry overnight.

Once the paint is dry, it's time to glue yer knobs. Lay them out before you add the glue to make sure you like the placement. If you're an anal motherfucker, this is the part of the show where you pull out your ruler. For the rest of us, eyeball it.

Be sure to follow directions on the glue! Allow to dry overnight and hang it:

Tips:

If you use Gorilla Glue, remember that it foams up and makes a mess that resembles tobacco-infused spit on your project.
Find a rad old picture frame and add a mirror to it.
If your knob has a screw that won't come off, ask your granddad to saw it off.
Work on this outside, nowhere near your neighbor's car.
Careful when you tape off your mirror. Don't let this happen to you:

It's da [Yarn] Bomb!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:01:00 +0000

Heya! It was national yarnbombing day on June 11. That must explain why objects around your city were wearing sweaters:

Even potholes (click here)!

As I've said in the past, knitting isn't my specialty, but here's a few tips from someone who knows about yarn tagging.

Broke Ass Stuart on the Tee Vee!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:40:00 +0000

Breaking the Rules with Magazine Racks

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:25:00 +0000

Who says magazine racks have to be on top of a bookshelf or table?

...from Real Living

Sub Zero Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:01:00 +0000

Thanks to those 100+ people who came to our booth to make a battery-powered LED lantern. See you next year, bitches!

Sub Zero Festival is this Friday!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 05:31:00 +0000

Hey! If you're in the Bay Area, you gotsta come to this rad DIY festival in downtown San Jose. I'll be there with my pal Courtney, teaching everyone how to make an LED lantern with plastic bags, a Sharpie, and a battery-powered LED. Did I mention it's free?

Where Geek Meets Street

CHECK IT OUT, BITCHES!

Plastic Bag Wallet

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Sun, 29 May 2011 05:22:00 +0000

A couple-a weeks ago, my pal Courtney and I did a demo at Kaleid Gallery's Two Buck Tuesday. We had an especially rad time watching participants melt plastic bags! I showed you how to do it for the LED project (which will be modified and featured at this Friday's Sub Zero festival). Show up and spread the love!

Materials

6-8 plastic shopping bags
iron + ironing board
sticky back velcro dots
scissors
parchment baking paper
embellishments (buttons, patterned duct tape, fake flowers, needle + thread, etc.)
Sharpies (optional)

Cut the shopping bags down and layer them on top of each other. Be sure you have at least 8 layers.

Place them between two pieces of parchment paper (you can also use clean copy paper, but parchment is bigger).

Heat your iron to the cotton setting and run it over the bags. Use moderate pressure and go all the way to the edges. Be careful not to let the plastic come in direct contact with the iron. It'll remind you of that time you tried to curl Barbie's hair with a curling iron.

Once the plastic is all fused together, fold it in thirds so that it makes a pocket and a flap.

Now you'll fuse only the sides together. Don't forget to cover it with parchment!

After ironing the left and right sides, you'll see your pocket. Add the velcro dot for the closure.

Now embellish the shit out of it! Sew on a fake flower or button, use strips of rubber shelf liner as a flap and add duct tape like this:

Create a tab with a key ring by ironing strips of plastic together, then thread it through the key ring, and fuse the ends to the inside of the wallet:

And don't forget to draw all over it. What will you add to yours?

Tips:

Plastic garbage bags are useful and super sturdy. I'll bet a black one would look rad with silver Sharpie all over it.
Use velcro strips or two dots for more security.
Draw on some of the layers before ironing. The top layers will be dark while the bottom ones will be lighter. Overlap your designs and play with the text that's already on your bag.
Super glossy plastic bags melt more quickly. Use a lower temp on the iron!

Camera Trix!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Thu, 26 May 2011 05:42:00 +0000

Can you make this image without Photoshop? Find out how on How About Orange's bokeh tutorial.

Suitcase Chair

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:03:00 +0000

Don't get rid of your old suitcase just because the latches are broken and the insides are stained with regret. Cover up the bad parts and just sit on it.

View the tutorial at See Kate Sew.

Our Lady of Fiend Club

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Mon, 09 May 2011 08:43:00 +0000

You never know when or where you'll get a vision. This holy image has already spent its time on toast and grilled cheese, so this time it came up on a tote bag.

Materials:

Freezer paper (not wax paper; not Press n Seal. It's paper on one side, plastic on the other)
Pencil
Xacto
High contrast design
Fabric paint - black and white
Foam roller and paper plate or paint tray
Tote bag
Iron and ironing board
Cardboard to fit inside your tote
Fake flowers
Snap & HEM (from the "impulse buy" area at Dollar Tree)
Other embellishments or trims
Hot glue

Procedure:
Print your design. You can use mine because Lord knows I spent enough time making it stencil-worthy.

Place a piece of freezer paper on the image, shiny-side-down, and trace with a pencil. Use a sharp Xacto to carefully cut out the stencil. Take your time, goddamn it!

Turn on the iron to a medium or cotton setting. Place the tote on the ironing board and the stencil on top of it, shiny side down. Be sure it's in the spot where you want it. If you're punk rock, you'll put it off-centered.

Iron over the stencil. The plastic will become tacky and will stay in one place during printing.

Notice that I had to cut the eyes completely out, but I'll add in the teeny whites with a brush later. I can't leave out those fiendish peepers. I also want the face to be white, so I peeled back just the face and snuck in some white fabric paint in an even layer, let it dry completely, then ironed the face back on.

When the stencil is stuck to the tote, slide the cardboard inside the bag for stability and to protect the other side. Squeeze fabric paint onto the center of the plate and roll it out with the roller. Evenly distribute the paint over the stencil. It's better to add too little paint than too much; you can always touch up with a brush later, but if it bleeds, it doesn't come up because it's fucking paint.

.
Allow to dry before peeling the stencil off. Add teeny "u" shapes for the eyes using a small brush and white paint.

Yank off the green parts of the flowers (stems, backings, leaves, etc.) and take the flowers apart. Mix up the pedals and use hot glue to secure them together.

Cut the snaps off of the Snap & HEM strips. Peel off the backings and stick one on the back of a flower and one on the tote. Snap them together to attach.

Tips:

Instead of fabric paint, use a Sharpie or spray paint, you anarchist.
A foam paintbrush will also work, but the roller makes the paint smoother. Don't use a rubber brayer!
Add iron-on sparkles or sew rick rack, bows, etc.
To save time and effort while tracing the design, I simply drew a line where all those points begin and end. Who wants to draw all those things and cut them out too?!
Follow the directions on the paint, i.e. some require you to heat set before washing.
Freezer paper will most likely be at the grocery store, not Target. It's the stuff that Sam used to wrap his meat when Alice would visit on the Brady Bunch.
You can trim the excess freezer paper before ironing, but not too much because you'll need the protection when you're going nuts with the roller. Be careful not to run the roller off the edge.
You really, really should go to Stencil Punk , where I found these instructions. They have RAD stencils for you to use, too.

China Knuckles

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Sun, 08 May 2011 06:45:00 +0000

In case you want to start a fight at the dinner table. Featured on Dude Craft but sadly, sold out.

Recycled Plastic His + Hers LED Night Lights

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 03:16:00 +0000

You're lazy. You have good intentions, but once you park your car and start walking toward the store, you don't turn back when your conscience screams, "Go back and get your reusable tote bags out of the trunk!" So, the cashier places your items inside nature's worst enemy, and you figure you'll probably use it for picking up your dog's shit. But let's face it, you haven't walked your dog in a month because you're lazy.

We're going to save the dolphins and reuse these nasty things. Making them light up sounds pretty damn cool. Now don't let the idea of using a battery and LED scare you. I'll talk you through it.

Materials:

8 white plastic bags
2 sheets copy paper
iron and ironing board
Sharpie
10 mm "jumbo" LED (buy them here from Evil Mad Science)
lithium coin battery (buy them here at cheapbatteries.com)
3/4" x 6" strip of mat board
4" x 4" image and light table (optional)
5" x 5" scrapbook paper (the heavier, the better)
masking tape
scissors
1/4" x 2" strip of card stock
glue stick

Cut up 8 plastic bags, and recycle the handles and printed side. Flatten them and cut them down so they are smaller than the 8.5 x 11 paper. Turn on your iron to the cotton or medium-high setting... no steam! Place the copy paper on the ironing board, then the sheets of plastic, then top with the other piece of paper.

Run the iron over the paper. Keep it moving so you don't singe the paper. After 30 seconds or so, you'll feel it change a little. Keep going and be sure to get the edges. If the plastic sticks to the paper, turn the iron down a tad. Remove the paper and be careful cuz it's hot.

If you want to copy a photo like I did, place your picture on a light table and put the plastic on top of it. Trace the design (or draw your own) and cut it out. It cuts like butter, huh.

Apply glue on the left and right sides of the image and attach to the scrapbook paper, allowing a slight curve.

Your LED will have two prongs, or "leads" sticking out of it. One is longer than the other. The long lead must touch the positive side of the battery. Slip the battery between the leads and see it glow.

Score and fold the strip of mat board in half; this will become the stand. Using a single piece of tape, attach the battery and light to the end of the mat board like this:

This really is a red LED, but it photographs as yellow. Meh.

It's very important that you only use one piece of tape going horizontally, otherwise it will suck trying to turn it off.

Slide it behind the image...

... and stand it up. Hellz yeah!

Back

When the leads come in contact with the battery, it turns on. If the connection is blocked, it turns off. SO, the little strip of card stock will be used as an ON/OFF switch. Slide it between the battery and one of the leads to block the connection.

Tips:

cut holes in the plastic with an Xacto or hole punch
instead of gluing the image to scrapbook paper, curve it into a cylinder and stand it up
try running the plastic through your sewing machine
LEDs do not create heat and won't melt the plastic
adjust the position of the light by folding the mat board in a different spot rather than in half
add more than one color of LED
use the printed images from the bag to make a new design (cut out and arrange the pictures on the 7th layer of bags, and add one bag over the top to seal it)

score your mat board before you fold it:

This project was originally designed by my friend and colleague, Cristina Velasquez using different types of paper.

Pat the Zombie Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:35:00 +0000

Is this the sweetest thing ever? Win your copy here!

Coat Check Chair

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Check out this rad coat hanger chair. What other patterns could you create?