crafting for cheapskates

Another Crafty Dia de los Muertos

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:03:00 +0000

You already know that The Crafty Chica is hands-down the best person to go to for Dia de los Muertos projects. I really love this sugar skull pinata tutorial... no balloon required. Good, because I fucking hate balloons.

Mirror, Mirror, on the Motherfucking Wall

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 04:51:00 +0000

...who's the SCARIEST of them all? This weekend's Scary Craft party was so much fun! Which of these would you say is the SCARIEST? Cast your vote!

Halloween Movie Glow Jars

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 05:06:00 +0000

My pal Amy introduced me to the concept of a glow jar, and after looking around a bit, I see people cracking glow sticks open and spilling chemicals inside jars. Sure, it does look rad, but fuck no, I'm not opening one of those things! I've got a better solution, with a couple-a different processes.

Materials

jar with lid
Glad Press n Seal or a piece of vellum (check the scrapbook section at the store)
glow stick
Office Depot window decals
ink jet printer

So I bought some window decals for another project, and happened to have some leftover. You get 10 sheets for $15 online, or they may be a little less at the store. They're super great!

Find images that you like and using your own photo software, make them high-contrast and the correct size for your jar. You can print in color, but it won't really show when it's dim and the images are back-lit, especially if the color on the printout is the same as the glow stick.

Follow the directions on the package, and allow the sheet to dry before getting your grubby fingerprints all over them. Measure how tall it needs to be, and you can most likely eyeball how wide the image should be; or you can wrap it all the way round.

While the images are drying (they do smudge), cut a piece of vellum that is the correct height for your jar and as wide as needed to wrap all the way around and overlap a bit. For this Bride jar, I used a simmer sauce jar from Trader Joe's and made it 3.5" high and 10" long. Cut out the image you wanna use.

The vellum I found has a cool wallpaper pattern on it. Found it in the scrapbook section. You go find it too. Roll that shit up and slip it inside the jar.

Now carefully peel off the window cling and add it to the outside of the jar.

Slide in a glow stick, put a lid on it, and show that shit off!

Another way to diffuse the glow:

It's a bitch to get it out and cut in a straight line, but it's ok if it gets wrinkled so don't be anal about it. I recommend wrapping it twice for a better diffusion. Trim it down so it fits your jar, leaving the thread for the lid uncovered. Follow the remaining steps, putting the window cling on the outside.

Tips

Spray paint the lids
Make multiple small images and put them all over the jar
Use cut-out stickers and stick those on too
Put the Linda Blair one next to your friend who passed out at your party so he/she has something to wake up to

Free Shipping on Etsy Orders

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 01:42:00 +0000

Hey crafty friends! In honor of the movie Frankenweenie and of course Halloween, I'm offering free shipping in my etsy shop! I just added some brand new sweater keepers and hair flowers.

Use the code HALLOWEENIE when you make your purchase now through November 1st.

Stop wasting time and fucking buy something!

It's Alive!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 07:27:00 +0000

OK you guys... I've spent an entire month building this site and it's finally ready for launch! Check it out, bitches!

http://www.joanneyada.com/

Now you can have me over to your house for drunk crafting. Sign up now!

Something's A-Brewing

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 21:49:00 +0000

Change is in the motherfucking air, and I've been a super busy bee. Lots of new ideas and projects are coming, not to mention some real face-to-face encounters with Bay Area friends.

What do I have up my sleeve? Find out at midnight tomorrow!

Crafty Chica Sighting

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 03:58:00 +0000

Heya, so I was all like packing up and moving today (East Bay, here I come), and loaded my car with half of everything that I own. I stopped at Michael's on my way out, hoping to shake hands with The Crafty Chica before hitting the road. I'm super glad I made the stop and said hello. I'm bummed I couldn't make the (cr)after party, but hey...

...you do remember when I made that Ed Wood shrine, right?

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 04:40:00 +0000

I'll be selling at this rad event in San Jose next month. If you missed it last year, you've got yourself a second fucking chance. Don't miss it!

Sweater Keepers

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 01:55:00 +0000

Hey bitches! I've been a busy little bee, making lots of sweater keepers for my Etsy shop. What the fuck is a sweater keeper, you ask? They're also called sweater clips or sweater guards.

If you're lucky, I'll show you how to make one. Do ya feel lucky, punk?

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:59:00 +0000

I'm super excited to be selling my handmade hair flowers at this event. I'll see you there!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 17:52:00 +0000

Fucking rad ideas from Mookychick.com for customizing your leather jackets. Don't miss the links for creating and downloading stencils and buying cheap spikes and studs!

Tin Altar

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 08:43:00 +0000

Remember dead idols with these modern Mexican tin art-inspired altars. After making a few of these, I will never look at disposable pans the same again!

Materials

disposable tin loaf or roasting pan
Xacto
scissors
image of fallen idol
thumbtack
pencil
hot glue
soft cardboard or self-healing mat

Find a couple of pans in different sizes and with different designs. Some have some pretty stellar designs that give you a good starting point for framing your picture. So many possibilities with this shit:

Cut off all 4 sides of the pan, leaving only the bottom. Save the corners, because they will be used to make the altar stand up.

Place the tin on a soft piece of cardboard or self-healing mat and use an Xacto to make a window. Draw onto the tin, pressing gently, making embossed lines using a pencil. Follow the natural pattern to get started. It also helps to flip over the frame and emboss the other side to heighten the designs. Draw squiggles and flourishes in the corners, the sides, and top and bottom.

Use a thumbtack to create dots in different patterns- follow the curves of the embossed lines already there.

Write a little something to dedicate your altar.

Tape or hot glue the image to the back.

To make the frame stand up, bend the pan's corners to create 1 or 2 stands, depending on how large your frame is. Glue to the back.

I used 2 for this Johnny Cash altar...

..but I only need one for the little ones.

If your handwriting sucks, type and print out your words, tape the paper to the tin and trace with your pencil, pressing into the tin. You don't need to have a photo to remember a fucking legend.

Tips

When gluing your stands to the back, remember that it's HOT. Use a popsicle stick or pencil to press the metal into the HOT glue
Before securing the stand, make sure it's level
Add a ribbon loop to make it hang instead
Add color with enamel or nail polish, then clear coat
Draw something into the tin. Use a paper printout and trace it if you can't draw:

How to Infuse Your Own Vodka

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 01:12:00 +0000

A rad, boozy tip, courtesy Amber Bouman, via Broke-Ass Stuart.

Clicky click: How to Infuse Your Own Vodka

Paper Parasol

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 02:39:00 +0000

Don't lock yourself in the house just because it's fucking hot out. Protect yourself at the farmer's market and the car show this summer with this rad customized parasol.

Materials:

blank paper parasol (find one in almost any color at Luna Bazaar or Oriental Trading Company. I picked mine up at an art supply store.)
Sharpies - fine and broad tips
Tombow brush pens
Duct tape - any design/color
a copy of a design to trace (optional)
Masking tape or painter's tape
Scissors

And go:

Figure out what kind of shit you want on your parasol. I like the idea of cherry blossoms as a traditional kind of design, but I wanted to update it. I drew 2 designs: the cherry blossom branch and the enlarged cherry blossom and crossbones. I split the branch design in half and printed two 8.5 x 11 sheets.

I didn't free-hand the design completely- I found an image online and traced the basic branch and flower placements. I changed the shape of the petals, added the crossbones and spider webs. There's no shame in using an image as a starting point- just make it your own.

If you want to use my designs, be my guest. Copy + paste each one, then enlarge and print.

Cut the pages down to make them more manageable. Scotch tape the two pieces together, then tape all of the printouts underneath the parasol.

Try to tape them to the bamboo rods to avoid ripping the paper.

When the designs are taped down, you can see the lines through the paper of the parasol.

Make sure that the placement is balanced, and that nothing is going off the sides. The parasol usually comes in a sleeve which is made of the same paper that is used to make the damn thing. I use this sleeve to test my markers for color and to take note of how the ink bleeds. Take a moment to be sure you like how the colors look and practice drawing with your Sharpies. Notice that drawing faster makes thin lines, while drawing slowly makes thick, bleeding lines.

Using a fine tip Sharpie, trace the outlines onto the parasol.

Add color. I used two shades of pink, then some gray, yellow, and blue.

I like using the brush pens to show brush strokes.

It took about a day to draw it all out, but I'd say it's worth it.

Damn straight!

Now to add a little detail on the tippy top. I found this rad lace-print Duct tape at OSH:

Snip the piece of tape so that it will wrap around the circle like so. Add more if ya wanna.

Tips:

Using dried-out markers will help with shading.
Add a cell phone charm or even a ceiling fan ornament to the top or to the handle.
It's delicate. Be careful!
When coloring in the flower, direct your brush strokes to the center of the flower rather than coloring side-to-side.

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 20:13:00 +0000

I remember the days of chatting on a phone and curling the chord around my fingers. Rotary phones may take up too much space in your apartment and won't give you directions to the nearest sushi stop, but they haven't disappeared completely. I love this rotary phone-inspired resin ring, made by Krissi.

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 06:50:00 +0000

I love this DIY tea tutorial from A Beautiful Mess!

Anchors Away Tote

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Anne) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 06:36:00 +0000

Who doesn't need a new tote bag? In the city of San Jose, plastic shopping bags are outta here for good (there's a city ordinance to back that up). And that's a good thing. So what the hell else will you put your shit in?

I found this bag with potential in the clearance rack and immediately knew something rad had to go on the front. I used freezer paper to paint a simple design on the front pocket.

Materials

fabric paint: blue, white, black, yellow, red
fine tip fabric marker: black
tote bag, dummy
freezer paper
Xacto and mat
pencil
iron
sponge brush / daubber
detail paint brush
design outline, like this one, but alter it to make it your own!

Method
Print the design whatever size you want, onto normal copy paper. Trace the outline with a pencil, nice-n-dark.

Tear out a big piece of freezer paper. It should be a little bigger than the bag, to be safe. Turn the copy of the anchor over and place it onto the freezer paper... not on the shiny side, but on the paper-y side of the freezer paper.

Hold the paper down and scribble the shit out of the back of the drawing. Notice that you can still see the outline of the anchor, even on the back of the paper. Do it nice and hard.

When you lift the paper, the anchor design will be transferred onto the freezer paper. Cut it out with an Xacto.

Don't forget to cut out mini circle too.

The large piece of freezer paper with the negative space cut out will be your stencil. Iron that shit on cotton setting. This will keep the freezer paper from slipping when you're painting.

One more time, don't forget that mini circle. Iron it in place.

Start painting your base color, using a sponge daubber or brush. For big areas of color, sponges work better than brushes.

Add some shading for some motherfucking depth...

I painted white first so that the red would be brighter.

Fuckin A.

Once the paint is dry (do not disobey me), peel the freezer paper off.

Trace a black outline where needed. Notice in the photo above that I fucked up a few spots and the blue is outlining the red. Cover that shit up.

Tips

Follow the instructions on the fabric paint container. You will probably need to heat set the image to keep it from washing away.
Speaking of which, wash your tote often. You don't want cooties.
Always make your designs unique. If you need inspiration, find something as a starting point but alter it to keep away from copyright law.
Add iron-ons, jewels, write on the background with a Sharpie, cut it out and make a back patch, etc.

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!