(As you can see, I am playing with headings.) If you just happened on this page, my Unemployment Projects have only two requirements: they must take plenty of time and almost no money. This particular project involves those free tote bags that you probably have piled in your closet with pictures of baby kittens and bank logos. As you will see, this is a very, very loose DIY. Why? Because I recommend you work with whatever products you happen to have on hand!
My grandmother gave me my bag, which was a plastic tote with a big fuzzy blue sky that said something about saving something or other. She obviously got it from donating money to an organization. Since everyone gets totes for donating money, and most people can’t do with all of their totes, then you will find any thrift store (ie Salvation Army) will have piles of $1 bags such as this. I recommend a plastic tote bag, but I am sure if you are cool enough you can figure out how to paint a canvas one successfully.
I put a big piece of paper inside my bag just in case the paint would go through (it didn’t) and then I coated the front in white acrylic paint.
I used scrap paper to cut out different designs. I did these really simple explosions, and because I am COMPLETELY impatient, I didn’t spend too much time getting anything perfect. I also used a hair dryer in between colors so that I could do the next layer right away. If you are patient or have lots of time, let it air dry! And, you can make more exact templates out of heavy cardboard or thin black electrical tape might work.
I outlined my designs with black paint just so that you couldn’t see my messy edges. You could even use, again, black electrical tape if you want really straight outlines. But since this is an “unemployment project” I completely recommend you work with whatever products you already have!
I love to go ridiculously, overboard all-out for valentine’s day, wearing way too many heart shaped accessories, way too much pink and red, and usually some kind of heart-shaped, plastic Hello Kitty accessory just to ensure that I don’t look like, you know, an actual adult.
This year, just for you-you-you, I put together the kind of outfit I’d like to wear on the 14th (or perhaps Friday the 13th, to scare away the demons & be sure all can enjoy my cartoonish appearance). The central piece, a dress from Forever 21, is so inexpensive that if you get a little chocolate on it, you won’t be too upset <3 <3 <3.
1. These Sweatheart Sunglasses (Urban Outfitters, $16) come in four colors, so you can choose what level of “overboard” you want to go this Feb 14.
2. I featured Candy Thief and her beautiful, bright, detailed felt accessories after visiting her booth at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn last year. This time, she’s really done it with her beautiful (and one of a kind, I might add!) Valentine Headband (Candy Theif on Etsy, $35)
3. This Heart of Gold Brooch (Calexandra on Etsy, $14), while keeping with the V-day theme, is refreshingly glittery and gold which will stand out on the required red or pink top.
4. I <3 this Ruffled Satin Dress (Forever 21, $23) — full pink and ruffly, just like an old-fashioned valentine’s day card!
5. Another subtle accessory, this Pure & Simple Necklace (nanopod on Etsy, $32) is in a slightly ironic “heart-shape.”
6. This Reversible Messenger Bag with Ruffle Flap (31 Corn Lane, on sale for $14) can be navy or green, and either will contrast boldly with your pink dress while the pink ruffle will tie it altogether to the V-day theme.
7. These Shiny Stirrup Tights (American Apparel, $14) add an extra over-the-top pink to your outfit. It’s the final touch that says HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY.
The happy, heart-y, pixely font featured in this post is Pixelpoiiz, and is a free download at dafont.com.
I could go on and on about The Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn last weekend (in fact, I did sort of already did), but, alas, next week I think I will need to post something new!
So, for today’s final Renegade Finds: Knick Knacks & other things that found no other category.
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Everyone and their large-mustached-uncle seems to have posted about Something Hiding In Here’s presence at Renegade. Why? Because they’re just so darn cute and original and weirdly obsessed with mustaches. They’ve got a mustache charm, and two different kinds of mustache disguises (felt, for those of us on a low-budget, and wood for those high-class masqueraders). You can buy all kinds of mustaches (and they do actually make other things!) on their Etsy shop here.
Mr. Poncho makes these lovely ipod cases (~$18) in every design you can imagine (subject to the size of your imagination, but you get the drift)! And, the best part is, the wires don’t get tangled because of that clear round thing (very technical term) on the front.
The Small Object makes very small objects, and, by nature, things that are small are often cute (why is that?). My favorite good from The Small Object is the set of Crafty Organization Idea Cards (image above left, from artist’s website) which you can use to organize your most original and crafty ideas! They also make very cute doodle-y stamps (as shown above right, image from artist’s web-site).
And, last but not least, are 31 Corn Lane’s adorable bags (which I suppose should’ve gone in my Renegade fashion or jewelry posts, but my little brain was having a hard time categorizing bags).
“Years later and we still don’t have a mini-pony or a trampoline or a skate ramp, but! We’re finally taking the hot air balloon situation into our own hands” (31 Corn Lane web-site).
These hot air balloon totes make you want to spend a day at the beach in a bathing suit and bloomers. (And do you see the matching jewelry on the left!?) Also, if you visit their web-site, you may want to read those long blurbs next to the product, they’re worth it!
(Coming up soon… a round-up of all of these round-ups. Phew!)
Andy Warhol merchandise! And what artist deserves to be mass produced more than masterful pop art commentator on consumerism? (I didn’t even include the prices on this stuff, most of it was too high for my taste, but it’s nice to window shop.)
“Art is what you can get away with.” -Andy Warhol
$35 is a little pricey for my cheap-self, but I do love these cute totes (vinyl rather than canvas)! They’re also over at bang bang you’re thread.
Poketo has a sense of humor! Since we all can’t afford the *real* thing Poketo as offered us a “Louis Vuitton” tote bag ($80, still a little steep but it’s one of only a handful made for a Wake Up, Andy Warhol! exhibition in Korea), a “diamond” ring ($10), and a “Medal of Honor” brooch ($18). Not the cheapest fashion statements you could make… but much cheaper than the alternatives.
