Craftblr - Blog Posts

Howdy, my name is Critter. Have y'all heard of this lil thing called Craftivism? Here are 5 types of Punk/DIY Crafts I think we need to embrace, sooner rather than later!

Crochet/Knitting

Yarn and crochet/knitting supplies are relatively easy and inexpensive to get your hands on, and learning to crochet/knit is relatively easy with video tutorials. Once you learn the basics, you can create patches and clothing items that support certain causes. You can also do yarn-bombing (essentially graffiti using crochet/knitting) as a way to spread awareness about certain issues. Here are the patterns I listed above:

LGBTQ Pride Keychains

BLM Patch

Palestine Flag Heart

LGBTQ Pole Wrap

Womens March Hat

Pins

All you need is something hard and sturdy to act as the base for your pin (bottle caps work best), soda tabs + a safety pin, and some glue to secure everything. Paint or decorate them however you please. Let people know who you are and what you stand for. 

Kandi

While Kandi can be a way to express yourself and your identities, it is also a way to make community. Kandi-trading is huge in the EDM scene, and it is a huge part of why that community is so tight. You don’t need to make anything elaborate, especially to start out - just get some cheap pony beads from the dollar store, some letters, make some pretty bracelets. Keep them, trade them, give them away. 

Embroidery

Embroidery is a very fun and useful skill to develop, as you can basically put whatever you like wherever you want. Mend your socks, personalize your jacket, make some patches. Stop buying those shitty embroidered clothes from temu or shein and make your own one-of-a-kind pieces. Learning embroidery is pretty easy, just get some fabric, some thread, a needle, and go ham.

Zines

Zines are not only a way to spread awareness about certain issues, but they are a way to express yourself and talk about your personal experiences. I’ve included instructions on how to fold a zine, as well as some examples of zines. If you would like to learn more about zines & their history, I recommend @/decolonizationcoven on Tiktok. If you would like more examples of zines, check about any social media platform, but especially Pinterest. Lastly, if you would like inspiration for zines, Canva has lots of templates of zine layouts that are easy to replicate.

𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓮𝓽 𝓫𝓸𝔁𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓶𝔂 𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓸𝓵𝓭 𝓭𝓲𝔂 𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶

💙💜✨✨ Posting my last video for this year, and I tried to get a lot of things done. I have a habit of not finishing my projects rip, and I definitely didn't manage to finish them all, but I'm happy with where I landed and how my desk is turning out ✨✨💜💙

Pls watch it if you want to and let me know which one was the best idea 💡🩷🎀❄️🎶✨ Thanksies

made flower crowns at my birthday party :D

WIP for my huge glueless papercraft

It's been like a year (on and off) in the making now

I could've finished it a month I've just been lazy

Hand for scale

I got the tutorial from EasyAsTry who makes 3D minecraft builds on most platforms

(She gets custom business cards tho, I cheaped out and had to mark my paper cutter with the index cards dimensions to know where to cut 😅 Also why my palette is so limited-

I think it looks cool, but it means I've had to rework any sprite I've considered making 👇)

Just gonna put this here for later lol

General PSA's for begginer alt crafting

- superglue heats up when in contact with fiber, your craft can start smoking or even catch on fire

- you can wash clothing painted with acrylic paint in the washing machine if you turn it inside out and use the lowest temperature

- don't put painted clothes in the dryer.

- you can wash clothes with metal bits in the washing machine but use the handwashing setting, dry the metal bits with a paper towel before hanging them to dry, and know that it WILL be loud

- synthetic dye is needed to dye synthetic fibers and requires a long time simmering in a boiling pot. This WILL stink up the house and you NEVER want to make food in that pot again

- faux leather is vinyl not leather. Get vinyl paint to paint on it

- don't use your teeth as tools, they don't regenerate. Reconstructing enamel costs a small fortune (ask me how I know.)

- when handsewing a lot through thick fabric get thin needles, it will require less force and be less taxing on your wrists. When machine sewing get a higher grade needle (~130 for jean)

- embroidery floss is overpriced and not as strong as it looks. For sewing on heavy stuff get denim thread, it will last forever

- don't feed a 60$ home sewing machine ten layers of denim before you learn how much a servicing fee costs, these things are dellicate

- spray paint is best applied from 30-40cm away, in swift movements. Putting too much or applying from too close will cause drips. You can sand them down and apply a new layer of paint AFTER they dry. Wipe the can nozzle after painting if it's messy, you don't want it to clog and become unusable

- water based markers on fabric will bleed, if not instantly then with time, alcohol markers will fade with time

- most fabric glues are machine washable up to a certain temperature. modgepodge is not waterproof, hitack is handwash only. Check the instructions

- the flatter the surface the easier hot glue will peel off. Faux leather stands no chance, fibers like yarn will hold it best, but is impossible to remove the glue from them in the future

- rivets are a thing that exists, only require a hammer to install and can be used as permanent fabric attachment

- studs, gromets and other metal junk at small fabric stores are laughably overspriced

- acetone (found in nail polish remover) will remove acrylic stains out of furniture, flooring and faux leather, if used in excess can damage the laquer. Can also be used to remove prints and glue off of plastic (do a small test before commiting, might melt the plastic it it's grade is low)

- residue from stickers (and k-tape) can be removed with oil

- acrylic stains cannot be removed out of clothing or carpet so protect your area before painting and don't wear clothes you care about

- if your thread keeps getting tangled or snagging while handsewing try waxing it

- you can lock in screw-in spikes with screw lock glue if you're scared of them falling off because they unscrew

- you can add washers to screw-in spikes if you're scared of them falling through flimsy fabric or too big of a hole

- if you're making anything out of soda cans have a metal file on hand, they are deceptively sharp and will hurt you and rip through fabric you're installing them in

- bleach can be found in mold killing spray (don't touch that shit with bare hands. chemical burn.)

- fabric paints are no different from slightly dilluted acrylic. You can make it yourself by adding a bit of fabric softener to acrylic or honestly even water

- if you are setting anything with an iron use parchment paper or a pressing cloth to pervent your stuff from sticking to your iron and ruining it

- if you want a safety pin somewhere permanently pinch it shut with pliers

- as much as you can, avoid putting glue on clothing, it makes it really hard to change your decisions later on and upcycle the project in the future

- kiss your friends

A commission I made for a friend in 2019 of one of her plants.

you ever want to experience time warping and shifting and getting generally fucked up, then get really invested in an art piece and dont look at the clock until you’re done

“what where you doing?!” they ask as i emerge from my cave, covered in shredded paper, wood glue, several bags of glitter, and a life-sized version of the Mona Lisa doodled on my chest

me: “arts and crafts”

If the dark side had crochet hooks, yarn and books, I would totally join it.

Stickers

Because I have too much time

craft update

yesterday after going to the dentists, my nana wanted to go to the craft store to look around since there was a big sale and I had a coupon. So we walk around and I offhandly mentioned that I wanted to try doing cross stitch, so she goes all in and gets me a starter kit and some of the fabric for it. I even have some embroidery floss that’s back at home.

anyway I wanted to show everyone my new hobby lol

I’ve spent a little over 5 hours on this guys, why is it so addictive!

new crochet project

I decided to try and make a skirt for the first time and it’s actually working, when I finish it I’ll post the pattern link for it :3