DIY WEIRD THINGS
My hands are always busy, and I love sharing the ways I've built things in hopes that it helps other people build things too. Here are some of my favorite DIY tutorials I've put together from across the internet.
Some are posted on instructables, an incredible community of makers crafting super weird and genius stuff.
Some are posted on instructables, an incredible community of makers crafting super weird and genius stuff.
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Backyard Studio BuildWhen we bought a lovely little brick home in our new state, the backyard was outfitted with a rusting metal shed flanked by gnarly tree bushes and lined with diagonally-embedded bricks. Now that I was a spoiled backyard artist, I knew this metal tetanus heap was sitting on the hallowed ground of what would one day be my new den of creative wonders.
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Weighted BlanketWeighted blankets have long been used therapeutically for people with sensory sensitivity or restless leg syndrome, as well as to increase focus. Newer studies are finding that these heavy blankets increase serotonin and melatonin levels while also lowering cortisol levels. Your mood improves, and because the weight minimizes movement during sleep, it helps your body stay in a deeper sleep for longer. I have several family members who struggle with sleep and/or anxiety, so weighted blankets sounded like an amazing solution.
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"Clue" Drink Set: Wine Charms and CoatsersUpcycle old board games into something new. This Clue Drink Set for Six makes a fun hostess gift for a murder mystery party, adds flair to board game night, and pairs perfectly with a viewing party for the movie "Clue," which is hilarious. Best of all, it is easy to make yourself and, with some creative adjustments, could be replicated with pretty much any game.
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Recycled T-Shirt JournalAt the time my craftin' shirt collection reached its most-gargantuan state (Late October), Felicitous Coffee & Tea was preparing to sell loads of handmade gifts for Christmas time. I wanted to reuse the shirts in a way that was massively sellable for the holidays, but that was also easy to reproduce in quantity. I came up with making fabric-covered, single-signature sketch journals. They sold very well (and still do) at the coffee shop, and Dave and I gave out quite a few for Christmas ourselves.
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Chair SetteeHere are instructions to make a couch, sofa, settee, bench, loveseat, or whatever you want to call it using two old chairs. The tutorial is specific to the chairs I had--with a bit of tweaking, this DIY can be applied to pretty much any two chairs (even if they don't match). It is easy to recycle two chairs into a bench.
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Sushi Pillow PlushieI made this sushi pillow for my little sister for Chirstmas one year. I've seen sushi pillows all over the internet, but they are mostly circle pillows with the sushi ingredients printed on the fabric. I wanted to make one with a variety of removable ingredients so that my sister could "customize" her sushi roll!
The main pillow is a big donut shape, so the pieces go all the way through and can be seen on either side of the pillow. |
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Hanging Air Plant Basket from Recycled Wine CorksOne of my friends is obsessed with air plants and was moving into a new place, so I wanted to make a neat gift to welcome him to the new digs. Having just grabbed a huge box of wine corks left over from a wedding, I was eager to put them to use.
These little hanging air plant baskets feature two types of plants and can be hung in groupings or by themselves. They add a lot of charm indoor or out, and the plants are nearly impossible to kill. They make awesome gifts for your less-than-green-thumbed pals. |
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Geek Earrings--Zelda, Totoro, Invader Zim, and moreI wanted to make some very personalized and funky earrings to give to my little sister. She loves all the classics--Zelda, Totoro, Nintendo, Invader Zim, Robots, etc., and generally loves to wear anything that screams loud and proud to the world "I LOVE THIS STUFF!!" While her backpack, t-shirts, shoes, shoelaces, necklaces, and hats all carry the stamps of various anime and video game titles, her ears remained sadly unadorned. Luckily I stepped up to include her ears in the party.
The Instructions include the Instructables Robot as well as designs for Wiimotes, Gir, Totoro, and the Triforce. You can use the process to make pretty much any character. |
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Bone Tunnel Plugs for Stretched EarsMaking bone plugs/gauges is easy, but it is time-consuming and takes a lot of trail and error. The end result is fantastic--hand-made jewelry crafted out of a natural material, and they make a really cool gift.
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Zombie Family Portrait with Demon CatThings I know will happen after we all turn into zombies that I have reflected in my very scientific rendering of the future:
- We will all creepily smile while eating brains. - My cat Nemo will turn into a super protector with horrifying powers of destruction. |