So this week’s Craft Cult is a little different.
Okay backstory time, this week has been really hard for me. I had a lot of anxiety and a lot of malaise. I am not exactly sure why. Overall this has been a good week for history, but I think I am just a little sick of living through historical events. I think a big part of it, was that I write this the day after the one year anniversary of the first case of Corona in the states. It has been a hard anniversary for me.
So this week’s Craft Cult is going to be a little different. Instead of doing a step by step craft, I am gonna give you some crafting ideas that you might want to try yourself. These are crafts that I did and loved the process and the result of, but boiled down to me just kind of following instructions someone else gave me. They didn’t thus feel like “my crafts to write about” as much as they feel like an “Oprah’s Favorite things” for Craft Cult. So this week I’m doing, “Rosa’s Favorite Crafts.” If we hate this, I promise I will never do it again.
Most of these involve buying or downloading something and then following the steps therein. But it’s been a year in lockdown… sometimes it’s nice to just be able to follow some steps and zone out.
1. Free Sewing Patterns
Months ago, I downloaded a free sewing pattern and was too scared to tackle it until this week. I got mine from Mood. They have a lot of free patterns. I used the one from the Jamesia Pant. The pants took me two days to make but it was also my first ever garment of any sort. I would say that this pattern was intermediate hard for new sewers but completely do-able.
Here’s what mine came out as.
If you try this project, I do have a couple of tips. I measured myself and used their sizing chart on the pattern, but the size it gave me was far too big. I usually don’t pay attention to sizing and say, it’s nothing but a number, but in this case, I ended up having to fit them a couple of times so it is something to be aware of. I think it worked out fine, but you might have to resew a few areas even if you use your measurements. I also added a lining to the waistband, which I thought gave them a more finished look but is not in the explicit directions. I had a lot of trial and error with these, but for my next project, I am making my own pattern, which I might do as a newsletter topic.
2. Miniatures
Ok so for 5 days, this craft took over my life. My play-aunties sent me a minute kit for Christmas from Etsy. Turns out miniature kits are huge. I did a series of viral TikToks about making this and a ton of people reached out to me about these. I had so much fun doing it, but mostly it’s just following the directions they send you with it.
Here’s how mine turned out. My big tip with this one is patience. The instructions are not particularly detailed, however, there are a ton of resources online of people making these and giving tips…. I didn’t use them but I wish I did. You just have to search YouTube with the name of the kit and there are so many helpful hints.
The hardest part was the tiny lights… but it did make me feel like an actual electrician. There are a ton of these models online, but I think for my next one I am going to make it from scratch which I might feature parts of in newsletters if there is interest.
3. Glass Cutting!
So recently I splurged on a craft supply that I had my eyes on for a while, a bottle cutter. I got mine off of Amazon (BAD ROSA! WE HATE BEZOS) because they didn’t have it at my local craft store. Mine was $20, but I have seen them range from about $16-$30, so they are not super cheap.
To test it out, I carefully read the instructions and then used the safety gloves to carry them out. This is by far the most dangerous of the three crafts and while not any of them are really kid-friendly… this one is by far the least.
I was surprised about how many times you had to run the glass under hot and then cold water, but otherwise, the instructions were pretty clear. Also, you really have to sand where you cut well. It takes a while to sand down the glass but it will be worth it in the final product. I decided to cut a fancy Italian soda bottle into a glass.
I then used some leftover wax and essential oils to make that glass into a lemon-scented candle. Which I covered in a previous Craft Cult.
I know I usually end on something political and it’s important now to keep the pressure on our elected officials to make sure change actually happens, but it has been a long time since I used my sign off for something personal, and since this was not the typical Craft Cult, I thought this would be a good one to do it. People who know me in real life, people know that in November of last year, one of my best friends died, Denzel Cummings. He was a really important and special person. I have been thinking about him a lot. Partially, because at the time of his death he was working for the Warren Presidential campaign and I think if he lived long enough to see the end of the Trump Regime, it would have meant something to him. Secondly, and far more stupidly, I recently joined a comedy writing staff and one of the other new writers is also named Denzel. He looks nothing like him, but I have never met another Denzel, and getting texts from a “Denzel” honestly felt wild to me all week.
I also have been thinking of him a lot this week in particular because some of our amazing friends from college have set up a scholarship in his name. I know times are tight, but if you are able, they are looking for donations and it would be for a great cause. You can donate directly or go through some amazing UPenn Alumni who are setting it up.
I know this was a self-serving sign-off. But as always, stay safe, stay crafting.