DIY OR DIE!!! :)

hey lets make and fix some shit because its fun and good for you!

i grew up between two frugal households so its in my nature to boast and brag about how i fixed my shoe with a bent nail in high school (they got me through all 4 years!!)

as far back as i can remember ive always (wanted to be a gangster) resented the wealthy and overconsumption, and all that resentment, envy and hatred shaped me into the problem having DIY fanatic i am today

i take pride in anything i can mend back together or create from what would seem like trash to superficial people, thats what gives it charm and personality, it gives whatever you're holding a story to tell, a story that might secretly inspire the people around you to get crafty! i will always encourage everyone i interact with to pick up a hobby of some kind (or several), and ill never let anyone shame me for what i make for my own enjoyment (as you never should either, "cringe culture" is dead man, you're just your own worst critic)

how i make patches :D

i came up with this myself because patches cost too much fucking money imo and id rather buy other shit (ive also tried and cannot do embroidery to save my life)

mild disclaimer: the waterproof-ness of this deserves to be questioned (idk idc LMAO) BUT everything ive made has survivied through harsh rain and cramped vehicles

what you'll need:

thin cardboard (from like soda or cereal boxes, cardstock type shit)

waterproof acrylic paint (the shit i have was advertised as such but I Dont Reeaaally Believe It)

paint brushes and scissors

a big ass sewing needle, regular thread and thick ass thread (i use yarn and willpower) (and also pliers)

scrap fabric (i use old plain shirts i never wear)

binder clips, safety pins, pins (whatever else) to hold the fabric temporarily in place

fabric glue (NOT essential but Very Helpful) (hot glue can work if the item you're patching isnt something you wash!)

bonus trick 1: dental floss is a reliable go-to for sewing patches onto things when you have no durable thread

step one: cut out of the thin cardboard the shape and size of the patch you wanna make (i usually eyeball it because idgaf)

step two: cut out a piece of scrap fabric to stretch over and around the cardboard, make sure its tightly stretched around so you have a flat painting surface on the front of the patch

step three: pin the edges on the back together and sew it all together (make sure the front is still stretched flat!!) (you may need to cut a slightly bigger piece of scrap fabric as shown below!)

step four: painting time!! paint your patch woooo!!!

(pretend i have an unsewn patch to show you LOL)

step five: after it dries, sew or glue it onto whatever you want! the cardboard might put up a fight if you sew it on but you'll quickly get into your own groove i promise

step six: profit, you now hold the power to say "i made em and you can make your own too!!!" when random fellow patch enjoyers stop you to ask "woah where'd you get those??" (source: happened to me once while i was using an atm LOL)

bonus trick 2: use pliers to help yourself push and yank the needle through the cardboard and whatever you're sewing into

bonus trick 3: if you're applying it to a trickier area (like on a sleeve) use a bit of fabric glue to help hold your patch in place while you sew it down

i hate buying shit that i can make myself

i hope what you see inspires you to create something for yourself or for someone you love :)

my custom earring tree :D

i hate traditional dangle earrings and how they take away any stud or whatever cool thing you got in, so i simply make my own custom dangles that i can wear with ANY studs of mine :D chunky accessory supremacy

i made the tree out of clay, i source chains from broken necklaces/bracelets and reuse any and everything i can to make stupid fun custom dangles (you can use the same idea for making keychains as well!!!)

my favorites :D

(this is bound to change as i make more stuff)

tetriminos :D (i fucking love playing tetris)

my brother sent me a pic of this patch design and thats how i came up with my patch making method (i needed it THAT bad)

for YEARS ive wanted elbow patches that are xrays of elbows AND I FINALLY MADE EM

i designed this one after fidlars latest album that i cannot fucking stop listening to

MAKE ORWELL FICTION AGAIN!!!!! WORK BUY CONSUME DIE!!!!! TV test bars and also fry :) (obligatory fidlar ref too)

how i make pins :D

im sure lots of people know this shrinky dink trick but to those who dont, allow me to enlighten you please

mild disclaimer: i clear coat over the colored side of my dinks so i dont have to flip the images of what i wanna make (do what works best for you!)

what you'll need:

shrinky dink sheets (i found mine on amazon but have sworn off using it ever again so i hope they can be found in stores still)

colored pencils (or whatever you prefer for coloring shrinky dinks!)

x-acto knife or something sharp to scratch up the plastic

UV resin, superglue or your preferred bonding agent

safety pins (the size depends on the size of your pin)

bonus trick: use a ruler to mark measurements onto a strip of shrinky dink and shrink it BOOM now you have a visual scale of how small your dinks will shrink (dink ruler!)

step one: find (or create yourself) what you want as a pin and trace it onto your dink sheet (tracing = bad doesnt apply here LOL) and color it in :)

(we are pretending to make a pin ive already made, fry from futurama)

step two: cut em out leaving an outline around the whole design (you can color it in before or after shrinking if you want!) preheat your oven per your shrinky dink instructions and shrink them bitches (hellll yueah so fun)

step three: after they cool score the back of the soon to be pin with your sharp object (white lines are where i had originally scored it)

step four: glue the safety pin to the scored up area lined up to how you want the pin to lay (i personally angle the "pinning" side facing down)

step five: go show off and brag about your creations!!!! you just made a fucking pin, probably about something you love, you literally have bragging rights forever dude

fry pin fry pin