As it's been pointed out to me recently, I tend to go for some strange craft projects. This thread is for all the people like me who can't draw or paint or sculpt worth a damn (or even if you can) so instead choose to do other, more interesting things



This is a really cool site for getting ideas and admiring other people's strange creations: http://www.craftster.org/



Right now, I'm working on a knit messenger bag made out of plastic bags. I'm a big fan of duct as well, I have a whole duct tape outfit made. I saw something today about making things out of old playing cards and duct tape which I'm defenitely planning to look into.



What have you done and what are you working on (or planning on starting)?

I don't really do any unconventional (or conventional, for that matter) crafts, but I have a friend whose mom makes handbags out of old capri sun pouches.

I actually saw someone with one of those the other day, it was pretty cool looking.

I'm not working on it now, but I'm collecting items for a framed piece of work that I saw at a craft fair. You basically take a frame that's about an inch thick, and then get a board that you can attach material of all kinds, old net stockings, mesh, beads, charms, chains, ribbons, lace, whatever you want, so you have a little 3D world within a picture frame. I'm collecting little charms, tassles and other pretty objects that would otherwise be trash. The frame is probably going to be the most expensive part.



Not sure how strange/unconventional that is, but I've only seen it done once before at a fair. The work cost 300$, so I vowed to make my own. It was just beautiful.

That's awesome. I thought I had a whole bunch of old crappy decks of cards upstairs, but apparently my mom got rid of them, so I'll have to be on the lookout for some cheap cards.

Any ideas on what to do with about two dozen random, colourful dice? I have d6s, d8s, d10s, d12s etc that I don't use (and more that I do use sometimes) of different sizes, and wanted to make something with them, but I'm not sure what. I've thought of a glued-together jewelry box with hinges, but I'd need more d6s.

Dice are cool for random decorating and jewelry (you can glue them on stuff or drill holes through them).



The jewelery box thing would be really awesome, you'd need an awful lot of dice though

I make rugs and other items with the crocheted bread or plastic bags. I have been doing that for years! They are great for welcome mats as they really grab the mud and things off shoes and such. I also made a turtle jammie holder with bread bags that sits on my bed and I shove my jammies in it each morning!

I've drilled holes in dice and made necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

I don't know how strange it is, but I've made pillows and purses out of old blue jeans.

Damn . . . I thought this thread was about making UFO's.

I make things that are considered "unconventional" and I'm always getting new ideas that I have to write down for future reference, otherwise I'll forget. I'm keeping it on a down-low though.

I haven't done this in awhile, but I used to make pins out of plastic babies. Take a safety pin and a tiny plastic baby. Heat the point of the safety pin in a candle flame, and when it's hot, shove through the doll's head. Pin on backpack, jacket, etc. Tres punk rock!

Hahahah!!!!! I love that. I used to do stuff like make earrings from barbie parts but it's so much cooler with babies.

ohhhhhh i like this thread .... hmm i'm currently collecting beer bottle caps, i was gonna decorate my headboard (bed) with those, but now that i heard the caprisun handbag thing, i might go in a whole different direction. ugh i wish i had more free time on my hands



anyone know where i could get some strong clear plastic ??

ETA: not the hard stuff but like the solf ziplock bag kind only stronger ?

Hardware store or home improvement store -- look for a heavy plastic tarp. Sometimes they are with the paint. Beware of cheap thin plastic tarps, though.

Borealis, you're so helpful !

Oh I don't know... barbie parts are pretty cool, too.



I have a funny story about plastic babies. I get them from this store called Greetings that sells cards and jewelry and candles and little toys. Anyway I was in there and saw the bin of plastic babies by the register.



Me: Oh good, I was almost out of these.

Cashier (instantly dreamy/giddy): Oh.... are you expecting?

Me: ...

Me: No, I just need some plastic babies.

Cashier: Are you having a baby shower for someone?

Me: No. I was just out at home, and needed to stock up.

Cashier: Well what do you use them for?

Me: Um... I make pins out of them. I heat up a safety pin and push it through their head.

(I show her the one on my backpack)

Cashier (looking confused, but trying to understand): Is that some kind of fertility fetish?

Me (shocked): God, I hope not!



She finishes ringing up the sale, but is still clearly unhappy about the direction the conversation took. For my part I am now worried that plastic babies might somehow bring on conception....

Borealis -

What is strange art work?

I was just thinking anything apart from the norm of paintings, drawings, etc, because I figured there are more people like me who have no artistic talent in that sense, but can do other stuff.

Other than the handle, I finished my plastic bag knitting. I put a couple pics in the photo album: https://www.veggieboards.com/gallery/...p?i=5412&c=502



https://www.veggieboards.com/gallery/...p?i=5413&c=502

pretty cool, Michelle !

Thanks

Using catsup and mustard instead of paint

Embedding dead bugs in your paintings

Sculpture made of doll parts

Etc.

I make pottery dishes out of racoon poop. Does that count?





(just kidding)

My ex-girlfriend embedded dead birds in paintings. For real.

Misq17 you could probably get old cards from a casino. I think they have a small hole punched through them most of the time. But they're free I beileve.

get a party together and play dungeons and dragons!

I already have a separate, "good" bag of dice for that.