Tutorials – SHIT TO DO

Tutorial: Make an upcycled belt

11/01/2021 (11/01/2021) admin

Alright pals, I have to confess something: I can’t find my upcycled belt anywhere in the giant wilderness that is my wardrobe, so I can’t show you how cool it looks. You’re just going to have to imagine how cool an upcycled belt made out of an old bike inner tube would look on my child-bearing hips.

Nonetheless, this super-fun project is a brilliant way to make yourself a brand new accessory for FREE or just the cost of a couple of doohickeys.

YOU WILL NEED:

A sturdy material that doesn’t fray to make the belt out of, for example: old inner tubes, old leather from a worn-out jacket, heavy-duty shopping bags (the vinyl-coated woven fabric kind), PVC, doubled-up duct tape…even an old waxed tablecloth would work!
Sharp scissors
Some scrap cardboard (i.e. from a cereal box)
Two rings slightly wider than the belt width you want, an old belt buckle or some velcro
Some strong glue

For this demonstration I will be using some lime-green duct tape because I mean wouldn’t you if you had lime-green duct tape?

Tutorial: Press some flowers

20/12/2020 (21/12/2020) admin

Why?

you will be required to take a walk outside (even if it’s only to your garden / balcony): this is good for you
it takes two weeks for the flowers to dry out: this gives you something to look forward to
they make great gifts for yourself or someone else – frame them, make a bookmark, make a card

One

Go for a walk. Look out for wildflowers. Look closely. Go for something that intrigues you. It really doesn’t matter what they are. They could be weeds. Pick two or three. Ideally, they should have a reasonably flat bloom. I found some of these in an overgrown patch of the garden.

Two

Cut them so that they still have small stems. If there is water on them, gently dab them, and leave them to dry on a piece of kitchen roll.

Three

Place the flowers on a piece of cardboard. Make sure they’re not touching each other. Place another piece of cardboard on top, so they’re sandwiched in. Put a heavy book, or a stack of books, on top of them. Leave for two weeks.

Four

Carefully remove the top layer of cardboard. Use tweezers to gently lift the pressed flowers. Arrange them on a piece of paper. Glue down. Frame. (Or glue them onto card to make a greetings card or bookmark).

beautiful pressed flowers mounted on watercolour paper in a glass frame

Tutorial: Easy DIY nail art – glitter placement (extra festive)

20/12/2020 (20/12/2020) admin

Do you have chunky glitter lying around your house but all the festivals are cancelled? Get that shit on your nails! Here is an easy tutorial for making your nails look home-disco ready, with no need for the salon (which is closed anyway). This takes between 20 to 50 minutes, depending on how much glitter you want to cram on your nails. You will need:

a toothpick, chunky glitter, clear polish, top coat, fave polish

step 1: apply your favourite polish. step2: add a generous coat of clear polish

step 3: use the toothpick to pick up glitter (wet the tip first, e.g. lick it)

step 4: place glitter on nails in desired design, working quickly before the polish dries (if you don't have clear polish you can use regular)

step 5: apply a top coat to seal in the glitter and voila!

Tutorial: How to make beeswax wraps

20/12/2020 (20/12/2020) admin

Beeswax are the eco-friendly alternative to clingfilm and aluminium foil – because your sandwiches, blocks of cheese and carrot sticks deserve ONLY THE FINEST. Also – and this is the best bit – they are super easy and fun to make, and a perfect way to upcycle old shirts or duvet covers. It’s a vaguely addictive activity – one morning you’ll wake up and realise there is no one left in your social circle to gift a set of beeswax wraps to.

Click here to download a high-quality printable version of this tutorial.