Pack Rat

A long time ago, when my grandma was cleaning out her basement I acquired a bingo game set. I’ve never been a gambling kinda gal (I’d rather keep the money I earned, thanks), but I loved to play bingo growing up because of those translucent, brightly colored chips you place on your bingo card. Fast forward several years and that same bingo game was shipped off to the Sal. I wanted desperately to keep those chips, but I just couldn’t come up with any good projects on the fly. I should have taken notes from MOCKFROG Jewelry. I just love this bingo chip bracelet ($16). It’s whimsical and vibrant piece of bling. Or, I guess since bingo chips can get you money, it’s pre-bling bling.

photo copyright MOCKFROG Jewelry

Pack Rat will take you to the land of Make Believe, if you have cab fare

Hello Internet land! A good afternoon to all of you. You can’t see it, but I’m taking off my dress shoes and putting on my sneakers, in the spirit of Mr. Rogers. As I settle in and get comfortable, why don’t you keep yourselves busy by scouting out the lovely jewelry at Kiki Handcrafted Designs. Today’s Item Du Jour is the fun, vibrant Emerald Attention necklace which is bound to turn a few heads.  I especially love the little crocheted bead. Nothing like combining two crafts into one. And all that green will help keep your spirits up as we head into the seasons of brown and gray.  For only $20 it’s well worth it.

photo copyright: Kiki Handcrafted Designs

Pack Rat dances with the devil in the pale moonlight.

O.K. kids. Hopefully we are back in business, but this move to New York seems to keep taking on new dimensions, so no promises. For now, however, lets look at today’s object of desire. The jewelry by F1nneran is bright and cheerful, with colors that pop and pleasing geometric shapes. You may have noticed at this point that I have a necklace addiction, so my top pick is the Marigold on a Blue Wire Necklace pictured below for $26, but she also sells an assortment of other types of jewelry, including some luminous chandelier earrings that are worth putting on your wish list. Take a gander at the aforementioned groovy necklace below.

Pack Rat hurts less than getting kicked in the face with a golf shoe

I am a wuss when it comes to pain. Or, maybe, more accurately, I’m just very pragmatic. There’s no way that I would willingly subject myself to the feeling of a needle repeatedly being driven into my skin, no matter what the outcome. And while I love tattoos on other people, you’ll never see me sporting a butterfly or rose on my ankle. But no matter how practical I find them, tattoos are empirically pretty freaking cool. Well, co-wusses of the world rejoice along with me, because now there is a more stylish, more artistic, and less wiener-y option than sporting the temporary tattoo. Inkart 76 transfers the classic tattoo images from the Miami Ink studio on to a necklace you can take on and off at will–with no lifetime commitment. And they are super affordable, unlike the real thing. I get the sneaking suspicion that my personal favorite is apparently the designer’s top pick as well, because it is called “My Favorite Tattoo Necklace.” Just a guess, though. At $15, both your skin and your wallet will be pain free.

Pack Rat Magazine is the wind beneath your wings

Hi guys. Meghan here. Reporting for duty. Today I bring you Leviticus Jewelry. If the name sounds familiar, it’s probably because every so often I take the opportunity to gush about how much I like their jewels. Today I went through and pulled out a couple of my favorites for $30 and under. I guess the thing I like most is that while each piece remains sophisticated and minimalist, the bare-bones of a simple charm(s) and chain doesn’t preclude the personality of each piece. They are whimsical in the best sense of the word. Check it out, dudes. The Crocodile Wood Swirl Earrings and Sparrow Bracelet are both $30 and the Amelia Earhart Necklace is $25.

Pack Rat Magazine is going to set the world on fire (metaphorically speaking)

We’re going to be starting something new around here. From now on, every day you’ll find something we are adding to our wish list of handmade gimmies (as in, “Gimme that!”) that falls within our Pack Rat tightwad budget. For those of you new to the magazine, that means anything $30 or under. Today’s item is the Julia Dollie Brooch by Damned Dollies. On sale at goodEGG Industries for $25, I think this brooch is the bees knees. From the bleeding eyeliner, to the obscene shock-red hair, and down to the limp cigarette hanging from her lips, Julia is a white trash tableaux. Wonderfully tongue-and-cheek, I would love to wear her pinned to a cardigan or clipped to a shoulder bag.