Nesting Instincts

Posted on January 6, 2009 by meghan

Pack Rat is currently using the Sword of Omens’ Sight Beyond Sight function to suss out how long the lines at Target are

I am in love. I know, I know, you guys must get tired of me swooning every day over a new artist/blog/etc. But I can’t help it! There’s so much good stuff out there to see. Today, via Junk Creation blog (which I also adore), I came across Craftynest and the home stylings of Monica Ewing. Her low cost, recycle-based projects are the bomb diggity. (Remember when people used that phrase? Oh 1999. What were you thinking?) I was especially taken with her very smart, very chic modular bookcase made from salvaged drawers. It seems that I’m always passing dresser drawers in my many roadside scavanges, and this is an excellent idea for how to repurpose them. And she is not only inventive, but helpful–as she has supplied a how-to on her blog for copy cats like me. Take a gander at the before and after below.

drawers_before

drawers_after4

photos copyright by Craftynest

Pumpkin Carving…To the Extreme!

Posted on October 28, 2008 by meghan

Pack Rat is walking on sunshine

Note to readers: Here’s another time-sensitive article that was meant for the magazine but we are releasing it here and now!

Photo copyright McLaughlin

Who says costume makers get to have all the fun during Halloween? Put away your sewing machine and break out your power tools in preparation for October 31, 2008. Follow the gospel according to Tom Nardone, the Extreme Pumpkin carver, to make grotesque, hilarious pumpkin tableaus that resemble the snowmen graveyards from old Calvin and Hobbes comics. Tom’s website is a pumpkin lover’s paradise, with everything from tips on how to pick, clean, gut, paint, and obviously carve your squash. Hardly kids stuff, Tom stabs, maims, and sets his pumpkins ablaze in every effort to get the most intense pumpkin experience. Take his tips from extremepumpkins.com or from his two books, and make your own orange house of horror. If you find yourself mastering the pumpkin canvas, why not go for the gold? You will have until midnight on October 28 to submit an entry of pumpkin carved geekiness into the World of Warcraft’s annual contest. But be prepared for some fierce competition. These nerds know how to wield a carving knife.

Pop Goes the Millenium Falcon

Posted on October 2, 2008 by meghan

Pack Rat asks what would you do for a Klondike Bar?

All right, it’s excuse time again. We’re all a flutter over here (that’s a hint) about our next issue. Set to drop soon, the new issue’s taking me away from my blogging duties, and for that I apologize. But we’re hoping to make this next issue bigger and badder than ever as we celebrate Pack Rat’s first birthday!!

In order to hold you over until then, here’s a quick link for Robert Sabuda‘s pop-up art site. Make your own super cute pop-up cards. My personal favorites are all the Star Wars figures. Pop-up R2? Sold!

Photo copyright: Robert Sabuda

More Weekend Fun

Posted on September 26, 2008 by meghan

Pack Ra t believes in the power of the stars

Good thing I checked my Facebook email today, or else I might have missed this awesome opportunity to tell anyone who’s in the Toronto area this weekend to look for the Toronto Church of Craft at the annual Trekzac Festicon, a.k.a. the Toronto Star Trek convention. These crafters are boldly going where no crafters have gone before. They will be using their prowess to construct Tribbles! Shatner toupees! And plush Borg cubes! Oh the humanity! Not Borg cubes! Don’t they know about the collective? Other then helping an alien entity steal our very souls out from under us, the C.O.C. booth should be a good time.

photo copyright: Toronto Church of Craft

Like a Candle in the Wind

Posted on September 25, 2008 by meghan

Pack Rat has a soft glow

If you have some paraffin wax laying around, then checkout this tutorial from CandleTech.com to make some striking luminaries using a water balloon. Great for outdoor dinning or indoor romance.

photo copyright: candletech.com

Stencil it Up

Posted on September 24, 2008 by meghan

Pack Rat will let you go on, like a blister in the sun

If you love street art, then you’ve probably noticed that stencils have gained major popularity in the last ten years or so, now becoming almost as ubiquitous as tagging. The technological revolution, and the fact that everyone and their mother seems to have gone out and got Photoshop means that no matter what your skill level, you may be only a few clicks away from having a rockin’ stencil template of all your favorite images. Even if you just want to keep your graphic fun to yourself and not mark up the streets, check out this stencil tutorial from the U.K. based art-e-zine.

image copyright: art-e-zine

Cutie Cutie

Posted on September 23, 2008 by meghan

Pack Rat is a smooth operator

I dare you, nay, double dog dare you to resist the utter adorability of the little creatures over at Mochimochi. If you can, well then you are made of tougher stuff than I. Blogger/creationatrix Anna sells patterns for her plush buddies (check out the Stackable Cats and the Luv Gun. Genius!), but she has a big heart and she also provides plenty of patterns and tutorials for free. My current craving is for the faux toilet paper. There’s something about the fact that the toilet paper has a face that just gives me the giggles. And even though toilet paper isn’t traditionally considered cute, I have to say that this guy sure is. Talk about squeezable, move over Charmin.

photo copyright Anna @ Mochimochi blog

Belated “Talk Like a Pirate” Goodies

Posted on September 22, 2008 by meghan

Argh maties. Tell Starbuck that Pack Rat is going after the white whale

Oh this one hurts. I’ve been sitting on a razzy-snazzy knitting tutorial for the Pirate Queen’s Booty Bag for almost a year, waiting for international Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19). I can’t BELIEVE I missed it! Well, actually I can believe it, it has my brand of absent-mindedness all over it. Regardless, I am kicking myself. But I present it here to you, in case some of some of you out there in craft land have a whole week’s worth of pirate-y festivities planned, you can still add this project to your agenda. And if not, well then print it and save it for next year, that’s the best I can offer ya skalley wags.

Photo copyright Pat Kight and talklikeapirate.com

Relive Home Ec

Posted on September 22, 2008 by meghan

Pack Rat: That’s what she said

If you’re a crafty crafterson, you probably have some fond memories of Home Ec. Unless you’re like me and had a super uptight Home Ec teacher who was all over your case about your home made pasta noodles. Anyway, time has healed some wounds, and I wish I could go back and do it all over again, this time paying attention to all the skills I missed out on. But, since I can’t, I guess it’ll just pay some visits to Home Ec 101. I’m already all over their granny square tutorial, and I have a weak spot for stain and spot removal tricks, of which there are many. So give yourself a refresher. And who knows, you might learn something new too!

photo copyright: Home Ec 101

Che-eese!

Posted on September 11, 2008 by meghan

Didn’t Pack Rat put you in a dumpster once?

At my last job, my co-workers and I spent an inordinate amount of time talking about cheese. Someone would say, “You know what I love? Feta.” And from there the next half hour would be spent recounting our favorite types of cheeses, cheese dishes, places to get cheese, etc. One of the ultimate comfort foods, only the most extremely lactose intolerant can resist it’s charms. So color me excited when I found this video from Food Wishes by Chef John, giving a simple step-by-step demo on how to make cheese at home. As Chef John readily admits, making your own cheese this way is neither cheaper nor more time efficient, but if you truly love a food, how can you not want a behind-the-scenes experience unlocking it’s mysteries?