A clicky-link, and things I don't have time for

[cupcake_goth]

There's a Kickstarter for the amazing Transmetropolitan 2011 art book, which is going to feature some brilliantly-talented artists. Including my husband. If you can donate, please do!

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Things I don't have time for (nor budget, really):

- I need to learn how to do stencils on fabric of somewhat elaborate fonts. I have a D.I.Y. project that depends on it. What I REALLY want is to embroider some phrases (in really elaborate fonts), but since (1) my embroidery skills aren't all that, and (2) I do not have the budget for a fancy-pants embroidery machine, stencils are probably the easier option.

- I need one of the 12 pound bag of bones. Yes, I do. I have at least three different projects that rely on my having reproduction human skeletal bits, not just hands. Anyone want to get me a bag of bones? ::grin

Another thing I don't have the budget for:

- maiaarts and her hubby (who I think has an LJ, but I don't remember it at the moment) (EDIT: Ah-ha! celedon, thank you staxxy!) gave me a vintage fortune-telling tea cup for my birthday last month.



I really shouldn't become obsessed with collecting fortune-telling tea cups. I know this. But look at this one on eBay! Ooooh.

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Okay, I must go Do Stuff, as I have plans for this evening!

Comments

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

celedon

(edited to fix bad html)

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

of course!

(also, I have magic cup envy)

[martygreene.livejournal.com]

One of my old roomies has a programable embroidering sewing machine, I do believe. I can ask her. She's in Fremont.

Alternatively, depending on what fonts you are looking for, I'm rather adept at fabric painting, and font matching. I did a ton of it for a show in Pittsburgh where I had to create a garment which looked as if it were made out of aged newspapers. That was a LOT of painted text, but it was fun!

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I will need to pick your brain about this. Oh yes.

[martygreene.livejournal.com]

sure thing!

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

oh yes! Fabric painting is an excellent idea!

[aniline.livejournal.com]

Oh cool, thanks for posting about the Kickstarter project! I hadn't heard about it. And now I will have a book with a very early number! :D

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Yay! It's a fantastic project. I can't wait to see the book.

[trystbat.livejournal.com]

My mom & a lot of friends who do cosplay swear by freezer-paper stenciling. You can apparently print on it from ink-jet printers, so ideal for text. Plenty of how-tos online (like this (http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-to-stencil-with-freezer-paper.html)) but I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

[oldhalloween.livejournal.com]

Laura does nice work so you must own a tea cup. ;0 )
I had a fascination with them as well. Sold my collection. As for the lettering if you need to do a lot of printing having a stencil cut for you is the way to go. Custom stencils are pretty affordable these days and easier than hand cutting them in acetate. When I use commercial or handmade I buy at least 3 copies to make the job go faster too.

An entirely too long response about freezer paper

[cherry-faery.livejournal.com]

I am going to back up what trystbat said on the freezer paper. I have used it before and it works really well because you can iron it right on the fabric. Depending on the typeface you wanted to use for this project, I would say going thicker on the letters is always better than thinner. For one, those shapes are incredibly horrible and tedious to cut out and thinner lines are difficult to make look right in the end. If it's a script-y typeface, it shouldn't be a problem but watch how the letters fit together because sometimes they can end up being very difficult to cut out and you'll be left over with a lot of little bits for Os and Bs to mess with and those aren't fun. Also, invest in decent fabric paint. The more you have to apply, the more risk you run of bleeds. The freezer paper is actually pretty good for keeping clean lines but if you are putting a ton on, it will seep under. Finally, if you do this method, patience is key. I have ruined many a project by lifting the freezer paper before the paint was dry enough to be disturbed.

And if you knew all this stuff, kindly disregard all of my babbling and good luck with your crafty project!

Re: An entirely too long response about freezer paper

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Ah-ha! Thank you very much. I did not know all this stuff. :)

[tinkerbell86ca.livejournal.com]

Golly . . . I might just have to convince the husband unit that I should support this wonderful project. It looks so pretty!

Pink tree! Also, an ornament question.

[snowcoma.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that this is totally unrelated, but I found a shiny! an affordable one at that!

I was searching for a plain fake tree (with the intent to spray-paint it black and string it with my beloved orange lights), when I learned that apparently all the trees this year come pre-lit, thus foiling my plans.

Then I came across a pink tree (three and a half feet tall, twenty dollars, lit with white lights, found at wal-mart). I figured if I had to have an obviously fake tree, it would be a good pick-me-up (though I was vaguely saddened at the lack of purple trees).

I just checked inside the box, and it's the cutest shade of light pink! I know you have a white tree with adorable bat ornaments, but I thought of you instantly when I saw it. If you want to add a touch of cupcake-goth cheer to another part of the house, I think you'd really like this. Even the cord and base are light pink!

Also, do you remember where you found your bat ornaments? They, um...might be a little less gaudy than the shiny purple baubles I have. >____>

Re: Pink tree! Also, an ornament question.

[snowcoma.livejournal.com]

Just plugged it in, and the white lights girl it a very pleasant pale pink glow (the box is marked "cashmere pink"). It would make for cute pictures with Lucretia, methinks.

Re: Pink tree! Also, an ornament question.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Pink treeeeee! They came out with the pink trees a few years after we got our white one; I stamped my feet a tiny bit, but knew there was no way I would have been able to convince the Stroppy One to go with a pink tree.

Our bat ornaments are handmade. The Stroppy One came up with the design, and then spent a very long afternoon meticulously cutting them out of black craft foam.

Re: Pink tree! Also, an ornament question.

[deadrose.livejournal.com]

I picked up a pink (with iridescent bits) tree at Big Lots last year. The pre-wired lights were an electrician's nightmare, but other than that it was a good deal. I really need to get photos of it this year...

[lylassandra.livejournal.com]

I've never seen a fortune-telling tea cup before! That is awesome. I think I need one. And so does my mother, who collects tea cups. Hmmm...

Also, completely OT, but one of my [second cousins? I don't remember] up in Seattle just friended me on FB and had you as a friend as well-- Josh Christian. Do you guys actually know each other or is he just one of your legion of followers? Either way, it made me smile.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

He's apparently one of the friends-of-friends I vaguely know through the SeaGoth scene? I wouldn't be able to put face to a name, but it looks like we've got a bunch of people in common.

[nina1984.livejournal.com]

I have these two D.I.Y. tutorial videos on favorite that might help a little.
1.) Quickie, How-to Stencil a T-Shirt, from:Threadbanger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG5v_LUWKds

2.)How-to Screenprint, from:Threadbanger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkZh6p8OVfI

hopefully one of those might help out.

AND... holy goodness, that is a really cool tea cup!!

[jaborwhalky.livejournal.com]

I can get you the bones, what type do you need?

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Of *course* you can get me bones. :)

I need spinal columns, rib cages, and a skull or two. And some hands.

(Pssst! You need to send me mail about the thing!)

[deadrose.livejournal.com]

I have a whole bin full of half-skulls with vise-blocks on the back. A little glue, cut the vise blocks off, you can have several skulls.

I don't have any spinal columns, just individual vertebrae, and the only hands I have are fused together (and would make lovely morbid soap dishes). Got tons of leg bones, though.

All of these are old Pacific Research Labs bones that I've been hauling around for years. Jason Soles is supposed to take some of them, but I'm getting tired of sitting on them. You can have all you want, no charge at all.

[fiorituranotte.livejournal.com]

That teacup is gorgeous!

[moonofmorrigan.livejournal.com]

That cup is really temptingly awesome. o.o