"Use it or lose it" craftalong. Anyone?

[kaesea]

Well... maybe not "lose it." Although... if you're not using it, perhaps you should!

What is she talking about, right?

This idea came about during some late-night ramblings in the Secret FOC Swap Gallery (page 44 or so...) when a few people started confessing to some crafty tools they have at home that they haven't used yet. Not naming any names, but these included such things as a screen printing kit, a serger, and a laminator.

Sooo... if you're procrastinating about something that you already own but have not yet used, this is the craftalong for you! That's right -- go grab that [insert crafty item here], make something with it, and post it. If it helps you (and I know it helps me), you can start by confessing posting what the item is and then later, post proudly that you've used it. How gratifying!

I'm going to start: I have a screen printing kit that is still in the box. Check back here (sometime soon, I hope) and see how I've used it.

In the meantime, anyone else who needs a little kick in the pants should feel free to post here... post the item that you haven't used (or just go use it) and then enjoy the satisfaction of posting, "Look what I finally used!"

[flrtingwdisaster]

I'm forcing myself to post here in hopes that I'll finally use my knitting kits. I have so many things I haven't gotten around to using, or haven't forced myself to stop procrastinate and use.

[redstar13]

Mr. Serger needs some love at my house! I may have to participate

[Sewlikewhoa]

Lets see, I have a knit kit for a mouse cover I havent peeked at, and a serger in its box from my birthday dying to be toyed with, and a lovely boxed filled with poloroid cases ( I know technically not a tool, but the pliers and s hooks I bought for it are...hehe) that will become a wall hanging.

I'll be checking back to see the date I actually kick myself in the pants and do it.

Great idea, and thanks to the two above posters for reminding me I had those things in the closet. I thought I had no unused tools. Le sigh.

[boarderchic]

I can't think of anything off the top of my head that I'm not using.  I wish I had fabulous toys like surgers and screen printing kits.   

[Synne]

I am totally two steps ahead of the game...just a few weekends ago, I dragged out my bought-it-off-ebay-three-years-ago-but-never-used-it BEDAZZLER and bedazzled me a tank top!


Ok...I admit it. It's actually not even a BeDazzler. It's a knock-off "Incredible Stud-Setting Machine". But yes, I wish I had fun toys to play with too. *drools*screenprinting...

[kaesea]

Synne, thanks for the "use it!" inspirations!

Okay... I opened my Screen printing "kit" last night for the first time (Hey! Opening it is a start!) Unfortunately, "kit" is a bit of a misnomer. They give me about 40% of the supplies I need in there... the rest are a pain to acquire (*this* is why not everyone screenprints, right?) I love it... there are 10 things in the box, then a big long list of what else you'll need.

I guess I'll try to make due with what I have for now... if it comes out horribly, I'll abandon it. At least I will have used it.

Anyone else tried using their stuff? Knitting kits? Sergers? Tomorrow is Friday and weekends are perfect for breaking this stuff out! My plan: dig around to find something else I'm not using and... use it!

Not sure about that screen printing... sigh.

[cotneyroo]

Um. I have a 1950's Singer sewing machine that I bought three years ago and have never even plugged in to see if it worked. Or threaded it. Or anything. It just sits in the box. I think I was disappointed that it's brown rather than the avocado green of my dreams.

But, time to use it. Thanks for the inspiration.

[boarderchic]

Synne, thanks for the "use it!" inspirations!

Okay... I opened my Screen printing "kit" last night for the first time (Hey! Opening it is a start!) Unfortunately, "kit" is a bit of a misnomer. They give me about 40% of the supplies I need in there... the rest are a pain to acquire (*this* is why not everyone screenprints, right?) I love it... there are 10 things in the box, then a big long list of what else you'll need.

I guess I'll try to make due with what I have for now... if it comes out horribly, I'll abandon it. At least I will have used it.

Anyone else tried using their stuff? Knitting kits? Sergers? Tomorrow is Friday and weekends are perfect for breaking this stuff out! My plan: dig around to find something else I'm not using and... use it!

Not sure about that screen printing... sigh.

What all comes in a screen printing kit?  are they expensive?

[kaesea]

What all comes in a screen printing kit?  are they expensive?

I don't know how much it was... it was a gift. Oh, wait! We have this fancy thing called the internet! Sooo... I just looked it up and it goes for about $40. It says "Super Value" on it, so I guess I shouldn't have expected too much.

I've done tons of reading and research about screen printing (and I'm sure some expert is going to read this post and think "That chick has no idea..." which is pretty much true. I understand it in theory but not in practice) and it seems like the things that this kit is missing would just make the process a lot better/more professional.

In a nutshell, I probably can use this kit to get some ink on some fabric in some shape, but it's probably not going to fulfill any grandiose dreams I might have about amazing screen-printed projects.

The kit includes:
- 10 in. x 14 in. screen frame
- fabric squeegee
- three 4 oz. jars of opaque fabric screen printing ink in pearlescent colors (silver, raspberry, and blue topaz)
- 4 oz. screen filler
- 4 oz. drawing fluid
- 4 oz. diazo photo emulsion
- 4 oz. diazo photo emulsion remover
- 1/2 gm diazo sensitizer
- #6 round brush
- instruction booklet

The instruction booklet is pretty good.

It claims to contain, "All the basics needed to start making fabric projects." So maybe I should just quite whining about how much better it could be and see if I can get some paint on fabric!