Geekery

My husband and i are both geeks

he loves Warcraft and other video games

I love anime and manga and video games

so i love when i can mix my geekiness with my craftiness

Ive recently found world of warcraft trading cards at out local dollar store

iv started collecting them for my husband

he now has a huge stack

i keep all the extras for my self

i decided what i would do with them..

make a purse!! i was inspired by these

Here

and here at DeviantArt

Supplies

2 rolls of sticky vinyl

( found at the dollar store)

cards of your choice ( you can do this with trading cards or playing cards)

Start by figuring out how many cards you need and what size and type of bag your going to make.

I decided to make a messenger bag

i needed 36 cards all together for mine

4 for each small side (8)

6 for the bottom

8 for front large side

20 for back side/ flap

i laid the cards out for each piece in the order and design i liked

next i cut out 2 pieces ( front and back) of sticky vinyl to about the size of the whole piece.

i left a little bit extra on the sides

i suggest starting in the smaller side of your vinyl

(this will make it easier when your adding the top layer)

peel a little of the paper backing off...

and start adding your cards

after you added all of the cards to your piece

peel a little bit of the paper of your top layer and line it up with the lover layer

(sticky sides together)

I used a ruler to seal the layers and keep it smooth

if bubbles appear try to smooth them out by using the ruler and pushing them to a open side

or you can take a small needle and pop them.

as you move down the vinyl slowly slide the paper backing off

when your done it should look something like this

this is my bottom piece

do this for all of the sides

if making a tote you should have 2 small side and one bottom and two same size larger sides

my two sides and bottom

my large side

since i made a messenger bag i needed on larger side to be even larger

if your going to make a messenger bag place the cards for the back one way and the rest for the flap the other way. you want to be sure when the flap is close you see the cards upright

here is the inside ( just leaned up together to basic shape)

I started to connect the pieces by placing them right sides together

and sewing on the edges

i then turned it right side up

this would have worked it my sewing machine didn't keep messing up. i think it may have been the stickiness of the vinyl...

anyways i decided to just use strips of the vinyl to stick it together

i cut a small strip

laid out my pieces

and started by sealing the outside edges

then i moved to sealing the inside

i used duct tape on the bottom for a stronger seal

cut a small piece of strong cardboard to place in the bottom of your bag.

I'm going to cover mine with black fabric

the finished product

I made a crease on my flap so it will lay flat when closed

inside

Back panel

Right side

Left side

front side

Flap

View from the top

and front of flap

Details of some of the cards

I like the way it turned out.

 i have yet to add a strap.

I'm planning on making the strap changeable...

ill post when i make it

all together this project only cost

$2- 2 rolls vinyl

(cost of cards varies)

you  can used what you have on hand

mine was around $5 for 36 cards

(6 cards/pack for $1)

now i can show my geekyness to the world!! lol...


This project was featured on dollar store crafts!!
check it out here

Lets not get lost

As part of my husbands birthday gift i wanted to make him a map of Azeroth (Warcraft)

Supplies:

2x -12x12 scrapbook paper

2 dowels ( any thickness desired)

used teabags( i used instant coffee)

gold metallic paint

paint brush.

 I started by trying to aged and antique my paper.

I wrinkled it up and was going to use tea bags..

( but of course, i don't have dark tea...lol)

so i tried instant coffee granules

I used my lovely tea pot to heat up the water

and dissolved the granules in a bowl

I dipped the paper in the coffee trying to darken it

It didn't do as much as i would have liked

I tend had the idea of using my gold paint to add browning, aging effects

( i watered it down a bit)

i added kind of a gold flaking..looks awesome

still a bit damp

Dried

It looks awesome!!

i almost wouldn't even need to add mountain details

 its got enough hills and valleys in the paper..lmao

I even singed a few holes in it and around the edges

next step was to add the dowels to the ends of the paper

i used hot glue to attach them

i need to add something to cover the edges where it is attached

I also need to add 'handles' or large beads to the ends

after drying the paper ended up stiff ( very aged and old feeling)

when i rolled it up it held the roll

I can tie a ribbon around it and add a wax seal ( future plans)

I still need to draw the map

I LOVED THE WAY IT TURNED OUT AND IT WAS SOOO MUCH FUN TO MAKE!!!