Materials Rubber printing blockLinoleum cutter setInkRubber brayerX-Acto knife or box cutter for sizing the rubber sheetStencil and marker (optional) (find instructions for making stencils here) Instructions Take your rubber printing block and cut it to the size you want using an X-Acto knife or any other cutting tool.(optional) With a marker, fill in the spaces you want to cut out. Use a stencil here if you have one....
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Stencils are useful for all kinds of art projects, from drawing to printmaking and beyond. There are already so many cool stencil designs out there, but if you have access to a 3D printer you have access to an almost unlimited scope of designs. You can find existing 3D models, or design stencils yourself. And if you don’t have a 3D printer, don’t worry! You...
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One of the most common problems you may encounter with older, worn out clothes is the issue of buttons falling off or being torn off easily. While it’s annoying to realize your favorite shirt or jacket is missing a button, you should know that it’s a pretty easy problem to fix! In this blog post I will walk through the steps of fixing a button....
Read MoreSpooky season is upon us, friends! In the spirit of October, I’m going to share a couple tasty ideas for how to use pumpkins. You can get a lot of things from one small pumpkin, believe it or not. In this case, I’m going to use one pumpkin to make pumpkin ice cream (no ice cream maker required!) and a batch of roasted pumpkin seeds....
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I'm pretty sensitive to light when I sleep, so I prefer to have something covering my eyes if I’m trying to sleep while it's light out. Lately I’ve been waking up earlier than I’d like because of the early sunrises, so I decided to make a sleeping mask to help myself. This process involved some trial and error, so I’ll share what worked and what...
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Like any machine, a sewing machine works best when it is cared for. Whether you constantly work on sewing projects, or haven’t touched your machine in years, doing some simple maintenance is always a good idea to keep everything running smoothly. If you are an avid sewer, it may even be helpful to set a schedule for maintenance. Here are some ways you can keep...
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Granola is tasty, healthy, and pretty versatile. It can be used for many things in the kitchen, such as trail mix, parfaits, and bars. It can even be thrown into the batter for baked goods like pancakes, muffins, and cookies. Personally, I like to eat it like cereal and pour some oat milk over it. Here’s What You Will Need: 4-5 cups old fashioned oats Salt ½ cup vegetable...
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At the IRL’s wood shop, you can cut elaborate designs into wood using a CNC laser cutter. At home, you might not have that kind of equipment but you likely have the tools necessary to make basic designs using the same principles. Believe it or not, a magnifying glass is all you need! Magnifying glasses can imitate the lasers on laser cutters by amplifying the...
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This summer, I’ve been experimenting with a lot of gardening projects at home. A few weeks ago, I saw something online about propagating basil “endlessly” in water, and I was curious to try it. It ended up working really well and it wasn’t very hard either. I highly recommend this project! Basically, propagation is the process of creating new plants from one ‘parent’ plant. It’s a...
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Reducing your energy and water usage at home is good for the environment, and it can also save you some money on your utility bill each month! Here are just a few quick tips for an energy-efficient lifestyle. Unplug electronics when not in use. Even if you aren’t charging your phone, a phone charger that is left plugged into the wall will continue to use...
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