Riot Tip: Cloud Light - Building It Better

Riot Tip: Cloud Light - Building It Better

I recently tried to recreate this really awesome tutorial I found online about creating a "cloud" effect using Cotton Batting, a Circular Paper Lantern, a Glue Gun and a light source.

Well…my results using those exact materials did not create the desired effect.

The Lantern and Cotton worked out just fine, but the Glue Gun glue was just awful to work with. In fact it created this horrible monstrosity.
(Those black marks? That's the glue gun glue.)

So I had a new idea. 

Instead of Glue Gun, why not use ADHESIVE SPRAY. 
And you know what?
It worked fantastically.



The tutorial is pretty basic.

Take the Cotton batting and glue it to the Paper Lantern and then place your lighting source inside of the lantern. (I used an LED Tap light in mine).

So what I did was take the Cotton Batting and cut it into smaller strips, but instead of gluing it to the lantern with a glue gun, I used adhesive spray. 

It worked fantastically.

Once my strips where placed, I gently pulled at the cotton to create a wispy cloud effect and applied my light source.

Here are my results:

(Please let me know if you would like a tutorial on this and I will write one!)

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Riot Tip: Use a Glue Gun to Melt Crayons

Riot Tip: Use a Glue Gun to Melt Crayons

Want to create a more controlled "melted crayon" effect?Try placing them in a hot glue gun and use the gun like you would a pen!

The wax drips out so be careful to hold upright until you are ready to draw.The good thing about the wax though, is that it dries quickly and creates a beveled effect much better than paint.
I used it on this mason jar to create a "bloody" effect on one of my projects!

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Riot Tip: Cleaning Up Glitter

Riot Tip: Cleaning Up Glitter
(aka, the "no duh" tip)

Glitter is by far the most annoying material known to man when it comes to cleaning up. It never seems to want to completely clean up off a surface. If you try to sweep it up, you usually end up just pushing it around and onto other surfaces. Really the only way to clean up glitter is to have it stick to another surface.

The best way I have found to do this is to: 

• Lightly dampen a paper towel with water and use the water to hold the glitter to the towel.
• Wipe off the surface the glitter is on.
• Then fold the paper towel and re-wipe the surface again making sure the glitter is completely picked up.
• Then use a dry paper towel to dry off your surface.

This may seem like a "no duh" tip, but whatever, I still think its useful enough to share. 

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Riot Tip: DIY Panels for Material

Riot Tip: DIY Panels for Material

Keep your fabric organized and easy to store by making your own panels! (Also works with tulle, lace, trim and strap-like materials) 

• 1st find a large cardboard moving/packing box that has 4 panels like the image below. Don't worry if your box is taller or shorter in height, you only need the panels (the pieces that the red arrows are pointing at).

• Take a pair of scissors to the box and cut off the panels of the box (you'll end up with 8 panels per 1 box!)

• Wrap your material around the box panel. (I folded my material in half so that it wrapped easier)

• One piece of material per box panel is suggested however multiple materials can be applied if space allows it. Materials such as lace and trim tend to take up less space. 

• Use a piece of masking tape to secure the material to the panel or tuck the end into a fold of the wrapped material.

Go from this:

(Before)

To this:

(After)

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Riot Tip: Hanging Photos in Your Cubical

Riot Tip: Hanging Photos in Your Cubical 

(Without having it look like a teenager's locker)

This tip is dedicated to those of you who (like me) find yourselves in a cubical from 9 to 5, Monday through Friday and have grown tired of your cubical walls looking like some teeny bopper's bedroom wall. I'm talking about all the thumbtacks you use in order to keep some personal sense of self to an otherwise conventional workspace.

"But the thumbtacks are the only way to hang my photos on the fabric panels", you say.

Well to that I say, "Nay!"

Here's a neat trick I did for the photos I hang on my cubical walls:

Step One:

Take your images and measure it to a piece of foamcore (I prefer matte black, but use whatever color you can find), leaving at least an inch of space around the image. (this gives it that framed look)

Step Two:

Cut out the "frame" from the foamcore. You now have your base.

Step Three:

Glue (or double sided tape, spray mount, Xyron, stick) your image to the center of the foamcore.

Step Four:

On the back of the foamcore frame, glue (or single side tape if you don't care that it might slip out) a large paper clip to the middle of the board leaving enough of the paper clip visible so that you can use it as a hook.

Step Five:

Place a CLEAR push pin into your cubical wall and slip the paper clip (now attached to the foamcore frame) over the push pin.

And you're done!

If you're wondering why I do this instead of just buying a frame, the reason is because most cube walls won't hold much weight and so because of this I've had about 5 frames fall off my walls and break. The foamcore is lightweight and doesn't pull the push pin out of the wall.

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Riot Tip: Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer

Riot Tip: Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer

Why do I love this idea you ask?

WELL…if you're anything like me, you've got piles and piles of trinkets and tools hidden all over your craft room just waiting to be put to good use. Let me emphasize HIDDEN.

I don't know how many times I've gone through my craft room in a, what would be assumed crack head induced, cleaning spree and finding items that would have been 'so useful at that time' had I actually remembered that I owned them. Glue I forgot about, scissors I now had 4 pairs of now, paint I didn't even remember buying; all this little stuff that I could have used but didn't because I hid it away in drawers and boxes forever ago and completely forgot about it. Out of sight out of mind. (I also tended to forget where I put some items so that didn't help either.)

This was my solution:

I know what you're thinking: "How did I not think of this before?!"

It has the versatility of being out of the way but right there in your face as well as being something easy to afford. You can see everything that was in it and even the smallest trinket was visible!

It's the perfect idea for the 'I have too much stuff'  kind of crafter.

You can purchase these in all kinds of styles (I recommend clear so you can see what's inside of it) and sizes, at a fairly cheap price. I think I paid under $10 for mine at Wal-Mart. 

Other places I have seen these sold at are Target, Big Lots, Bed Bath and Beyond, K-Mart, Goodwill (used), some Dollar Stores, Ross and other various department stores.

I recommend avoiding buying these at craft stores though. Some craft stores have figured out this is a way to "cash in" on a good idea and have customized products that they charge a ridiculous amount for.

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Riot Tip: Hang a Difficult Frame Evenly

Riot Tip: Hang a Difficult Frame Evenly

Want to hang a picture evenly but don't have time to measure?

• Apply toothpaste or lotion to the back of your frame and place it against the wall.

• You will see markings on your wall where you should place your nails/thumbtacks/etc.

• After you stick your nail/thumbtacks into the wall, wipe off the remaining toothpaste or lotion and your frame is ready to hang.

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