If you have an interest you’re passionate about such as a favorite video game or TV show, it’s great to show off this part of your personality through crafts or homewares which reflect this.
Of course buying things related to this can often be quite expensive, especially if it’s official merchandise. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of easy to make crafts which can unleash your inner geek whilst also saving the planet by using recyclable materials! Whether a crafting novice or expert, you should be able to create a few of these DIY creative ideas yourself in no time.
1. Cushion/Pillow Covers
These are easy to make whether or not you own a sewing machine (that just makes it slightly quicker), and are a great way of reusing the clothes and fabrics you would otherwise throw away. If you have some old t-shirts you no longer wear, or perhaps a pair of curtains which have frayed at the bottom or have acquired an irreversible stain, then don’t just throw them out! Instead, create your own cushion covers out of the salvageable material, taking care to correctly measure the size on your existing cushions or pillows. Then once you’ve cut and stitched, take (or create) a stencil of your favorite character or logo, such as the bat symbol, and paint on to give it that finishing touch.
Image via Our Nerd Home
2. Ice Bucket
Did someone give you a plant for a housewarming? Perhaps that was a while ago and your plant hasn’t quite survived as long as you planned. Instead of throwing out the metal container, why not keep it and reuse as an ice bucket? Simply give it a rinse to make sure all the compost is gone, and once it’s dry you can start decorating with some comic or graphic novel pages, like you did with your project book in school. Then all that’s left to do is add ice and voila, you’ll have a fun, geeky way of storing your cold beverages.
Image via Our Nerd Home
3. Snow Globes
Let’s face it, we’ve all broken a glass or two from time to time, particularly a wine glass with a weak stem. Instead of recycling the broken glass, if the bowl is still intact, why not keep it to make a snow globe? A great alternative to this is of course a glass jam jar or similar which you’d ordinarily throw out. Fix a mini comic or action hero figurine to the jar lid, fill the jar with liquid (remembering to leave space for the figurine and a small bubble for the water to circulate) and add in some fake snow.
Image via Country Living
4. Ironing Board Cover
Has your Star Wars bedspread seen better days? Rather than throw it out, why not repurpose it by turning it into a fab ironing board cover? Simply cut the bedspread to shape, leaving a couple of extra inches to seam it. Additionally you’ll need some foam lining to place underneath to ensure you don’t end up with any lines in your clothing! As an alternative to a bedspread, why not sew together a few old t-shirts with your favorite logos or characters on, to create a patchwork ironing board cover.
Image via Geek Forge
Of course there are many more ways in which you can create your own DIY geek crafts by repurposing things which you might otherwise trash or take to the recycling centre. These can be anything from seasonally themed decorations, ornaments and gifts to homewares you can use all year round, so keep your eyes peeled for more amazing crafts out there!