If you’re starting to get bored while sheltering in-place, now is the perfect time for an art project that will keep your hands busy. To create functional and unique pieces, look no further than your own unused items at home. No one knows how to turn trash into treasure like Hand Lettered Old Shit owner Kate Hardy, who’s been working on her hand-lettering skills since she made locker signs in her schooldays. “I've always been drawn to old, odd things since the beginning,” says Hardy, who’s boutique specializes in sarcastic posters, hand-painted denim jackets and wacky knick-knacks. Whatever items you have laying around at home can turn into a quirky favorite with these tips from Hardy.
Posters, Postcards, and PhotosTurn old photos, vintage postcards or tired band posters into timeless classics by using a fine-tip paint brush or nail design kit to write out funny or sentimental phrases over the original images. Hardy picked up this task when adding phrases to a black and white 1930s image of a woman on the phone. “I would kind of contemplate how they're feeling and then sort of translate that into a modern voice,” says Hardy.
Old Clothes
Tired garments can be completely made over with some paint. While looking through the old items in your closet, try to pick out something 100% cotton or leather so that the paint is properly absorbed. Start by outlining your lettering or design with white colored pencil or graphite. Then, use acrylic or fabric paint. “Fabric paint is a thinner consistency, it behaves more as a dye where it soaks into the garment, and acrylic is like kind of a thicker application and tends to sit more on the surface of the fabric,” says Hardy.
Globes, Ornaments and Spheres
Perhaps the trickiest home decor surface to work with, spherical objects like globes and ornaments can make whimsical accessories. For her fast-selling globe products, Hardy paints inspirational phrases like, “Cleveland Over Everywhere Else,” and “The World Is Your Oyster.” But, beware, ornaments and other spherical objects require special attention. “Because it’s a curved surface, practice makes perfect,” says Hardy. Draw an outline of your design using a soft graphite pencil. While you’re drawing, use a kneaded eraser to get rid of small mistakes. Then, use acrylic paint pens and try to stay inside the lines.